From Guest Blogger SolarLighting: Can We Copy the solar success of NJ to the Other States of the US?

We are very glad to see that the solar industry is developing fast in the US. It is now a major economic driver for the country. When generating great amount of electricity, the solar industry is also creating many job opportunities for the US. As for this solar industry I mean PV, because most of equipments use electricity rather than thermal energy, so you will see solar street light rather than solar Thermal Street light. All states are trying to improve their local solar deployment. It is obvious that the California is leading the solar development of the country, accounting for about 50% of the PV install in the country.

As for the other states, New Jersey and Florida are also investing great amount of money in this industry. And the most attractive is the New Jersey, because The Highly Visible Solar Project has garnered national attention for its larger scope and for providing a creative approach to locally-generated solar energy.

Now all the people are talking about copy the successful model of New Jersey to the rest of the states. Shall we carry out this plan?

The project is like this: The New Jersey Power Company has a program underway to install 200 watt solar energy units on 200,000 utility poles and street lights by 2012. Once installed, the solar system “is expected to provide 40 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power approximately 40,000 homes.” And the electricity generated by these energy units could be used of public solar lighting and many other means of electric infrastructure.

And the most impressive aspect of the New Jersey solar development is the “Solar Financing Model”.

Leading the way for affordable solar power is New Jersey’s Solar Financing Model. Through state rebates, government tax credits, net-metering, and renewable energy certificates, the cost-effectiveness of buying and installing solar panels and solar street lights is reduced to 10 years or less. Cost-effectiveness previously had been measured at 25 years.

This model has set a high standard that other states are using to create their own solar power programs. New Jersey currently matches cost and installation of solar panels up to 60 percent. Net-metering allows excess electricity generated to be sold back to utility companies. Renewable energy certificates compensate owners for every 1,000 kilowatt hours (1 MWh) generated by their solar energy installation.

If the other states will follow this rule of developing solar energy, I am sure that the solar deployment of the country will be doubled in the very near future. The New Jersey is a really good example of fast growing solar.