Separate but identical Senate and Assembly bills designed to overcome municipal roadblocks to the installation of solar installations will receive a hearing on Thursday
(Feb. 3) in the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee in Trenton, NJ.
(Feb. 3) in the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee in Trenton, NJ.
Both S-2006 (Smith) and A-3125 (Quijano) limit the restrictions that a municipality could impose, through zoning ordinances, on the installation of residential energy panels.
The bills allow municipalities to limit the installation of solar panels on the roof of a residential building or structure only if the panels, and all accessory equipment
The bills allow municipalities to limit the installation of solar panels on the roof of a residential building or structure only if the panels, and all accessory equipment
- rise more than 12 inches above the roof surface, or highest point or
- extend more than 12 inches beyond the roof line.
The measure allows the adoption of zoning laws for ground-based solar panels on a residential property only when
- the total number of solar panels is greater than 10 and
- the solar panels are located less than 50 feet from the nearest
property boundary line.
The legislation also prohibits municipalities from imposing any fee that exceeds the municipality's processing costs for an application pertaining to the approval, installation, or operation of a system.
The fee limitation also would apply, under the bills, to small wind-energy systems.
Also see:
NJ environmental & energy bills in committee on Jan 31
Pennsylvania environmental and energy legislation
New Jersey environmental & energy legislation
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Our most recent posts:
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With regard to the number of photovoltaic panels not subject to municipal limitation, perhaps the bills should include the implied dimensions or coverage of such panels. Future panels may be of different sizes or design.
ReplyDeleteOne large benefit is that companies have to supply solar panels manufactured with at least 50 percent of the product cost from facilities situated in New Jersey to become a certified New Jersey manufacturer under the program.
ReplyDeletesolar panels new jersey