N.J. using utility poles in solar push

New Jersey to approve deal to install 200,000 solar panels around the state on its utility poles.

(Credit: Petra Solar)

It looks like those unsightly utility poles throughout New Jersey will be getting yet another accessory.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is set to approve on Thursday a $200 million contract between Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) and Petra Solar to install over 200,000 photovoltaic panels to tie in to the state's electrical grid.

Petra's SunWave solar panels, which have smart grid communication tools built-in, will be attached to utility and light poles that are owned and operated by PSE&G throughout the state.

The project to develop, install, and maintain the grid-connected solar system will create about 100 green jobs, according to both Petra and PSE&G.

"We are tripling in size and will start hiring immediately," Petra CEO Shihab Kuran said in a statement.

The installation is part of an initiative that PSE&G announced in February 2009 to bring solar panels to every town in its New Jersey coverage area.

The Petra Solar installation will be the "largest pole-attached solar installation in the world," according to PSE&G. But it's only part of the $515 million in 80 megawatts worth of solar energy projects that the New Jersey utility is expected to get approval for on Thursday.

PSE&G plans to implement solar installations on the rooftops of its offices and facilities throughout the state, as well as "solar gardens" on some of its properties. It was also approved to develop an additional 5 megawatts worth of solar power in New Jersey urban enterprise zones within its service area, and 10 megawatts in conjunction with third-parties wishing to participate in an installation on their properties.

"Our program will effectively double the size of New Jersey's installed solar capacity. That is more solar capacity than currently exists in any state other than California," Ralph LaRossa, PSE&G's president and COO, said in a statement.

LaRossa is referring to California's giant solar installation approved in February 2009, for the utility Pacific Gas & Electric to produce 500 megawatts worth of solar energy from distributed solar panels throughout the state.

[NervClaX]

I live in NJ and this project will cost AT LEAST double what they're claiming, it will be rife with waste, and taxpayers will LOSE across the board. Petra Solar is based in South Plainfield, NJ so I'm SURE there's some no-bid backhanded double-dealing going on behind this. It's typical of NJ.

[rbrown653]

This ia a really great idea! We need this in NY!

[Remo_Williams]

They don't follow the sun, and it looks like you can detach it pretty easily. I can't wait for snow, ice, and wind to pull these down. I love solar, but I question the rollout.

[hitman123456]

we are solar systems design and would like to be a part of this install team.can you tell me who or where I can contact someone on this matter
thank you glen metzler v.p

[Seaspray0]

The output from the solar cell will be DC while the power cables use AC. That means you'll need an entirely new network of wires to collect the output from all these solar cells scattered amongts the poles.

[hjalatrash]

If you look at the back of these panels (which are installed in many places in NJ now), you can see that there is a device with an antenna. That is a grid-tied inverter that converts the output to grid-compatible AC, so you don't need an entirely new network of wires.

I bet the mechanical assembly is rated for wind and snow loading. Lets see how that goes.

[rbt-cnet]

Leaving aside the money-related questions of how this is going to be paid for, and how long it will take to amortize the cost...

The question that none of the news discussions have asked is this: What is the carbon foot-print of the manufacturing and deployment process for these panels, and how much carbon foot-print are they saving once they are deployed?

In other words, is this actually environmentally friendly? Or is it a public relations boondoggle that will actually harm the environment? I don't know the answer, and actual figures are hard to come by. But it's a question that should have been asked before they started.

It may be that, when all costs and benefits are summed up, this particular project is a net negative for the environment. But when considered as part of a long-term conversion to solar power, it will bring down the cost (economic and environmental) of solar panels due to economies of scale.

It could still be a good thing and worth doing. But nobody has shown us the numbers.

I'd really like to see some investigative reporting on the question.