School Board, Town May Enter into Agreement for Solar Panels

The township and school district may enter into a project to install solar panels on several buildings.

The township introduced an ordinance June 1 appropriating $40,000 to fund a request for proposals for the project. The work includes, but is not limited to, engineering, design, construction management, and an analysis of properties the panels could be installed on.

The township will put in the request that is the winning respondent’s responsibility to fund the project. According to the ordinance, the project is estimated to cost $3 million, including the $40,000 already appropriated.

The project can move forward jointly or with only the township’s participation, the ordinance states.

“The board is under no obligation to join them or take part in anything,” said school board President Donald Pavlak Jr.

Mayor Christopher Vergano could not be reached for comment.

Solar panels are already being at seven schools in the 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. Hundreds of units will be installed throughout the borough. The project was given the go ahead by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, not the township.

William Paterson University has the largest collection of solar panels on a college campus in the United States.