The board that regulates New Jersey's utilities has approved a nearly half-billion-dollar solar energy plan proposed by the state's largest energy company.
Wednesday's vote by the Board of Public Utilities means Public Service Electric and Gas can go ahead with a $247 million extension of a program that aims to develop solar installations, primarily on unused landfills and former industrial sites known as brownfields.
The other program will spend nearly $200 million on loans, mainly for residential and business customers.
The state-appointed advocate for utility customers had criticized the landfill plan as creating an unfair market advantage for PSE&G, since the company is expected to recover its costs through rate increases.
The board recommended requiring more frequent financial reports than PSE&G had proposed.
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