MORRIS COUNTY — Schools and agencies that signed up for Morris County’s solar/renewable energy project will average 35 percent savings on energy bills next year and more than 40 percent by the end of the initial 15-year program, officials announced today.
It will cost them 10.6 cents per kilowatt hour for solar-produced power versus a current average of more than 15 cents for traditional energy sources, said Stephen Pearlman, attorney for the Morris County Improvement Authority, which is jointly spearheading the project with the county board of freeholders.
It is estimated participants will save a total of $2.3 million over 15 years, officials said.
“This is a tremendous moment,’’ Pearlman said at a joint meeting today of the authority and freeholders in Morristown. “We have seen a concept, an idea turned into an important reality.’’
California-based Tioga Energy, Inc. and SunDurance Energy of South Plainfield, which won a $22.3 million contract in December to lead the solar initiative, will start work by June to prepare buildings for solar panels, including roof upgrades, said officials.
Solar panels will be installed on 14 public schools and some county government buildings. Participants include county government, the Morris County Park Commission and the Boonton, Parsippany, Mountain Lakes, Morris Hills Regional and West Morris Regional school districts.
Boonton School Superintendent Christine Johnson anticipates a first-year saving of $16,000 and cut in energy consumption by 36 percent for her district. Savings should reach $25,000 a year by the 15th year, she said.
Solar panels will be installed on Boonton High School and John Hill and School Street elementary schools. Included is a $100,000 upgrade of the high school roof, to be financed by the county.
“Anything we can do to show the community we are trying to save money and reduce energy is worthwhile,’’ said Johnson, who expects to incorporate the energy project into the district’s educational curriculum.
Participants can also receive state energy rebates, federal investment tax credits, solar energy certificates and could even make money by selling excess power during summer months to the energy grid for a power/energy credit, he said.
County Administrator John Bonanni said he expects the county to initiate a second round of solar connections and hopes to entice more schools and towns to participate.
