Solar Panels By The Acre Clinton Twp. Warms to N.Y. Life’s Idea

By Curtis Leeds (Hunterdon County Democrat)

Clinton Twp.--- April 24, 2008 --- Acres of solar panels may be coming to the N.Y. Life Insurance complex on Cokesbury Road if the company pursues plans it shared with the Planning Board.

If built, Robert Ragozine, who is the Clinton Town councilman and whose company Metro Energy Solutions is a consultant on the project, said it would be the biggest solar energy installation in the state.

“This is exactly the sort of thing we should be promoting” said Planning Board member James Imbriaco. “We should be doing more of this”.   But it isn’t clear whether township rules would permit the panels, or which township board will review the application. 

New York Life spokesman Dan McConnell told the board at the informal hearing Monday that “a solar facility would be ideal” for the company’s data center.

Township Planner Michael Sullivan told him, “This is the first time we’re dealing with this” and that the township ordinance suggests that the panels would be permitted only if they generate energy that would be used only on-site.

But that’s not the plan.  Although New York Life Vice President George Gayet told the board that the solar array would generate “only a small piece” of the building’s total electric needs, he said the company would sometimes generate excess power that would be distributed across the electrical grid by Jersey Central Power & Light.  

Planning Board Member Phil Iannitto, who is an architect, said that is typical for solar electric projects; the excess power then ears a credit for the producer.

Because solar cells don’t work at night and don’t work as well on cloudy days, the company says its plan would provide only about 40% of its electricity.  Although the company hasn’t selected a supplier for the panels yet, Mr. McConnell said each panel would likely be about 2 by 5 feet and mounted on aluminum poles 3 to 4 feet above the ground.  Depending on the final plan, he said they would cover 8 to 13 acres.

The scope of the plan sparked concern about whether they’d be an eyesore.  Mr. McConnell said they would not be visible from Rt. 78.  At the top of Cokesbury road, “If you look at a certain angle, you might be able to see some of them” he said.

Planning Board Chairman Chris D’Alleinne said he isn’t concerned about the view.  “They should be proud of it,” he said.

Planning Board member John Sladicka asked if the panels could be put on top of the building, but Mr. Gayet said, “ We don’t have 12 acres of roof… no where near that” and some roof space is occupied with air conditioning units and other equipment.  The New York Life property spans for more than 30 acres.

  Questions remain over whether the land used for the panels would be considered impervious cover under township rules.  Township Manager Cathleen Marcelli said she’d investigate how others treat solar panels.

Although the plan raised questions, the Planning Board liked the idea.  Mayor Nick Corcodilos said it would be “a showcase for New York Life, for Clinton Township and Hunterdon County”    

New York Life would like to get the work done quickly, before special tax credits expire at the end of this year.  Mr. Ragozine said the system would be about 2 megawatts, or 2,000 kilowatts. By comparison, the typical house might use electricity at a rate of  3 or 4 kilowatts.  Systems comparable to the plan New York Life is considering cost about $14 million to $18 million installed, he said.