By Ruth Luse, Managing Editor
WEST AMWELL — Township officials will address two topics of local interest at two separate meetings next week.
The first session — to be held by the Planning Board on June 21 at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road — will focus on the solar installation planned for municipal land and the local elementary school.
Residents will hear details and have the opportunity to ask questions. Residents who live within 200 feet of the project are especially invited to attend.
The second session — a Township Committee meeting set for 7 p.m. June 22 — is expected to include a public hearing on a proposed multi-purpose bond ordinance. If OK’d, the measure would authorize road improvements, purchases for the public works and police departments and new gear for the local fire company. The total amount of the purchases and road improvements would be $816,600. Of that amount, $775,770 would be bonded.
AT THE JUNE 21 MEETING, Swan Creek Energy’s plan to bring solar energy installations to West Amwell under an agreement with the South Hunterdon Renewable Energy Cooperative — which is composed of six members (West Amwell Township, West Amwell Elementary School, South Hunterdon Regional High School, the city of Lambertville, Lambertville Public School and the Lambertville Municipal Utilities Authority) — will be discussed.
The plan is to install solar panels on the roof of the township’s elementary school and on about 5 acres of land owned by the township. The agreement in place calls for the township to earn at least $30,000 a year for hosting the panels.
The ground panels are expected to generate 961 kilowatts of energy for West Amwell and South Hunterdon. The school will reap much of the anticipated $101,623 energy savings. The solar panels on the elementary school’s roof will generate 100 kilowatts of energy to service the school.
As part of Swan Creek’s agreement with the co-op, Lambertville’s five public buildings and LPS will receive an energy audit, for a combined value of about $75,000.
The agreement also calls for a $25,000 feasibility study for the placement of a small hydroelectric plant at the locks of the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
UNDER THE PROPOSED multi-purpose bond ordinance, slated for a hearing June 22, road improvements would total $469,000, with $445,550 in bonds. Part of the project would consist of a portion of Old York Road, located behind Buddies Grill and Creamery and heading north. Work would include reclamation, drainage and restoration of the road’s shoulders. The project also includes a portion of Rocktown Hill Road.
Public Works purchases would total $194,000, with $184,300 in bonds. The new equipment would include a dump truck with a plow, a garage lift, a used backhoe, truck radios and a “brush hog” mower.
For the police, the township plans to buy two sport utility vehicles equipped with radar equipment. The cost would be approximately $95,000, with $90,250 in bonds.
Also planned are improvements to the municipal building, including interior renovations, roof repairs and HVAC alterations and upgrades. The cost would be about $35,000 with $33,250 in bonds.
For the township’s fire company, turnout gear and airbags would cost $23,600. Of that amount, $22,420 would be in bonds.

