Black Bear Energy helps bring 1.29 MW solar project online in New Jersey

Black Bear Energy facilitated the energization of a 1.29 MW solar installation at New York Life Investment Management’s Bay Avenue property in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The project is expected to generate about 1.5 million kWh a year and deliver discounted community solar power to local residents, including more than half from low- to middle-income households.

Why it matters: - The project expands distributed solar in New Jersey and turns a large industrial rooftop into a source of local power. - More than 50% of the project’s subscribers are low- to middle-income households, which means the installation is designed to deliver bill savings to residents who may benefit most from lower energy costs. - The site is expected to provide operational and economic benefits to the property while supporting grid resilience and community solar access.

What happened: - Black Bear Energy facilitated the energization of a new 1.29 MW solar installation at New York Life Investment Management’s 5-61 Bay Avenue facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. - Dimension Energy developed, owns and operates the project. - The installation is expected to produce about 1.5 million kWh of clean energy annually. - The project was energized on July 13, 2026.

The details: - The project is supported by the New Jersey Community Solar Energy Program. - The program lets New Jersey residents benefit from solar installations on large industrial rooftops. - Subscribers receive discounted power and a guaranteed utility bill credit of 25% or more. - Black Bear Energy is a national commercial buyer’s representative specializing in onsite renewable energy. - Dimension Energy is a developer, owner and operator of distributed energy infrastructure. - New York Life Investment Management said the project fits its effort to integrate sustainability into its investment process. - Brooke Pottish, director at New York Life Investment Management, said the partnership is expected to provide operational and economic benefits to the property while providing discounted power to New Jersey residents, including LMI households.

Between the lines: - The deal shows how property owners, developers and state programs can align around community solar financing and siting. - The project is the second energized project between NYLIM and Black Bear Energy since their partnership began in 2018. - Black Bear Energy said the collaboration shows how commercial, state and community interests can work together to advance renewable energy deployment. - Dimension Energy said community solar on vacant rooftops can deliver local, affordable power quickly. - The release includes cautionary language that expected operational and economic benefits are current estimates and may change.

What's next: - Black Bear Energy and NYLIM expect additional projects ahead. - The partnership appears positioned to keep using New Jersey’s community solar framework to create property-level value and resident savings. - The companies did not provide a timeline for the next project.

The bottom line: - A single rooftop solar project is serving two goals at once: generating clean electricity for the grid and lowering power bills for nearby New Jersey households.