By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
MANSFIELD Voters in April will have the chance to decide on whether to install a $3.8 million solar panel system at Northern Burlington County Regional High School.
Superintendent James Sarruda, district Business Administrator Richard Kaz, and Board of Education member James Nucito presented the school’s plans to the Township Committee at its Feb. 11 meeting.
”I think that this project is put together at the right time, at the right cost, for this district,” Mr. Nucito said late last week. He represents Mansfield on the school board, and is also a licensed electrical engineer.
The bond referendum question, separate from the regular school budget in the April 21 election, will ask voters to approve a bond of about $2.73 million bond toward the $3.8 million project. The rest of the cost will be covered by grants, Mr. Kaz said.
The total aid package for the project is about $2.27 million, and is made up of a grant from the New Jersey Clean Energy Program for $486,722, a Regular Operating District school construction grant for about $1.07 million, and state debt service aid for $710,492, though the district must first bond for that money.
The district also hopes to get a piece of the federal economic stimulus package President Barack Obama was expected to sign Tuesday.
”We do believe there could actually be more options that could save even more,” Dr. Sarruda said.
The impact the project would have on the tax rate was not available Tuesday, when officials said it was still too early to have one ready.
”We’re looking at a very conservative question to the community,” Dr. Sarruda said.
”We realize that’s the only type of issue that would be even possibly be entertained in this economic environment, but there’s too much to be gained here. We would not be responsible financially if we didn’t pursue this aggressively; it’s just too good.”
The project would replace the high school’s 20-year-old roof and mount a 187-kilowatt solar panel system on top of its replacement, and would also include the replacement of the school’s climate control system, which Mr. Kaz said is original to the school.
The school board asked the administration to move forward with the project if it got the Clean Energy rebate because the high school needs new roofing, Dr. Sarruda said.
Mr. Kaz estimated a savings of about $30,000 a year in utility costs through the use of energy generated by the system.
The school district would also stand to profit from the energy the solar panels produce, through the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates. SRECs are issued each time a solar electric system generates 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, and they can be sold or traded separately from the power.
Mr. Kaz said the district projects revenue of about $80,000 a year from SRECs, or around $1.2 million dollars over a 15-year period.
Mr. Nucito said the panels being considered typically last about 20 years and require little maintenance.
”You just kind of put them up there and let them do their thing,” he said. “They are moveable, so should you for whatever reason need to get to the roof beneath it, it’s a fairly easy process.”
He said other school districts have also considered similar plans, which have many environmental advantages.
”It helps with the carbon footprint of the area, it’s renewable energy, and it is something that keeps giving benefit to the district throughout its useful lifetime.
”It’s a good setup for the school,” he said, “and with the entire financial package that Mr. Kaz has put together… it’s extremely low cost to the district.”
The idea was met with enthusiasm by the 12 members of the public in attendance at the meeting, according to Township Administrator Joseph Broski.
”Everybody loves the green theme,” he said.

