N.J. Admin. Code § 14:8-9.3
Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 8, April 15, 2024
Section 14:8-9.3 - Pilot Program structure(a) The Pilot Program shall run for a period of no more than 36 months, divided into Program Year 1 (PY1), Program Year 2 (PY2), and Program Year 3 (PY3). Program Year 1 shall begin February 19, 2019, and last until December 31, 2019. Subsequent program years shall begin on January 1 and last for the full calendar year.(b) No later than January 1, 2022, the Board shall adopt rules to convert the Pilot Program to a Community Solar Energy Program.(c) For each of the three program years, Board staff shall initiate an annual application process pursuant to the Clean Energy Act as follows: 1. Board staff shall present to the Board for approval the application for participation in the Pilot Program and the criteria for evaluation of said applications.2. Board staff shall open an application period for the Pilot Program for a length of time to be enacted at the official approval of the application process.3. Following the close of the application period, Board staff will evaluate and score projects based on criteria identified in the application. Only applications that are substantively complete by the close of the application period will be considered for participation in the Pilot Program for that program year.4. Board staff will not accept applications for EDCs to develop, own, or operate community solar projects beyond the billing and other responsibilities set forth in this subchapter.5. Projects will be presented to the Board for approval for participation in the Pilot Program beginning with the highest-scored project, and until the allocated program capacity for that year is filled.6. Board staff may reject applications that are substantively incomplete at the close of the application period, that are not in compliance with this subchapter, or that do not meet a minimum standard for selection, as set forth in the application. The Board reserves the right to request additional or modified information to complete an application.7. Approved projects shall provide quarterly updates on the status of project progress through a form to be made available by Board staff.8. Approved projects are expected to become fully operational (up to and including having subscribers receive bill credits for their subscription to the project) within 18 months of their approval by the Board. Board staff may approve one six-month extension if substantial progress is demonstrated towards becoming fully operational within the initial 18-month period, as determined upon review by Board staff based on the specific circumstances of the project. The Board may grant subsequent extensions if it deems warranted upon review of a petition submitted to the Board.9. Board staff may initiate more than one application period per Program Year.10. The application periods for PY2 and PY3 may be opened as early as 90 days prior to the end of the previous program year.11. In the approval process, Board staff may determine that it is appropriate to limit the number of projects approved for a single developer in a program year, in order to promote a diverse pool of developers.(d) Electric distribution companies shall, subject to review and approval by the Board, be entitled to full cost recovery for any incremental costs incurred in implementation, compliance, and administration of the Pilot Program. EDCs may not set a separate fee or surcharge for community solar projects unless explicitly authorized to do so by the Board.(e) The Board shall publish information pertaining to the New Jersey Community Solar Energy Pilot Program on its website including, but not limited to: 1. Application requirements and forms and evaluation criteria.2. The list of approved community solar projects, including names, locations, and sizes.3. The total capacity of approved projects for each program year.4. Contact information for community solar projects currently seeking subscribers. 14:8-9.4 Pilot Program capacity limitsN.J. Admin. Code § 14:8-9.3
Adopted by 51 N.J.R. 232(a), effective 2/19/2019Amended by 53 N.J.R. 2053(a), effective 12/6/2021