Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) asked New Jersey regulators today to approve an ambitious $773 million plan to bring 120 MW of solar power to the state. The plan, which will use brownfields and underdeveloped properties for solar generation, will eliminate 1.7 million tons of CO2 emissions. It will also bring New Jersey 7 percent closer to its goal of getting 22.5 percent of its power from renewable energy by 2020.
Not everyone will be happy with the new program, though— PSE&G estimates that it will add 10 cents to each customers’ monthly bill in the first year and up to 35 cents every additional year.
PSE&G will dole out its money to four areas: neighborhood solar, local government solar, centralized solar, and affordable housing solar. One-third of the solar panels will be placed on utility poles throughout the state.
New Jersey currently ranks second behind California in its production of solar energy— there’s nothing like a healthy $773 million competition to keep California on its toes.
Photo Credit: NREL
Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.
