NJ Governor Elect Mikie Sherrill Zeroes In On Solar Power

New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill is prioritizing the expansion of solar power in the state, aiming to overcome significant challenges such as limited land availability and regulatory hurdles. New Jersey has ambitious clean energy goals—50% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2035—but currently, renewables make up less than 10% of its power generation, with solar accounting for 90% of that share. The state relies heavily on natural gas and nuclear power, and also imports nearly 20% of its electricity from out-of-state sources via the regional grid operator PJM. Sherrill plans to accelerate solar development by leveraging three key strategies: repurposing brownfields (contaminated or underused lands), expanding community solar projects, and promoting agrivoltaics (combining agriculture and solar energy). Brownfields represent a significant opportunity for New Jersey to increase solar capacity without requiring new land, which is scarce in the densely populated state. New Jersey has already made