On August 22nd, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill officially launching the Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP). According to the A5267 bill, the state will promote a competitive procurement process for grid scale energy storage while utilizing existing funds to avoid new costs for taxpayers.   

The GSESP program (formerly known as the New Jersey Energy Storage Incentive Program (NJ SIP)) aims to significantly increase the energy storage capacity of the New Jersey power grid. This plan aims to directly address the issues of demand growth and insufficient supply (i.e. the root cause of the recent increase in energy storage rates), while making important contributions to the future development of clean energy in the state.

This is a critical moment in the energy landscape of New Jersey, "said Christine Guhl Sadovy, President of the New Jersey Business Utility Association. The Garden State Energy Storage Program is one of our commitments to address the root causes of rising electricity prices, ultimately returning more funds to the pockets of New Jersey households. This is not only to achieve our climate goals, but also to ensure that every household can afford lighting and a comfortable living environment

GSESP is a phased implementation project aimed at deploying a 2000 MW energy storage system by 2030, as mandated by the 2018 Clean Energy Act. Energy storage systems are crucial for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar energy, enhancing the grid's ability to withstand power outages, and reducing carbon emissions. This project is the result of extensive stakeholder participation over the past two years, incorporating valuable feedback from experts, environmental organizations, and public representatives from various industries.