Gloucester Township school districts announce $20M solar project

Gloucester Township Mayor, David Mayer speaks at the kick off for the solar energy efficiency project in front of the Loring Flemming Elementary School in Blackwood, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. (Staff Photo by Calista Condo/South Jersey Times)

Joe Joyce, the Senior Vice President for Ray Angelini, Inc. speaks about being part of the largest solar project in New Jersey during the Gloucester Township kick off for the solar energy efficiency project at Loring Flemming Elementary School in Blackwood on Tuesday. (Staff Photo by Calista Condo/South Jersey Times)

By Jason Laday/South Jersey Times on June 26, 2013 at 6:40 PM

GLOUCESTER TWP. Boasting what they described as one of the largest public shared service agreements in the state, officials on Wednesday announced a $20 million solar project that will cover not just the township, but also two school districts. The project, which is slated for completion at the end of the year, will provide power to the Gloucester Township public works building as well as 10 schools across the Gloucester and Black Horse Pike Regional school districts. According to Gloucester Township Mayor David Mayer, the project will save more than $4 million in energy costs over the next 15 years. Our township has become a state and national leader in clean renewable energy and energy efficiency, said Mayer. The installation of these solar panels along with some of our energy efficiency projects at 11 sites and 10 schools will continue to save the township substantial energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint.

The estimated total amount of energy to be generated by the projects 21,000 solar panels is six megawatts, which officials said is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of approximately 850 homes. That much power would avoid the creation of 4,200 tons of carbon dioxide, said Mayer. Ray Angelini Inc. (RAI), will oversee construction, with the $20 million investment provided by Marina Energy, a subsidiary of South Jersey Industries, based in Folsom. Marina Energy will own the solar panels and sell the power to the township and school districts at a discount, according to Mayer. According to Mayer representatives from RAI, the project will produce up to 350 jobs during its lifetime. There have been similar projects before this, but never to the scope and scale as this project, said Joe Joyce, senior vice president of sales and marketing for RAI. This will be one of the largest such projects in the public sector in New Jersey. --Contact Jason Laday at 856-686-3628 or jladay@southjerseymedia.com.