As reported in yesterday's Township Committee meeting roundup, representatives of
PSE&G appeared before the Committee on March 1 to answer questions about the solar
panels that are being installed on utility poles throughout town.
PSE&G Director of Renewable Energy Projects Frank Czigler explained that the panels
were part of $515 million investment by PSE&G in solar and renewable energy to meet a
mandate to generate 30% of its energy from renewable resources by 2020. Czigler said
that 200,000 poles statewide will be hosting the 2' x 5' panels. Ultimately, there
should be between 330 to 400 panels on poles in Maplewood (that's 10-15% of the 3,276
PSE&G poles in town).
Czigler said the panels are noiseless, give off no heat, contain no hazardous
chemicals, and are shatterproof. He said tax credits for the panels would lower rate
payers' energy bills but would not show up as a line item reduction on statements.
Czigler and his two cohorts from PSE&G were grilled by Deputy Mayor Fred Profeta who
questioned the safety of the panels. Czigler explained that panels were as safe as any
other fixture on the poles and that poles were selected based on the amount of
southern exposure they received. He assured the town that no trees would be trimmed to
accommodate more sun exposure for any panels. Czigler also added that no panels would
be installed on poles in historic districts.
Czigler said that the panel installations began in Maplewood in mid-December. Patch
noticed and reported on panels appearing around Maplecrest Park in January.
Mayor Vic DeLuca asked, "What right do you have to put these up?" PSE&G Assistant
General Regulatory Counsel David Richter assured the Committee that PSE&G "has every
right" to use public rights of way and its poles to supply and distribute energy.
Profeta, who is deputy mayor for the environment and a founder of Sustainable Jersey,
noted that "There's nothing I'm more in favor of than solar power and renvewable
energy." However, he was disturbed that "We had no conversations [between the town and
PSE&G] beforehand."
Ultimately, DeLuca apologized for not passing along the notification of the program
that he received via phone from PSE&G Public Affairs manager Everton Scott although he
felt that PSE&G should have sent out a letter and visited the committee before
installation.
"I think they're ugly but we are talking about generating renewable energy and getting
off our dependence on fossil fuels. This is the 'new normal' — if I can steal a
phrase from the governor," said Mayor DeLuca, who added that despite his concerns,
"Overall, the program is a good one. We ought to move forward."
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