'Green' Projects Come to Fruition in Brick
Solar project at Chambers Bridge residence, construction of wind turbine at Drum Point complex underway
Photos
Two projects aimed at making Brick a little greener have come to fruition.
Last week, the ceremonial ribbon was cut on a rooftop solar panel project at the Chambers Bridge Residence housing complex, and construction of a wind turbine at the Drum Point Sports Complex began.
The panels on the roof of the Chambers Bridge Residence, an apartment building adjacent to the Brick Township Housing Authority buildings off Chambers Bridge Road, are already generating energy. In fact, at 137.54 kilowatts, the panels represent the largest solar generating station in town, according to Carol Wolfe, President of Homes Now Inc., a nonprofit development group that owns the complex.
"The savings will help us to maintain the low rent for our residents," said Wolfe.
The complex is a 184 unit apartment building that is restricted to house low-income seniors and disabled individuals. The complex also houses 24 developmentally disabled individuals in eight, three bedroom apartments, which are leased to the ARC of Ocean County.
Homes Now Inc. used some reserve funds, plus a bank loan, to finance the project, and it's already paying off, Wolfe said.
"With the solar, we've already seen a savings in the first month, it comes out to 30 to 40 percent off the electric bill," said Wolfe.
Construction also began last week on a wind turbine that will generate energy at the Drum Point Sports Complex.
The turbine – which will be located adjacent to the softball fields – is a 10 kilowatt system that will consist of 22-foot diameter blades atop an 80-foot high steel pole. When complete, the turbine's size will be comparable to the sports lights used at the complex, according to township spokesman Ed Moroney.
In May, the township council awarded a $177,560 contract for the installation of the wind turbine to T.R. Weniger, Inc. of Greenbrook, Somerset County.
Sean Conneamhe
7:28 am on Monday, October 10, 2011
Solar and wind are safe, clean and modern technology.
Coal, oil, and uranium are dirty, dangerous and obsolete technology.
bayboat
8:58 am on Monday, October 10, 2011
There should be a ROW of turbines at the new marina . The wind there is stronger than almost anywhere else in town.
BW
9:17 am on Monday, October 10, 2011
I think we should put a mess of them at town hall. There is so much hot air there, we could generate enough power to sell, they would have to cut our property taxes in half!
Concerned Brick Citizen
10:27 am on Monday, October 10, 2011
I do praise the green energy projects and am happy that so much is being accomplished right here in Brick. However… an FYI: Carol Wolfe is Assemblyman David Wolfe's wife. This building was originally built by Lutheran Social Ministries (LSM). It was very well managed until there was “kind of a wanting” takeover by Homes Now. The takeover was from what I understand politically influenced and LSM was basically bullied into handing over the building. This left a lot of the original residents upset. – Just talk to a few of them. Also, the Brick Housing Authority in which former Council person Mathew’s is getting grossly overpaid to work was also headed by a family member of a “politically” tied person. Amazing how family and political friends help one another while other more qualified people are forced out of a job at whim by someone politically connected.
Jonnyboy
11:49 am on Monday, October 10, 2011
Again I will ask, how does one see a savings or a profit from a project that cost millions, and is still being paid off. In most logical cases, you have to have the dept paid in full before you turn a profit, or a savings.
Scott Pezarras
4:57 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
Jonnyboy
It is called federal grants and tax credits. These incentives help make the projects profitable from day one. The school had a similar project last year, but the vote did not pass the taxpayers approval.
mike morrison
7:41 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
Scott
federal grants and credits are money stolen from the hard working to support things that can't support themselves.
morrissey
8:42 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
YOU LIE !
BW
8:03 pm on Monday, October 10, 2011
Grants? Tax credits? They why lay out $177,560? The grant should have covered that, no? Santa Claus? Easter Bunny? The Great Pumpkin?
The Bricktonian
9:14 am on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Very few grants are free, it often times makes recieving municipalities pay some money up front as a condition of going forward with said projects. $177,000 for over a million in grant money is a great deal, especially since we would never have seen that grant money. And another thing "Me", you are one of the most voiceiferous (spelling?) and mean spirited posters on here, you are constantly bringing a political spin against the Republicans to every article on here, you and you're friends posing as average citizens. You're not fooling anyone. Anyone that hell bent on posting on EVERY article with the same slant is obviously on someone's side, in your case the D's. Get a life.
BW
9:26 am on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Bricktonian, just an FYI I am an R, just tired of the lies. As for putting a spin on things, I am not spinning, my friend, I am unraveling the lies, and half truths.
Mean spirited? I like that, it made me laugh. Do you know how to tell who has a political agenda when they post? It is pretty easy to tell. They are the onces, instead of countering a post or statement with facts or a valid point, attack the other person by calling them names and acting like a child.
Now as to the statement you made about grants. We hear over and over about grants for this, and grants for that, and if we do this the state or feds will give us that, if we spend X they will give us Y. The problem is we rarely see Y.