Solar Landscape has energized its eighth and final community solar project of New Jersey Clean Energy Program’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program Year One. The final installation – at World Harvest Church in Pennsauken, N.J. – rounds out the company’s nearly 20 MW portfolio.
The pilot program is administered by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. More than half of the energy generated must be distributed to households of low- or moderate income.
“This is a milestone for New Jersey’s progress in community solar,” states Solar Landscape CEO Shaun Keegan. “Together with our partners across the state, we are bringing affordable solar energy to thousands of people who thought they could never get it, either because they don’t own their home, they live in a place where solar panels aren’t an option or because they lack the financial resources to install them. On behalf of Solar Landscape’s 100-plus employees, we look forward to bringing affordable solar energy to thousands more soon.”
Solar Landscape has started construction on some 46 projects for Year Two. They are expected generate more than 50MW DC of power, and once energized, will supply electricity for another 7,000 New Jersey households. This brings the total to at least 10,000 homes that will be able use community solar energy by Solar Landscape.
Solar Landscape’s seven community solar projects that were energized in 2021 generated more than 11.5 GWh of electricity to local residents’ homes and apartments.
Solar Landscape began construction on its second year two installations in November 2021 just weeks after their approval. On October 28, 2021, the NJBPU approved Solar Landscape to begin 46 new community solar projects as part of the New Jersey Office of Clean Energy’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program Year Two. Solar Landscape, in partnership with community partners and non-profits, has trained dozens of New Jersey residents on how to install solar panels onto rooftops at weeklong training sessions.
Solar Landscape has also partnered up with New Jersey technical schools, community colleges, and nonprofits to expose students and schoolchildren to the possibilities of the solar energy industry. This is part of the Green Ambassador Program. Through its Community Sustainability Challenge scholarships, Solar Landscape and Sustainable Jersey City provided $20,000 in scholarships for high school seniors.