48:3-114 Findings, declarations relative to certain solar energy projects.
1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
a. In order to achieve the State's goal of securing 50 percent of its electricity supply from renewable energy by 2030 with the least cost and the greatest benefit to consumers, it is critical to promote investment in new solar electric power generation facilities, including grid supply solar facilities, community solar facilities, and net metered solar facilities;
b. The New Jersey 2019 Energy Master Plan, prepared pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14), found that: (1) the State can achieve its 100 percent clean energy and 80 percent greenhouse gas reduction goals, which will likely lead to net savings when health benefits and climate change mitigation benefits are taken into account, in part by maximizing the development of renewable energy generation, including 17 gigawatts of solar power by 2035 and 32 gigawatts by 2050; and (2) under the least cost path identified by the plan, solar energy could meet 34 percent of the State's clean energy needs by 2050;
c. The development of grid supply solar should be directed toward marginal land and the built environment and away from open space, flood zones, and other areas especially vulnerable to climate change, and a coordinated land use policy for grid supply solar siting is needed to affordably expand New Jersey's commitment to renewable energy while not compromising the State's commitment to preserving and protecting open space and farmland;
d. New Jersey has the market potential to host thousands of megawatts of solar power generation facilities from grid supply, community solar, and net-metered solar installations, which will create solar jobs and improve the environment; and
e. It is therefore in the public interest to develop a new solar program that incentivizes new solar electric power generation facilities, including net metered solar facilities, community solar facilities, and grid supply solar facilities, which are capable of ensuring that clean and reliable solar energy is supplied to New Jersey consumers, and which contribute to meeting the State's energy goals.
L.2021, c.169, s.1.