New Federal Regulation Could Revitalize Solar Energy Development in New Jersey

January 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
NJ solar, solar power new jersey

Solar power installations continue to rise in New Jersey.

When it comes to development of solar, New Jersey is second only to California. Advancement of renewable energy seems to have stalled out lately, partially due to lack of access to transmission lines. But a new federal energy regulation called Order 1000 is in place; and it will no doubt give further solar energy growth a boost in New Jersey, not to mention potentially throughout the United States.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is responsible for enforcing Order 1000, which accomplishes a huge change in the big picture of energy in the U.S. This new federal regulation, in essence, revamps the planning process for the electrical grid and along the way gives our nation perhaps the biggest electricity market transformation in several decades and opens the door much wider for further advancement of clean energy.

Transmission lines are targeted in Order 1000, and they are an essential component in linking the grid. And most importantly for the earth-conscious, transmission lines are now a catalyst for further development of clean energy.

One factor which has hindered the progress of renewable energy is the matter of who is going to pay for the transmission lines needed to link the energy with the larger electrical grid. Order 1000 proposes to even the playing field among energy resources. Whereas plants which burn fossil fuel can be placed virtually anywhere and at whatever location is most convenient and cost-effective, renewable energy sources typically have greater transmission demands. In other words, in order for renewable energy sources to be reliable, a much broader dispersal of renewables is needed. More transmission lines are required in order to carry the renewable energy where it’s needed and to link it with the larger electrical grid.

New Jersey solar power, Solar installations NJ

Order 1000 will help create new jobs and help the electrical grids provide clean energy throughout New Jersey.

Until now, there was no economic incentive for centralized fossil fuel electricity sources to bear some of the cost for transmission lines which bring renewable energy across state boundaries. Order 1000 provides incentive by changing both the planning and the valuation process for transmission lines. Transmission needs driven by state and/or federal regulations and laws must now be considered in the planning processes for local and regional transmission lines. Public policy requirements must be met, which means procedures to identify transmission needs will be altered. Reliability and efficiency will no longer be the only considerations; instead, state and federal regulations must be taken into account.

One example of a state law which will affect transmission lines is a mandate concerning a certain percentage of electricity which must be provided by solar energy or some other renewable energy source. Regions will need to work together to get more renewable energy sources connected to the grid, and there’s no time to waste.

When Order 1000 is enforced, it will ensure that electrical grids will make progress in providing clean energy. Economic development should also be spurred as new jobs are created.

Progress toward providing clean energy in New Jersey has been remarkable. It would be remiss not to mention that New Jersey has been profoundly affected by mega-storm Hurricane Sandy, but Order 1000 will help to ensure that progress in advancing clean energy is as sure as the rebuilding process of areas hardest hit by the storm.

Contact the NASS Solar Store in Hamilton, NJ for Solar Panels, Solar PV and Solar Thermal in New Jersey.

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What state produces the most Solar Energy? You will never guess.

July 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
California solar

Not even sunny California can compete with New Jersey for the most solar power usage.

New Jersey may not seem like a probable place to surpass even California in the production of solar energy, but it has become America’s biggest U.S. solar market by megawatts installed from January through April of this year.  New Jersey may just hold on to the lead, too, thanks to a bill approved by the New Jersey State Assembly this week, which passed the state Senate in May.  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has announced that he will sign the bill if it makes it to his desk.

The legislation in question addresses a situation which has threatened many jobs in the state.  Solar installation growth, which has been phenomenal in New Jersey, has threatened to stall any new development because the value of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) which utilities purchase went from over $500 each to $100.  The bill increases from less than half of 1 percent to 2.05% the amount of solar power that utility companies are required to either produce or purchase.

The new legislation would, in other words, up the value of the SRECs; and the SRECs would again attract new investments in solar power.

Learn about additional solar energy incentives. 

Expansion of the solar industry and other clean energy sources is a long-term goal that has been set for New Jersey.  Under current standards, by mid-2021, the percentage of power supplied by renewable energy sources will be 20.4; and 2,518 gigawatt-hours of that must be solar power.  Beginning in 2014, utility companies will be penalized at $339 per megawatt-hour that they are short of the added governmental requirement, a penalty amount which is set to decline each year to the amount of $239 per megawatt-hour in 2028.

new jersey solar panels

More and more New Jersey businesses have placed massive solar arrays on the flat tops of their buildings to save with solar energy.

Besides the addition of solar panels by many homeowners, numerous major projects have added to the explosion of solar sources in New Jersey, including The Gloucester Marine Terminal, The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens, and IKEA stores.

The Gloucester Marine Terminal has the distinction of having completed installation of the largest rooftop system in the U.S.A., with 25 acres of 9 megawatt solar panels.  This major construction project was a boon for New Jersey, since it was done during a serious slowdown in the development of solar power across the state.

