Bill > S4944

This bill modifies various provisions of New Jersey's renewable energy incentive programs and requires electric public utilities to interconnect certain solar projects. Specifically, the bill allows for co-location of solar facilities across different renewable energy programs without prohibition, removes size restrictions for solar facilities on landfills, brownfields, contaminated sites, and mining sites, and extends project timelines for such sites. The bill expands the definition of renewable energy facilities to include battery storage technology and allows such facilities to be a permitted use in industrial districts and on specific types of sites. It also modifies the remote net metering program by increasing the maximum project capacity from 5 to 20 megawatts and broadening the types of sites where projects can be located. The bill requires electric public utilities to process and approve interconnection applications for community solar and remote net metering facilities on electric lines 34.5 kilovolts or less, and adds provisions allowing municipalities to purchase renewable energy credits and electricity from various sources without traditional competitive bidding requirements. The overall aim is to streamline and expand renewable energy development in New Jersey by reducing regulatory barriers and creating more flexible incentive programs.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4944