New Jersey Agrivoltaics Pilot: Current Status, Eligibility, Capacity, and Dates
This page covers the New Jersey agrivoltaics pilot: status, eligibility, capacity, and deadlines. Agrivoltaics design fundamentals are the sibling guide.
New Jersey’s Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program is active, but its first application window is closed. The program is designed to study and incentivize agrivoltaic projects that combine active agriculture or horticulture with solar generation on the same property. It is not a continuously open rebate and does not guarantee approval or an incentive to a project that has not been selected by the Board.
What changed
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities opened the first full application period after adopting the pilot’s rules and solicitation structure. The first application window ran from January 14 through February 25, 2026. The program page now reports that applications are closed.
Current status
| Program state | Active pilot; Program Year 1 application portal closed. |
|---|---|
| Program scale | Up to 200 MW DC over three program years. Program Year 1 has a 65 MW DC capacity target; the target is not a guarantee that all capacity will be awarded. official program page |
| Current schedule | Program Year 2 began February 26, 2026. As checked August 10, 2026, the official program page had not published the next expression-of-interest dates or Program Year 1 Board determinations. Confirm the current schedule and signed Board orders on the official program page before relying on this summary. |
| Selection | Applications are evaluated under the current orders and criteria. Projects are awarded or denied through a Board order. |
Effective date
The pilot was established under New Jersey’s Dual-Use Solar Energy Act and subsequent Board rules and orders. For a project decision, use the effective rule, the current solicitation order, and the dates shown in the application materials—not the publication date of this article.
Who is affected
The program is relevant to New Jersey farmers and landowners, solar developers, agricultural operators, project financiers, local governments, and contractors considering an eligible dual-use project. Eligibility depends on site, land status, project type and size, agricultural plan, interconnection, permits, application completeness, scoring, and Board selection.
What the pilot is designed to study
The official program describes dual use, or agrivoltaics, as farming and solar energy production on the same land. The pilot is intended to study whether active agricultural or horticultural production can remain compatible with photovoltaic infrastructure. Project-specific crop, livestock, soil, access, drainage, equipment-clearance, shading, operations, and decommissioning requirements matter; a general agrivoltaics benefit does not establish that one farm or design qualifies.
Capacity and application boundaries
- The Board approved a three-year, 200 MW DC pilot structure. official program page
- Program Year 1 has a 65 MW DC capacity target. official program page
- The first application period accepted submissions only from applicants with the required pre-qualification approval.
- The first application portal is closed and cannot be used for a new submission.
- Later expression-of-interest and application dates must be confirmed on the official program page.
Incentive and approval limits
The dual-use program is an additional path within New Jersey’s solar incentive structure, but the current order, selected-project award, SuSI eligibility, metering arrangement, project category, and compliance milestones control the actual financial result. Do not use an old headline incentive rate as a project assumption. Obtain the current order, notice of incentive availability, approved application, award terms, interconnection result, and all reporting requirements.
Project checklist
- Confirm the official program status and next application or expression-of-interest dates.
- Check whether the land, agricultural operation, system size, and project configuration meet the current eligibility rules.
- Review the current Board order, notice of incentive availability, application checklist, scoring criteria, and required agricultural and solar-array plans.
- Coordinate agricultural equipment access, crop or livestock operations, soil and drainage protection, setbacks, fencing, electrical safety, interconnection, and decommissioning.
- Do not incur costs on the assumption of an award unless the program documents expressly allow it and the responsible project advisers approve the risk.
Last verified
August 10, 2026. The official program page showed the first application portal closed, Program Year 2 beginning February 26, 2026, and later 2026 dates still to be determined.
Official sources
- New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program — Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program: current status, schedule, capacity, eligibility, application materials, tools, and program history.
- NJBPU — November 21, 2025 Dual-Use Pilot Program order: solicitation and evaluation framework.
- NJBPU — 2026 adopted Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program amendments: current adopted rule material.
- NJBPU — October 23, 2024 pilot-program announcement: official background and program launch context.
Next action: Use the live program page and current Board orders before preparing a site, financial, or application plan. Program status and dates can change.