(Save the date: RealShare New Jersey comes to the Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick, NJ, September 19.)

HACKENSACK, NJ–Declaring that the state will continue to lead the nation’s solar industry, Gov. Chris Christie presided at the ground-breaking for a new solar farm in Hackensack this week being developed by Public Service Electric and Gas.

At the same time, PSEG chairman, president and CEO Ralph Izzo announced that the company is requesting the state Board of Public Utilities approve investment of up to an additional $883 million to expand solar capacity and use.

The 1.06-megawatt solar farm in Hackensack is being created by installing panels on a vacant “brownfield” property. “Solar investment projects like the Hackensack Solar Farm are an integral part of our state’s renewable energy portfolio, increasing New Jersey’s solar capacity, creating jobs and securing the protection of our precious environmental resources,” says Christie in his speech at the groundbreaking.

“Every time we reclaim a landfill or brownfield site with solar panels, it’s a win for the people of New Jersey,” Izzo adds, saying Christie deserves recognition for his strong support of the Solar 4 All and solar loan programs.

“This is the fifth PSE&G project that uses renewable energy to breathe new life into a brownfield or landfill,” Izzo says. “We are ready to do more of these projects and transform sites like this all over the state.”

When the current Solar 4 All program is completed early next year, PSEG will have created about 175 direct jobs each year for the last three years and spent $300 million with more than a dozen companies that are either headquartered or operating in New Jersey. A total of 80 MWs of solar capacity will have been developed.

The company proposes development of an additional 233 megawatts of solar capacity, which it says would create approximately 300 direct jobs per year over the next five years.

Brownfields and landfills have already been reclaimed as solar farms in Trenton, Edison, Linden and Kearny. When the Hackensack operation begins later this year, the utility will have reclaimed a total of more than 40 acres - or about 30 football fields - of dormant space. More than 40,000 solar panels, producing more than 10 MWs of solar power, will have been installed.

PSEG’s new proposal would invest up to $690 million to develop another 136 MWs by building on landfills, brownfields and other underutilized properties (90 MW), on warehouse roofs (20 MW) and on large parking lots (25 MW). Also, it has a 1MW pilot program for solar projects that test and demonstrate emerging solar technologies such as solar energy storage.

Furthermore, the company wants to proceed with a third phase of its loan program to help finance solar systems on homes and businesses in order to develop another 97 MW. Costs for that could total up to $193 million, depending on fluctuations in the market price of solar renewable energy credits.

PSEG’s solar loan program has already made $177 million of financing available to homeowners and businesses to help create 735 installations producing a total of 55 MWs of solar energy. By early next year, the Solar 4 All program will have an 80 MW service capacity, generated by 24 centralized solar installations as well as the state’s pole-attached solar panel initiative.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the 775 MW of solar energy currently installed in New Jersey ranks the state second in the country.

Instant Insights /

PSEG Breaks Ground In Hackensack Brownfield For Solar Farm

Related Stories

Recommended For You