By AUBRIE GEORGE
As the township geared up for the installation of solar panels on three municipal-owned buildings, all of Evesham’s taxing entities came together last week for a discussion on ways to become more eco-friendly and energy efficient.
Representatives from town council, both school districts, the fire department, and the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority all shared ideas for saving on energy costs and reported on progress they’ve made to do so.
Township manager Tom Czerniecki spoke briefly about the township’s solar project, the creation of a joint-fueling station with the MUA at the Elmwood sewer plant, the use of smaller, more gas-efficient vehicles in township fleets, and a trash collection project that includes more tightly controlled routes.
Other entities reported installation of white, reflective roofs that reduce heat buildup in buildings; replacing outdated boilers, HVAC systems and other equipment; implementing motion sensors with lighting, and eventually installing more solar panels on more buildings.
Several groups have taken advantage of a state program that awards rebates to local governments who undergo an energy audit and implement the recommendations that come out of it.
Resident Greg Sullivan, who consulted the township on its solar panel project and helped secure the funding for it, spoke about various grant programs and power purchase agreements available to fund solar projects along with the benefits of using solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) to bring in revenue.
Members also discussed the possibility of powering their respective fleets with biodeisel, a clean-burning fuel made from renewable resources such as soybean oil and cooking oil.
The Medford Township School District has been successfully powering its school bus fleet with biodeisel for almost a decade.
Meanwhile, the township’s solar panel project, which includes the installation of solar panels on the municipal building, the Blue Barn, and the parks maintenance garage, was scheduled to begin within the week, Czerniecki said during the meeting.
The $1.5 million project to install the panels is being paid for in part by an $808,000 rebate from The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and a $192,800 Energy Efficiency Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, according to the township’s Web site.
Officials said the panels will save $2.3 million dollars in avoided energy costs over a 25-year lifespan and will earn $2.7 million in revenue through the sale of solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) over 15 years.
