By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Two schools would benefit from a public-private partnership to build solar energy systems.
The members of the South Hunterdon Renewable Energy Cooperative (SHREC) have agreed to hire Swan Creek Energy and several partner firms to build and operate a solar energy system on the roof of the West Amwell Township Eleementary School and on land near the township municipal building, Lambertville Mayor David DelVecchio said Monday.
The members of SHREC are Lambertville, the Lambertville Municipal Utilities Authority, the South Hunterdon Regional School District and West Amwell Township.
West Amwell Mayor George Fisher said the solar project will be in three locations:
One array atop the West Amwell Elementary School on Route 179. This will be rooftop mounted and serve just the elementary school.
A second adjacent to the West Amwell Township Municipal Building. The array will be ground mounted and only serve the municipal building.
The third array will be ground mounted on about five acres in the northeast corner of the West Amwell municipal property. It will serve the South Hunterdon High School.
"The governing bodies of all SHREC members will vote individually soon on going ahead with this," Mayor DelVecchio said. He termed those votes a formality and was sure all the members would vote to go ahead with the project.
The mayor said Swan Energy and its partners will build the project at its own expense, then recoup energy from selling electricity the system will produce.
"The electricity the system produces will be used at West Amwell Elementary School and the high school," Mayor DelVecchio said. "Swan will also get the benefit of federal tax credits."
As part of the deal, West Amwell will be paid $27,000 annually under a lease agreement, Mayor DelVecchio said.
"This project is good for everybody," he said. "Anytime you can do renewable energy and save money at the same time, that’s great. It’s good for the environment and good for taxpayers."
The West Amwell Township Planning Board technically did not have to approve the project, but the developer did present the project to the board and answered questions, Mayor Fisher said.
The high school is located near the municipal building on Rocktown-Lambertville Road.

