New Jersey Proposes New Rules for Renewable Energy Systems
September 22, 2004
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved amendments on September 13th to its rules for connecting renewable energy systems to the electrical grid and selling the power back to the electric utility. The proposed rules expand the types of eligible systems to include renewable-fuel-powered fuel cells, landfill-gas systems, power from sustainable biomass sources, and geothermal, wave, and tidal energy systems, in addition to wind and solar systems, which were previously included. The rules also boost the maximum system size to 2 megawatts, up from 100 kilowatts. Three levels of interconnection requirements start with simple, streamlined requirements for small systems and ratchet up to more complicated requirements for the larger, more expensive systems. The changes are consistent with model procedures and agreements developed by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. See the BPU press release.