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S 4530

Exempts military members based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, NY and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, NY on active duty who reside in NYC from the payment of E-ZPass tolls associated with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Expands New Jersey community solar by opening up to 3,000 MW of projects for registration by 2029 with set SREC-II and bill-credit levels to enable full deployment.

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Bill Summary · S 4530

Summary — S.4530 (P.L.2025, c.135)

Status: Enacted — Approved August 22, 2025 (P.L.2025, c.135)
Primary sponsor: Sen. Jessica Scarcella‑Spanton
Companion: A5768

Note on source materials: The bill text amends New Jersey law (P.L.2018, c.17) governing the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. Some earlier drafting materials included floor amendments that changed the registration date and removed a provision about utility-owned projects.

Main purpose

S.4530 expands New Jersey’s community solar program by directing the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to open a new registration for a large tranche of projects — up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) — and to set program parameters (including SREC‑II and bill‑credit discount levels) needed to enable full registration of those projects by December 31, 2029.

Key provisions and changes

  • Requires the BPU to open registration for an additional 3,000 MW of community solar projects by October 1, 2025 (floor amendment changed original August 1 date to October 1).
  • Directs the BPU to accept and approve registrations until the earlier of (a) December 31, 2029, or (b) the time the 3,000 MW are fully registered.
  • Instructs the BPU to set SREC‑II (Solar Renewable Energy Certificate) levels and guaranteed bill‑credit discount levels as appropriate to enable full registration of the 3,000 MW by Dec. 31, 2029.
  • Revises the permanent community solar program transition provisions in P.L.2018, c.17 (C.48:3‑87.11): maintains a 5 MW maximum per project and other program standards (geographic limits, minimum participants, low/moderate‑income access, billing credit rules, monthly reporting, transferability/portability, audit/enforcement, etc.).
  • Removes a previously established annual 150 MW ongoing registration goal under prior law.
  • A floor amendment also removed a requirement that the BPU adopt rules specifically establishing standards for projects owned by electric public utilities under the permanent program.

Who is affected

  • Board of Public Utilities: must open registration and set SREC‑II and bill‑credit discount levels; increased administrative duties and oversight responsibilities.
  • Solar developers and owners (special purpose entities, nonprofit entities, and previously permitted categories): gain access to a substantial additional registration window for up to 3,000 MW of projects.
  • Electric public utilities: subject to program rules, interconnection and reporting requirements, and entitled to full and timely cost recovery for implementation costs.
  • Utility customers, including low‑ and moderate‑income customers: potential expanded access to community solar subscriptions and bill credits; exact bill impacts depend on SREC‑II and discount settings.
  • State renewable energy marketplace and SREC program: larger community solar supply and associated SREC‑II pricing dynamics.

Timeline and procedure

  • BPU must open registration by October 1, 2025 (accept registrations until Dec. 31, 2029 or until full registration of 3,000 MW).
  • The statute’s other program conversion requirements apply (BPU to adopt permanent program rules within 36 months of adopting pilot rules as originally required by P.L.2018, c.17).
  • Enacted as P.L.2025, c.135 on August 22, 2025.

Potential impacts

  • Substantial expansion of community solar capacity (up to 3,000 MW) could accelerate distributed solar deployment, increase subscription options for customers (notably low/moderate‑income participation provisions), and alter SREC market supply/demand and pricing.
  • Utilities and BPU will manage increased interconnection, billing, verification, and reporting workloads; cost recovery is explicitly preserved.
  • The specific economic effects on customer bills and developer revenues will depend on the SREC‑II levels and the bill‑credit discount levels the BPU sets.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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