NJR Clean Energy Ventures and CertainTeed Corporation Announce New Rooftop Solar Project

WALL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), today announced an agreement with CertainTeed Corporation, North America’s leading manufacturer of building products, to lease space atop its fiberglass insulation distribution facility in Berlin, New Jersey, for a rooftop solar system. Developed with United Solar’s technical expertise, the system will use thin-film laminates to generate 870 kilowatts of clean, renewable energy and help reduce the building’s carbon footprint. United Solar is a leading global manufacturer of UNI-SOLAR® brand light-weight, flexible, thin-film, low impact and low profile solar panels.

“CertainTeed is wholeheartedly committed to serving as a responsible steward of the environment and our community by incorporating sustainable practices in the design of our buildings and manufacturing of our building products.”

“Through innovative solar projects like our partnership with CertainTeed, we are helping to make renewable energy a viable choice for New Jersey’s commercial and industrial businesses and build up the renewable energy marketplace in our state,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJR. “We will continue to look for profitable opportunities in the solar and renewable energy markets that will help customers save money, advance the state’s renewable energy goals and grow the business.”

NJRCEV will lease more than 300,000 square feet of roof space from CertainTeed for a period of 20 years and has entered into a concurrent Power Purchase Agreement with the company. As a part of this $5 million project, NJRCEV will install a new roof with state-of-the-art roof materials and thin-film solar laminates, which will provide the dual benefit of weather protection and clean energy. The solar system is expected to provide nearly 90 percent of the building’s electric needs and help transform the facility into a green building by eliminating more than 800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

“The Berlin solar roof project demonstrates the true strength of partnerships when it comes to mitigating the impact on the environment,” said Peter Dachowski, president and CEO of CertainTeed Corporation. “CertainTeed is wholeheartedly committed to serving as a responsible steward of the environment and our community by incorporating sustainable practices in the design of our buildings and manufacturing of our building products.”

CertainTeed is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, one of the top 100 industrial companies in the world. Saint-Gobain employs approximately 19,000 people in North America and more than 190,000 people in 64 countries world-wide. Saint-Gobain’s North American companies operate nearly 200 manufacturing facilities in industries as diverse as industrial ceramics and containers, reinforcements and flat glass, abrasives, and building materials.

Investments made by NJRCEV will qualify for a 30 percent federal investment tax credit. Revenues generated from the Power Purchase Agreement will provide additional return on investment. The energy produced also will be eligible for Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), which can be sold to load serving entities in New Jersey to meet their renewable energy requirements. This rooftop solar system is projected to generate more than 1,000 SRECs annually.

The project is expected to be operational by January 2011, and will create up to 25 direct and indirect jobs in the state.

New Jersey Resources, a Fortune 1000 company, provides reliable and renewable energy and natural gas services including transportation, distribution, and asset management in states from the Gulf Coast to the New England regions, including the Mid-Continent region, the West Coast and Canada, while investing in and maintaining an extensive infrastructure to support future growth. With over $2.5 billion in annual revenues, NJR safely and reliably operates and maintains 6,700 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve nearly half a million customers; develops and manages a diverse portfolio of more than 2.3 Bcf/day of transportation capacity and 50 Bcf of storage capacity; and provides appliance installation, repair and contract service to approximately 144,000 homes and businesses. Additionally, NJR holds investments in midstream assets through equity partnerships including Steckman Ridge and Iroquois. Through Conserve to Preserve®, NJR is helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency. For more information about NJR, visit www.njliving.com.