The New Jersey Public Utilities Commission (NJBPU) has approved the expansion of the New Jersey Community Solar Program (CSEP), adding 250 MW of capacity blocks. Since the first allocation of CSEP capacity in November 2023, over 500 megawatts of community solar projects have been registered under the program throughout the state.

Christine Guhl Sadovy, Chair of the New Jersey Public Utilities Commission, said, "New Jersey's leading community solar program has saved and will continue to save participants millions of dollars in costs. By launching a new round of projects, we are advancing smart policies to ensure that all participants can save 20% on costs, regardless of their income level, whether your roof is suitable for installing solar energy, or whether you rent a house, ultimately helping more New Jersey households afford solar energy. Use the New Jersey Public Utilities Commission's Community Solar Project Finder to find existing projects near you and start saving money

CSEP is one of the most effective and quickest methods to reduce energy bills. Community solar users participating in CSEP can receive guaranteed savings, and their community solar credit limit in their bills can enjoy a discount of 15% or higher. CSEP currently serves over 28000 users in New Jersey, who have received over $37 million in billing credit lines since the pilot project was launched, resulting in net savings of over $7 million. The addition of a 250 MW capacity block is key to helping more New Jersey taxpayers afford their electricity bills.

Community solar energy enables utility users who do not have their own roofs or houses, rent, or cannot afford the upfront cost of solar energy to participate in community solar projects located within their power service areas, and must reserve at least 51% of capacity for low - and middle-income (LMI) users. In addition to opening up more capacity blocks for new projects, the Community Solar Energy Project (CSEP) has also made procedural changes to simplify the participation process and reduce barriers to cost savings. CSEP allows LMI users to prove their eligibility on their own. In addition, local governments can now submit registrations for automatic registration projects, allowing municipal authorities to choose households that are difficult to cover to directly subscribe to community solar projects and receive savings without residents taking action. The committee has also recently implemented consolidated billing, where users will see both subscription fees and net savings on their utility bills, without the need for community solar suppliers to issue separate bills.

The new 250 MW capacity block will open for new project registration on April 30, 2025. The project will be included in CSEP on a first come, first served basis, but project registrations submitted within the initial registration period of 10 working days will be considered as simultaneous submissions and will be awarded based on the highest discount provided to the user.