Solar Potential Along the Garden State Parkway: A Vision for Clean Energy and Lower Tolls

We drive the Garden State Parkway (GSP) daily for our solar installation work at PowerLutions Solar—crisscrossing from North Jersey down to the shore. Each journey reveals miles of grassy median strips and underused land along the highway that spark our imagination: what if these areas were populated with solar panels, generating clean energy and potentially even helping lower tolls?

The Opportunity on the Garden State Parkway

New Jersey, like many states, is steadily pushing toward ambitious clean energy goals. Adding more solar capacity is a key component, and the GSP’s rights-of-way (ROW) appear especially promising. Estimated to run about 172 miles through the state, the Parkway’s official ROW can be hundreds of feet wide. Much of that space isn’t suitable for vehicles or rest-stop facilities, leaving large stretches of land essentially unused.

From our vantage point, day after day, it’s obvious how significant this acreage is. By tapping into this underutilized resource, the state could address two priorities at once: promoting renewable energy and creating a new revenue stream that might lower tolls—directly benefiting millions of New Jersey drivers.

Estimating the Available Land

Land Area Calculation

• GSP Length: Approximately 172 miles.
• ROW Width: A broad range of 300–500 feet, but with around 40–50 feet in each direction taken by roadway and shoulders.
• Exclusions: Actual traffic lanes, rest-stop areas, and other infrastructural sites.

A quick, reasoned approach shows that if around 200 feet on both sides combined are actually free for solar, then:

• 172 miles × 5,280 feet/mile ≈ 908,160 feet of length.
• 908,160 feet × 200 feet of width = 181,632,000 square feet total.
• 181,632,000 sq ft ÷ 43,560 sq ft/acre ≈ 4,171 acres.

Realistically, not all of this acreage is perfectly suitable for solar. Terrain slope, shading, environmental restrictions, and easements typically reduce usable land by anywhere from 30–50%. If we take a midway assumption of 40%, about 1,668 acres could potentially host solar.

Solar Potential and Power Output

How Many Panels Fit?

A common benchmark is around 4 acres per 1 MW (megawatt) for a standard ground-mounted solar farm. With a feasible 1,668 acres:

• 1,668 acres ÷ 4 acres per MW ≈ 417 MW of capacity.

Power Generation

In New Jersey, each MW of solar can produce around 1,200–1,400 MWh of electricity per year. Using 1,300 MWh as a midpoint estimate:

• 417 MW × 1,300 MWh/MW = 542,100 MWh per year.

Considering that a typical household consumes about 10 MWh annually, this roadside solar array could power:

• 542,100 MWh ÷ 10 MWh/home = 54,210 homes.

Such an installation would help cut greenhouse gas emissions and bolster the region’s overall clean energy mix. If revenue-sharing or other financial models are applied, funds from selling this power on the market might also offset GSP operational costs, contributing to toll reductions.

Case Studies: Roadside Solar in Action

Emily Jones at Grist.org — The Ray C. Anderson Foundation’s Project

Emily Jones highlights an inspiring example in West Georgia. The Ray C. Anderson Foundation turned a barren, eroding 5-acre site near a highway into a thriving solar field boasting 2,600 panels—enough to power over 100 homes. Beyond a mere demonstration project, The Ray teamed with mapping firm ESRI to develop a free digital tool that helps transportation departments identify optimal roadside parcels for solar. Their findings suggest a staggering 52,000 acres of U.S. roadside land could generate up to 36 terawatt-hours (TWh) of solar electricity—enough to power around 12 million electric vehicles. More than two dozen states are now using The Ray’s approach to explore similar ROW solar opportunities.

Kelsey Misbrener at SolarPowerWorldOnline — California’s Legislative Push

In another corner of the country, Kelsey Misbrener documented how California is advancing roadside solar with the unanimous passage of SB 49 on September 13, 2023. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 7, 2023, the legislation urges state agencies to assess how solar arrays, battery storage, and related infrastructure could be integrated into highway ROWs. This initiative dovetails with California’s drive to achieve 90% renewable energy by 2035 and 100% by 2045, offering a roadmap for highway-based solar developments.

Both case studies show that roadside solar isn’t just a theoretical exercise—it’s a growing reality across different regions, reflecting a shared interest in maximizing public land for clean energy generation.

From Concept to Construction

Implementation Considerations

1. Panel Placement: Fixed-tilt systems might be simpler and safer, especially near a busy roadway, though single-axis trackers can yield more energy.
2. Maintenance & Access: Ensuring safety for workers and drivers means designing secure fencing and dedicated maintenance roads.
3. Environmental Safeguards: Respecting wetlands, wildlife corridors, and slope constraints is crucial to minimize environmental disruption.

Public-Private Partnerships

• Lease Model: The state leases available ROW to private solar developers, potentially collecting annual fees or a share of revenue.
• Power Purchase Agreements (PPA): Utilities or government entities commit to buying solar output long-term, assuring investors of stable returns.
• Revenue Sharing: Proceeds from electricity sales could support infrastructure improvements or even lower GSP tolls.

Economic Benefits and Regulatory Hurdles

1. Job Creation: Construction, operations, and ongoing maintenance of the solar facilities would stimulate local employment.
2. Potential Toll Reduction: A percentage of the profits can be earmarked to offset the operating costs of the GSP, easing the financial burden on everyday commuters.
3. Permits & Reviews: Projects in highway ROW typically require robust environmental impact assessments and compliance with agencies like the NJDEP. Negotiations with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority or NJDOT for land-use rights add another layer of complexity.

Driving Forward

New Jersey’s Garden State Parkway harbors untapped potential for solar energy that could power tens of thousands of homes, support the state’s renewable energy targets, and generate revenue that might help lower tolls. Thoughtful planning—balancing environmental protection, driver safety, and efficient power production—can transform these large swaths of idle land into a clean energy asset.

As seen in Georgia’s The Ray initiative and California’s newly passed SB 49, roadside solar is no longer just an ambitious concept: it’s an emerging reality that benefits local economies, fosters energy independence, and conserves precious natural resources. The time is ripe for New Jersey to follow suit, uniting policymakers, developers, and the public in a shared mission to harness the sun’s power along our highways—turning the Garden State Parkway into more than just a route to get from Point A to Point B, but a vehicle for sustainable progress and potentially more affordable travel for all.