SolarEnergyNewJersey.com

For a Small State like NJ, Solar Goals Rank High as California.

New Jersey State Regulators agreed to $515 million in projects which will double the amount of solar power generated in New Jersey. This agreement will position NJ only behind California in power produced from the solar energy.

The green light, approved by state Board of Public Utilities will target 145 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power about 125,000 homes, and boost the state total to more than 230 megawatts. As published by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the United States had 791 megawatts of solar capacity at the end of last year, with California accounting for 530 megawatts.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has said he wants 30 percent of the energy consumed in the state to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Of the projects, PSE&G proposed the largest — $515 million in solar panels installed on more than 200,000 utility poles plus solar gardens and rooftop arrays. Combined, the solar plants will produce 80 megawatts of electricity and power about 72,000 homes. The utility, New Jersey's largest, expects to complete the project by the end of 2013.

Consumers initially will pay $1.28 a year to fund the solar generation, and pay up to $4.08 by 2028. South Plainfield-based Petra Solar will produce solar panels for PSE&G and says most of some 100 workers it expects to hire will be used for the project. Also, PSE&G estimates an additional 90 jobs will be created for other parts of the project.

Regulators also approved proposals from three utilities that together will generate an estimated 65 megawatts of electricity from the sun. JCPL will contract 42 megawatts of solar power through 2012. Atlantic City Electric Company will contract 19 megawatts.Rockland Electric Company, will contract 3.8 megawatts.