New Jersey, a leading state for using renewable energy sources, features one of the nation's top cities for use of solar power per capita, according to a new study.
Think of cities across the country where solar power is booming, and some obvious sunny spots come to mind: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Antonio.
There's another city, however, that beats them in solar energy production. Try sunny Newark, N.J.
Newark, in fact, ranks eighth in a survey of 65 large U.S. cities in terms of solar energy produced per capita, according to a study released Monday by Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center.
The report, "Shining Cities," was released to coincide with the opening of the United Nations' Conference on Climate Change in Paris. Nearly 200 nations will be meeting in the Paris -- known as "The City of Light" -- for the next two weeks to draft an agreement to reduce carbon emissions across the world.
"I think clearly the message of the Paris climate talks is, we need action on reducing carbon pollution now," said Doug O'Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. Switching to solar power, he said, is the cleanest and fastest way to reduce fossil-fuel dependence.
Organizers and supporters announced the findings on the roof of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, which holds 160 solar panels producing 50 kilowatts of power, saving the school more than $300,000 over the past decade, the center said.
"Achieving a sustainable world is one of NJIT's core missions, and we view new forms of energy production as central to that goal," Donald Sebastian, president of NJIT's New Jersey Innovation Institute said in a statement.
Newark has been leading the way across the state, added Mayor Ras Baraka in the statement.
"Having witnessed the installation of renewable energy systems at five of our Newark Public Schools, several at the Newark Housing Authority in our communities, and through the city among our private sector partners, there's still more work to be done," he said. "We will use the energy of solar power to help transform Newark into an example for the nation and a city we can all believe in."
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The report noted that solar panels at the Camden Street School and Barringer High School/STEAM Academy produce 750 and 647 kilowatts of power, respectively. Solar panels at the Newark Farmers Market generate 1.1 megawatts of power, or enough to power several hundred homes in New Jersey.
Other New Jersey cities that have facilities producing significant amounts of solar-generated power include Elizabeth (14.1 megawatts), Jersey City (13.9 megawatts) and Perth Amboy, (12.9 megawatts.)
"Clearly, we need to ensure that we're continuing to have a leadership role and our cities are a good way to do that," O'Malley said.
Environment New Jersey said local governments are important in pushing solar power development, since the Christie administration has diverted more than $1 billion from ratepayer payments for renewable energy programs. The administration in October also joined other states in a lawsuit seeking to block President Obama's Clean Power Plan, calling it "fundamentally flawed" and costly to New Jersey. House Republicans are expected to vote against the plan this week.
Nevertheless, the report indicated that the market for solar energy is soaring, with the top 65 cities installing more solar power collection capacity than the entire country did in 2009.
The top solar-producing cities per capita are Honolulu, Indianapolis, San Jose, San Diego, Wilmington, Del., New Orleans, Denver, Newark, Phoenix and San Antonio, according to the report.
Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.