New Jersey Approves Largest Single-State Offshore Wind Solicitation to Date

The state is seeking 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind capacity to commence construction before federal tax credits expire.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously on Monday to open a solicitation for 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind capacity — the largest single-state offshore wind solicitation in the U.S. to date.

The new order marks the first step in meeting New Jersey’s goal to deploy 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2030.

New Jersey Moves on 1.1-GW Offshore Wind Solicitation

Following on an executive order issued by Gov. Phil Murphy in late January, New Jersey regulators this week approved an order to begin moving the state toward an initial solicitation of 1.1 GW of offshore wind energy.

In a Feb. 28 order, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) directed its staff to prepare the solicitation and engage offshore wind developers and stakeholders in defining minimum requirements for the solicitation. 

New Jersey Senate Passes Bill Requiring Utility Companies To Purchase 80% Renewable Electricity By 2050

The New Jersey Senate has passed a bill that will require utility companies operating in the state to source at least 80% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2050, according to recent reports.

The new bill (Bill S1707) would require utility companies to source at least 11% of their electricity from renewable energy sources starting in 2017 — with this requirement growing roughly 10% every 5 years until the 80% target is achieved.

NJ Bill Hikes Offshore Targets

New Jersey lawmakers are considering aggressive renewable energy legislation that would require 3GW of offshore wind generation by 2030 and 4.5GW by 2050.

The proposal is part of bill that requires New Jersey to meet a renewable portfolio standard that starts at 20% by 2020 and increases every five years to reach 80% by 2050.

BILL WANTS 80% OF NJ’S POWER TO COME FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES BY 2050

Aggressive energy goals draw the ire of large manufacturers, questions and concerns from Rate Counsel

The idea that 80 percent of the state’s electricity could be produced from renewable energy by 2050 drew withering criticism from consumer advocates and business interests yesterday during an initial hearing on a bill to establish that target.

An Array Of Policies Makes New Jersey An Unlikely Leader In Solar Energy

The State of New Jersey is known for many things. It has the most diners, the longest boardwalk and the tallest water tower in the world. New Jersey also ranks second in blueberry production, as well as third in cranberry production nationally. Meanwhile, recent state and nationwide trends have allowed the Garden State to add another record to this list: its ranking as the fifth leading state in solar energy.

New Jersey has over 1 GW of installed solar generating capacity, which makes it one of the most productive states for solar energy. This is quite an accomplishment given its modest solar resources compared to leading solar states California and Arizona. How has New Jersey become a leader in solar energy, and how it can be a model for similar states wishing to capitalize on this fast-growing sector?

Draft Bill Sets Aggressive Goals for Renewable Energy, Power Consumption

Measure would boost NJ's reliance on renewable energy to 80 percent by 2050, slash energy consumption by 30 percent at same time.

A yet-to-be-made public bill could radically change New Jersey’s energy future by sharply increasing the state’s reliance on renewable energy at the same time that it decreases energy consumption by 30 percent by 2050.

McKeon: Court Verdict Reinforces NJ Should Rejoin RGGI

Assembly Environment Vice Chair John F. McKeon announced that he would continue to push for the State's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), following the recent verdict by the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court that Gov. Christie broke the law when he pulled New Jersey from under the regulations governing RGGI and disregarded the need for public input and a legislative response. 

Environment New Jersey and the National Resources Defense Council recently won a court challenge that the Christie administration unilaterally and illegally removed New Jersey from the regulations governing RGGI, a regional program to reduce carbon pollutions limits. The court ruled that the administration must seek public comment on the decision to withdraw the state from RGGI regulations and that it has 60 days to start the process. 

NJ Legislation Seeks to Break Logjam Delaying Solar Grid-Supply Projects

Some New Jersey lawmakers are backing efforts by big solar-energy developers to build grid-supply projects on farmland and other areas, in a dispute that already has landed in the courts.

The legislators, saying a state agency has misinterpreted a 1-year-old law aimed at reviving the solar sector, called on the Board of Public Utilities to take action to reinstate solar grid-supply projects that have been blocked by the Christie administration.

Utility proposal to New Jersey solar bill

New Jersey's PSE&G will request permission to allocate $883 million dollars of additional investment to solar power, CEO Ralph Izzo announced on Tuesday. The money would more than double the utility's current $700 million commitment to the solar sector and would be used to create an additional 233 megawatts of capacity in the state. The proposal represents a 28% increase in New Jersey's current solar capacity.

