Work on Solar Panel Project at Schools Could Begin Soon

The board of education is considering multiple options on how to proceed with a project to install solar panels at seven schools in the district.

One option is to form a cooperative buying agreement with the township; the two entities would enter into the project jointly and form a new legal entity that is recognized by the state.

The two could also enter into a shared services agreement.  The district could also work with the Passaic County Improvement Authority to complete the project. The district could also not involve anyone else in the agreement and proceed on its own. Joseph Santaiti, vice president of Gabel Associates, an energy, environmental and public utility consulting company, spoke to the board about the various options at last night’s public work session.

Once installed, the panels could generate up to 35 percent of the district’s electricity, reducing its carbon footprint by putting 2,700 fewer tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and saving 13,500 trees.

A kiosk displaying real-time solar energy consumption and how much the panels are reducing the district’s carbon footprint will be installed at each school that has the panels.

“In Wayne, you will see the panels at work at the elementary-, middle- and high-school level and they are at William Paterson too, so Wayne is giving students, at a very young age, the idea that solar technology works," said John Maso, the district’s facilities manager. "It will follow them throughout their academic careers."

The panels are scheduled to be delivered later this month.

Work on the project will not occur when school is in session. Depending on the school, panels will be installed on rooftops or on the ground. Canopies will be constructed in the parking lots of Anthony Wayne Middle School, Wayne Hills High School and Schuyler-Colfax Middle School.  A.P. Terhune, Theunis Day, Packanack Lake, and Lafayette Elementary Schools will also have panels installed on their property.