This New Jersey community solar project is fully subscribed thanks in part to Boys & Girls Club
New Jersey solar developer Solar Landscape has energized another of its first-year portfolio community solar projects and is delivering clean energy to local residents in northeast New Jersey. The project, located in the Wood-Ridge borough on the rooftop of Duke Realty’s warehouse at 5 Ethel Boulevard, now powers over 375 local homes with clean solar energy, totaling almost 2.8 million kWh of electricity annually.
Solar Landscape also announced that 51 percent of the electricity generated from the project will be sold to low- and moderate-income households and that every subscriber receives a guaranteed discount in electricity expenses each month while being part of the program.
“It is great to see that Solar Landscape has energized another project that will benefit North Jersey ratepayers,” said Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli. “The purpose of community solar is to provide energy equity and access for all and that’s exactly what this project does. Hudson and Bergen County residents get the benefits of solar energy – cleaner air and lower costs – without the need for solar panels on their rooftop. We continue to support clean energy initiatives across the state.”
The installation at 5 Ethel Boulevard is one of four rooftop community solar projects installed by Solar Landscape on Duke Realty facilities. Together, the four projects are expected to generate more than 13 million kWh of solar power to New Jersey communities.
In addition to the project being fully energized, it is also fully subscribed: the program has reached its goal of 350 subscribers in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. The subscriber success is due to community outreach and participation from the Newark Boys & Girls Club and Newark Science and Sustainability.
“We were thrilled to reach out to our community with the opportunity to offer affordable renewable energy,” said Ameer Washington, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Newark. “Promoting clean energy in and around Newark is a win for everyone: cleaner air, lower power bills and the opportunity to create workforce training for our future solar workforce.”
“Renewable energy has long been a pillar of Newark Science and Sustainability and community solar projects give us the chance to show how it works in the real world,” said Tobias Fox, managing director of the Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc. “Any meaningful change requires teamwork and we were happy to work with Solar Landscape and others to make the public aware of sustainability efforts in our community.”
In January 2021, Solar Landscape executives joined Governor Phil Murphy, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) President Joseph L. Fiordaliso, Congressman Frank Pallone, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, and Assemblyman Craig Coughlin, as they cut the ribbon on the very first operational community solar project in NJ, located at 960 and 1000 High Street in Perth Amboy. These first two projects are providing clean electricity to more than 1,100 homes.
The Wood-Ridge project is the sixth community solar project by Solar Landscape to have energized in 2021. The project is part of Year One of the NJBPU’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program, which is administered by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program. Enrollment is open to renters and property owners with no cost to join, no long-term contracts, and guaranteed cost savings. In addition to developing the projects, Solar Landscape is working with non-profit organizations and community leaders to educate residents about the benefits of community solar.
