PSE&G, Newark, N.J., has selected four sites in New Jersey and developers for over $50 million in investments in 12MW of grid-connected solar energy. The company hopes to start construction at its sites in Edison, Hamilton, Linden, and Trenton this spring, with projects completed this summer and fall. All four ground-mounted solar farms would be among the largest to be developed in New Jersey, with the Hamilton project being the largest in the state and the project in Linden the second largest. Approximately 150 jobs will be created when installation begins.
"We’re moving ahead with clean energy projects that will put people to work, installing tens of thousands of solar panels that will help the environment and stimulate the economy,” says Ralph LaRossa, president and COO of PSE&G."“Investments like these will help New Jersey attract manufacturing jobs and help workers build the skills required to compete in the new green economy."
The design and installation work will be completed by four different solar developers: J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Hackensack, N.J.; American Capital Energy, North Chelmsford, Mass.; Advanced Solar Products; Flemington, N.J.; and Sun Edison, Beltsville, Md.
With permission from local zoning and permitting boards, construction will begin in the spring. All four sites will utilize crystalline solar panel technology and have monitoring and communications functionality. The projects are part of PSE&G's Solar 4 All program, which was approved by state regulators in July. The program involves a total of $515 million investment in 80MW of solar, creating green jobs and nearly doubling the size of New Jersey’s installed solar capacity. The state has made significant inroads in the last few years, installing more than 100MW of solar energy, making it second only to California in terms of the amount of solar capacity installed.
Proposed sites on PSE&G-owned property:
- Silver Lake Solar Farm in Edison Township
About 8,500 solar panels on 5.7 acres
2MW
Solar firm: J. Fletcher Creamer & Sons - Yardville Solar Farm in Hamilton Township
About 19,000 solar panels on 16 acres
5.1MW
Solar Firm: American Capital Energy - Linden Solar Farm in Linden
About 15,000 solar panels on 10 acres
3.6MW
Solar Firm: Advanced Solar Products - Trenton Solar Farm in Trenton
About 5,500 solar panels on 5.5 acres
1.3MW
Solar Firm: Sun Edison