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Bill > A6169


NJ A6169

NJ A6169
Permits dual-use solar facilities to participate in community solar program.


summary

Introduced
12/08/2025
In Committee
12/08/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill permits dual-use or agrivoltaics facilities to participate in the community solar program. Presently, the Board of Public Utilities restricts qualified solar energy projects to those located on rooftops, carports or canopies, contaminated sites or landfills, bodies of water such as water treatment reservoirs or dredge ponds, and mining sites. The Dual-Use program was created to encourage development of solar energy projects that were compatible with agricultural or horticultural production on the same land. Currently, facilities governed by the Dual-Use program are only able to receive incentives provided by the Successor Solar Initiative (SuSI) program. The two incentives provided under the SuSI program are the Administratively Determined Incentive program or the Competitive Solicitation Incentive program. This bill will allow dual-use or agrivoltaics facilities to benefit from the community solar program's incentive. The community solar program permits customers of an electric public utility to participate in a solar energy project that is remotely located away from their properties but is within their utility service territory. Participants of this program earn a credit to their bill equal to the electricity generated, which is attributed to their participation in the solar energy project.

AI Summary

This bill amends existing law to allow dual-use or agrivoltaics solar facilities to participate in New Jersey's Community Solar Energy Program. Specifically, the bill defines dual-use or agrivoltaics solar facilities as energy generation facilities that produce electric power from solar photovoltaic panels located on unpreserved farmland while simultaneously maintaining agricultural or horticultural production on the same land. Currently, the Board of Public Utilities restricts community solar projects to certain locations like rooftops, carports, contaminated sites, and landfills. The bill mandates that these dual-use solar facilities shall be eligible for participation in the community solar energy program and will be admitted into the small solar facilities incentive program upon registration. This means farmers can now install solar panels on their active farmland and receive credits on their utility bills for the electricity generated, while continuing to use the land for agricultural purposes. The change aims to support renewable energy development without taking productive agricultural land out of use, potentially providing an additional revenue stream for farmers while contributing to the state's clean energy goals.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 12/08/2025)

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