By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
LAMBERTVILLE — A seven-member renewable energy co-op that hopes to slash energy costs is moving forward with plans to go solar.
To make that happen, the City Council has hired a consultant to guide future progress of the intricate proposal.
Because Lambertville is acting as the lead agency in the South Hunterdon Renewable Energy Cooperative, the council on Oct. 18 awarded a contract to the Birdsall Service Group, of Farmingdale, to analyze vendor proposals for an audit of energy efficiency and a power purchase agreement for solar energy.
The council authorized a $15,000 bond as initial payment for the consultant.
Mayor David Del Vecchio said it might not be necessary for the city or the co-op to pay the fee. It is possible the fee could end up being paid by someone else, such as a vendor.
Vendors will include the supply of hardware, such as solar panels, in their proposals.
”They finance it, they put it in, they maintain it, and we can get cheap energy and energy efficiency,” Mayor Del Vecchio said.
It is expected vendors will reap the proceeds by selling the solar energy to the project and also claiming federal tax credits.
”If the project goes forward, the project pays for itself by whoever ends up” performing the installations, the mayor said.
Birdsall was one of only two firms that submitted bids. Blue Sky Power, of Camden, submitted a bid of $300,000. Birdsall’s bid was $131,130.
In addition to the city of Lambertville, the renewable energy co-op will service Lambertville Public School, the Lambertville Public Library, West Amwell Elementary School, South Hunterdon Regional High School, the Lambertville Municipal Utilities Authority and West Amwell Township.
The co-op tried to put the project to bid last spring, but rules and procedures that are new and unfamiliar forced a delay and pushed the bidding back until the fall. A consultant, such as Birdsall, will be able to advise all parties on the regulations.

