Massive Expansion of New Jersey’s Nation-Leading Solar Programs – Resulting in 3,000 New Megawatts of Community Solar Projects
Transmission-Scale Energy Storage Incentive Program to Reach 2,000 MW of Energy Storage by 2030 – One of the Most Ambitious Targets in the Nation
Legislation Will Nearly Double Clean Energy Capacity, Reducing Electric Bill Costs
LAWRENCEVILLE – Governor Phil Murphy today signed into law S4530/A5768 and A5267/S4289 as part of the Murphy Administration’s ongoing commitment to addressing the regional energy cost crisis by putting New Jersey on a path to nearly double its capacity to deliver affordable, reliable, and renewable energy by 2030. This legislation will facilitate the swift expansion of solar access for 450,000 additional New Jerseyans, including 250,000 low-income families, which will enable the equivalent of one million households to receive solar power by 2028. These bills will also help lower energy costs by vastly accelerating the construction of energy storage facilities across the state. The Governor was joined by legislative sponsors, local leaders, union members, and advocates at IBEW Local 269 in Lawrenceville.
S4530/A5768 directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to open registration by October 1, 2025 for an additional 3,000 megawatts of community solar projects. This will mark a massive expansion of New Jersey’s nation-leading solar programs and help hardworking families and businesses save money on their monthly electric bills.
A5267/S4289 establishes a transmission-scale energy storage incentive program to achieve New Jersey’s goal of 2,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2030. The program seeks to rapidly install new clean energy capacity and reduce costs for New Jersey’s energy customers.
In an effort to provide necessary energy alternatives, these pieces of legislation allow for the rapid expansion of New Jersey’s community solar program and swift creation of new energy storage facilities. Solar capacity has increased from 2.4 gigawatts to 5.2 gigawatts under the Murphy Administration, with solar currently powering the equivalent of over 600,000 homes.
“Today, we are taking immediate and far-reaching steps to lower energy costs for every household in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “By accelerating the process for bringing new sources of energy online and rapidly building new energy storage facilities, we will meet growing demand while also making life more affordable for our state’s families. As part of this process, we are going to create good-paying, union jobs and build a cleaner, more resilient future for every New Jerseyan.”
“I want to thank Governor Murphy for his leadership in advancing clean power solutions for New Jersey,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “This legislation addresses real problems. More New Jerseyans will get access to the benefits of expanded community solar programs—one of the best ways for residents to lower their utility bills while contributing to clean energy in the Garden State. And large-scale battery storage will strengthen our electric grid and keep the lights on when we need it most. This is how we build a grid that works for everyone.”
The two bills signed today build upon the Murphy Administration’s ongoing efforts to mitigate rising energy costs due to mismanagement by regional grid operator PJM.
Other notable measures that the Murphy Administration has taken include:
The prime sponsors of S4530/A5768 are Senators Gopal and McKeon and Assemblymembers Peterpaul, Donlon, and Karabinchak. The prime sponsors of A5267/S4289 are Senators Smith and Burzichelli and Assemblymembers DeAngelo, Bailey, Jr., and Egan.
“Community solar has delivered real benefits for working families across New Jersey, but our current limits on project development are holding back its full potential,” said Senator Gopal. “This bill modernizes the program to meet today’s needs, cutting red tape, creating savings, and accelerating our clean energy transition. At a time of rising electricity costs, we should be making it easier, not harder, to build local solar projects that lower bills and reduce strain on our grid. This is an opportunity to deliver immediate value to consumers while helping New Jersey meet its clean energy goals. With smart policy and strong investment, community solar can help power our future, affordably and equitably.”
“The Community Solar Energy Program has already delivered over $7 million in savings to more than 28,000 New Jersey residents, with over half of its benefits going to low and moderate-income households,” said Senator John McKeon. “By expanding the program to 3,000 megawatts by 2029, we will strengthen the state’s generation capacity and ensure that we are able to meet ever-increasing demand to avoid rate spikes in the future.”