The Gloucester Marine Terminal solar panel system is expected to supply nearly 80% of the power needs for the warehouse; and it’s estimated that it will eliminate 9,500 tons of carbon dioxide annually.  Corporations across the country are taking notice of the benefits of using expansive rooftops to harness solar power.

The Outlet Collection/Jersey Gardens is among the largest single-rooftop solar systems in all of North America, and it recently began producing solar power from the 4.8-megawatt solar power system.

IKEA is a megastore with 44 locations nationwide.  Seventeen stores have operational solar energy systems installed on their rooftops, and 20 more are underway.  Two additional locations in New Jersey will bring IKEA’s U.S. solar presence to almost 89%; and IKEA’s total U.S. generating capacity will reach 38 megawatts.

With the new legislation, it’s difficult to conceive that New Jersey’s carbon footprint won’t continue to get even smaller, progressively.  In fact, New Jersey may deservedly become a lasting symbol of leadership and inspiration for the advancement of solar power and other renewable energy sources.

If you or your business are ready to help lead the way with New Jersey solar, contact the solar experts located in Hamilton, New Jersey. With over 50 years of experience, Bowden’s has a proven customer service record in offering solar electric modules, solar thermal collectors, solar hot water equipment and solar space heating equipment.

Photo Credit: David Paul Ohmer, Kimco Reality

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Macy’s Goes Solar in New Jersey

June 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A Solar Array on a Macy’s Rooftop in New Jersey is Part of a Long-Range Plan Toward Sustainability

Macy's is setting the bar high by investing in a 1.1 MW sustainable, roof-mounted, Solar PV system.

The rooftop of the Macy’s Raritan Distribution Center near Edison, New Jersey, has just become an active source of clean, renewable solar energy.  A 1.1 megawatt fixed-tilt solar array installed by Enfinity America Corporation (Enfinity) is further evidence of Macy’s commitment to sustainability.  Tom Cole, chief administrative officer of Macy’s, said that in recent years they have made significant progress toward sustainability on all fronts.  The latest addition of this rooftop solar in New Jersey is just another step in minimizing Macy’s environmental impact. SunConnect, a leading developer and provider of technology related to solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays, signed the agreement with Macy’s to design and install this new solar power generation system.  The project commenced in September of 2011. Now that the solar array is online and operational, it’s expected that the system will provide approximately 70% of all the power required for the operation of the expansive facility.  The system was co-developed with Enfinity, the power purchase agreement (PPA) provider on the project involved in the purchase, construction, and interconnection of the solar panels along with related components. The project incorporates SunConnect’s proprietary Clearview Racking System.  This is a breakthrough PV panel support structure which allows simple and quick access to underlying roof surfaces.  The Clearview Racking System represents improvements in the solar industry in that the system is not too heavy to be supported by the large, flat roof underneath it.  The support structure is constructed of extruded aluminum and stainless steel.  It is not vulnerable to corrosion; and the projected lifespan of the system, 40 years, is the same as most solar PV arrays. The Clearview Racking System was engineered with the express idea of allowing building owners to operate their buildings with more cost effectiveness.  In the event of a roof leak, no costly dis-assembly of the solar PV system is required.  In addition, because the PV panels can be moved around as needed without major dis-assembly, the system can significantly:

  • Shorten the period of water infiltration going into the building.
  • Speed up the pace of roof surface repair jobs.
  • Help to minimize the impact of any water damage which may occur within the structure.
light bulb

Macy's increases their sustainability with LED light bulbs and solar in New Jersey.

The CEO of Enfinity, Rafael Dobrzynski, said “This installation for Macy’s is a good example of what the future of solar PV will look like; more roof-mounted, distributed generation plants located near areas of higher electricity demand.” For many environmentalists, turning massive, flat rooftops into prime real estate for solar panels and the production of clean energy is just another way of making the dream of seeing America go green seem entirely possible.  And Macy’s has a lot more going on, in addition to installing rooftop solar PV systems throughout the U.S.  Some of the retailer’s other waste reduction and energy-saving initiatives include:

    • The use of LED bulbs in 86 Macy’s stores, which replaced 117,000 traditional incandescent light bulbs.  The new bulbs utilize about 73 percent less energy.  The total energy savings is estimated at about 16,200 MW every hour every year, which is comparable to planting 65,500 trees.
    • Bottled water used in Macy’s office facilities has been replaced with water filtration units, which means the associates fill their own containers, which are reusable.  Halting the use of bottled water has a direct impact on the waste stream.  By recycling, Macy’s diverted more than 66 tons of waste last year alone.

The Macy’s solar array in New Jersey may be the latest news about the retailer’s movement toward switching to sustainable energy, but it will surely not be the last. Our Solar Store in Hamilton, New Jersey offers residential and small business access to Solar PV Electric and Solar Hot Water systems. Bowden’s is a well established and trusted business that has provided energy solutions since 1904!

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