Lightstar Renewables Secures Lead Role in New Jersey Agrivoltaic Pilot

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved 16 projects statewide, totaling 52.06 megawatts, under the Dual-Use Solar Energy Act of 2021. Lightstar’s portfolio will span Monmouth, Salem, Warren, and Cumberland counties, where the company plans to integrate solar infrastructure with ongoing farming operations. This approach allows landowners to maintain crop or livestock production while simultaneously contributing clean power to the state grid.

Kelly Buchanan, Senior Manager of Policy Strategy at Lightstar, noted that while these conditional approvals mark a major milestone, the projects remain subject to rigorous regulatory filings and coordination with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The company faces a 36-month development window to meet all state requirements before construction can begin. State officials, including NJBPU President Ben Hertz-Shargel, view the pilot as a test case for balancing agricultural productivity with the state's energy demands. With 33 proposals initially submitted for the program, the pilot data will ultimately shape the framework for a permanent agrivoltaics program, which could expand to 200 megawatts over the next three years.