In 2020 the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved the final New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, the State’s comprehensive roadmap for achieving 7,500 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind energy by 2035. The plan was developed by Ramboll U.S. Corporation through an extensive public stakeholder process. It presents recommendations on establishing an offshore wind industry that achieves net economic benefits and gives New Jersey residents the best overall value, while also protecting the environment, commercial and recreational fishing interests, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Learn more about offshore wind.

New Jersey Solar Programs

New Jersey is committed to supporting solar energy. The Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program is the current solar program which allows new solar projects to register to earn New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Credits II (SREC-II). Older projects may be registered in one of New Jersey’s former solar programs, the SREC Registration Program (SRP) or the Transition Incentive (TI) Program, through which they continue to receive SRECs or TRECs. SRECs, TRECs, and SREC-IIs represent the clean energy attributes of electricity generated from a solar energy project.

Legacy SREC Registration Program (SRP)

The Legacy SRP was the solar program previously used to register solar installations in New Jersey prior to its close on April 30, 2020. Projects currently registered in the SRP may keep their SREC eligibility for the duration of the project’s Qualification Life. The value of the SRECs available through the SRP is determined by the market established by the NJ Renewable Portfolio Standard rules at N.J.A.C. 14:8-2. A solar electric system earns one SREC for each 1,000 kWh (1MWh) of electricity the system generates. Visit this page for more information on NJRPS NJ Renewable Portfolio Standards.

To conform with the Clean Energy Act of 2018 signed into law on May 23, 2018, NJBPU adopted rules to close the SRP to new registrants once 5.1% of the kilowatt-hours sold in the state were generated by solar electric power connected to the distribution system. By Order dated April 6, 2020, NJBPU determined the 5.1% Milestone would be attained on April 30, 2020, at which time the SRP was closed to new registrations. On May 1, 2020, the TI Program opened to new applications. More information on solar proceedings can be found here.

Transition Incentive (TI) Program

By Order dated December 6, 2019, NJBPU established the TI Program to provide a bridge between the Legacy SRP and the Successor Solar Incentive Program (SuSI). The TI Program opened to new applications on May 1, 2020. 

Per Board Order dated July 28, 2021, NJBPU established a process for closing the TI Program. The TI portal closed to new applications on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST. Additional details on the process for closing the TI Program can be found here.

Solar projects registered under the TI Program are eligible to create TRECs. The TREC can be sold to the TREC Administrator at fixed prices determined by NJBPU. A solar electric system earns one TREC for each 1,000 kWh (1MWh) of electricity the system generates. For additional information on the TI Program, refer to the TI FAQs.

Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program

The NJBPU has established a new Successor Solar Incentive Program, known as the “SuSI” Program, which is the long-term program for providing incentives to new solar generation facilities connected to the transmission or distribution systems of New Jersey electric public utilities or local government units.

The SuSI Program consists of two sub-programs:

       1. The Administratively Determined Incentive (ADI) Program provides administratively set incentives for net metered residential projects, net metered non-residential projects of 5 MW (dc) or less, all community solar projects, and, for an interim period, projects previously eligible to seek conditional certification from the Board under Subsection (t).

       2. The Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program will provide competitively set incentives for grid supply projects and net metered non-residential projects greater than 5 MW (dc). Board Staff is currently working with stakeholders to develop the design of the CSI Program with the goal of holding the first solicitation by early-to-mid 2022. For updates, please continue to check the Solar Proceedings page on the New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program website.

Both the ADI and CSI Programs provide one SREC-II for each megawatt-hour of solar electricity produced from a qualifying solar facility. The value of each qualifying facility’s SREC-II will be set administratively in the case of the ADI Program, and via a competitive process in the case of the CSI Program.

Per Board Order dated July 28, 2021, NJBPU established a process for opening the SuSI Program to new registrations for the ADI Program. The ADI Program registration portal opened to new registrations on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at 12:01 a.m. EST. 

ADI Program Forms, Checklists and additional program information can be found on the ADI Program page.

The Successor Solar Incentive Program Pre-Publication Rule Proposal can be found on the Solar Proceedings Page.

Community Solar Energy Pilot Program

In May 2018, Governor Murphy signed L.2018, c.17, which mandated the creation of the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. On January 17, 2019, NJBPU adopted rules establishing the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program.

This Pilot Program enables utility customers to virtually connect to a solar energy project in their utility service territory and receive a credit on their utility bills. Community solar will therefore enable access to clean energy generation for utility customers currently unable to place solar generation directly on their own properties.

Applications to participate in the Pilot Program are accepted during a certain Application Period each year. The Program Year 2 Application Period closed on February 5, 2021; the Program Year 3 Application period has not yet been established.

To receive program updates, please sign up for the Community Solar listserv. You can also find additional information on the Community Solar FAQ page.

Energy Efficiency First

Make sure your home or building is as energy efficient as possible before installing solar. Benefits include: improved comfort and safety, lower energy bills, less renewable capacity needed, and lower upfront cost to install renewable energy.  Check with your electric or gas utility regarding programs they may offer to help make your home more energy efficient.