A 2524 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Permits dual-use solar energy projects to participate in community solar program.*

This bill amends New Jersey's community solar program to allow "dual-use" solar facilities - those combining solar panels with ongoing agricultural production on farmland - to participate. It sets a 5-megawatt maximum per project, requires at least two participating customers, and mandates access for low- and moderate-income residents. The law also establishes phased registration goals (225 MW by 2024, then 3,000 MW total by 2029) and requires monthly reporting on energy generation and bill credits. This directly affects electric utility customers in New Jersey who can now access community solar projects on farmland, with specific protections for low-income participants.

Issues: ✓ Energy

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 3 edits

MINOR

The First Reprint version of A2524 makes three substantive changes: it drops the term 'agrivoltaics' from the bill, replaces the inline definition of dual-use solar facilities with a cross-reference to an existing statute (P.L.2021, c.170), and updates a cross-reference from section 5 to section 11 of P.L.2025, c.135. These changes align the bill's language with existing statutory definitions rather than creating a standalone definition.

Scope change

The scope is slightly narrowed by dropping the term 'agrivoltaics' from the bill's language, though the cross-referenced definition in P.L.2021, c.170 may still encompass agrivoltaics projects. The shift from an inline definition to a statutory cross-reference means the bill's applicability now depends on how that term is defined in existing law.

DEFINITION

The term 'dual-use or agrivoltaics solar facilities' is changed to 'dual-use solar energy project.' The word 'agrivoltaics' is struck entirely, and 'facilities' is replaced with 'solar energy project' throughout the bill.

The inline definition of dual-use solar facilities (which described panels on unpreserved farmland ensuring simultaneous agricultural use) is replaced with a cross-reference to section 1 of P.L.2021, c.170 (C.48:3-87.13). This means the bill now relies on an existing statutory definition rather than its own.

TECHNICAL

The cross-reference at the end of the bill changes from 'P.L.2025, c.135, s.5' to 'P.L.2025, c.135, s.11,' indicating the related law was reorganized and the correct section number is updated.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 28, 2026

Committee

Recommitted to Assembly Budget Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee

lower

3 primary · 4 co-sponsors