Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Benson
SYNOPSIS
Requires construction of all new residential properties to include solar panels.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the construction of all new residential properties to include solar panels and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
“Solar panel” means a panel or plate, or a canopy or array thereof, that captures and converts solar radiation to produce power, and includes flat plate, focusing solar collectors, or photovoltaic solar cells and excludes any base or foundation of the panel, plate, canopy, or array.
“Residential property" means any building or part of a building used, to be used or held for use as a home or residence, together with the land upon which it is situated. A residential property shall include single family dwellings, multifamily dwellings as defined in subsection k. of section 3 of the "Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law," P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-3), and other rental unit property, and individual residences within a horizontal property regime as defined in the "Horizontal Property Act," P.L.1963, c.168 (C.46:8A-1 et seq.), or a condominium as defined in the "Condominium Act," P.L.1969, c.257 (C.46:8B-1 et seq.), units in a cooperative, and units in a mutual housing corporation.
b. A newly-constructed residential property shall include solar panels as defined by subsection a. of this section. This requirement shall be fulfilled either through solar panel construction for each individual residential property or through a shared solar power system serving a group of homes. For the purposes of this section, solar panels shall adhere to the requirements adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The requirements of this section shall not apply to a residential property constructed by an applicant who submits a complete construction permit application prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
c. The commissioner shall adopt regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the provisions of this section, and may adopt a residential property solar panel subcode or propose amendments to the appropriate model code adopted pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-123), for the purpose of establishing adequate and appropriate standards for solar panels in residential home construction.
2. This act shall take
effect on the first day of the thirteenth month next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the construction of new residential property in New Jersey to include solar panels for the purpose of providing an affordable and environmentally friendly energy resource to homeowners. Solar energy reduces air pollution by eliminating carbon dioxide and methane emissions. To satisfy the requirements of this bill, solar panels would either be included for each individual residential property or a shared solar power system would be installed to serve multiple homes. The installation and maintenance of all solar panels and solar panel systems shall adhere to the requirements adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.