Township Plans for Second, Larger Solar Project

While one solar project has been derailed by lawsuits, Bernards is getting closer to completing a second, even larger alternative energy venture in the coming months.

The township went out to bid for one of the largest solar projects in the area, a 3-megawatt facility next to the Pill Hill Recycling Center – four times the size of the Sewerage Authority's proposed site. Township Administrator Bruce McArthur said that reports have indicated that the area is essentially tailor-made for a large solar field. The panels would be placed on the capped, Pill Hill landfill, already considered an impervious surface with flat land, open space and no other practical use.

"It's kind of already pre-engineered for this purpose, McArthur said. The bid specifications call for a 15-year lease with an option for the township to purchase the facility at the conclusion. A minimum $100,000 payment must be made to the township at the execution of the lease, and an additional $50,000 fee is added after construction has been approved. The township also placed specifications calling for "very adequate insurance," according to McArthur, and an 18-month timeframe requirement for completing the project, with a $15,000 fee to grant an extension.

"It's kind of a tightrope walk of putting lots of guarantees and sureties, but not putting so many to as to scare everyone away," McArthur said. "We did not want to make it so onerous that we didn't get a bidder, keeping in mind that this is what we consider a useless piece of ground."

The landfill currently is capped according to NJ Department of Environmental Protection regulations. A rubber membrane between the garbage and the soil on top, meaning no trees or vegetation can be planted on the site. However, a report from Metro Energy Solutions in the fall of 2009 said that a solar field on the site would save enough carbon dioxide emissions to be the equivalent of planting over 127,000 trees. The site would also save the equivalent of nearly 70,000 trees from acid rain through reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by over 12 tons. Nitrous oxide (considered a pollutant, known for causing smog) was predicted to be reduced by 5.32 tons.

"Environmentally, it's a complete win," McArthur said. The township hopes the site will also be a significant source of revenue to help offset the need for local taxes, according to McArthur.

"I want to see a modern, environenmtal project that is good for the environment and creates solar power, but my first loyalty rests with the financial payments that need to be made for this piece of ground to the town," McArthur said. "I want to see us bringing in non-tax revenue that will help keep our taxes stable. As chief financial officer, that's my very first thought."

McArthur said that the township expects to avoid any repeat litigation through this solar project because, as opposed to the Sewerage Authority project, where the authority planned on running the solar power operation itself after construction, the township will only lease the land to an independent energy company in the Pill Hill project. After obtaining the lease, the company will create the field and sell the power onto the grid.

"Provided they satisfy our insurance requirements, have the financial wherewithal and have the guarantees in place, it's not as big of an issue on this project," McArthur said.

"This is truly a land lease, so the financial wherewithal is more important in our minds than the fact that they've done dozens of these types of projects." The experience issue was the major hang-up in the Sewerage Authority project to date.

The bids are due on June 8; afterward the township will have 90 days to award the project to one of the bidders. McArthur said it is too early to tell how much the township will make from the project, but expected the amount to be significant.