This bill amends existing legislation to allow dual-use or agrivoltaics solar facilities to participate in New Jersey's community solar program. The new legal language defines dual-use solar facilities as those that generate electricity from solar panels located on unpreserved farmland while simultaneously allowing for agricultural or horticultural production on the same land. Additionally, the bill states that these dual-use facilities will be eligible for participation in the community solar energy program and will be admitted into the community solar market segment of the small solar facilities incentive program upon registration.

Currently, the Board of Public Utilities restricts qualified solar energy projects to specific locations, such as rooftops, contaminated sites, and landfills. The bill aims to expand the scope of eligible projects by including dual-use facilities, which were previously limited to incentives under the Successor Solar Initiative (SuSI) program. By allowing these facilities to benefit from the community solar program, the bill promotes the development of solar energy projects that are compatible with agricultural practices, thereby enhancing the state's renewable energy initiatives while supporting agricultural production.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:3-87.11