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Voters To Weigh In On Brick Memorial Solar Panels
By Keith Hagarty
In two weeks, Brick voters will be asked to decide whether they want to fund an effort to bring solar power to Brick Memorial High School.
The Brick Township School District's December 9 referendum vote is seeking approval to install a series of solar panels on the roof of the school. Made of silicon, the crystalline solar panels convert the sun's light directly into usable electricity.
According to the district, solar energy would benefit the community three-fold: economically, environmentally and socially. Some of the positive factors of solar energy the district points to include a reduction of operating costs by offsetting electric use while generating income through the state's SREC's (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) program.
If the referendum is approved, the state would also be giving the school district $1.25 million towards the $4.7 million project as part of the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) incentive.
With the state grant, the overall installation cost of the project is expected to be: $3,525,782, with an estimated annual bond payment of $271,048.
The project would save the district a signifi- cant amount of money in the coming years, according to Councilman Brian DeLuca.
"Right off the top from it starting in the first year, they'll realize an $84,000 profit, and when I say profit, I mean the less money they'll be spending in costs for energy," said DeLuca, who once served as president of the school board.
Should the referendum pass, the district expects to see $1.6 million savings in energy costs over the next 20 years, according to figures compiled by Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc., of Trenton.
Some of the environmental benefits of utilizing solar energy, according to the district, would be a reduction in fossil fuel consumption, lowered greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of CO2 emissions.
The social and educational benefits the district envisions include having it as a teaching tool for math and natural sciences, as well as providing an interactive kiosk on solar energy in the school lobby area.
Schools may not be alone in seeking alternative energy sources.
Representatives from the Mayor's Advisory Committee on Renewable Energy (MACRE) recently made a presentation to the township council to review potential alternative energy opportunities in Brick. As an effective means to save energy costs and be eco-friendly, the committee recommended the town look into the possibility of eventually utilizing solar power at the township municipal building on Chambers Bridge Road.
To learn more about the high school solar panel referendum, the council encourages voters to go to the school district's Web site - www.brickschools.org - where they can also learn how to obtain information pamphlets.
The referendum vote was initially scheduled for September 30, however, since that date coincided with the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, the school board elected to switch the referendum vote to December.
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