New Jersey utility reclaims brownfields for green solar power

New Jersey's Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is going green in more ways than one. The utility is developing a 3.2 megawatt solar farm on the doorstep of its Linden Generation Station, one of three being built on former brownfields. The 3.2 megawatt plant also is part of a series of four ground-mounted solar farms PSE&G is developing as components of its $515 million Solar 4 Allâ„¢ renewable energy program. In all, the utility is developing more than 20 solar projects, which are expected to deliver a total of 30 megawatts of solar power and almost 300 jobs, PSE&G says. "The Linden Solar Farm shows how the benefits of solar power extend far beyond just producing clean, carbon-free electricity," said Al Matos, PSE&G's VP for renewables and energy solutions. "This project exemplifies PSE&G's environmental commitment and its leadership position in renewable energy. We are giving new life to a once-contaminated site." The Linden farm will include 11,484 solar panels spread over about 10 acres of utility property.

Quick Take: By adapting otherwise unusable or marginal property for its solar plants, PSG&E is not only emphasizing its environmental commitment (a solid marketing move), it also is turning what could be considered a liability into a major asset.

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