Bill Text: NJ A1610 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes DOT, NJTA, and SJTA to permit BPU-certified persons to install and maintain solar photovoltaic panels on noise barriers erected on roads and highways.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A1610 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1610-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblywoman SHAMA A. HAIDER
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes DOT, NJTA, and SJTA to permit BPU-certified persons to install and maintain solar photovoltaic panels on noise barriers erected on roads and highways.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and supplementing P.L.1966, c.301 (C.27:1A-1 et seq.), P.L.1948, c.454 (C.27:23-1 et seq.), and P.L.1991, c.252 (C.27:25A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary, the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, shall permit any person that, pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2007, c.264 (C.48:3-107), is certified by the Board of Public Utilities as an installer of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment in this State, to install and maintain such panels and related equipment on any noise barriers erected on roads and highways under the jurisdiction of the department.
b. The department shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions concerning access over roads and highways to noise barriers by installers of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment to install and maintain the panels and related equipment, responsibility of installers for costs incurred to install and maintain the panels and related equipment, liability for improper installation and maintenance of the panels and related equipment, and calculation and payment of appropriate fees to the State for the placement of the panels and related equipment on noise barriers located on roads and highways under the department's jurisdiction.
c. The implementation of the provisions of this section by the department to permit the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment on noise barriers erected on roads and highways under the jurisdiction of the department, shall be considered part of the measures necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to section 6 of P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-42).
2. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, shall permit any person that, pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2007, c.264 (C.48:3-107), is certified by the Board of Public Utilities as an installer of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment in this State, to install and maintain such panels and related equipment on any noise barriers erected on roads and highways under the jurisdiction of the authority.
b. The authority shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions concerning access over roads and highways to noise barriers by installers of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment to install and maintain the panels and related equipment, responsibility of installers for costs incurred to install and maintain the panels and related equipment, liability for improper installation and maintenance of the panels and related equipment, and calculation and payment of appropriate fees to the authority for the placement of the panels and related equipment on noise barriers located on roads and highways under the authority's jurisdiction.
3. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, shall permit any person that, pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with section 1 of P.L.2007, c.264 (C.48:3-107), is certified by the Board of Public Utilities as an installer of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment in this State, to install and maintain such panels and related equipment on any noise barriers erected on roads and highways under the jurisdiction of the authority.
b. The authority shall, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this section. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions concerning access over roads and highways to noise barriers by installers of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment to install and maintain the panels and related equipment, responsibility of installers for costs incurred to install and maintain the panels and related equipment, liability for improper installation and maintenance of the panels and related equipment, and calculation and payment of appropriate fees to the authority for the placement of the panels and related equipment on noise barriers located on roads and highways under the authority's jurisdiction.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (department), the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (turnpike authority), and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (transportation authority) to permit any persons certified by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (board) as an installer of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment to install and maintain such panels and related equipment on noise barriers erected on roads and highways under the jurisdiction of the department, the turnpike authority and the transportation authority, respectively.
The bill also requires the department, the turnpike authority, and the transportation authority to adopt rules and regulations to implement requirements concerning access by board-certified persons to install and maintain the solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment, responsibility for costs to install and maintain the panels, liability for improper installation and maintenance of the panels and related equipment, and calculation and payment of appropriate fees to be paid by installers for the placement of the panels and related equipment on noise barriers.
The bill further provides that the department's implementation of the provisions of section 1 of the bill concerning the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic panels and related equipment on noise barriers erected on roads and highways under the department's jurisdiction, shall be considered part of the measures necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to law.
