NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday signed two bills aimed at lowering energy costs and expanding clean energy access across New Jersey, including a major increase in solar capacity and new incentives for large-scale energy storage.
The legislation, signed at IBEW Local 269 in Lawrenceville alongside lawmakers, local leaders, union members and advocates, is part of the Murphy administration’s effort to address the regional energy cost crisis and put the state on track to nearly double its renewable energy capacity by 2030.
One measure, S4530/A5768, directs the state Board of Public Utilities to open registration by Oct. 1, 2025, for an additional 3,000 megawatts of community solar projects. Officials said the expansion will allow 450,000 more residents, including 250,000 low-income families, to access solar power — enough to provide renewable energy to the equivalent of 1 million households by 2028.
The second measure, A5267/S4289, creates a transmission-scale energy storage incentive program with the goal of developing 2,000 megawatts of storage by 2030. Supporters say the program will help stabilize the power grid, reduce costs for consumers and allow clean energy to be delivered more reliably.
“Today, we are taking immediate and far-reaching steps to lower energy costs for every household in New Jersey,” Murphy said in a statement. “By accelerating the process for bringing new sources of energy online and rapidly building new energy storage facilities, we will meet growing demand while also making life more affordable for our state’s families. As part of this process, we are going to create good-paying, union jobs and build a cleaner, more resilient future for every New Jerseyan.”
NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy praised the legislation, calling it a “real solution” to both affordability and reliability. “More New Jerseyans will get access to the benefits of expanded community solar programs — one of the best ways for residents to lower their utility bills while contributing to clean energy in the Garden State,” she said.
The Murphy administration has also taken other steps to address rising energy costs, which officials have attributed in part to mismanagement by regional grid operator PJM. Recent actions include calling for a federal investigation into PJM, approving $430 million in direct relief for ratepayers, and signing legislation to increase accountability from grid operators.
Under Murphy, New Jersey’s solar capacity has grown from 2.4 gigawatts to 5.2 gigawatts, enough to power more than 600,000 homes.
The prime sponsors of S4530/A5768 are Sens. Vin Gopal and John McKeon and Assemblymembers Cody Peterpaul, Jennifer Donlon and Robert Karabinchak. The prime sponsors of A5267/S4289 are Sens. Bob Smith and John Burzichelli and Assemblymembers Wayne DeAngelo, Garnet Bailey Jr. and Joseph Egan.
