Hillsdale Wants Solar Panels Put on Landfill

Apr 11 - Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.

A defunct landfill could have a green future if borough officials can block Public Service Electric and Gas Co.'s installation of electricity-generating solar panels on utility poles.

PSE&G has sent a letter to officials here stating that it plans to install solar panels on utility poles throughout the borough. The power company has installed single solar panels on utility poles throughout the state, but officials here think they are an "eyesore" that will add "visual clutter" to streetscapes.

"I don't want to see those ugly things on every pole in town," Councilwoman Marie Hanlon said.

Christopher Statile, the borough engineer, has proposed leasing the southern portion of an old borough-owned landfill near Lincoln Avenue to PSE&G for $1, so that all the panels could be grouped in one location.

Mayor Max Arnowitz has asked that the installation be delayed until he can meet with power company officials.

"I don't like the idea of it," Arnowitz said, referring to the panels on utility poles. "I would much rather have them in one location."

Statile believes that installing a group of panels in one location would save the power company money, among other mutual benefits. PSE&G should have come to the borough Planning Board as a courtesy before deciding to install the panels on the utility poles, he said.

"We could have worked together to find an alternative," Statile said.

The southern portion of the landfill could hold up to 400 panels in the one location, Statile said.

However, the power company's approval from the state Board of Public Utilities does not allow PSE&G to move panels planned for utility poles to one central location, a company spokesman said.

"We will absolutely sit down and talk to them," said Paul Rosengren, the company spokesman. "We want to make it work for all parties."

Originally published by E-mail: mcgrathm@northjersey.com.