OLD BRIDGE — The township is moving forward with a Local Government Energy Audit, the first step in an energy savings improvement program that will update municipal infrastructure at minimal cost to the township.
The Township Council voted unanimously to approve a contract with the engineering firm Pennoni Associates, not to exceed $5,000, to initiate and oversee the energy savings improvement program in the township.
Under the engineering firm’s direction, an energy audit will be performed and various money-saving options will be evaluated. At the state level, several financing options exist, such as grants and pay-forperformance programs, which would not require any additional outlays by the township.
“Ultimately, this is the only cost that we’re going to incur,” said Councilman Richard Greene, who has been spearheading the effort, referring to the contract with Pennoni.
Greene said that Pennoni will select an auditor from one of five state-approved firms, which will then inspect all of the township’s heating, cooling and lighting systems in municipal buildings, as well as the library. The results of the audit will be presented to the township, at which point the council can decide which energy-saving options to pursue.
“We’re going to come up with a menu of items that we’d like to take advantage of improvements on,” said Greene.
Mayor Owen Henry expressed his support for bringing the program to Old Bridge, where cash is tight, especially for capital improvements.
“It’s the only way we’re going to get the infrastructure improvements we so desperately need,” he said.
During a presentation at the April 23 council meeting, Jerome Prevete, manager of corporate development for Pennoni, explained that there are no additional fees that the township will have to pay in order to pursue the energy savings program.
According to Prevete, Pennoni takes a percentage of the total project cost, typically 20 to 30 percent, out of the funds paid back to the township by the state.
Pennoni’s commission and the township’s net revenue from such a project varies based on which financing option the township decides to pursue. Prevete said that his preliminary estimate of a $3 million to $4 million project in Old Bridge could see the township net roughly $300,000, should the township choose a revenue-generating model such as “pay for performance,” where the township would receive credits for energy produced at local power generation facilities.
After the presentation, Councilwoman Mary Sohor said that the energy savings improvement program could offer an opportunity for a bipartisan effort by the council.
“I think all of us want to save money,” she said.
Contact Adam Joseph Drici at [email protected].