New Jersey receives 700+ solar installation applications per month, despite a steep decline in SREC prices. This October the N.J. solar installers added 44 megawatts for a total of 447 megawatts.

But for New Jersey’s Sierra Club Director, Mr. Jeff Tittel, these numbers aren’t high enough. As the Board of Utilities President, Mr. Lee Solomon, announced his decision to return to the state’s Superior Court in Camden County, Mr. Tittle pointed out the BPU and Christi Administration’s less-than-supportive actions for clean energy programs.

“Under Board President Lee Solomon and Governor Christie we have seen the dismantling of some of the most successful clean energy programs in the country,” Tittel said. “They have cut back our renewable energy goals and subsidized fossil fuels. Their policies have hurt not only our environment but our economy and have undermined our ability to create clean energy jobs in New Jersey.”

In contrast, Governor Christi sees Mr. Solomon’s efforts in solar and offshore wind as more than supportive, evidenced in the NJ 2011 Energy Master Plan.

Mr. Robert Hanna, Director of the state Division of Law, was nominated to replace Mr. Solomon. The first of many challenges to come is to work with The Office of Clean Energy to stabilize SRECs. According to Mr. Tittle, the SREC dip correlates with the governor’s pull out of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this May.

“When we pulled out of RGGI and dropped our renewable energy goals, we saw a major drop in the coast of solar credits, hurting the solar industry,” Tittel said.

The sponsor of the RGGI legislation, Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chairman Bob Smith (D-Middlesex), released a press release in late May to convey his frustration. He accused the Governor of making unilateral decisions to maximize his short-term exposure before “fawning” national conservative leaders.

The Senator stated polling data shows most people in N.J. support RGGI goals. Like all polling—the way questions are asked and who picks the phone brings bias to the tallying.

Regardless of polls and opinions, there are lots of New Jersey solar installers making a good living and adding green jobs to the economy.