PSE&G has placed its largest solar farm to-date in-service on a brownfield site in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The 15.2-MW Pennsauken Solar Farm is part of PSE&G’s Solar 4 All program.
A company that manufactured porcelain-enameled cast-iron bath fixtures first developed the 32-acre site in the 1920s. From 1973 on, the site was home to warehouse and distribution operations.
“The Solar 4 All program began 10 years ago with four solar farms built on brownfield sites that we own,” said Karen Reif, VP of Renewables and Energy Solutions for PSE&G. “So it’s fitting that our newest and largest solar farm also is built on a brownfield site that we have returned to good use. By utilizing these parcels of land, we can continue to provide carbon-free, grid-connected solar electricity to all of our customers while also preserving scarce New Jersey open space.”
Vineland Construction Co. owns the Pennsauken brownfield site and PSE&G owns and operates the solar farm.
“We were excited for the opportunity to partner with PSE&G and their Solar 4 All program to transform a brownfield property into a clean energy source,” said Robert Powell, vice president of business development and marketing for Vineland Construction Co. “To work with them on their largest solar project to-date was a great experience and we look forward to the benefits this project will provide the community for years to come.”
The Pennsauken Solar Farm is the 34th Solar 4 All project, with six built on landfill sites and five built on brownfield sites. These 11 solar farms use more than 230 acres of landfill and brownfield space by installing more than 80 MW solar power.
Since 2009, PSE&G has invested more than $600 million on the Solar 4 All program and created hundreds of jobs. At the height of construction, there were approximately 75 people on-site, working on the Pennsauken solar project in a range of jobs, including electricians, engineers, carpenters, heavy equipment operators and laborers.
PSE&G hired Vanguard Energy Partners to act as turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the Pennsauken Solar Farm.
“Vanguard was excited to work with PSE&G on repurposing the brownfield site in Pennsauken as a solar farm,” said Benjamin J. Scott, President for Vanguard Energy Partners. “It is great to see PSE&G’s commitment to clean energy and we are always happy to partner with them to provide sustainable energy to their New Jersey customers”
Solar 4 All is a 158-MW solar program that utilizes rooftops, parking lots, utility poles and landfills/brownfields for large-scale, grid-connected solar projects. Including the Pennsauken Solar Farm, there are 152.5 MW in-service.
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