“As projected energy demand and electricity costs rise, it is more important than ever to invest in innovative technology that will both enhance the stability of our grid and enable cost savings for New Jersey residents,” said Senator Smith, the Chair of the Senate Energy Committee. “By incentivizing and procuring the creation of transmission-scale energy storage we will enable a wider application of clean energy that can charge and store energy at low-cost hours then discharge at high-cost, high-demand hours, thus lowering overall costs and smoothing demand spikes on the grid. This legislation will help keep New Jersey at the forefront of investments in new, clean energy technology, even as the current federal administration seeks to sabotage our environment and our renewable future.”
“Energy storage is one of the more effective ways to reinforce the supply of power, which will help lower utility costs for consumers,” said Senator Burzichelli. “Investing in transmission-scale energy storage will make the utility grid more resilient to fluctuations in the supply and demand of power so that homeowners and businesses are better protected against increased electric bills. This is one of the many actions we are taking to counter the management failures by the regional energy grid operator that resulted in a spike in utility costs.”
“Energy storage is a necessary tool in balancing supply and demand, lowering costs, and increasing renewable energy projects,” said Assemblyman DeAngelo, President of IBEW Local 269. “As we seek to diversify our energy generation portfolio, this legislation will help us harness the power of renewable energy sources and use it to enhance the resiliency of our energy infrastructure.”
“Reliability and efficiency of the power grid are essential parts of the conversation surrounding energy affordability,” said Assemblyman Bailey. “Storing excess energy when demand is low and releasing it when demand is high is one of the smartest ways to reduce costs for consumers. Bill A5267 will do just that by bringing large-scale storage projects online, making our grid more reliable and our utility bills more affordable.”
“Bill A5267 will help us mitigate the unpredictability in both the market and the climate by strengthening our ability to store energy,” said Assemblyman Egan. “The steps we’re taking to stabilize the grid today will benefit consumers well into the future.”
“Community solar projects are beneficial in numerous ways, including promoting clean energy, enhancing accessibility, and reducing costs,” said Assemblywoman Peterpaul. “New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program has yielded millions of dollars in savings for subscribers. With this bill being signed into law today, we look forward to even more projects being constructed, leading to additional savings for residents throughout the state.”
“Boosting New Jersey’s energy supply is key to lowering utility bills for New Jersey ratepayers and this legislation is pivotal to bringing new solar projects online,” said Assemblywoman Donlon. “By expanding the nationally-recognized Community Solar Energy Program, Bill A5768 will enable us to bring rate relief to working families and increase access to this vital clean energy source.”
“With the termination of the federal Solar for All program earlier this month, the signing of this legislation could not come at a more critical time,” said Assemblyman Karabinchak. “Solar technology has stood the test of time and will play a crucial role in reaching our energy goals in New Jersey. As we continue to address energy affordability, bring relief to ratepayers, and increase electricity generation, Bill A5768 will help incentivize the development and construction of significantly more solar energy projects in the state.”
“With Governor Murphy’s signature, New Jersey just cemented itself as a national leader in energy affordability and equity,” said Charlie Coggeshall, Mid-Atlantic Director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). “This law doesn’t just build solar—it builds economic opportunity and resilience for the communities that need it most.”
New Jersey League of Conservation Voters
“The passage and signing of these bills are a major step forward for New Jersey’s clean energy future. Expanding energy storage and community solar doesn’t just strengthen our power grid—it creates good-paying, family-sustaining jobs for the skilled union carpenters who are ready to build this future,” said Anthony Abrantes, Assistant Executive Secretary – Treasurer, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. “These policies ensure that working people are at the center of the transition to renewable energy, delivering both environmental progress and economic opportunity. We applaud Governor Murphy and the legislature for their leadership in ensuring that clean energy expansion goes hand-in-hand with creating a pathway to the middle class.”