New York Construction Report staff writer
New Jersey has launched a Landfil to Solar website to serve as a one-stop shop to guide municipalities and solar developers as they plan, fund, and complete solar plus landfill capping projects.
Governor Murphy also signed legislation, A4619/S3479, enhancing the Historic Property Reinvestment Act and the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act to support historic preservation and further incentivize the redevelopment of brownfields across New Jersey into new solar energy facilities.
“In New Jersey, we have set the ambitious goal of delivering a 100 percent green economy because we know how important it is to build a strong foundation for renewable energy, combating the imminent threat of climate change and propelling our state forward,” Murphy said in a news release. “With the launch of the Landfill to Solar website, we are putting all our resources in one place so municipalities and developers can leverage otherwise unusable land into renewable energy sites.
“We are also expanding tax credits under the Economic Development Authority’s Historic Property Reinvestment Act and Brownfields Redevelopment Program Act so that we can preserve New Jersey’s communities while promoting environmental cleanup and green energy production.”
The new Landfill to Solar website has resources from New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Economic Development Authority (EDA), and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide both municipal governments and solar developers with a step-by-step guide to initiating and completing solar projects.
Also, New Jersey’s solar programs provide incentives tailored to the needs of different projects, further enabling the continued growth of the solar industry at a lower cost to ratepayers. At their September 4 board meeting, BPU adopted rules for the permanent Community Solar Energy Program and proposed changes to allow for the co-location of projects on uncapped, municipally-owned landfills up to a total size of 10-megawatts.
“From our Competitive Solar Incentive program to our nation-leading Community Solar Energy Program, New Jersey’s thriving solar industry continues to serve as a national model,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “We look forward to continuing to provide municipalities and developers with the tools they need to bring projects to fruition while making affordable clean energy more accessible for all New Jersey residents.”
Legislation will enhance incentives available through EDA’s Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program Act by modifying provisions to cover remediation activities such as the work needed to cap landfill sites. Solar projects located on the site of a former landfill will be eligible to receive tax credits in the amount of 100 percent of the costs of remediating and capping the landfill, up to a maximum of $8 to $12 million depending on the location of the project.
The legislation also reforms EDA’s Historic Property Reinvestment Act by increasing the maximum size of tax credit awards available under the program and allowing for certain facade rehabilitation projects to be eligible for a tax credit award. Credits awarded for the rehabilitation of properties located in qualified incentive tracts or government-restricted municipalities are increased to 60 percent of the cost of rehabilitation, up to a maximum of $12 million. Credits awarded for the rehabilitation of other qualified properties – other than a transformative project – are increased to 50 percent of the cost of rehabilitation, up to a maximum of $8 million.
“The high cost of environmental remediation and historic preservation can greatly discourage development in underserved communities, where these investments can have the biggest impact,” said Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz. “Increasing tax incentives and fixing administrative hurdles for builders to take on projects that require historic preservation and environmental cleanup will create jobs, stimulate local economies, and revitalize our communities while preserving the unique character of our neighborhoods.”
