Pallone: The Transition to Clean Energy is Lowering Costs for Families and Creating Jobs
Avenel, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined a cord connection event with local elected officials and New Jersey-based renewable energy company Solar Landscape to launch a new solar energy project that will provide eligible households in New Jersey with affordable, clean energy. This community solar project will save households in the area an estimated $160 per year on their utility bills.
Today’s cord connection event officially makes New Jersey home to the largest number of community solar projects for low- and moderate-income families in the country. Solar Landscape will have 50 operational community solar projects, bringing affordable community solar to over 10,000 New Jersey households and saving them an estimated $2 million per year on their home energy bills.
The solar energy project was made possible by a solar investment tax credit from the Inflation Reduction Act. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, Pallone included provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the transition to a low-carbon economy by investing in clean energy, distributed energy resources, energy storage systems, and microgrids – all of which are crucial to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The project will also create jobs in New Jersey thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In June, Solar Landscape received an Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships award from the Department of Energy from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The company will work with Edison Job Corps to expand its Solar Training and Education Partnership for Underserved Populations (STEP-UP) program that trains American workers to install community solar projects.
“I’m proud to join Solar Landscape and Edison Job Corps today to announce the launch of a new community solar project that will lower costs for families in New Jersey, continue our transition to a clean energy economy, and create new jobs right here at home. These investments help ensure our state is ready to tackle the challenges of the climate crisis head on,” Pallone said. “This project is just more proof that we can empower our workers with new, good paying jobs as we work to lower costs for hardworking Americans. I'm proud that our state is leading the way on our path toward a clean, low-carbon future and showing that we don’t have to choose between fighting climate change and economic growth. As the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ll continue to advocate for investments in our transition to a clean economy.”
“Woodbridge Township is excited to again welcome Congressman Pallone to Woodbridge as we announce our partnership with Solar Landscape to implement a brand new community solar project that will help our residents save money on their electric bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Woodbridge Mayor John E. McCormac. “Community solar projects allow access to solar energy without installing panels or owning your own home. As a result, the program helps to widen the range of residents who can participate in the clean energy transition. I am proud of our local businesses, including RPM Warehousing & Transportation, for taking this important step toward realizing the many benefits of acting as a host site for these fantastic renewable energy endeavors. Expanding access to solar within our community helps ensure clean energy equity and reaffirms the Township’s commitment to innovative clean energy initiatives that contribute to the health and sustainability of our community.”
“Today marks a major milestone in making clean energy affordable and accessible to everyone,” said Shaun Keegan, CEO and co-founder of Solar Landscape. “Community solar is an equitable and scalable clean energy model as we’ve demonstrated in New Jersey and across the country. We’re grateful to Representative Pallone, Mayor McCormac, and our many partners for their leadership and vision to make community solar a clean energy success story that creates jobs and reduces costs for residents.”