In a state in desperate need of more power generation — one exploring ways to increase nuclear and natural gas options — many leading officials are pondering a seemingly overlooked option: solar.
Such was the theme in Perth Amboy earlier this month, when Gov. Phil Murphy, joined by Shaun Keegan of Solar Landscape and Scott Peattie of Prologis, touted the potential of solar on the roof of a warehouse at 960 High St., which is owned by Prologis.
The solar panels set up on top of the 220,000-square-foot distribution center will produce enough electricity for more than 400 nearby households.
It’s an example of the state’s ever-growing community solar program, in which commercial landlords lease their rooftops to firms that build the panel systems and sell energy directly to the grid — with at least 51% of the power going to low- and moderate-income residents.
Murphy, who signed the law that created the program in 2018, was there to announce an expansion of the program — one he said truly was a win-win.
“Few projects better embody the profound potential for this clean, reliable energy source than community solar projects just like this one,” he said. “They’re affordable, and today that means more than anything else.”
Murphy has been there literally and figuratively from the beginning.
He was among those on the same rooftop in 2021 when Solar Landscape activated the system as part of the first operational project under the Community Solar Energy Program’s pilot phase.
The initiative now provides discounted energy to more than 28,000 New Jersey subscribers, as it prepares to enter a third phase after the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved another 250 megawatts of capacity to be built by solar developers.
The case for solar has never been greater.
The need is there — see the exploding rates that hit consumers this month.
And, there’s proof of concept — solar has proven it can be activated quickly.
Keegan feels community solar can defray costs while providing something that’s obviously needed in the process.
“There’s not enough generation on the grid,” he said. “These rooftops are a perfect place to put solar panels. That was recognized first here in New Jersey, and it’s become a model across the country.”
“There’s not enough generation on the grid. These rooftops are a perfect place to put solar panels. That was recognized first here in New Jersey, and it’s become a model across the country.”
To be fair, solar will never be enough to solve all of the power-generation problems. But it’s a start. And it’s clean. And it never causes complaints.
Keegan described it this way.
“We’re quick to interconnect because there’s existing infrastructure and there’s speed to market, so, within 12 months, you can have projects operational and creating power for local communities,” he said.
This speed and ease has helped Solar Landscape become the state leader in the sector.
Keegan said his company’s community solar projects produce enough to power 20,000 homes — and that 40,000 more will be accounted for in the coming years.
Murphy said the more, the merrier. He noted there rarely are community issues, mostly because the community rarely knows the solar panels are even there.
“We should be doing these morning, noon and night, up and down New Jersey,” Murphy said.
For information about Solar Landscape, go to solarlandscape.com.
