Solar Growth Spurt: Good News -- At Least for Now (New Jersey)

[jpak]

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0215/0058/

Speculation about an imminent collapse in the solar sector in New Jersey seems to be off the mark, at least for now.

Last month, the state set an all-time record for the number of solar systems installed, with approximately 84 megawatts of new capacity developed. That brings the total installed capacity in New Jersey to nearly 654 megawatts.

The development comes at a time when some in the industry worry the flourishing solar business in New Jersey could be headed for a fall, largely due the steep drop in prices for the electricity the systems generate.

The surge in new solar installations raises the question: Is the market stabilizing or is this burst of activity simply a reflection of the fact that profitable federal incentives are running out soon?

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[Pab Sungenis]

1. Part of this is from our municipal electric utility.

Publicly owned, not-for-profit, already offering the lowest rates in the state. We already built the largest solar farm in the state on top of an old landfill, and now we're trebling it!

See what can happen when you're not bound by the profit motive? Innovation. Long term planning.

All of the people who complain that solar is impractical because "you'll never recoup your investment" don't get it. Part of what we'll recoup from the investment is being able to breathe and try to keep the planet from boiling over.

[Nihil]

2. Excellent point.

> All of the people who complain that solar is impractical because "you'll never recoup
> your investment" don't get it. Part of what we'll recoup from the investment is being
> able to breathe and try to keep the planet from boiling over.