Based in Branchville since 1926, Selective Insurance recently unveiled the latest stage of its solar facility in Sussex County.

The business, home and auto insurance carrier held its Power Up NJ event April 21 to celebrate the installation, which is expected to produce approximately 5 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year. According to Selective, the Power Up NJ event included tours of the features and remarks from company leaders heading Selective’s sustainability efforts.

“As a property and casualty insurer, we understand climate change science and the impact increased weather-related loss frequency and severity have on our individual and business customers,” said Mark Wilcox, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Selective Insurance, in a statement. “To advance a clean energy future and reduce carbon-based power demand, we proudly unveil the latest solar installation at our Branchville, N.J., corporate headquarters. This installation allows us to produce up to approximately 5 million kWh of electricity annually that we sell to others.”

Selective said it will make that output available through the state’s Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) and Transition Renewable Energy Certificates (TREC) markets.

The company holds itself out as a strong believer in a clean energy future, with an eye toward helping mitigate impacts for stakeholders as part of its corporate responsibility.

Some unpredictable factors the insurer cited include as the most serious and severe for policyholders, communities and businesses are hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

In an effort to reduce the impact of carbon-based power on climate change and move toward a clean energy future, Selective said its headquarters has also received additional installations, including:

• A ground mount featuring 7,470 LG 400-watt solar panels situated on approximately 9 acres. Built in 2019, the facility generates approximately 4 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually that is sold through the SREC Program.
• Completed in October 2022, a second solar canopy was installed over its parking garage featuring 1,734 Talesun 450-watt solar panels. The company expects to produce approximately 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year which it intends to sell on through the TREC Program.
• Eight electric vehicle (EV) charging stations with dual ports.

Selective said its ground mount contractor was Sol Systems LLC; sub-contractors included Infinity Energy LLC and Star-Lo Electric Inc. The company’s canopy contractor was Sol CES Projects LLC, while sub-contractors included Core Development Group LLC and Star-Lo Electric Inc.

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