In a major move to shore up New Jersey’s aging power grid, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has selected Elevate Renewables’ Garden State Reliability Project for development at the Bergen Generating Station. The 150-megawatt (600-megawatt hour) battery storage facility—also known as Two Rivers Storage—is poised to become a critical buffer against the regional power shortages and surging capacity prices currently hitting the PJM market.
The project is a cornerstone of the Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP), a statewide initiative launched in 2025 with the ambitious goal of deploying 2,000 MW of energy storage by 2030.
As older power plants across the Northeast retire and electricity demand from data centers and electrification spikes, PJM capacity prices have seen dramatic increases. Dispatchable battery storage offers a high-tech solution: these systems “soak up” electricity when demand and prices are low and discharge it back into the grid during peak hours.
Once operational, the Garden State Reliability Project will provide enough flexible capacity to power 100,000 New Jersey homes, helping to stabilize electricity costs and prevent price spikes for ratepayers.
“Energy storage is one of the fastest and most effective ways to strengthen the grid and help stabilize electricity prices for customers,” Joshua Rogol, CEO of Elevate said. “We’re proud to partner with the state to deliver a project that supports reliability, economic investment, and responsible land use.”
The project represents a $200 million private investment in Bergen County. Notably, it will be built on the footprint of the existing 1.2 GW Bergen Generating Station. By utilizing an active industrial site, Elevate avoids the need to develop “greenfield” (undisturbed) land, a move praised by local environmental and legislative leaders.
- Job Creation: Construction is expected to create approximately 50 union jobs at its peak.
- Tax Base: The facility will expand the local tax base in Ridgefield while remediating portions of the existing industrial site.
- Infrastructure Synergy: The project utilizes existing grid interconnection points, allowing for a faster development timeline compared to traditional power plants.
Bergen County Executive James Tedesco welcomed the announcement, stating that the project brings “productive use” to an existing industrial site while ensuring the region’s energy infrastructure can support continued economic growth.
As New Jersey moves toward its 2030 energy goals, the selection of the Garden State Reliability Project signals a shift toward fast-deployable, flexible resources as the state’s primary defense against grid instability.
