New Jersey, one of the many states advancing toward clean energy goals, is looking to solar initiatives to bring affordable renewable energy to more customers.
The state had more than 100,000 total solar panel installations by the end of 2018, according to the BPU, but encouraging broader access to solar power is key to Murphy’s stated goal of 100% clean energy by 2050. Despite initiatives to lower the cost of solar panels in the state, many lower-income residents cannot afford them.
“The point of this pilot program is to take the first step toward ensuring that we change this dynamic,” Joseph Fiordaliso, president of the BPU, said in a statement.
Customers will be allowed to sign up for a monthly subscription or to purchase ownership of a share of the community solar program, receiving a credit on their utility bill. The options allow renters to also participate in the pilot.
The program could roughly cover the electric usage of 45,000 residences, according to the BPU. New Jersey has the capacity to serve more than 400,000 subscribers through community solar, GTM Research estimated in a 2018 report.
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