Tips to avoid last-minute tax mistakes

Waited to the last minute to file your taxes? You're not alone. With the dreaded Thursday, April 15 deadline inching closer, here are some tips to help you limit the mistakes typically made while rushing to file your taxes.

Last-minute tax flubs are more common than you think. Here are some common slip ups and ways how to avoid them:

Incorrect bank account information
Be extremely careful when typing in your bank account numbers and routing numbers for those who file electronically for direct deposit of funds. It's simple. If you don't type the right numbers, your money will end up into some other person's account. This year, the IRS allows up to three accounts for your refund... three times to be extra careful.

The wrong social security number
Let's say you forget to put down a dependent's social security number... or you punch in the wrong one. The child tax credit, the earned income tax credit and the child and dependent care credit could be lost.

Paying taxes on unemployment benefits
Up to $2,400 in unemployment benefits are tax free this year, so make sure you subtract this amount out before paying your taxes.

Not signing your return
Remember to sign your return! A return that is not-signed is considered invalid by the IRS.

Missing deductions
Missing deductions on tax breaks can completely change your return. Although you may not be able to justify itemizing due to the amount of deductions, there may still be tax breaks available to you as a non-itemizer. Have you bought a new car? If the car was bought before January 1, 2010, you can claim state and local taxes on the vehicle for up to $49,000. If you don't have enough mortgage interest on your home to itemize, or you have paid off your home, you are able to deduct state and local property taxes on your home.

Confused about medical expenses
Only unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income can be deducted. The good news? Transportation and even parking can be deducted, along with unreimbursed dental costs, eyeglasses and co-payments.

Protect yourself from debit card fraud

Believe you're immune to debit card fraud? Think again.

Unfortunately, when a criminal gains access to your debit card number and, in some cases, PIN, to make unauthorized purchases, there's a chance that your savings may be completely wiped out.

From PIN thefts to thieves stealing debit card numbers, to shady employees to hackers, debit card fraud can happen to you, so it's important to lower the threat. It's time to protect yourself.

How is debit card fraud detected? It's easy to finger, as long as you're signed up for online banking. Checking your balances and transactions daily can save consumers from the impacts of fraud. The sooner one detects the unauthorized activity, the easier it will be to get your money back from your bank.

Fearful of banking online? Hold on to the receipts of all of your debit card transactions, or better yet, use phone banking at least weekly to keep everything in check. Thanks to an article by Yahoo Finance, we've compiled some easy ways to keep your money protected:

Go paperless

Yep, time to move from the brick-and-mortar establishment and handle transactions online. It's easy to do. Log on to online banking, and simply check the box that says "go paperless." This will end all risk of bank information being stolen from your mailbox.

Use your credit card instead

When you are ready to make a purchase, take out your credit card instead. If you insist on using your debit card, select credit instead of debit. Why? This way you won't be exposed to PIN theft.

Sign up for banking alerts

Sign up for banking alerts to know when your account has changed. When a transactions occurs that wasn't made by you, you will know instantly.

Spread out your money

Remember your grandfather telling you to put some money in your shoe just in case? It's the truth. Spread out your money so if debit-card fraud hits, you aren't stuck with nothing.

Destroy old cards

For obvious reasons. Use a shredder!

Keep your computer protected

Use firewalls and anti-virus on your computer in order to stay protected. Make sure to update your protection regularly.

If debit card theft has happened to you, call your bank immediately. In the case that your bank isn't cooperative, call a consumer advocacy group such as Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Click here to see a list of agencies that may be able to help.

Morning Deals: National Parks, skin care & toothbrushes

Deal Of The Day:

National Parks: Free admission to any National Park from April 17- 25

Other Morning Deals:

Skin Care: Get $20 back when you spend $50 or more on Olay Pro-X skin care products at Drugstore.com- offer ends 04.09.2010

Toothbrushes: Save an instant $10 off one select Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush at Drugstore.com

Morning Deals: Cleaning products, flights & hotels

Deal Of The Day:

Cleaning Products: Subsribe to their newsletter and receive free cleaning products from Home Made Simple

Other Morning Deals:

Flights: Save big on Memorial Day flights, plus extra $24 off- use promo code MEMORIAL9 at CheapOair.com!

