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NJ Solar Farm: Largest East of the Mississippi. Powers 1500 Homes

May 22, 2012 By: Anna9 Comments

Solar Array

Solar Array

NJ Oak Solar in Fairfield Township, New Jersey is the biggest non-utility owned solar farm of its kind east of the Mississippi with over 53,000 solar modules.  The farm is owned by Chicago-based Lincoln Renewable Energy.  Currently, the Company is developing several other projects and recently announced their joint venture with Samsung C&T Corporation.

The $50 million, 12.5 MW solar farm is situated on 101 acres.  It commenced operations in December, 2011 and furnishes electricity to over 1500 homes.

Benefits to the Town

Although the actual solar panels are NJ property tax exempt, the facility increased the property value 35 times the original assessment.  In the event the facility is discontinued the property will revert to agricultural zoning.

Additionally, the facility requires few resources from the town.  Fairfield Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Mark Chiappini noted a housing project developed on the site would require Township fire, police, and sanitation services.

Moreover, Chiappini praised Lincoln on its accommodations and cooperation in dealing with the community in creating the facility. The project is screened by trees to keep the same agricultural feel of the town.

For more information about the project, watch the below short video.

Understanding the Math

Although, I am thrilled when projects use renewable energy, I can’t figure out the math.  The project costs $50 million dollars and is only serving 1500 homes.   Each home costs $33,000 for their part of the system?  This seems to be an extortionate amount of money per house when there is economy of scale here.

Variables That Are Not in the Equation

I looked all over the internet for more information about how this project was structured.   My attempts to contact the Company failed since I could not find a phone number.

Here are the questions that I have:

1.  Did the Company receive the following incentives to make the $50 Million price tag more palatable?

  • Town tax incentives?
  • The actual state rebates, or
  •  Incentives from the utility.

2.  Even if they did receive any or all the above incentives, isn’t the incentives basically taxpayer’s money?

3.  Are the taxpayers paying a certain rate to help payback the system?

4.  Is 100% of the electricity covered for the 1500 homes?

I have reached out to interview the CEO of the Company so he can shed some light on the numbers.  Hopefully, someone will respond so I can update the story.

Join the Conversation:

  • Thoughts about solar farms?  Does it truly benefit the towns?
  • Can someone explain the math to me and how it makes sense to the taxpayers?
  • Do you think there is a better renewable source or method  in lieu of large solar farms?
  • Do you have any further questions you want me to ask?
Photo courtesy of Lincoln Renewable Energy

 

 

 

 

 

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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 2

    Oscar Cifuentes says

    May 24, 2012 at 11:25 am

    Found the number for you Phone: (312) 422-1674. Courtesy of manta.com. Well I think it’s pretty epic. A company providing clean energy in a sustainable business model. Couldnt get any better.

    Reply
    • 3

      Anna@Green Talk says

      May 24, 2012 at 12:26 pm

      Oscar, thank you. I will call them.

      Reply
  2. 4

    jhane says

    May 29, 2012 at 4:38 am

    Thanks for sharing with us this information and indeed video, I’ll be pinning it to my friends…

    Reply
  3. 5

    jennifer says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:23 am

    Great video, I really enjoy viewing it up… Two thumbs up…

    Reply
  4. 6

    Ella says

    May 31, 2012 at 5:44 am

    A company providing clean energy in a sustainable business model. Thanks that you’ve shared.

    Reply
  5. 7

    Katherine says

    June 6, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    Solar needs more development in order to be able to store vast amounts of power, so that it’s available even when the sun isn’t shining. On the other hand, nuclear needs more and more safety precautions so that we don’t have meltdowns and deadly radiation.

    Reply
  6. 8

    Rob says

    June 9, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Did you ever hear back from the company about the math behind this project?

    Reply
    • 9

      Anna@Green Talk says

      June 11, 2012 at 8:46 pm

      Rob, I haven’t. I would love to know the numbers too. Anna

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. NJ Solar Farm: Largest East of the Mississippi. Powers 1500 Homes … | Self Sufficiency | Home Efficiency says:
    May 22, 2012 at 11:01 pm

    […] the site would require Township fire, police, and sanitation services. … Read the original: NJ Solar Farm: Largest East of the Mississippi. Powers 1500 Homes … ← Green Home Features | Home Resale Value | NewSource.com […]

    Reply

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