PSE&G Solar, a subsidiary of the big New Jersey utility, is about to add 80 megawatts of solar capacity in its territory by the end of 2013.
This will maintain New Jersey’s position as the nation’s second-ranked state for solar photovoltaic installations, behind only California.
The installation, scaled down slightly from the original plan, will cost $515 million, and will add $1.20 to $4 a year to the average residential customer’s electricity bill, a spokesman, Paul L. Rosengren, said.
Of the 80 megawatts, half will be filled by 200,000 small panels mounted atop utility poles. Each will provide 200 watts. These panels will look like the ones used to power emergency telephones by the sides of interstate highways. The 200,000 will be the world’s largest installation of pole-mounted solar units, according to the manufacturer, Petra Solar, which is based in New Jersey and will add 100 employees to the 40 working there now.
The other half of the 80 megawatts will be in big installations, spread between sites owned by PSE&G, sites owned by third parties, and New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zones, areas where the state is trying to encourage business activity.
We applaud New Jersey, and other states like them, that are leading the charge in a renewable and sustainable future.
Source: NY Times
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Yay, New Jersey! We rock.