N.J. Admin. Code § 14:8-9.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 14:8-9.3 - Community Solar Energy Program registration process

(a) All forms and instructions regarding the CSEP registration process shall be found on the Board's New Jersey Clean Energy Program website at www.njcleanenergy.com. Facilities seeking eligibility for the CSEP shall submit a complete registration package to the Board, or its designee, to tlie Successor Solar Incentive Program in accordance with Board rules at NJ.A.C. 14:8-11.5, except as specified in this subsection and Board Orders.

(b) Registration packages submitted to the community solar segment of the ADI Program shall be reviewed by the SuSI Program registration manager on a first-come, first-served basis, except as described at (c) below.

(c) For each Program solicitation, Board staff shall initiate an application process as follows:

1. The Board shall open an initial registration period for the Program at the start of each energy year or when appropriate by Board Order. The duration of the initial registration period shall be specified in the Board Order.

2. Following the end of the initial registration period. Board staff shall review the submissions for each community solar megawatt block set by Board Order pursuant to N.J.A.C. 14:8-11.7(b) and determine if the total capacity of applications for each megawatt block exceeds the capacity limit for the block.

3. If a megawatt block has not received enough complete registrations to meet its capacity limit, all complete and eligible registrants shall be conditionally accepted into the Program and the megawatt block shall remain open to registrations until the segment is fully subscribed. A megawatt block will be defined as being fully subscribed when the last registration received in the registration portal causes the total capacity of all registrations in that segment to exceed the capacity allocation for said segment.

4. If the complete registrations for a megawatt block exceed the capacity limit for that megawatt block, projects will be reviewed and accepted in the order of their stated guaranteed bill credit discount, beginning with the registrant with the greatest guaranteed bill credit discount, until the allocated segment capacity for that year Is fully subscribed.

5. The Board may modify the procedure for project application by Board Order.

(d) Projects previously approved for participation in the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program that did not reach commercial operation by their Pilot Program deadline are permitted to register in the CSEP and ADI Program irrespective of megawatt block capacity limits, provided that all CSEP and ADI Program requirements are met. Such projects' capacities will not count toward the megawatt block capacity limits.

(e) Project applicants provided conditional registration in the CSEP shall post escrow with the Board in an amount set by Board Order, which amount shall be stated as a dollars per kilowatt rate and shall be uniform for all projects. The escrow amount shall be reimbursed to the applicant In full upon commencement of commercial operation of the community solar facility. The escrow amount shall be forfeited to the State if the facility does not commence commercial operation by the expiration of the notice of conditional registration. This escrow requirement shall not apply to projects owned by public entities or registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, subject to Board staff's determination that the non-profit organization Is a community-based organization that is run by members of the community and whose benefits accrue to the community.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:8-9.3

Adopted by 51 N.J.R. 232(a), effective 2/19/2019

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 2053(a), effective 12/6/2021

Adopted by 56 N.J.R. 1990(d), effective 10/7/2024