The Wood-Ridge project is the sixth community solar project Solar Landscape has energized in 2021.
“It is great to see that Solar Landscape has energized another project that will benefit North Jersey ratepayers,” said Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli. “The purpose of community solar is to provide energy equity and access for all and that’s exactly what this project does. Hudson and Bergen County residents get the benefits of solar energy – cleaner air and lower costs - without the need for solar panels on their rooftop. We continue to support clean energy initiatives across the state.”
“Our continued progress on New Jersey Community Solar projects is clearing our air and making our communities stronger,” said Solar Landscape chief executive officer Shaun Keegan. “With the impacts of climate change becoming increasingly stark, community solar gives New Jerseyans – especially low- and middle-income households -- a real way to fight global
warming. Not only are nearby residents getting renewable energy at a lower cost than traditional sources, we are training tomorrow’s clean energy workforce statewide. We are grateful to our local partners, including the borough of Wood-Ridge and the Secaucus Housing Authority for their collaboration and for Duke Realty for tangibly demonstrating their
commitment to sustainability by hosting this community solar project on their rooftop.”
The installation at is one of four rooftop community solar projects installed by Solar Landscape on Duke Realty facilities. Together, the four projects are expected to generate more than 13 million kilowatt hours of solar power to New Jersey communities.
“Duke Realty remains committed to thoughtful and sustainable practices that take into consideration the impact we have on the communities we serve,” said Megan Basore, Duke Realty’s vice president of corporate responsibility. “By teaming with Solar Landscape and participating in New Jersey’s Community Solar Pilot Program we are working to be good corporate citizens and helping the residents of Bergen and Hudson counties, while
leading the way for a clean energy future.”
Solar Landscape also announced that 51% of the electricity generated from the project will be sold to low- and moderate-income (LMI) households and that every subscriber receives a guaranteed discount in electricity expenses every month they are part of the program.
In addition to the project being fully energized, it is also fully subscribed: the program has reached its goal of 350 subscribers in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. The subscriber success is due to community outreach and participation from the Newark Boys & Girls Club and Newark Science and Sustainability.
“We were thrilled to reach out to our community with the opportunity to offer affordable renewable energy,” said Ameer Washington, chief executive officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Newark. “Promoting clean energy in and around Newark is a win for everyone: cleaner air, lower power bills and the opportunity to create workforce training for our future solar workforce.”
“Renewable energy has long been a pillar of Newark Science and Sustainability and community solar projects give us the chance to show how it works in the real world,'' said Tobias Fox, managing director of the Newark Science and Sustainability, Inc. “Any meaningful change requires teamwork and we were happy to work with Solar Landscape and others to make
the public aware of sustainability efforts in our community.”
The project is part of Year One of the NJBPU’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program, which is administered by New Jersey’s Clean Energy ProgramTM.
