The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced plans for a major solar energy expansion at Newark Liberty International Airport, adding approximately 5 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity across five airport sites.
The project is expected to produce nearly 5.9 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually — enough to power more than 550 homes. It will also avoid the equivalent of nearly 2,000 metric tons of CO2 each year.
Developed in partnership with SunLight General Capital under a power purchase agreement (PPA), the project will be designed, built, financed, owned, operated, and maintained by the developer, while the Port Authority will purchase the electricity generated at a pre-determined rate.
“Since Day One, my administration has moved quickly to bring new, clean energy onto the grid and modernize our energy infrastructure — from launching six large-scale solar and battery storage projects to accelerating solar expansion statewide,” said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, in a statement.
The five installation sites will span rooftops, parking lots, and parking structures across the airport campus. One installation at the rideshare lot is specifically sized to power fast-charging EV stations.
The expansion will bring the Port Authority’s total agency-wide solar capacity to nearly 20 MW across 32,000 panels — a nearly tenfold increase since 2021.
Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion targeted for 2028.
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