Landfill to Solar: NJ Launches Website to Aid Municipalities and Developers with Solar Projects
TRENTON – The state has launched a new website that will guide municipalities and solar developers as they plan, fund, and complete solar plus landfill capping projects.
Gov. Phil Murphy also signed legislation, A4619/S3479, enhancing the Historic Property Reinvestment Act and the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act to support historic preservation and further incentivize the redevelopment of brownfields across New Jersey into new solar energy facilities.
"In New Jersey, we have set the ambitious goal of delivering a 100 percent green economy because we know how important it is to build a strong foundation for renewable energy, combating the imminent threat of climate change and propelling our state forward," Murphy said. "My Administration has pursued innovative strategies to reduce our carbon footprint by shifting away from fossil fuels and uplifting renewable resources. These policies represent an investment into our residents and our communities by prioritizing public health, spurring economic development, and creating good-paying jobs."
With the launch of the Landfill to Solar website, the state is putting all its resources in one place so municipalities and developers can leverage otherwise unusable land into renewable energy sites. The state is also expanding tax credits under the Economic Development Authority's Historic Property Reinvestment Act and Brownfields Redevelopment Program Act to promote environmental cleanup and green energy production.
The new Landfill to Solar website brings together resources from New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Economic Development Authority (EDA), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide municipal governments and solar developers with a step-by-step guide to initiating and completing solar projects.
The site highlights DEP's Solar Siting Analysis Mapping Tool to help identify eligible landfill sites in municipalities across New Jersey and provides streamlined instructions on how to apply for incentive programs made available through the state. This includes EDA's Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act as well as BPU's Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP) and Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) program.
New Jersey's solar programs provide incentives tailored to the needs of different projects, further enabling the continued growth of the solar industry. At its September 4 board meeting, BPU adopted rules for the permanent Community Solar Energy Program and proposed changes to allow for the co-location of projects on uncapped, municipally-owned landfills up to a total size of 10-megawatts.
"From our Competitive Solar Incentive program to our nation-leading Community Solar Energy Program, New Jersey's thriving solar industry continues to serve as a national model," said BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. "We look forward to continuing to provide municipalities and developers with the tools they need to bring projects to fruition while making affordable clean energy more accessible for all New Jersey residents."
Legislation signed by the Governor will enhance incentives available through EDA's Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act by modifying provisions to cover remediation activities such as the work needed to cap landfill sites. Solar projects located on the site of a former landfill will be eligible to receive tax credits in the amount of 100 percent of the costs of remediating and capping the landfill, up to a maximum of $8 to $12 million depending on the location of the project.
The legislation also reforms EDA's Historic Property Reinvestment Act by increasing the maximum size of tax credit awards available under the program and allowing for certain facade rehabilitation projects to be eligible for a tax credit award. Credits awarded for the rehabilitation of properties located in qualified incentive tracts or government-restricted municipalities are increased to 60 percent of the cost of rehabilitation, up to a maximum of $12 million. Credits awarded for the rehabilitation of other qualified properties – other than a transformative project – are increased to 50 percent of the cost of rehabilitation, up to a maximum of $8 million.
Sponsors of the bill, A4619/S3479, include Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter.
Murphy has set a goal of achieving 100 percent clean electricity by 2035. Redevelopment projects supporting the creation of new solar facilities directly support the Administration's goal to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy. New Jersey is on track to exceed installed solar capacity over 7,400 MW by 2026. These incentivized projects also drive job creation across the state.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, New Jersey is a top five state for job growth in the energy efficiency sector with a growth rate of 5.3 percent. Last year, the State's electric power generation sector employed over 20,000 workers in New Jersey, with a little over 9,000 working in the solar industry. New Jersey's expected growth rate for all energy sector jobs for the next 12 months is between 6.8 percent to 8.5 percent.