Solar Permits
Figure 1: Madison Solar Permits and Land Surface Temperatures (data from the NJ Dept. of Environment & USGS), shown here with areas characterized as heatmap and solar permits by the NJDEP in 2023.
Introduction
New Jersey is a leading solar state and Madison local government has shown strong backing in solar energy. Madison council voted to build a solar carport in the Madison Recreation Complex. The project would cost around $2 million minus $600-800k in federal incentives while saving $88k in energy costs a year. Thus, showing the great incentives of solar energy and the continuing effort to further incorporate it into Madison.
Data
Solar permits were assigned by the borough of Madison. The data shows the number of solar permits in Madison, New Jersey as well as the land surface temperature ranging from 60 to 120 degrees fahrenheit gathered by The United States Geological Survey.
Results
As of mid 2020, there were 51 solar permits in Madison, with many of these spread across various households and buildings. Most of the solar permits are in places with temperatures above 100 – 105 degrees fahrenheit. https://rosenet.org/1424/Solar-Information-Hub
It is important that there are no solar permits in the areas below the temperature of 80 degrees fahrenheit. This allows the solar panels to be the most efficient in generating energy and shows they are not poorly placed.
Conclusion
Understanding the locations and importance of solar that is generated will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions like CO2, as well as other dangerous pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Solar also reduces water consumption and withdrawal.
There is still an opportunity for Madison to expand the solar permits to hotter ( above 120 degrees fahrenheit ) areas like the center of town where most stores and restaurants are located.
About the Data
The Solar Permits Classifications are reported to the borough of Madison. The Landsat Surface Temperatures were collected by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The solar permit information is as recent as June, 2023. The goal of the NJDEP is to track the increase in solar permits to get to 1,000 households with solar panels by 2050 from the current 107 homes. More information can be found on the Madison rosenet page.The Surface temperature data is part of an initiative by USGS to monitor global energy balance. More information can be found on the USGS website.
Authors: Daryl Wong, Jack Polvere, Avindra Perera, Drew University
ENV/BIOL 302 – Geographic Information Systems
Fall 2023
Find this map online:
Madison Environmental Resource Inventory https://madisoneri.org/map-drawer/solar-permits-and-ev-charging/
