Zoning Board Approves Solar Farm Next to High School

ERMA — A proposed solar farm next door could provide about 40 percent of the electricity needs of Lower Cape May Regional High School.
Lower Township Zoning Board granted an approval Thur. Dec. 2 for Amusement Partnership USA to build a solar farm on their property at 705 Route 9. Power cables would travel underground in a trench between the solar farm and high school.
At an October hearing, the board granted a use variance and preliminary site plan approval. At that time, Architect Elizabeth Terenik said the panels would cover most of the 13-acre property with the exception of wetlands on the rear of the property. She said the solar panels would produce 1.72 megawatts.
The panels would be ground mounted and be approximately 13 feet in height. Landscaping and fencing would be placed around the panels.
At the earlier hearing, Kevin Kura, contractor for installation of the panels, explained the foundations for the panels would be 3-feet by 12-feet with four footings per array.
Attorney Louis Dwyer representing the applicant said a chain link fence would be replaced along Route 9 with a wrought iron security fence.
The plans meet all property set back requirements.
Engineer for the applicant, Vincent Orlando, said plans were revised to show revegetation of areas located in a wetland buffer.
A variance was granted for a sign measuring 32-feet along Route 9 for the solar farm, which is located in a residential zone. An office used by Amusement Steel Pier would remain on the property.
Lower Cape May Regional School District Business Administrator Frank Onorato told the Herald, the school district has not signed a contract with Amusement Partnership USA. He said such a project must be put out for bid.
Onorato said the school district would issue a request for proposals for electricity at a reduced rate. He said there was quite of bit of bureaucracy in the process including dealing with the state Department of Community Affairs and Board of Public Utilities.
“We’re in the process of looking at it and trying to put this thing out for bid, so we can do this in a fair and open process,” said Onorato.
He said the school district has not ruled out putting solar panels on the high school’s roof. The district is preparing for an energy audit of its buildings next year.
The site was previously approved by the board for 48 town homes for residents over the age of 55. Anthony Catanoso, of Amusement Partnership and Solar Energy Alliance, said when the real estate market plunged, he saw an opportunity to provide solar panel to the high school.
“Right now, the green business is as good as the real estate business is bad,” said Catanoso.
He said the high school would use all of the solar farm’s 1.72-megawatt output. If any power remains, it could also be sent to the neighboring Cape Island Resort Campgrounds, said Catanoso.
The cost of constructing the solar farm will total $8 million to $10 million, he said. Federal tax grants and federal credits would help with construction costs.
Constructing the solar farm would take three to four months and he hoped to be operating by next summer, said Catanoso. The project would include an educational center to tie in with curriculum at the high school and be available for tours, he said.
Catanoso said he was moving ahead, making commitments to build. If a contract is not struck with the school, he could supply the campground and sell power back to the grid.
Amusement Partnership USA has owned and operated Steel Pier in Atlantic City for 20 years. Catanoso said Steel Pier will receive the first wind turbine on a pier in the nation.