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."