BGO, Dimension Energy & Black Bear Energy launch Somerset, NJ community solar project

Warehouse becomes NJ’s largest industrial rooftop community solar host with 9.9 MW capacity

Somerset, NJ — BGO, Dimension Energy, and Black Bear Energy have celebrated the energization of a new 4.99 MW rooftop community solar system in Somerset, NJ. This system marks the second of two co-located systems on a single industrial warehouse, which already hosts an existing 4.97 MW system built under New Jersey’s original Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. Combined, the warehouse now hosts an unprecedented 9.9 MW of community solar, making it the largest industrial rooftop community solar host in New Jersey history.

While New Jersey’s permanent community solar rules prohibit co-locating more than 5 MW on a single site, the first system was permitted and constructed under the separate Pilot Program, which was governed by a different regulatory framework. This distinction allows both projects to co-exist on the same roof, unlocking nearly 10 MW of generation from a single building. Together, the two systems will generate approximately 12 million kWh of clean electricity annually—the equivalent of powering over 1,600 homes each year.

New Jersey’s community solar program enables residents and renters who cannot install solar on their own properties to subscribe to a share of a larger, off-site solar project. Through this program, subscribers receive bill credits from their utility, saving at least 20% on their electricity costs—without requiring any installation, equipment, or long-term commitment on their own property. The program prioritizes low-to-moderate income (LMI) households, providing deeper discounts to ensure that clean energy benefits reach the communities that need them most.

The solar array is hosted on the existing rooftop of an industrial warehouse owned by BGO on behalf of an institutional investor. By utilizing built infrastructure rather than developing greenfield sites, the project maximizes the value of existing buildings without sacrificing a single acre of undeveloped land, delivering value to BGO on behalf of their clients while also contributing to New Jersey’s clean energy goals.

Dimension Energy, one of the largest U.S. community solar developers and a leader in the New Jersey market, developed the project and will own and operate the system long-term. Across the state, Dimension’s growing portfolio of warehouse rooftop community solar projects is on track to deliver affordable clean energy to 10,000 New Jersey households by the end of 2026.

“We’re proud to bring this project to life alongside BGO and Black Bear Energy, whose partnership made this possible,” said Sam Younes, co-founder and chief development officer, Dimension Energy. “Community solar is one of the most powerful tools New Jersey has to deliver real energy savings to residents — locally produced, rapidly deployable, and accessible to households across the state without any upfront cost. Dimension is delivering projects like this one at scale across New Jersey, turning underutilized rooftop space into lasting community benefit.”

Serving as the commercial buyer’s representative, Black Bear Energy leveraged their expertise in onsite renewable energy to bring together the right partners and successfully execute this large-scale solar deployment.