A 4859 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Specifies that prior SADC approval is not required in order to authorize construction, installation, or operation of biomass, solar, or wind energy generating facilities, structures, or equipment on farmland preservation exception areas.

This New Jersey bill allows landowners of preserved farms to build and operate biomass, solar, or wind energy facilities without needing prior approval from the State Agricultural Development Committee (SADC). The legislation permits these projects on both preserved and non-preserved parts of the farm, provided they do not significantly interfere with agricultural production and are owned or eventually owned by the landowner. Key restrictions limit the energy generation capacity to the farm's previous year's demand plus 10 percent or one percent of the total farm area, and require that any energy sold be done through net metering. While the bill removes the need for initial SADC approval for the entire project, it still mandates a review process specifically for facilities located on the preserved portion of the farm to ensure compliance with agricultural and environmental standards.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 4, 2026 Last action May 4, 2026
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May 4, 2026
Introduced
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

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