NJ power provider goes solar

    By: Phil Gregory

    New Jersey based utility PSE&G has announced plans to put thousands of solar panels on utility poles to generate electricity.

    By: Phil Gregory
    philgregorynews@gmail.com

    New Jersey based utility PSE&G has announced plans to put thousands of solar panels on utility poles to generate electricity. The company also said it will build some larger solar installations. Those projects promise to double the amount of solar power in the state.

    Listen:
    [audio: 090731pgsolar.mp3]

    PSE&G spokesman Paul Rosengren says the utility is being aggressive in pursuing solar power because the state has set a target of having a third of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Southern states may get more sunshine, but Rosengren says there is enough sunlight in the Garden State to make the projects work.

    Rosengren: The sun in New Jersey is certainly strong enough to generate electricity. Yeah you get a few more hours in some other places a little bit more intensity but we’ll be generating 80 megawatts which on a scale of things we’re talking tens of thousands of megawatts in New Jersey that’s used. It’s a small piece but it’s a good start.

    Rosengren says those smaller projects are desirable because the concentration of people in New Jersey and the drive to preserve open space make it more difficult to develop large solar farms.

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