Nearly 900 Princeton Residents Could Access Solar Savings Through New Municipal Program

PRINCETON, NJ – On Monday, Council approved a resolution to partner with Solar Landscape for implementing a Community Solar Energy Program designed specifically for low-and moderate-income households.

This initiative addresses a critical gap by providing solar energy access to residents who typically cannot afford traditional solar installations.

Residents can participate by being a subscriber to a community solar project. They will be able to derive financial benefits from that project through savings on the utility bill.

The program was first established by the board of public utilities um initially as a pilot program in 2018 and then as a permanent program with rules in August of 2023.

Christine Symington, executive director of Sustainable Princeton, explained that the municipally sponsored program enrolls qualifying households in a 100 percent LMI community solar initiative. Rather than requiring rooftop installations on individual homes, the program utilizes large-scale solar arrays installed on warehouse rooftops, landfills, and carports in the region.

Participants receive direct savings on their monthly utility bills through the shared solar energy credits. The program operates through a subscription model that eliminates the upfront costs and maintenance responsibilities typically associated with personal solar systems.

Gabel Associates will serve as the implementation consultant, coordinating with Princeton, the Princeton Housing Authority, Princeton Community Housing, and other local organizations. The extensive outreach effort must comply with the Board of Public Utilities regulations for notifying eligible households about enrollment opportunities.

Sustainable Princeton will use multiple communication channels, including direct mailers, information sessions, community tabling events, and a dedicated website, to reach potential participants.

Three solar installation sites have been identified in Robbinsville, Cranbury, and Carteret, with the capacity to serve up to 899 Princeton residents. These households will save $542 a year.

Princeton received two proposals in response to the RFP - one from Solar Landscape and the other from HESP Solar. The Municipality decided to go with Solar Landscape due to the number of benefits they offer customers, particularly a 36 percent discount on their utility bill.

Councilman Leighton Newlin praised Symington and the team Sustainable Princeton for their efforts on this project.

“This is not just good news, it’s great news. For a lot of years, low and moderate-income people could not take advantage of solar energy. And here you go, coming to find a way that not only can they take advantage of it but at a 36 percent decrease,” Newlin said.

“It speaks volumes to the work you’re doing for environmental justice and sustainability.”

Complete program details can be found here.

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