Requires BPU to designate solar portion of critical renewable microgrid as solar energy project under Community Solar Energy Program; requires Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to designate certain microgrids as assets of importance.

This bill (S 250) creates a program for solar energy systems connected to "critical renewable microgrids" - microgrids using renewable energy to support essential services during power outages. It requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to designate qualifying solar systems as community solar projects, allowing them to earn solar energy credits (SREC-IIs) at discounted rates for low- or moderate-income customers. Key provisions include: solar systems must serve at least 75% of low-income customers at 20% below standard rates, may exceed typical 5MW size limits, and face annual capacity caps (100MW total). The Office of Homeland Security must also designate qualifying microgrids as "assets of importance" to exempt their solar incentives from cost caps. The program applies to new solar projects on critical microgrids, directly benefiting low-income communities and microgrid operators.