New Jersey awards 16 agrivoltaic solar projects

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has awarded 16 projects under its Dual-Use Pilot Agrivoltaics Program, totaling 52.06 megawatts of clean energy. This initiative, established under the Dual-Use Solar Energy Act of 2021, aims to generate solar power while maintaining farmland for active agricultural or horticultural production.

The selected projects are located across Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Salem, and Warren counties. These sites will integrate solar photovoltaic panels with various agricultural activities, including the production of soybeans, hay, grains, vegetables, fruits, specialty crops, and livestock.

NJBPU President Ben Hertz-Shargel stated the program is designed to support farmer profitability while adding capacity to the electric grid. The pilot program is being implemented in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Protection. The state aims to potentially reach 200 MW of agrivoltaics deployment within the next three years.