The board that regulates New Jersey's utilities is scheduled to vote on a nearly half-billion-dollar solar energy plan by the state's largest utility.
Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) wants approval for a $247 million extension of the utility's Solar4All program through 2016.
The initiative seeks to develop solar installations primarily on unused landfills and former industrial sites, known as brownfields.
The utility currently operates eight large-scale solar arrays -- including a 1.3 megawatt solar farm on a former manufactured gas facility.
PSE&G also seeks nearly $200 million to extend a loan program through 2017 that would benefit residential and business customers.
The state-appointed advocate for utility customers has 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.
