Real estate investment manager Faropoint has begun construction on a 1.6 MW community solar installation at its building in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, the first of a portfolio of 16 such projects.

Once complete, the portfolio will have a total capacity of more than 10 MW, according to Faropoint officials. The other 15 project have already gained acceptance into New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program, with nine of them receiving a notice to proceed with construction.

Faropoint says “at least half” of each project’s capacity will be reserved for low- and moderate-income households across New Jersey. Brian Nave, the real estate firm’s VP of asset management and renewable energy, says the long-term goal is to create positive renewable energy movement throughout the Garden State.

“We aim to create positive community impact, increase access to clean energy, and become a responsible long-term owner in the markets where we operate,” he says. “As one of the top-five small-bay industrial owners in New Jersey, we believe our scale comes with a responsibility to drive meaningful sustainability initiatives. Utilizing previously unused portions of our buildings allows us to support the communities where we invest.”

Creating meaningful benefits

In total, the group of 16 projects will generate about 12.7 GWh of electricity a year, using solar to avoid an estimated 8,500 metric tons of carbon emissions. EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies say that number comes out for 2,000 homes worth of electricity usage, according to Faropoint officials.

The company will also be receiving independent solar advisory from SolarKal. Representatives say the Somerville, Massachusetts-based firm has advised Faropoint on “dozens” of different projects across its portfolio through financial analysis, procurement pricing, and ongoing project management.

“Managing solar across a large real estate portfolio takes persistence, coordination, and a lot of work behind the scenes,” says SolarKal CEO Yaniv Kalish. “Seeing the first of Faropoint’s New Jersey community solar projects move into construction is a major milestone. And with nine more projects cleared to proceed and a half dozen more behind them, that’s real progress for Faropoint and the communities these projects will serve.”

SolarKal has also helped Faropoint select developers who can use available federal clean energy incentives. The New Jerseyan company is looking to these firms first, before tax credits and other incentives are phased out through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Faropoint and SolarKal are also working on community projects in Illinois, Maryland, and New York.

— Solar Builder magazine