By John Tredrea, Special Writer
WEST AMWELL — The West Amwell Township Planning Board has yet to make a decision on a proposed solar installation.
The equipment would be on municipal land and at the local elementary school, officials said.
The Planning Board discussed the plan June 21. The board’s next meeting is set for July 19.
”We’re still trying to get an easement from the county,” township Deputy Mayor George Fisher said at the June 22 Township Committee meeting.
The project is “still in the design phase,” Mr. Fisher said. “Progress is being made, but it’s slower than I would like.”
Under the plan, Swan Creek Energy would bring in the solar energy installations to West Amwell under an agreement with the South Hunterdon Renewable Energy Cooperative.
Lambertville resident Brad Campbell, former commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, heads the firm.
The co-op consists 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.
Solar panels would be erected atop the township’s elementary school and on about 5 acres of land owned by the township. The township would 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 get much of the anticipated $101,623 in energy savings.
The solar panels on the elementary school’s roof are expected to 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.
