Community solar in New Jersey

What is community solar?

Community solar makes it possible for everyone to go solar.

With community solar, you can purchase or lease a “share” in a community solar project or start a project with your neighbors. Every month, you receive a credit on your electricity bill for the energy produced by your share.

Everyone should have access to community solar

We believe that everyone should be able to go solar, whether on their home or through a subscription to a community solar project. Solar is a way to reduce your energy bills, save money, and live your values.

Community solar began with a simple idea. People shouldn’t have to put a solar panel on their own roof to benefit from the electricity it generates. This idea is in the process of dramatically changing the way we get our electricity. In the digital age, it should be easy to take production somewhere on your local electric grid and attribute it to your utility bill account. Consumers no longer need to depend on analog wires and dials. Community solar, when done right, can provide solar access to everyone.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released a study in 2015 that examined community solar’s potential. NREL found that community solar could grow to nearly half of the solar PV market by 2020, if the market is allowed to fully develop. This is a critical question as community solar is currently only available in a handful of states. In order to change this, lawmakers will need to pass new laws and rewrite utility regulations.

Learn more

Legislation (A3723/S2314) passed the New Jersey Legislature that would allow Community Solar projects in New Jersey. Solar United Neighbors hosted a webinar to help folks better understand the concept of community solar, its benefits, and how to make it a reality in New Jersey. You can download the presentation slides here.