GP.Energy’s solar dives into New Jersey’s PSE&G territory.

While GP.Energy’s residential solar installations in the state of New Jersey have been primarily in Ocean, Gloucester, and Atlantic counties within Atlantic City Electric territory, the alternative energy provider is now breaking its way into Somerset County with Public Service Electric & Gas Company.

PSE&G is headquartered in Newark, Essex County, N.J.

Somerset County is one of its main coverage areas where it brings electricity to thousands upon thousands of families.

GP.Energy’s first installation in the PSE&G territory is a 12.48 KW solar rooftop in Belle Mead, N.J.

That means GP.Energy will finally glean the chance to work alongside PSE&G in collaborating with another New Jersey utility company, bringing solar to more people throughout the coastal state.

For the past 25 years, Grade 1 Lineman John Maroldo has worked with PSE&G and is now enthusiastic to see changes in the industry with solar moving forward more and more in his daily labors out on the road.

Maroldo focuses on setting and replacing utility poles in mainly Burlington and Camden counties but travels to all different parts of the state when his well-honed skill-set is required.

Ever since PSE&G began installing solar panels on utility poles in an effort to push forward in the green movement, Maroldo’s gratitude for the extra hours and plenty of work available to him and his fellow employees has been something he is happy to discuss.

Adding solar panels to utility poles around the different counties where Maroldo works started as a project two years ago and is still expanding through the pilot program.

“It lessens the loads on our nuclear plants,” he noted as one of the most important parts of this utility-driven effort.

When a pole with a solar panel on it is hit in a driving accident, Maroldo is often called out to handle the repair and replacement.

“I love it, actually,” Maroldo beamed about his thoughts on solar and how it is leading today’s world into a smarter, more efficient use of resources for daily living. “I’m really excited about anything that helps out the earth.”

In fact, earlier this year, Maroldo assisted his 16-year-old son Michael in a school science project where they chose to concentrate on solar when the choices were bioenergy topics.

“We own them, and sometimes the panels are in the way, with our work, but I understand the benefits,” he said about the utility poles with solar panels secured to them. “I think it’s great, and I’m 100 percent behind it.”

And with current economic conditions as they are, Maroldo said he finds the overtime hours all the more valuable, while he knows many others are struggling to find and keep stable employment.

In the future, Maroldo said he expects to see around 20 percent of homes with solar panels on their rooftops, and he likes knowing that he is connected to this bigger picture through his own work.