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Princeton Selects Community-Solar Developer to Enroll Low- and Moderate-Income Households; Firm Offers 36% Discount
Summary
Council approved a master performance agreement to enroll up to about 899 low- and moderate-income Princeton households in community solar projects outside town; selected developer offered a 36% discount on electricity supply credits and outreach will target subsidized housing and eligible single-family households.
The mayor and council of Princeton on June 23 approved a master performance agreement to establish a municipally sponsored community-solar program that will automatically enroll eligible low- and moderate-income (LMI) households and offer an estimated average annual savings of about $542 for participants.
Christine Simonton, executive director of Sustainable Princeton, told the council the Board of Public Utilities'authorized municipal model allows a town to "automatically enroll its low moderate income households" and that the municipality will manage subscriber outreach with consultant Gable & Associates. Belle Gable said the successful bidder, Solar Landscape, proposed three projects in the utility territory that together could serve approximately 899 households and offered a 36% discount to the electricity supply portion of participating customers' bills; the BPU'required minimum discount is 20%.
Council members asked about how master-metered multifamily properties would receive benefits and requested clarity on how housing providers would pass savings to residents; consultants said housing authorities would sign affidavits describing how savings would be distributed and that allowable benefits include shared services, Wi-Fi or other resident-focused improvements if direct bill credits are impractical. Staff and Sustainable Princeton said they will carry out the BPU-mandated outreach schedule (90, 60 and 30 days notice) and partner with Princeton Housing Authority, Princeton Community Housing and other local organizations to sign up eligible households.
