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New Jersey renewable energy and grid modernization

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2026-08-29 02:51 UTC → 2026-09-11 16:36 UTC · added ~~removed~~

New Jersey is implementing various initiatives to expand renewable energy capacity and modernize its electric grid. In August 2026, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) awarded 16 projects under its Dual-Use Pilot Agrivoltaics Program. These projects, totaling 52.06 megawatts, aim to generate solar power while maintaining active farmland for crops and livestock across several counties. The state intends to potentially reach 200 MW of agrivoltaics deployment within three years. Concurrently, the state is advancing residential battery storage integration through virtual power plant (VPP) initiatives. The NJBPU has issued a straw proposal for a technology-neutral VPP program expected to launch by July 2027. Additionally, the utility PSE&G has introduced the GridSmart Battery Program, providing financial incentives for residential battery installations to help manage electricity demand during peak surges. Long-term goals include a market-based, open-access VPP tariff by 2029. In September 2026, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the ‘Garden State Balcony Solar Act’ (Senate Bill 2368), making New Jersey the tenth state to legalize and regulate portable solar generation devices. Effective March 1, 2027, the law allows residents to install portable photovoltaic systems with a combined output of up to 1,200 watts. Qualifying devices are exempt from many municipal permits and utility approvals, though systems up to 1,200 watts must still meet electrical code safety standards. The legislation also prevents landlords and homeowners’ associations from issuing blanket bans on these devices for tenants who pay their own electric bills, provided tenants give 14 days of prior written notice.

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