Competitive Solicitation Incentive (CSI) Program
The Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program is an annual competitive procurement that provides incentives to qualifying grid supply solar generation projects (i.e., those selling into wholesale markets), grid supply solar generation paired with energy storage, and large non-residential net metered projects with a capacity greater than 5 MW dc. The annual solicitation target is 300 MW of new solar generation, and 160 MWh of energy storage paired with solar generation.
Status
Pre-Qualification Window Closed
Schedule
September 30, 2025 - Prequalification window closed
May 14, 2025 - Prequalification window opened
Program Contacts
njreinfo@njcleanenergy.com
Relevant Audiences
On this page
About the Program
The Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program is an annual competitive procurement that provides incentives to qualifying grid supply solar generation projects (i.e., those selling into wholesale markets), grid supply solar generation paired with energy storage, and to large non-residential net metered projects with a capacity greater than 5 MW dc. The annual solicitation target is 300 MW of new solar generation, and 160 MWh of energy storage paired with solar generation.
| Tranche | Target (MW) |
|---|---|
| 1. Basic Grid Supply | 150 |
| 2. Grid Supply on the Built Environment | 80 |
| 3. Grid Supply on Contaminated Sites & Landfills | 55 |
| 4. Net Metered Non-residential about 5 MW | 15 |
| TOTAL | 300 |
| 5. Energy Storage Paired with Grid Supply Solar | 160 MWh |
How to Participate
Rules for the CSI Program are codified at N.J.A.C. 14:8-11 as part of the larger Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program.
Solicitation
Project Registration:
Solicitation Information
Visit the New Jersey Competitive Solar Incentive Program page at https://csisolar.nj.gov/ for:
- Prequalification applications and bid submission
- Prequalification requirement checklists
- Agricultural Land Use area calculations
- FAQs
New Classification for Tranche 2 Eligibility will include:
- Industrial and Commercial Complexes
- Extractive Mining (as defined in the modified Anderson classification system)
- Floating Solar
Forms and Resources for Awardees
Below please find the documentation associated with CSI registration:
CSI Initial Registration Documents
- CSI Program Initial Registration Checklist
- CSI Registration Certification Form
- CSI Initial Technical Worksheet
For Tranche 3 projects:
- Contaminated Sites Eligibility Verification Form
- NJ Department of Environmental Protection Permit Readiness Checklist
Milestone Reporting Forms
The Milestone Reporting Form is required for all CSI-eligible projects. This form must be submitted with the initial registration package and quarterly thereafter, up until the submission of the Final As-Built (Post Construction Certification) Package.
- CSI Milestone Reporting Form for Net Metered Solar Facilities 5 MW (dc) or larger
- CSI Milestone Reporting Form for Grid Solar Facilities
Identifying Deficiencies within Registration Package
As a CSI Registration Package is reviewed, it will either be accepted or deemed incomplete. The below document defines how the CSI Program processing team identifies Major and Minor deficiencies within the CSI registration package.
CSI Final As-Built (Post Construction Certification) Checklist Forms
A completed Final As-Built packet (Post Construction Certification) and permission to operate (PTO) from the relevant Electric Distribution Company (EDC) must be submitted on or before the expiration date that is noted on the CSI conditional acceptance letter, including any extensions that have been granted.
Project developers must follow the interconnection process required by PJM Interconnect LLC, and facilitated by the EDC serving the location where the proposed project will be interconnected. Registrants must also obtain authorization to energize their interconnected system from their EDC or PJM Interconnect LLC and submit this documentation with the Final As-Built Packet (Post Construction Certification packet).
For awarded solar facilities that also received an adder award for paired electric storage, N.J.A.C. 14:8-11.6(k) the adder is provided for energy produced by the solar system. The storage adder may be subject to revocation, and the value of the SREC-II of the associated solar facility adjusted to compensate for over payment of any SREC-II adders, if Board staff determines that there is evidence lacking that the qualified storage facility remains operational.
- CSI Final As-Built Checklist
- CSI Final As-Built Technical Worksheet
- Post Construction NJCEP Compliance Form for Solar Facilities on Contaminated Sites and Landfills
Extension Policy
Solar facilities conditionally accepted in the CSI Program may be eligible for one 6-month extension. The registrant may apply for an extension for any solar installation that cannot complete the installation and submit a complete Final As-Built (Post Construction Certification) Packet with permission to operate from the Electric Distribution Company in the CSI online registration portal by the expiration date noted in the CSI Acceptance Letter.
CSI Extension Request ChecklistExtension Requests will be reviewed and considered on a case-by-case basis and should include supporting documentation of extenuating circumstances for the delay in completing the facility, evidence that the facility has made progress towards completion, and demonstrations of the likelihood of timely and successful completion of the solar facility. For all solar facilities, the CSI Program Manager will consider whether the registrant has submitted timely quarterly milestone reporting forms. If the extension is granted, the CSI Program will provide a new registration expiration date six months from the expiration on the original conditional CSI Acceptance Letter.
Any CSI solar facility that would like to submit a request for a second extension must submit a petition to the NJBPU for consideration. Instructions on how to file a petition can be found at How to File A Petition.
Per Board Order dated August 13, 2025, CSI solar facilities that have been conditionally approved as of August 20, 2025 (effective date of the Board Order) will receive an additional 9-months from the date of their original expiration date noted in their conditional acceptance letter.
Program History
Related Resources
The dedicated interconnection team at your utility company can assist you with questions you have regarding connecting to the grid, net metering, and the interconnection application process. You may find the appropriate contacts here.
Solar Activity ReportsNew Jersey's Clean Energy Program solar activity reports provide detailed information for all solar projects that are installed and currently under development in New Jersey. Solar activity reports and data are posted on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 2:00pm EST for the previous reporting month.
Solar ProceedingsThis page contains links to proceedings for all solar programs administered by New Jersey's Clean Energy Program.
SuSI Registration and Payment for SREC-IIsThis page details the four-step process registrants must follow in order to enlist a solar generation facility with the SuSI program, PJM-GATS, and the SREC-II payment administrator.