Hotels: Save up to 50% on all hotels worldwide- book now with CheapOair.com

Morning Deals: computer accessories & power strips

Deal Of The Day:

First Aid Kits: Free first aid kit from Texas Health Resources

Other Morning Deals:

Computer Accessories: Logitech wireless keyboard,wireless mouse and USB wireless receiver only $23.99 each after rebate

Power Strips: $20 off Belkin 6 outlets, 4ft. cord power strip now only $3.99

Morning Deals: Protein pack, gift cards & magazines

Deal Of The Day:

Protein Pack: Free protein pack sample from Special K, includes a protein meal bar and coupons

Other Morning Deals:

Gift Cards: Looking for a gift card for an Easter present? Up to 25% off gift cards!

Magazines: Take an additional 15% off at Best Deal Magazines. Enter coupon code PXCJ328 during checkout

Food dehydrators save money and energy

Ready to stretch your food-budget dollar to the end of the year?

It may be time to invest in a food dehydrator. The energy-saving gizmos can extend a snack's life for a year or more and can save cold, hard cash on food shopping.

A recent press release highlights Rob and Debbie Thurston, founders of SaveAFood.com. At the site, one can buy food dehydrators, accessories and enhancements. These include fruit and veggie slicers, peelers, non-stick drying sheets, and Ascorbic Acid. This helps to cease the browning of food.

“We stand behind our products and represent a family that has first-hand experience with needing to save money,” Debbie Thurston says. “Food dehydration is a sensational resource for young families as it delivers delicious fruits, veggies and meats prepared for long-term storage.”

So what's not to like? The benefits are simple. Saving money, and saving food. One can buy fruits and vegetables in bulk, while they are on sale... and simply dehydrate them to last through the year. The snacks are healthier than a bag of chips and can be taken to school, work, boating in the summer, and skiing in the winter.

To learn more about food dehydrating, check out the Thurston's blog at www.Dehydrator123.com where the couple serves up savings tips, nutritional info and recipes.

White House serves up online tax-savings tool

Looking for last-minute advice in the days leading up to April 15? Financial consultants at the White House have unveiled an online tax-savings tool in order to help taxpayers be aware of credits made available by the Recovery Act.

A direct response to the economic crisis, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has caused the average income tax refund to increase more than $260, according to IRS data. This year, data is showing people taking advantage of the tax savings caused by the Recovery Act. Through March 12, 2010, the average refund is $3,036, up $226 from last year, according to an article on WebCPA.com.

Vice President Joe Biden says, “The big guys know all the credits and deductions to claim during tax season, but we want middle-class families to know just how much is out there for them this year thanks to the Recovery Act and how to take advantage of it,” Biden continues, “From help with college expenses to credits for cost-saving, energy-efficiency home improvements, these Recovery Act tax credits not only provide some needed relief for working Americans, but also help them invest in their families’ futures.”

As of March 22, 2010, data shows that less than half have filed their income taxes. If this is you, there is still time to take advantage of the Recovery Act. President Obama will be hosting a series of events across the nation to inform Americans of the act.

Want to check it out? Simply go to www.WhiteHouse.gov/Recovery, and answer a questionnaire. Questions asked include salary range, filing status, college expenses and recent home purchases.

Morning Deals: Calendars & taxes

Deal Of The Day:

Calendars: Free wall calendar from Epitomics, Inc.

Other Morning Deals:

Taxes: Make tough times a little easier! File your simple return for free with TurboTax® Federal Free Edition!

More Taxes: File with QuickTax Free Online for your last-minute taxes!

Morning Deals: Cereal, diffusers & suncare

Deal Of The Day:

Cereal: Register with BeFreeForMe and receive a free sample of a new nut cereal

Other Morning Deals:

Diffusers: Purchase any Maison de-luxe diffuser, get a Maison de-luxe soy candle free ($9.99 value!)

Suncare: Spend $25 on your favorite suncare at Drugstore.com, and receive $5 off your order!