NJ solar program gets new life

This morning Governor Chris Christie signed into law bipartisan legislation to strengthen and encourage the continued growth of New Jersey’s solar industry, while protecting ratepayers from increased costs.

The bill couples an acceleration of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for solar energy with a reduction of the solar alternate compliance payments, strengthening the solar market in New Jersey, and securing the state’s place as a national solar energy leader.

“Since my time running for office, I made it clear that my Administration would be unrivaled in our aggressive support for the development of renewable sources of energy in New Jersey,” says Christie.

New Jersey Governor signs solar bill

New Jersey Gov. Christie and the state's environmental groups have landed on common ground _ a highly unusual occurrence.

That's because earlier today Christie signed a bill that would encourage the growth of the solar industry in the state.

New Jersey already is a leader. It is second in the nation in solar installations. So far, more than 775 megawatts of solar has been installed in the state, enough to power about 130,000 homes. (Or, as the environmental groups note, more than the amount of energy produced by Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant, which they have pushed to have shuttered.)

New Jersey revives solar with a new law

New Jersey has passed a law that requires companies to purchase more solar energy, it has been announced. According to the bill, companies have to obtain 2.05% of their total energy from solar in the energy year (EY) 2014 under the new renewable portfolio standard. After that, the amount of solar energy required will be raised every year to 4.10% by 2028.

At the moment the amount of renewable energy companies are required to purchase is measured in GW as opposed to percentages; the bill further includes a lower cap on the prices for the Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC). In passing the new bill, the New Jersey State legislature hopes to revive the solar industry in the state. The bill now has to be approved by Governor Chris Christie.

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New Jersey Senate pushes forward solar bill

The New Jersey state legislature has pushed forward a bill designed to help rejuvenate the state's struggling solar power sector, according to NJ Spotlight.

While states like Arizona and New Mexico have begun to emerge as strong centers for solar power, New Jersey quickly jumped up to become the second-largest solar market behind California through strong supportive policies.

Setting an energy standard

When it comes to renewable energy goals, Colorado keeps raising the bar. It was the first state to implement a renewable energy standard (RES) back in 2004 and has twice raised it, now boasting one of the highest in the nation at 30 percent by 2020.

While Colorado and over half of the other states have embraced renewable energy goals and continue to raise and polish them, some have not acted at all. That’s particularly true in the Southeast. While a few southern states have been quietly investigating the possibilities of their own standards, some will likely never adopt an RES, unless they are required by federal law.

Maryland gov lobbies lawmakers for offshore wind

Maryland's governor lobbied lawmakers personally Tuesday for one of the key pieces of his environmental agenda, a reworked offshore wind power bill modeled on a New Jersey law.

The bill follows one that was killed the year before by lawmakers over concerns about costs. That bill would have mandated utilities enter long-term contracts with offshore wind power producers. The current bill establishes requirements for offshore wind power production, but does not require mandatory contracts.

Gov. Christie proposes alternative to solar energy legislation In N.J.

A major overhaul of the state’s energy industry was blocked last week because Governor Christie had concerns about how much solar power the proposal demands utilities produce, officials familiar with the bill said.

The overhaul could help Passaic County to decide whether to restart a solar project that was tabled last year, after it failed to attract bidders, The Record of Woodland Park reported.

NJ Governor Christie unveils final draft of energy master plan

Reaction to Gov. Chris Christie's final energy master plan draft was mixed, but solar industry advocates endorsed the changes to the plan intended to stabilize the market for a key incentive.

The plan, which requires legislative approval, serves as the outline for the state's energy policy, including the state's strategy for renewable and clean energy. The final plan follows the release of a draft version in June. Since then, the Board of Public Utilities has held three stakeholder meetings and received comments from 300 companies, associations and individuals, the administration said.

NJ: Bill could deliver what solar sector needs most - stability

The legislature appears poised to act to stabilize a solar market that some have argued threatens to curtail the rapid growth of solar systems in New Jersey. But the initiative will have to wait until the lame-duck session after the election next month.

Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula (D-Middlesex), the influential chairman of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, said he expects to move a bill in mid-November that would deal with issues that have caused widespread uncertainty among investors as to whether solar energy is still a good bet in New Jersey.

NJ: Norcross bill to create jobs through solar project development clears senate committee

Legislation sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) to provide greater opportunities for the development of solar facilities in New Jersey by streamlining state rules governing the industry was approved yesterday by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.