The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has granted approval for 16 agrivoltaic projects that combine solar power generation with agricultural production on farmland throughout the state. The approved projects will generate 52.06 megawatts of renewable energy while maintaining active farming operations on the same land.
These initiatives represent the first awards distributed through the Dual-Use Pilot Agrivoltaics program, which was established following the passage of the Dual-Use Solar Energy Act. According to state officials, the program demonstrates that agricultural production and renewable energy generation can coexist on the same acreage, allowing farmers to diversify their operations and increase profitability while supporting the state’s clean energy goals.
The 16 approved projects are situated across eight counties: Atlantic, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Salem, and Warren. The solar installations are being integrated with diverse agricultural operations including soybean, hay, and grain production, as well as vegetable and fruit farming and livestock operations. Each individual project is limited to 10 megawatts or less in capacity.
Program requirements mandate that projects be located on unpreserved farmland currently in active agricultural or horticultural use, and project teams must include a landowner, farmer, and solar operator, with farmers playing a meaningful role in planning and operations. State officials project that within three years, total agrivoltaic capacity deployed through the program could reach 200 megawatts. The initial solicitation phase attracted 33 preliminary proposals representing approximately 140 megawatts of potential capacity, suggesting strong market interest in the model.
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