Morning Deals: Photos, flights & hotels

Deal Of The Day:

Photos: Free prints at Walgreens with registration

Other Morning Deals:

Flights: Cheapest domestic airfares with $15 coupon '15OFF'

Hotels: $30 off with 5 night booking at Hotels.com

Morning Deals: BJ's, clock radios & messenger cases

Deal Of The Day:

BJ's: 60 day free trial membership to BJ's wholesale club

Other Morning Deals:

Clock Radios: $20 off Sony Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone only $49.99

Messenger Cases: $35 off Targus urban messenger case- fits up to 15.6" only $24.99

Morning Deals: Pet treats, auto supplies & sun protection

Deal Of The Day:

Pet Treats: Free pet treat sample from TJ.LA

Other Morning Deals:

Auto Supplies: Spring Sale! Get $25 Off $199 w/code GARDEN at AutoAnything.com

Sun Protection: Protect your vehicle's interior with a high quality auto sun shade from Autogeek.net!

Inside Consumer United :: Patrick Hirst

Patrick Hirst joined Consumer United in July of last year. Originally out of Connecticut, Hirst went to Saint Michael’s college in Vermont and joins us from a medical research firm in Quincy, MA.

He has quickly put his research skills to use, helping consumers get the best rates on their auto insurance in New Jersey.

“Consumer United has also given me certain 'tips and tricks' to keeping money in my own pocket," he says. "The piece of advice that has made the biggest impact on my finances is keeping a budget.” Hirst thrives off the overall energy of his fellow employees and helping people lower their bills.

When he’s not helping Consumer United members save money or carefully calculating his weekly budget, Patrick is a history buff, a skier and loves traveling. He’s an avid outdoorsman and spent weekends in college on the slopes of Smugglers Notch, Stowe and Jay Peak.

After college, he traveled around Europe and South America, experiencing local cultures and trying new foods. He currently resides in Allston, MA.

Morning Deals: cookbooks, taxes & local reviews

Deal Of The Day:

Cookbooks: Free Rachel Allen cookbook from Harper Collins Publishing

Other Morning Deals:

Taxes: Do your taxes the easy way- with Turbo Tax!

Local Reviews: Find reviews on the services you need at Angie’s List – from electrician to physician! Use promo code “SAVE TEN” for $10 off

Things that your mechanic won't tell you

Have a vehicle in need of repair but unsure of how to approach your mechanic?

When it comes to car maintenance and repair, knowledge is power ... especially if you have no idea of what's going on under the hood.

Before heading over to the car dealer, a chain-store franchise or an independent mechanic, make sure the repairman is certified to work on newer model cars. Without knowing what's going on behind the scenes at the garage, basic fixes like having fluids, belts and filters replaced can turn into a nightmare.

Here are few things your mechanic won't tell you:

Ignorance is bliss when it comes to knowing about your warranty
Are you confused if your vehicle is still under warranty? If you are, your mechanic will probably not straighten out your confusion. Why? They will lose money on a repair they could have charged you for. In order for a warranty to continue after a repair has been made, that repair has to be made by the dealership itself... or the warranty is void.

Rebuilt parts are as good as new

Specify that you want a manufactured part! They are less expensive, and literally as good as new. Please keep in mind however that recycled parts aren't perfect for everything. Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the Body Council and owner of a Boston-based car shop says, "You need to make sure it provides exactly what you are looking for and what you need."

I'll repair your car when it's not needed
It is possible that when you drop your vehicle off for routine maintenance, your mechanic will repair things that are unnecessary, but "recommended" by the mechanic. Simply state when you drop your car off, "I'm interested in only routine maintenance. This time I'll pass on any recommended repairs, although I would love to hear your recommendations and an estimate."

My certificates don't mean a thing

Looking at an ASE sticker on your mechanic's wall does not imply that all of the mechanics are ASE certified. A Yahoo News article states that mechanics must have two years of hands-on work experience and pass an extensive standardized exam to become certified. Unsure who at the shop is certified? Just ask the owner!

This garage isn't for you
Maybe this garage really isn't for you. What type of service does your vehicle need? A repair, maintenance, or body work? The issue is that wherever you bring your car, you will hear from the mechanic that you brought your vehicle to the right shop. If you are looking to repair your car when it is under warranty, bring your car straight to the dealer. If you need a repair that is not covered by warranty... don't go to the dealer. The dealer overhead cost is high so repairs not covered by warranty are guaranteed to be expensive.

Your car is really high tech

Too high tech, that is. It's possible that the shop you bring your car to won't be able to handle your repairs. It's not that the mechanic isn't a good one, but the necessary equipment may not be available. Expensive diagnostic equipment may be needed in order to pinpoint the source of some problems. If your car is high tech, look into specialty shops before you bring your car to any old mechanic.

