NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Area and state officials along with students, teachers and residents came together on Thursday in New Providence to speak about utilizing alternative energy sources and especially solar power for area facilities in the near future.
Several state, corporate and local officials converged at the New Providence High School Media Center to further explore alternative energy during an Energy Efficiency Seminar. The state and company officials discussed several programs that involve energy reduction programs and using alternative energy sources.
The discussions that took place at the Energy Efficiency Seminar are especially important to various Union and Essex county municipalities that are looking at energy efficiency programs.
New Providence is looking into some of the proposals. The school district, led by Superintendent Dave Miceli, are mulling over whether to be part of the state’s Green Schools program, a pilot program in various school systems throughout the state that involves the entire district working together to cut down on energy costs.
Jeff Brown, director of Global Learning Inc., said that the districts that are part of the Green Schools program receive 25 percent of the savings obtained by instituting energy-saving programs.
In addition, the increase in the use of solar energy is causing municipalities to look into solar energy and how best to utilize it.
Carmen Centulo, Superintendent of Union County, said that the adults should take cues from the children. "The smallest of children will tell you should turn off the lights or the TV," said Centulo, who added that it shows the future of the United States is in good hands. "It is very encouraging."
She lauded the Westfield school district in recouping dollars by instituting energy efficient programs in their district.
New Providence Mayor John Thoms pointed to Alcatel-Lucent, the company on the border of New Providence and Berkeley Heights, which is in the process of constructing a solar field at its headquarters, as an example of an interest in alternative energy sources. "It’s pretty indicative of what we should be doing on our front," said Thoms.
In addition to towns looking at solar power, Thoms said that projects like Alcatel-Lucent’s have municipalities and the state learning how to regulate the construction of alternative energy projects that need to go before either the planning board or the board of adjustment (zoning board).
New Jersey though is not new to solar power. Another seminar participant, Joe Fiordaliso, BPU commissioner, pointed out that New Jersey has been at the forefront of the alternative energy wave and is the second state in the United States to only California in solar panels. He added that if you go by the size of the state, New Jersey has the most solar panels per square mile in the United States. "We’re in a situation where we are at the cutting edge of a new energy revolution," said Fiordaliso.
He added that the development of solar energy has gotten to the point where the solar power industry does not need extensive government backing. "The government has an obligation to see that," said Fiordaliso. "Like a parent, government has to pull back."
He added that his goal is to help reduce pollution and any form of global warming. "I want to have the environment more clean than it is now," said Fiordaliso. "We have an opportunity to make the environment better even if there is no problem with the climate. We have to become masters of our destiny. There is a lot at stake."
Officials talked about how there is also a conflict between alternative energy sources like wind power and ‘quality of life issues.’ Governor Chris Christie signed a bill earlier in July that will require the building of offshore wind power. "That’s going to be a challenge to come up with a balance of energy projects and dealing with the...quality of life issues," said Mike Egenton, Senior Vice President of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
Egenton added that the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has been demonstrating one way to conserve energy - - by replacing outdated air conditioner units at their main office. "This is a perfect example of ’talk the talk and walk the walk,’" said Egenton.
In addition, Laura Stern, President of Nautilus Solar of Summit, showed how a Power Purchase Agreement can help companies and municipalities. Stern pointed out that the company or municipality would only have to pay for the cost of the energy while a company like hers installs and purchases the solar panels. Stern pointed out that it is cheaper for companies like theirs to pay for the cost of the solar panels and the installation since private companies are eligible for federal credits while governmental agencies are not eligible. "It is really a benefit to the school system since it saves a lot of money," said Stern. "They are putting it back into their budget for the next several years."
Stern points to projects with William Paterson University and the Ocean City municipality as some of her clients.
There are several hurdles involved in putting together a solar energy system, including the condition of the building’s roof. "It is one of the biggest issues," said Stern. "The roof has to be in good condition."
While solar power and alternative energy sources continue to be explored for their potential, the seminar in New Providence demonstrated that there is definite interest in the future of alternative sources, especially if they help a company’s or government’s bottom line.