WILDWOOD — City officials want to put a solar “farm” on the site of a former back bay landfill. As proposed, the “farm,” an array of solar-collecting panels, would be large enough to reduce the city’s carbon footprint equal to the amount of CO2 generated by over 150,000 barbeque propane cylinders annually.
On Wed., Oct. 27 during a city Commissioners meeting, Wildwood’s Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) Director Lou Ferrara and Jessica Vogel, a consultant with Birdsall Services Group, gave a Power Point presentation on how it planned to go about capping and developing the landfill, which has been closed since the 1950s.
Known as the Bayside Redevelopment Area, the site is located on Susquehanna Avenue between Baker and Lincoln avenues. Residential developer K. Hovnanian had planned to build about 300 homes on the site, but abandoned the project in November 2007, citing “significant environmental and engineering issues” affecting the economic feasibility of the project.
In his presentation, Ferrara said the main goals of the project would be to develop the most cost-effective method to cap and close the landfill, assist city residents with budget limitations, reduce the cost of and demand for energy generated from non-renewable sources required to operate city facilities, and increase the utilization of energy produced from clean and renewable technologies.
“The landfill site is a viable candidate for a PV (photovoltaic) system,” Ferrara said.
He also noted that five city facilities had also potential for rooftop solar panels:
• City Hall
• Municipal Complex
• Pine Ave Firehouse
• Recreation Center
• Water Complex
Ferrara noted that there were significant financing and financial benefits for developing solar farms, including 2 percent interest for qualifying projects, 30 percent IRS investment tax credits for private partners and significant third-party power purchase agreements. He also noted accelerated depreciation, low cost of capital and high values of Solar Energy Certificates from the state Board of Public Utilities.
He said the project was not only smart financially for the city, but also had a significant positive environmental impact.
The proposed photovoltaic system would reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions equal to 699 cars per year, electricity consumed by 444 homes per year, carbon sequestered by 779 acres of pine forest each year and CO2 generated by 152,294 barbeque propane cylinders.
In addition to the solar farm, Mayor Gary DeMarzo said the city was also considering a bayside park at the site that could be home to a boat ramp, walking trails and a dog park.
Ferrara said the city would be investigating the project further in coming months and making applications to appropriate agencies.
Wildwood – So Liberals here on spout off, here's a REAL question for you.
Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…