You have more power than you think

Speak up! You really do have more power than you think. If you think the mechanic has wronged you, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the attorney general's office. Contact your state's highway department to see if your state has an agency that will try to solve every complaint it receives.

Cut the cord and watch free documentaries online

In the spirit of “cord cutting,” we’re looking for new ways to entertain ourselves without paying outrageous cable bills. For those of you who claim to need cable for educational TV, we have your solution… freedocumentaries.org.

Freedocumentaries.org is an easy-to-use site, collecting well-known documentaries like “Sicko” and “The 11th Hour,” as well as more obscure and hard-to-find films from all over the world. Best part is, all the films are free and it’s actually legal.

You can stream the videos instantly to your computer, no commercials or sign ups required. The site is currently applying for non-profit status, with a mission to “educate and entertain as many people as possible in the hopes of fostering a healthy democracy.” Fueled mostly by volunteers, the site depends on donations to cover overhead and keep improving the site.

Cut your expensive cable bill and you’ll have plenty left over to help in the cause. You’ll even have plenty left over to host move night and learn something in the process. With over two-hundred titles listed, and more constantly being added, freedocumentaries.org is one to join Hulu and Netflix on your favorites tab.

Click here for details. Also, click here for additional pointers for those looking to pull the plug on their cable.

--Lana Petersson

Morning Deals: Conditioner, Burt's Bees & soy candles

Deal Of The Day:

Conditioner: Free Dove conditioner sample

Other Morning Deals:

Burt's Bees: Spend $25 on Burt's Bees and get 3.5oz SPF 30 sunscreen free (a $5.99 value)!

Soy Candles: Purchase any MAISON de-luxe diffuser, get a MAISON de-luxe soy candle free ($9.99 value)!

Tips to save on home office expenses

It can be pricey to have a home office. Thanks to a handful of tips compiled by the New York Daily News, it doesn't have to be.

Here's the lowdown on lowering your home office expenses:

Ditch the fax line
Fax lines are expensive, potential over $300 a year. Most use their fax machine for an extra phone line, but few know they are wasting a lot of money. Try the Magic Jack instead. The Magic jack plugs into your computer... and presto! A second phone line that only costs $40 with a free year of service. After that, it's only $20 a year.

Haggle your iPhone bill
Are you paying $130 a month for your iPhone? Don't. Call AT&T and haggle a better price of $100. $100 a month is the new rate, although why would they lower your monthly payment if they don't have to? Renegotiate your contract, and save $30 a month... that's $360 a year.

Laser printers over ink jets
Do you love printing color photos at your home office? Stop! New York Daily News makes a point: online services will print photos for you less than the cost of paper and ink to print in your home. The company is making money on selling you ink, so don't be fooled into a discounted printer. Do you print many black-and-white copies? Choose a laser printer ink cartridge over an ink jet cartridge. Why? Laser printer ink cartridges last 10 times as long.

Unplug those appliances
The average household appliances plugged in at one time is 27 per household. Without even thinking, energy is being wasted all around us. Buying a Smart Strip for $25 will save you an average of $20 a month for all of the appliances sharing it. Electricity flow to the appliances is discontinued when using a Smart Strip, so the 10% of wasted energy can be saved!

You may need a Mac
Mac or a PC? Yes, it is true that Macs are more expensive than PC's. However, they are only more expensive in upfront costs. It is known that Macs retain their value much longer than PCs. According to New York Daily News, you will probably spend less money on tech support for a Mac, and you don't need to buy the $100 antivirus software that you must buy for your PC.

Morning Deals: Ritz, hotels & flights

Deal Of The Day:

Ritz: Free sample of Ritz Munchables Pretzel Crisps

Other Morning Deals:

Hotels: Best family hotel deals- use coupon code USAHOTEL15 to save $15 on all hotel bookings at OneTravel

Flights: Use airfare coupon CHEAPOAIR10 to save on all domestic and international seasonal flights!

