Lopatcong Township going green with $1.62 million solar panel project

Thursday, February 18, 2010
By SARAH M. WOJCIK
The Express-Times

Vanguard Energy Partners, based in Branchburg Township, N.J., will install solar panels on three township-owned facilities in phase one of the project. The estimated cost is about $161,000, according to Lopatcong Township engineer Paul Sterbenz.

The project marks the township's first foray into alternative energy sources, Councilman James Mengucci said.

"Obviously, it's money-driven. We want to save as much money as we can," Mengucci said. "Besides generating electricity, we're going to be generating savings."

Of the first three buildings to be equipped with solar panels, two house the Delaware Park Fire Co. and a third is used by the Lopatcong Township Emergency Squad.

Sterbenz said phase two would address the township municipal building, pool building and public works facility. A third phase, pending the status of state reimbursements, would require work on the Lopatcong Fire Company No. 2 facility.

About $625,000 in state reimbursements have been secured for the first two phases of work, Sterbenz said.

The township will begin to recoup the costs of the investment in seven to eight years -- a relatively quick turnaround for so costly a project, Sterbenz said.

Excess energy generated by the township also could be sold back to the power grid, he said.

To maximize the panels' effectiveness, Sterbenz said the design plans for the project have been altered since their original proposal. Instead of covering an entire roof, the solar panels will only be installed on portions that receive consistent sunlight.

"We've actually cut back on some of the solar panels ... because if you're not getting any sunlight, you're not getting any benefit," Sterbenz said.

Those changes, he said, could reduce the project's cost.

Councilman William Baker said about six months of research has gone into the project, which he called a "win-win" for the township and taxpayers.

"I think it's a good deal," Baker said.

Sterbenz said municipalities are able to take part in alternative energy projects thanks to state incentives.

"What is making this viable now is the existence of the state rebates because it provides a tremendous amount of money to offset initial costs," Sterbenz said.

Mengucci said he is proud of his township, which he called a "frontrunner" in projects such as this one.

"It's the never-ending battle to get the most for tax dollars and keep the burden off the backs of the taxpayers," Mengucci said.