Mayor John E. McCormac today announced an interlocal services agreement with the Board of Fire Commissioners – Woodbridge Fire District #1 to install energy-saving solar panels at the Woodbridge Fire Department School Street firehouse as part of the Township-wide solar panel program.
The installation of solar panels at Township buildings will save taxpayers long-term energy costs by putting in place self-sustaining solar energy that will provide a portion of the Township’s power needs for many years to come. Installation of energy-saving solar panels has been completed at the Woodbridge Community Center and Health Center, while installation of solar panels is underway at the Main Library and the Evergreen Center in Colonia.
Mayor McCormac reported that Woodbridge is one of only a limited number of municipalities across the state that has received funding from the BPU rebate program to subsidize the installation of solar panels at municipal facilities. In addition to an estimated savings of more than $100,000 per year in energy-related costs through the generation of more than 951,000 kilowatt hours from the solar panel systems installed at the five municipal buildings, the Township will receive Solar Renewable Energy Certificates or S-RECS valued at $1.6 million over the next 36 months.
The installation of solar panels at the Woodbridge Fire Department building at 418 School Street was approved by the Board of Fire Commissioners Fire District #1 and is anticipated to produce more than 51,240 kWh per year, yielding a savings of more than $8,700.00 in electric costs and more than $25,624.00 in SREC sales, for a total savings of more than $33,800.00 per year. The Municipal Council approved the interlocal agreement at the Oct. 20 Council meeting, authorizing Barrier Electric Company to install 200+ solar panels at the Woodbridge Fire Department building at a cost of $284,600. Additionally, the Board of Fire Commissioners contracted with the Township’s energy consultant – Birdsall Engineering – to conduct a full energy audit of the 418 School Street firehouse, which should result in additional long-term energy and operational savings.
Mayor McCormac noted that solar panel installation at the Community Center has been completed and that renewable solar energy is in use to heat and cool the building year ‘round, heat the swimming pool to a constant 81 degrees, freeze the ice on the skating rink, power the many exercise and physical fitness machines and equipment, and generally provide power to the facility. Solar panel installation is nearing completion at the Main Library, Woodbridge Health Center and the Evergreen Center in Colonia. The Clean Energy Program rebates include:
- Woodbridge Community Center………………….$1,294,920
- Woodbridge Main Library………………………..$465,000
- Evergreen Senior Center………………………….$350,340
- Woodbridge Health Center……………………….$176,620
Woodbridge Township’s solar electric or “photovoltaic” system includes approximately 5,000 mono-crystalline panels or “modules” resulting in a design peak output of more than 840 kilowatts. The PV systems will connect to the building’s electrical system with little modification. The electricity generated is estimated at over 900,000 kilowatt hours annually and will work in parallel with the utility grid. If a system generates more electricity than the building requires, the surplus power will be distributed to the utility grid and “sold” to the local utility.
The Township is working with the PMK Group, Inc., a Birdsall Services Group Company, as the energy consultant providing project management and consulting services for the design and construction of the systems.
