Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday signed a bill into law aimed at accelerating New Jersey’s transition to clean energy while ensuring long-term affordability and reliability for ratepayers. The new law (A4529/S3819) modifies the Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP) to streamline the procurement of transmission-scale energy storage.
The move is the latest in a series of aggressive steps taken by the Sherrill Administration to tackle rising energy costs and modernize the state’s aging electrical infrastructure.
The legislation specifically targets project maturity requirements that previously limited the pool of eligible bidders. By expanding eligibility, the state aims to foster a more competitive solicitation process, preventing inflated pricing that often results from a supply-constrained market.
Key provisions of the new law include:
- Expanded eligibility: Modifies project maturity requirements for the second segment of the transmission-scale GSESP.
- Extended deadlines: Moves the BPU approval deadline for incentive awards from June 30, 2026, to Dec. 31.
- Increased capacity: The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) estimates these changes will bring forward an additional 500 MW of energy storage.
“By strengthening the Garden State Energy Storage Program, we’re cutting through unnecessary delays and opening the door to more competitive, cost-effective storage projects,” Sherrill said. “I’m grateful to our partners in the Legislature for acting quickly to deliver this win for New Jersey’s energy future.”
Since taking office, Sherrill has made energy generation and ratepayer protection a cornerstone of her administration. In her first 45 days, the administration approved six major energy projects, including three large-scale solar arrays and three battery storage facilities totaling 355 MW.
The signing of this bill follows a wave of administrative actions designed to spark rapid development in the renewable sector:
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Utility Rate Freeze: Executive Orders 1 and 2 froze utility rate hikes and declared a state of emergency to accelerate in-state generation.
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Community Solar Expansion: Opened 3,000 MW of community solar for new applications.
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Competitive Solar Incentives: Opened 300 MW of the Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program for new projects.
By increasing the volume of storage projects, New Jersey can better manage “peak demand”—times when electricity is most expensive. These batteries store excess energy during low-use periods and discharge it when demand spikes, stabilizing the grid and putting downward pressure on prices.
