ELIZABETH, N.J. — Residents served by New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program will begin receiving discounted electricity from a newly energized rooftop solar array at the 5-61 Bay Avenue property in Elizabeth.
The installation, developed by Dimension Energy and facilitated by Black Bear Energy for New York Life Investment Management (NYLIM), is a 1.29 megawatt system expected to produce about 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually. The project was formally opened at a ribbon-cutting atop the industrial roof this month.
What this means for Elizabeth residents
Under the state Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP), residents who subscribe to the project will receive utility bill credits. Project developers say more than 50% of subscriptions are reserved for low- and middle-income (LMI) households, which will get discounted power and a guaranteed utility bill credit of 25% or more.
- System size: 1.29 MW
- Estimated annual generation: ~1.5M kWh
- LMI subscriber share: more than 50%
- Guaranteed bill credit to LMI subscribers: 25% or greater
Project partners said the array will provide both operational and economic benefits to the property at Bay Avenue while expanding access to rooftop solar benefits to neighborhood residents who cannot install panels at their own homes.
“This project reflects our commitment to integrating sustainability into our investment process,” said Brooke Pottish, director at New York Life Investment Management.
Local and program context
The installation is the second energized project between NYLIM and Black Bear Energy since their partnership began in 2018. Officials involved framed the work as an example of how private commercial owners can use state programs like CSEP to create new revenue opportunities and extend renewable energy savings to the community.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 5-61 Bay Avenue, Elizabeth |
| Developer | Dimension Energy |
| Facilitator | Black Bear Energy |
| Owner/Host | New York Life Investment Management |
Local residents seeking to benefit from the community solar subscription should check eligibility and enrollment details through program channels or contact the project partners for subscriber outreach information. The CSEP is designed specifically to allow people who rent, have shaded roofs, or otherwise cannot install panels to access solar savings.
The project adds to a growing number of community solar installations across New Jersey aimed at expanding access to clean energy while routing investment into industrial and commercial rooftops in urban areas such as Elizabeth.
Reporting on this project relied on information provided by Black Bear Energy, Dimension Energy and New York Life Investment Management.
