Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Storage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board launches Garden State Energy Storage Program to push large-scale battery projects online
Summary
The Board approved rules to create the Garden State Energy Storage Program, launching Phase 1, including a tranche 1 solicitation for 350'750 MW, prequalification window 2025-06-25 to 2025-08-20 and target award date by 2025-10-31 to support May 2026 auction participation.
The Board of Public Utilities voted to publish and implement rules to establish the Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSEP), a new incentive program to accelerate deployment of transmission-scale energy storage in New Jersey.
Board staff said the program implements the Clean Energy Act of 2018's storage deployment goals and is intended to address tight capacity supply conditions that contributed to recent price spikes in capacity markets. Staff recommended establishing Phase 1, which includes a competitive tranche 1 solicitation for 350 to 750 megawatts of storage capacity, a prequalification window opening June 25, 2025 and closing Aug. 20, 2025, and a goal to issue awards for tranche 1 projects no later than Oct. 31, 2025 so successful projects can participate in the May 2026 base residual auction.
"Deploying energy storage is one of the fastest available means to alleviate the tight capacity supply conditions that are driving dramatic electric bill increases," staff said. The board approved the rule proposal and the Phase 1 launch on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Staff said tranche 1 awards will carry fixed incentive payments distributed over 15 years and described prequalification requirements intended to ensure only shovel-ready, viable projects apply. The board directed staff to prepare tranche 2 solicitation materials in 2026 for additional capacity needed to meet Phase 1 procurement targets.
