Introducing Solar United Neighbors of New Jersey

By Curt Macysyn on January 2, 2018
Curt Macysyn
Solar United Neighbors of New Jersey Program Director, Curt Macysyn.

Hello and welcome to Solar United Neighbors of New Jersey. My name is Curt Macysyn. I am our state program director. We are excited to get off the ground in New Jersey to support and augment an already robust solar economy.

Solar United Neighbors of New Jersey is the newest program of Solar United Neighbors, a community of people building a new energy system with rooftop solar as the cornerstone. We help people go solar, join together and fight for their energy rights.

According to the latest statistics from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), there are already more than 83,000 solar installation completed throughout the state. Those installations represent nearly 13,000 individual completed projects.

While it is great to point out these statistics, which rank New Jersey fifth in the country, we must remain mindful that there is still a lot more work to do. Discussing homeowner’s energy needs against the backdrop of a complex energy delivery system sometimes represents a tall task. One of our key roles at Solar United Neighbors is to be an educational resource.

Solar United Neighbors helps thousands of people go solar each year. We have been able to do this through a coordinated campaign of solar co-ops. These solar o-ops educate homeowners about the basics of solar energy, as well as the financing options available to them. Ultimately, the co-ops create a system for residents to feel confident about purchasing a solar system for their home.

The incoming administration of Governor-elect Phil Murphy has pledged that New Jersey be reliant on 100 percent renewable energy sources for its power supply by 2050. That goal will not come to fruition unless we take tangible steps now to encourage residents to install a solar array.

I am excited at the opportunity to positively shape New Jersey’s energy landscape. I hope that you will attend one of the several information sessions we have scheduled in 2018. Your decision to “go solar” will be beneficial for you financially, as well as reducing your carbon footprint in the country’s most densely populated states.