By John Patten Managing Editor
HILLSBOROUGH — Odds are the cost of electricity will be higher in the years to come, and a solar energy company hopes that’s a compelling reason for Hillsborough Township to become a customer.
Neil Julian, president of the Hillsborough-based environmental consultants NSJ Associates, and Henry LaBalme, of Tioga Engery, presented the Township Committee with the benefits of locking in the cost of at least some of the township’s electrical energy costs for the next 20 years, Nov. 11.
According to Mr. LaBalme, the company’s “power purchase agreement” — essentially a long-term agreement for the installation of a solar panel array on the municipal building — could help the township control costs without a large upfront cost.
”Our goal is to create a system that would sell power to the township at less (cost) than you’re now paying,” Mr. LaBalme said. As an example, he said if the township pays 18 cents per kilowatt hour, then his company would charge 16.5-cents per kwH.
”And if this doesn’t work, Tioga pays and not the town,” he added.
But he did caution the township that the system would not be likely to provide all of the township’s electrical requirements, and in response to a question from Mayor Anthony Ferrera, he said the township’s cost would remain fixed — even if some new technology drove utility company’s costs down.
Committee members didn’t take any action after the presentation.