Morning Deals: Coffee, computers & messenger cases

Deal Of The Day:

Coffee: Free coffee from Dunkin Donuts

Other Morning Deals:

Computers: Acer Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz desktop - 6GB RAM, 750GB SATA HDD only $499.99 after rebate

Messenger Cases: $35 off Targus urban messenger case- fits up to 15.6" only $24.99

Morning Deals: Cereal & car care

Deal Of The Day:

Cereal: Free sample of cereal from Kashi

Other Morning Deals:

Car Care: Stock up on car care products from Autogeek.net- free ground shipping on orders over $500

More Car Care: St Patty's Day Sale! Get $25 off $199 w/code SHAMROCK at AutoAnything.com

Take the EPA's Fix a Leak Week plunge

Want to do your part for the environment while you also save energy and money? You're in luck. Fix a Leak Week, promoted by WaterSense, continues this weekend until Sunday, March 21 to remind Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

Yep, every drop counts.

What is Fix a Leak Week? It's a movement spearheaded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that's dedicated to saving water on a mass scale. According to the EPA, Americans, on average, waste more than 10,000 gallons of water each year due to nothing other than leaks. Dripping faucets, leaky pipes and running toilets to name a few.

Let's join in and make a difference! This week, be sure to check your household for leaks by inspecting plumbing and irrigation systems in your home.

Want more information on Fix a Leak Week and programs happening near you? Check out EPA.gov here.

FDIC serves up weekly consumer tips online

The FDIC is now offering consumer tips online. In conjunction with National Consumer Protection Week and officially kicking off on Monday, March 8, the watchdog group is serving up both daily and weekly pointers to help folks of all ages exercise their consumer rights.

What's the FDIC? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was created by congress in 1933 to insure consumers' deposits at 8,012 banks. The FDIC was established to restore public confidence in the banking system, specifically after the stock market crash in 1929. The FDIC isn't funded by any tax dollars. Banks and insured financial institutions fund its operations completely.

The weekly content addition is called "Consumer Tip of the Week." The site's hot topics include loans, saving money, using FDIC to protect your money and avoiding financial fraud.

Here's a recent tip: "You can protect yourself against a variety of financial frauds and scams by being extremely skeptical of unsolicited offers that involve 'updating' or 'confirming' personal information or requirements that you send a payment or provide bank account information before receiving anything in return."

Sheila Bair, FDIC Chairman states, "Consumer education is already a big part of what the FDIC does to increase the public’s knowledge of financial issues. We believe this new service--delivering simple, practical tips on an ongoing basis over the Internet--will make it easier and more convenient for people to stay informed about issues that may affect their financial decisions.”

Click here for lowdown on the FDIC's "Consumer Tip of the Week."

Morning Deals: Crest, taxes & gift cards

Deal Of The Day:

Crest: Free sample Crest 3D Whitestrips

Other Morning Deals:

Taxes: Do your taxes the easy way- for free. Use TurboTax Federal Free Edition today... time is rnning out!

Gift Cards: Up to 25% off merchant gift cards a GiftCards.com

Morning Deals: Gift pack, vitamins & suncare

Deal Of The Day:

Gift Pack: Free spring cleaning gift pack from Right at Home

Other Morning Deals:

Vitamins: Spend $60 in our Vitamin category at Drugstore.com, get $10 off your order!

Suncare: Spend $25 on your favorite suncare, get $5 off your order at Drugstore.com!

Morning Deals: Soap, hotels & flights

Deal Of The Day:

Soap: Free Lever soap sample

Other Morning Deals:

Hotels: 4-star hotels at 2-star prices. Save up to 55% with low Hotwire rates!

Flights: Cheapest domestic airfares with $15 coupon '15OFF'

Morning Deals: Green tea, GPS Navigators & Cameras

Deal Of The Day:

Green Tea: Free Lipton's green tea sample pack

Other Morning Deals:

GPS Navigators: $165 off Garmin International Nuvi 255W 4.3" GPS navigator with SDHC 4GB class 10 (10MB/S) flash card - blue only $134.99

Cameras: $45 off Polaroid i1236 12.0 megapixel digital camera- black only $77.99

Morning Deals: Books, car care & tools

Deal Of The Day:

Book: Free Romancing Miss Bronte book from Random House Publishing

Other Morning Deals:

Car Care: Free Ground shipping on orders of $500.00 or more on car car care products from Autogeek.net

Tools: Save up to 40% on brand-name, manufacturer-guaranteed reconditioned tools

FreeCreditReport.com's ads must come clean

For those who have had enough of the FreeCreditReport.com singing pirate, the ship is sinking for the site's misleading advertisements.

