Garden State a Solar Eden: New Jersey Hits 1 GW

[kristopher]

Garden State a Solar Eden: New Jersey Hits 1 GW
New Jersey becomes the third state to have more than 1 gigawatt of installed solar, joining California and Arizona.
PETE DANKO: MARCH 22, 2013

You’ve got hand it to New Jersey. For a non-Sunbelt state, it kicks ass in solar power.

This is something we’ve noted before, but it deserves mention now, because sometime in late February, the state hit the 1-gigawatt mark in total installed solar electric capacity, according to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities [PDF].

The question going forward is if New Jersey will continue to be a leader. Gov. Chris Christie thinks so.

“Reaching the 1 gigawatt of solar capacity milestone is an incredible achievement and represents New Jersey’s continued commitment to renewable energy,” Christie said in the board’s release. “It is clear that New Jersey will remain one of the largest solar energy markets in the United States.”

New Jersey trails California...

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/garden-state-a-solar-eden-new-jersey-hits-1-gw?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=headline&utm_campaign=GTMDaily

[monmouth3]

1. I wonder if Jersey Central P&L and other utilities will decrease their rates....Bwahahaha...n/t

[LiberalEsto]

2. Actually the utilities in NJ collect a special surcharge with their bills

and this money is specifically placed in a fund for energy efficiency projects like solar and wind power. The fund was created by the state legislature some years ago.

This energy surcharge is how New Jersey has managed to achieve 1 GW of non-fossil fuel power generation.

All this new solar power generation is not going to reduce rates, but will indirectly keep rates lower. It reduces the need for utilities to build more nuclear and fossil fuel-based generating plants, which are extraordinarily expensive to site and build.

[monmouth3]

3. Well, that's a good thing. I did not know that. Thanks...n/t

[LiberalEsto]

4. Here's a link to the NJ Clean Energy Program

http://www.njcleanenergy.com/main/about-njcep/about-njcep

They have rebates and an online store for buying energy efficient products.

I used to write about energy efficiency for various publications some years ago, which is how I learned about the NJ program. I grew up in NJ but now live in Maryland.

[monmouth3]

6. I lived in Jersey also (Freehold, Manasquan) and JCPL was at that time the bane of my existence..n/t

[FBaggins]

5. "Average prices range from $225 to $390 per MWh in 2012."

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Facore.org%2Ffiles%2Fpdfs%2Fstates%2FNewJersey.pdf&ei=CMhQUcLsKMa70AGO-IHoDQ&usg=AFQjCNEY1_U0BEcfqNS5amdxa6p4c8j6Bw