The quiet rural landscape of White Township in Warren County may soon become home to a fully functional solar power facility, pending one last step of approval. The Foul Rift Solar Farm, which spans 56 acres at 46 Foul Rift Road, has completed all major installations including its solar panels and power lines. Developed by CEP Renewables, the project is poised to begin generating electricity but first needs a final major site plan approval from the township's planning board. This crucial review is scheduled for May 13, where board members will evaluate the plan concerning the interconnection lines that stretch across several private properties to connect the facility to the regional energy grid managed by Jersey Central Power & Light.
The solar project has already made significant progress. According to CEP Renewables representative Bradlaugh Higginbottom, the company secured permissions from the necessary private landowners and has successfully installed telephone poles that carry the interconnection lines. However, there remains the possibility that the township might require these lines to be relocated underground, a move that could delay the launch. Higginbottom noted that CEP typically doesn’t require township-level approval for interconnection routes, but given the unique local circumstances, he remains cautiously optimistic that the aboveground infrastructure will be accepted as is.
CEP Renewables, headquartered in Red Bank, Monmouth County, is no stranger to large-scale solar initiatives. The Foul Rift project is only one among several developments the company has proposed in the same area. Other pending solar installations include the Hummer Farm Solar Farm, projected to cover 82 acres at 140 Foul Rift Road, and two additional facilities on Pequest Drive: Chamberlain East, covering 28 acres, and Chamberlain West, covering 45 acres. While the groundwork for these future projects is being laid, they remain on hold awaiting approvals from the state level before any construction can commence.
For the community of White Township and the broader Warren County area, the successful activation of the Foul Rift Solar Farm could signal a new chapter in sustainable energy. It aligns with New Jersey's larger push toward renewable power sources and may eventually contribute meaningfully to the region’s clean energy supply. At a time when solar initiatives are being encouraged for both environmental and economic benefits, the readiness of this site underlines the potential of municipal cooperation in speeding up the transition to green power.
The upcoming planning board meeting on May 13 is expected to be a decisive one. Should the board grant approval, the Foul Rift Solar Farm would be able to begin operations shortly thereafter, contributing solar-generated electricity to the grid and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, residents and environmental advocates alike are keeping a close watch, hopeful that the township’s green energy aspirations can soon be realized through projects like this one.