As of September, owner Experian will have to spill the beans that their side business is only free if consumers enroll in a $14.95-a-month credit-monitoring service and then cancel it within a week.

The site's ubiquitous TV ads, in case you haven't seen them, feature slackers singing in their shabby apartments or waiting tables in pirate costumes. If only they had used FreeCreditReport.com, they wouldn't be in such a financial mess.

The controversy is that FreeCreditReport.com diverts customers away from the free government mandated site located at www.AnnualCreditReport.com.

It also has a Web site name that implies the report is free. Contrary to its misleading URL, FreeCreditReport.com charges a credit-monitoring service that costs $14.95 a month, automatically taken from consumers' credit cards.

Experian, the company that owns FreeCreditReport.com, has until September of this year to clean up the ads for its site, while other credit card companies had from May 2009 to February 22, 2010. The credit report company has already paid $1.25 million to settle charges for misleading consumers who ended up having to pay a monthly subscription fee.

Due to the legal issues, it now has a disclosure on its home page saying it's not affiliated with the annual free credit report program. This disclosure is in fine print on the side of the home page, on a subdued background.

Click here for details.

Morning Deals: Music, taxes & gift cards

Deal Of The Day:

Music: Theme song to Alice in Wonderland free from Amazon.com

Other Morning Deals:

Taxes: Do your taxes the easy way— for free. Use TurboTax Federal Free Edition!

Gift Cards: Share your pot of gold with a St. Patrick's Day gift card!

Morning Deals: Movie rental, lip balm & Neutrogena

Morning Deals:

Movie Rental: Free rental from Blockbuster if your child shows a grade of a B or better

Other Morning Deals:

Lip Balm: Get a free lip balm when you buy one of Burt's Bees new toothpastes at drugstore.com

Neutrogena: Mail-in rebate- get $15 back when you buy any Neutrogena Clinical skin care product at drugstore.com

Morning Deals: Portraits, flights & car rentals

Deal Of The Day

Portraits: Free 8X10 portrait from the Picture People

Other Morning Deals:

Business Flights: Save big on business class airfare - plus use promo code BIZ35 to get additional $35 off- book now with CheapOair.com

Car Rentals: Rentals from $8.98 A Day: 7 major car vendors, 15,000 locations, save up to 40%!

New Jersey Meadowlands Commission going solar

Things over at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission are looking up... to the sun, that is.

On Wednesday, February 24, the Commission announced its decision to use solar power to help generate power for municipalities in the area. According to the plan, a landfill, a parking lot and standing buildings will be used to generate energy.

Lori Grifia, acting chairman of the NJMC and acting commissioner of the state Department of Community Affairs in a release exclaims, "Through these creative and forward-thinking programs the NJMC can better help Meadowlands District municipalities conserve energy and save taxpayer dollars. As a driver of economic growth and environmental responsibility, renewable energy production is critical to our state's fiscal and environmental future."

This isn't the beginning of a solar power initiative for the area. Suitable structures for solar panels were pointed out back in 2008 by the NJMC.

A pilot Municipal Solar Assistance Program was created as well, in order to help school districts and municipal buildings begin to use renewable resources. The NJMC paid for rooftop assessments in order to see if a building's roof would qualify for solar panels. The assessments paid for include two fire companies, the Department of Public Works, a library, a senior center, a high school, a middle school and Jefferson, Roosevelt and Washington schools. The results of the assessment are still under review by the NJMC.

Robert Ceberio, a NMC executive director states in a release, "The NJMC has long advocated renewable and alternative energy proects as crucial to shaping an economically and environmentally sustainable Meadowlands. We are thoroughly committed to using our resources to help produce clean energy, cost savings and economic development throughout the region."

The goal of the initiative is to use renewable energy, and to have the generated energy be a cost savings for taxpayers. The initiative is already underway. The 1A landfill in Kearny has a plan in the works. The commission hopes to construct a solar array on it. A plan is being constructed for private developers who want to include solar components as well, enabling a reduction in NJMC development fees.

Councilman Steve Tanelli says, "I think it's a great idea, a lot of towns are doing it. If we get solar power to generate energy for the borough it will definitely be a cost savings for taxpayers."