According to the New Jersey Board of Utilities (BPU):
Community solar projects enable greater access to solar energy. Electric utility customers who have previously been unable to go solar, due to a variety of factors including cost, unsuitable roof, or lack of roof control, can now access this renewable energy. It will enable low- and moderate- income households and the environmental justice community greater access to clean energy and savings on their electricity bills. Community solar encourages local clean energy development that is tied to the communities without compromising the preservation of open space or protected lands in New Jersey.
Visit the New Jersey's Clean Energy Program Community Solar website
According to the New Jersey Board of Utilities (BPU):
Community solar projects enable greater access to solar energy. Electric utility customers who have previously been unable to go solar, due to a variety of factors including cost, unsuitable roof, or lack of roof control, can now access this renewable energy. It will enable low- and moderate- income households and the environmental justice community greater access to clean energy and savings on their electricity bills. Community solar encourages local clean energy development that is tied to the communities without compromising the preservation of open space or protected lands in New Jersey.
Visit the New Jersey's Clean Energy Program Community Solar website
The Community Solar Pilot Program, which was established as part of New Jersey’s 2018 Clean Energy Act, enables utility customers to participate in a solar energy project that is remotely located from their property. Historically, solar energy projects have only been feasible for customers who have the physical and financial capability to host solar on-site.
The benefits of on-site solar energy have not been accessible to residential customers who are renters, have an older roof, live in an apartment, or have low credit. Due to these and other disqualifying factors, the majority of residential customers in New Jersey have been blocked from direct access to solar benefits. These disqualifying conditions disproportionally apply to LMI customers, effectively preventing those most in need of energy bill savings from saving through solar energy.
New Jersey’s Community Solar Pilot Program establishes a pilot program that as a matter of policy and in line with the Governor’s environmental justice priorities purposely favors providing LMI customers with access to low-cost solar energy produced at a remote site to residential customers.
The City seeks to participate in Year 2 of the Community Solar Pilot Program with the goal of advancing environmental justice to Hoboken’s low- and moderate- income residents. Through its’ participation the City will provide access to LMI residents who cannot install solar panels on their own roofs to achieve the savings and environmental benefits of solar energy from a remotely sited solar project.
Community Solar would provide affordable renewable energy to LMI residents of Hoboken, which is a key component of Hoboken’s Climate Action Plan and Executive Order on Climate Action.
Hoboken residents may also participate in eligible Year 1 Community Solar Pilot Program projects.
By resolution on November 4, 2020, the City issued an RFP to identify a solar vendor to develop the solar project at the developer’s site, enter into a Master Performance Agreement (MPA), and be a co-applicant on the BPU’s Year 2 application process.
The City desires a solar developer to fulfil these needs in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:11-4.1(j), N.J.S.A. 40A:11-15(44), and a fair and open process under the New Jersey Local Unit Pay-to-Play Law, N.J.S.A.19:44A-20.4 et seq.
If Hoboken and the Successful Respondent are selected by the BPU, the Successful Respondent will build and maintain a solar project to serve low-and-moderate income (LMI) residents of Hoboken. The City has chosen to pursue a Project that will serve exclusively LMI residents (as opposed to the NJBPU’s requirement of 51% LMI). The November 17, 2020 RFP was issued in order to secure the greatest cost savings to participating LMI customers with the highest chance of award by the BPU in its review process.
As set forth in the RFP, the Successful Respondent and the City will enter into a 15-year MPA under which the City would select and aggregate LMI customers, who will purchase solar energy from the Project.
Pursuant to the Community Solar Pilot Program Rules, the City will serve as the “Community Solar Subscriber Organization”. The City’s consultant, Gabel Associates, will act as the Administrator of the Program on behalf of the City and manage all activities that apply to a Subscriber Organization.
The Successful Respondent will own the solar project. The Successful Respondent is responsible for maintaining the solar project and for producing solar energy to the Subscriber Organization.
To evaluate proposals, the City organized an evaluation team which produced an evaluation report dated January 4, 2020. Based on the considerations as detailed in this Report, the Evaluation Team recommends that the Council issue a resolution that a) designates Hartz as the Successful Respondent, b) provides that that the City enter into the MPA with Hartz, and c) directs the City staff and Gabel to work with Hartz to complete and submit the BPU Application on behalf of Hoboken and Hartz and to otherwise implement the Program.
