New Jersey moves to increase demand for solar energy

Republican Gov. Elect Chris Christie greets supporters on election night at his headquarters in Parsippany, NJ, on Nov. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Christopher Barth)

Governor Chris Christie has signed a bipartisan law that requires electric utilities in New Jersey to buy more solar energy through 2028, a move aimed at reviving the state’s subsidized solar industry.

The law requires that utilities in 2014 obtain 2.05% of their electricity from solar sources, versus slightly more than 1% now, and increase this to 4.1% in 2028.

New Jersey has more than 800MW installed solar capacity, second to California among US states. Christie’s office claims that another 600MW of solar is in various stages of installation. Thousands of other projects, however, have been delayed because of diminishing demand for solar power from utilities.

The state’s recent solar building frenzy was fueled by federal incentives, and a state programme that created a market…

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