State Announces New Incentive for Solar Energy Development

On Sep 5, 2024

The state has launched a new website that will serve as a one-stop shop to guide municipalities and solar developers as they plan, fund, and complete solar plus landfill capping projects. Additionally, Gov. Phil Murphy has signed legislation, A4619/S3479, enhancing the Historic Property Reinvestment Act and the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act to support historic preservation and further incentivize the redevelopment of brownfields across New Jersey into new solar energy facilities.

“With the launch of the Landfill to Solar website, we are putting all our resources in one place so municipalities and developers can leverage otherwise unusable land into renewable energy sites,” Murphy said. “We are also expanding tax credits under the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Historic Property Reinvestment Act and Brownfields Redevelopment Program Act so that we can preserve New Jersey’s communities while promoting environmental cleanup and green energy production. Today’s bill signing will ensure future generations can celebrate the rich history of our state while living in a greener, healthier environment.”

The new Landfill to Solar website, created by the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, brings together resources from New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Economic Development Authority (EDA), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide both municipal governments and solar developers with a step-by-step guide to initiating and completing solar projects. Advancing resources such as the landfill solar information hub is a primary component of the Murphy Administration’s whole-of-government approach to reducing emissions, developing clean energy, growing economic development, increasing affordability, and revitalizing communities.

The site highlights DEP’s Solar Siting Analysis Mapping Tool to help identify eligible landfill sites in municipalities across New Jersey and provides streamlined instructions on how to apply for incentive programs made available through the state. This includes EDA’s Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act as well as BPU’s Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP) and Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) program. New Jersey’s solar programs provide incentives tailored to the needs of different projects, further enabling the continued growth of the solar industry at a lower cost to ratepayers. At their September 4 board meeting, BPU adopted rules for the permanent Community Solar Energy Program and proposed changes to allow for the co-location of projects on uncapped, municipally-owned landfills up to a total size of 10-megawatts.

“From our Competitive Solar Incentive program to our nation-leading Community Solar Energy Program, New Jersey’s thriving solar industry continues to serve as a national model,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “We look forward to continuing to provide municipalities and developers with the tools they need to bring projects to fruition while making affordable clean energy more accessible for all New Jersey residents.”

“Preserving historic sites and transforming dormant properties serves as a key component of Governor Murphy’s economic development strategy, which is helping attract investments that spur revitalization in New Jersey communities. The legislation signed into law today will allow the Historic Property Reinvestment and Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Programs to continue supporting transformative projects that will create good-paying jobs, restore underutilized community assets, and unlock untapped economic potential across the state,” said Tim Sullivan, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

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