TRENTON — The state hit a new record in June for solar energy installations and the resulting electric generation capacity compared to any prior month, according to state environmental officials. Across New Jersey, 520 solar projects totaling more than 40 megawatts of electric capacity were installed in June, the Department of Environmental Protection said. More than 380 megawatts are...
The largest rooftop-mounted solar power installation to have been completed in the entire U.S. on the roof of Avidan Management's Edison warehouse in April. State officials say N.J. installed a record number of solar panels in June throughout the state.TRENTON — The state hit a new record in June for solar energy installations and the resulting electric generation capacity compared to any prior month, according to state environmental officials.
Across New Jersey, 520 solar projects totaling more than 40 megawatts of electric capacity were installed in June, the Department of Environmental Protection said. More than 380 megawatts are now generated from 10,086 solar arrays statewide.
Solar energy installations grew 49 percent from the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of this year, according to DEP. The state ranks second in solar installations and solar capacity to California.
"We’re experiencing some explosive growth which is very exciting," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said during a conference call with reporters this afternoon.
Last month, the Christie administration unveiled a plan for the state's future electricity generation that rolled back the goal for renewable energy and put a greater emphasis on solar subsidies for large, commercial projects rather than residential projects.
It was not immediately clear how much of the growth in June was attributable to residential projects.
The plan, which Christie touted as "realistic and achievable," also suggested that a select few were benefiting from solar subsidies rather than ratepayers at large, who pick up much of the bill.
Martin echoed those sentiments, saying that although renewable energy costs more and must be subsidized publicly, the industry must also become more self-sufficient and compete with wind energy to help drive down the cost of electricity in New Jersey.
"There is a cost to renewables which we know, we believe those costs are worth making, but at the same time over time we need to continue to drive down that cost," Martin said. He noted that past public support for the industry had worked.
Last week, environmental groups said at a news conference that Christie's plan would undercut the state's solar growth and threaten green jobs. The industry, however, remains divided on if the governor's plan will really affect the market.
Martin challenged environmentalists to come up with a better plan if they think Christie's is not aggressive enough. He said the plan shows the governor's clear commitment to renewable energy.
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