Public Storage, Solar Landscape partner on one of largest portfolios in US

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Public Storage and Asbury Park-based Solar Landscape have kicked off construction of a 133-rooftop community solar project as part of a multistate partnership, the companies announced Aug. 1. 

The installations will be located in New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois and will power more than 10,000 homes. According to the companies, the 87.53-megawatt portfolio is one of the largest in the U.S. 

In the Garden State, the 23-megawatt portion of the project includes 32 Public Storage sites that have the potential to serve more 3,500 homes – mostly low- to moderate-income families – with discounted renewable energy, a Solar Landscape representative told NJBIZ in an email. The sites span 10 counties in PSE&G, JCP&L and Atlantic City Electric territories.

“Households could each save an average of $230 annually on home energy bills,” the representative added. 

As part of the community solar pilot program, residents will be able to subscribe to nearby installations on Public Storage rooftops. The program is available for those who are unable to install solar panels because of high costs, lack of roof control or insufficient sunlight. 

While construction has started in Maryland, the Garden State program is awaiting approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on final program rules. The Solar Landscape representative noted that NJBPU has said the permanent program is expected to begin this summer.

Across all three states, the installations will be constructed on more than 8 million square feet of Public Storage’s facility rooftops, according to the self-storage company, which is committed to installing solar projects on more than 1,000 properties by 2025. 

“We are thrilled to collaborate with a forward-thinking company like Public Storage on this nation-leading partnership to expand solar accessibility to underserved communities, particularly low-income families,” Solar Landscape CEO and co-founder Shaun Keegan said in a statement. 

The companies collaborated on site selection, design, financing options and state program applications. 

“Community solar furthers Public Storage’s strong commitments to sustainability and our communities,” added John Sambuco, Public Storage’s president of asset management. “We are providing affordable renewable energy for low- and moderate-income residents, reducing our collective carbon impact on the environment, and converting non-used rooftop area into socioeconomically productive space for our company.” 

Solar Landscape recently announced other completed projects in New Jersey, including a 1.75-megawatt array in Piscataway and a 556-kilowatt installation in Secaucus. These projects move the state closer to Gov. Phil Murphy’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2035.