Commercial Rooftop Solar Potential in North New Jersey

North New Jersey sits at the center of one of the most energy-intensive commercial corridors in the United States — yet the commercial rooftop solar potential in North New Jersey remains significantly underexploited. With dense industrial zones, major warehousing clusters, complex supply chains, and some of the highest electricity prices in the country, the region represents one of the most compelling C&I solar markets on the East Coast.

Planno analyzed 51,883 commercial and industrial rooftops across North Jersey, covering 11 counties including Bergen, Hudson, Essex, Middlesex, and Somerset. The data shows high solar potential, reasonable early-stage adoption, and enormous volumes of square footage still ready for rooftop PV.

51,883

Total C&I Rooftops

13.5 GW

Total Solar Potential

7%

Solar Adoption

Why the Commercial Rooftop Solar Potential in North New Jersey Matters

North New Jersey sits at the heart of the Northeast energy market — a region with high electricity costs, strong policy incentives, and large commercial loads. From industrial warehouses and pharmaceutical campuses to food distribution centres and big-box retail, the region’s building stock is ideal for behind-the-meter solar.

Policy support strengthens this case. New Jersey’s clean-energy leadership is guided by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which outlines robust solar programs and commercial clean-energy incentives on its State Solar Programs portal. At the regional level, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) highlights the Northeast as one of the highest-cost electricity markets in the country, detailed in its state energy profiles.

Nationally, the Inflation Reduction Act continues to fuel commercial solar adoption, as summarised by the U.S. Department of Energy’s solar market analysis. Together, these conditions make the commercial rooftop solar potential in North New Jersey uniquely attractive from both an economic and policy perspective

What the Rooftop Solar Data Reveals

North New Jersey has one of the densest concentrations of commercial rooftops in the United States. The sub-25,000 sqft categories represent the largest share of available roofs — retail strips, service centres, commercial offices and mid-sized industrial buildings. These rooftops are distributed across heavily developed corridors with strong on-site load profiles.

Mid-sized buildings between 25,000 and 50,000 sqft make up a substantial segment (4,786 rooftops), often tied to logistics, last-mile distribution and food service operations — sectors with excellent daytime consumption patterns.

Larger rooftops provide particularly strong opportunities. The region includes 3,067 rooftops between 50,000 and 100,000 sqft and 2,279 rooftops above 100,000 sqft — some of the highest-density clusters on the East Coast. Despite this, adoption in larger segments remains below 30%, leaving gigawatts of unused high-yield capacity across industrial belts in Middlesex, Union, Bergen and Hudson counties.

Overall, North New Jersey’s rooftop profile shows a mature market with growing adoption but vast remaining untapped potential.

Service-Area Breakdown: North New Jersey’s Most Important C&I Sub-Markets

⚡ Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G)

  • 35,247 rooftops, largest commercial concentration
  • 7.1% adoption with strong penetration in large-format sites
  • 9.8 GW potential, 7.6 GW untapped
  • Major opportunities in logistics, industrial, and distribution corridors

⚡ Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)

  • 14,076 rooftops in suburban/industrial zones
  • 6.8% adoption with abundant mid-size rooftops
  • 3.3 GW potential, 2.6 GW untapped
  • Ideal for scalable mid-market C&I portfolios

⚡ Rockland Electric (REC)

  • 1,766 rooftops across dense suburban-industrial pockets
  • 8.6% adoption (highest among major utilities)
  • 429 MW potential, 351 MW untapped
  • Strong opportunities among remaining large-format rooftops

⚡ Butler Municipal Utility

  • 187 rooftops in a compact commercial district
  • 3.7% adoption
  • 29 MW potential, 23 MW untapped
  • Strong mid-size retail & light industrial opportunity

⚡ South River Municipal Utility

  • 162 rooftops, fully untapped
  • 0% adoption
  • 25 MW potential, all available
  • High-value early-mover market

⚡ Madison Municipal Utility

  • 176 rooftops in suburban commercial clusters
  • 0% adoption
  • 21 MW potential, fully untapped
  • Great fit for 5k–50k sqft standardized C&I systems

⚡ Sussex REC

  • 115 rooftops across rural/suburban industrial areas
  • 4.3% adoption
  • 17 MW potential, 13 MW untapped
  • Attractive for warehouse/manufacturing deployment

⚡ Park Ridge Municipal Utility

  • 84 rooftops in a compact commercial zone
  • 11.9% adoption (most mature municipal market)
  • 11 MW potential, 8 MW untapped
  • Best suited for targeting remaining large rooftops and upgrades

⚡Milltown Municipal Utility

  • 70 rooftops across a compact commercial district
  • 2.9% adoption — very low penetration
  • 12 MW total potential, 10 MW untapped
  • Strong opportunity for mid-size C&I systems (5k–25k sqft), ideal for targeted local deployment

What’s Changing: A Market in Motion

North New Jersey’s C&I rooftop market is accelerating on several fronts. Rising electricity costs — among the highest in the U.S. — are pushing businesses toward behind-the-meter generation. Grid-reliability concerns and increasing electrification of commercial operations (EV fleets, refrigeration, HVAC upgrades) are further strengthening the case for rooftop PV.

Policy continues to evolve in favour of commercial solar. New Jersey’s solar incentive programs (SREC-IIs, TI Program, and Community Solar Energy Program) create long-term value for C&I owners. Meanwhile, federal tax incentives under the IRA remain a strong tailwind for commercial projects.

National trends reinforce the shift. Corporate solar adoption continues to expand across the Northeast, which highlights growing use of rooftop solar for cost control and emissions reduction. Together, these forces point toward accelerating large-scale C&I rooftop deployment across North New Jersey.

Key Insights on North New Jersey’s Rooftop Solar Potential

  • North New Jersey holds 13.5 GW of rooftop solar potential, with 10.7 GW still unused.
  • Adoption is higher than many U.S. markets but uneven across counties.
  • Industrial and logistics corridors offer some of the highest-yield rooftops in the Northeast.
  • High electricity prices strengthen solar economics across nearly every building segment.
  • State and federal incentives create a uniquely favourable environment for C&I deployment.

How Planno Unlocks Rooftop Solar Opportunities

Planno makes this level of rooftop market intelligence actionable. Our platform uses geospatial AI to identify, size, and qualify rooftops for solar in every region — so you don’t have to guess where to go next. We also help you contact building owners and managers directly, turning intelligence into leads.

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FAQ

How much commercial rooftop solar potential does North New Jersey have?

North New Jersey’s C&I rooftops offer 13.5 GW of solar potential, with 10.7 GW still unused.

How can I find qualified leads in North New Jersey?

Planno helps solar companies identify, pre-qualify, and contact rooftop owners using AI and satellite data.