Bill Text: NJ A441 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes solar power incentive program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-12 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A441 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-A441-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 441

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  TIM EUSTACE

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman  DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Assemblyman  ANDREW ZWICKER

District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)

Assemblyman  BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Establishes solar power incentive program.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on January 12, 2017, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning solar power incentives.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Solar Power Incentive Program."

 

      2.  a.  As used in this section:

      "Board" and "electric public utility" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 3 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-51).

      "Solar panel system" means an elevated panel or plate, or a canopy or array thereof, that captures and converts solar radiation to produce ¹electric¹ power, and includes flat plate, focusing solar collectors, or photovoltaic solar cells and excludes the base or foundation of the panel, plate, canopy, or array.

      b.   The board shall establish the Solar Power Incentive Program to provide financial incentives to owners of solar panel systems and to reduce electric grid congestion.

      c.   The board, in consultation with electric public utilities, shall designate five strategic zones in this State that would benefit from reduced electric grid congestion through the installation of solar panel systems.

      d.   For solar panel systems installed on or after the effective date of P.L.    , c.   (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) in strategic zones, as designated by the board pursuant to subsection c. of this section, the board shall reimburse an owner of a solar panel system 15 percent of the cost to install the solar panel system ¹[and $1.50 per watt of energy produced by the solar panel system, in a manner determined by the board]¹.  The Solar Power Incentive Program shall be limited to solar panel systems having an installed capacity equal to or less than 25 kilowatts for residential systems and ¹[200 kilowatts] 2 megawatts¹ for non-residential systems.

      e.   The board shall establish an application process and standards for the Solar Power Incentive Program and make this information available on its Internet website.

      f.    The board shall use funds collected from the societal benefits charge that is imposed pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60) to fund and administer the Solar Power Incentive Program.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire three years thereafter.