Politics & Government

Council Approves $40,000 Study for Solar Panels

Mayor Vergano: 'Our only goal here is to save money.'

The council approved an ordinance Wednesday night appropriating $40,000 to fund a study to examine the possibility of installing solar panels on township-owned properties.

The party conducting the study will look at all options for installing panels on town-owned property, including a “car port” style grouping at the municipal complex on Valley Road.

The successful respondent would install, own and maintain the panel system. The township would agree to purchase the energy generated from the system.

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According to the ordinance, the project’s “total estimated” cost is $3 million. One of the conditions of awarding the contract would be a guaranteed level of savings for the town. How much in savings could not be determined.

The third-party would own the panels for 15 years, after which the township would own them.

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The owner would be eligible for the tax and energy credits earned by installing the system, not the township. However, the township could save as much as $50,000 annually just on installing panels in the municipal complex parking lot.

“Our only goal here is to save money,” said Mayor Chris Vergano.

Councilman Joseph Scuralli said although he voted to appropriate the $40,000, he is not interested in doing anything that would “impact the aesthetics of the neighborhood or negatively impact the residents, including their property values.”

The municipal complex is located in the Fourth Ward, which Scuralli represents.

The township was in discussions to enter into an agreement with the Passaic County Improvement Authority to put solar panels on town- and county-owned property but officials did not decide to enter into the agreement.  

The Wayne Board of Education may also enter into an agreement with the township on the project. The board may choose to install panels at the district’s office on Nellis Drive, which is in close proximity to the municipal complex on Valley Road.

The board is under no obligation to enter into the agreement.

Solar panels are already being at seven schools in the Wayne School District. The panels could generate up to 35 percent of the electricity needed to power the buildings, saving the district $6 million over the next 15 years. Solar panels have already been installed on in the township. William Paterson University has the largest collection of solar panels on a college campus in the United States. 


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