Dec 30 2010
The Millstone Township Planning Board recently discussed an application of the North Park Solar Energy Farm, a 132 acre land in the business park zone, located in the North Disbrow Hill Road of the township.
The farm had earlier submitted an application to speed up the sanctioning process to avail the stimulus fund before the deadline date of 31st December 2010, however, the period is now extended for another six months on the order of President Obama.
John Martinez, the planner and engineer of the solar farm explained before the five member board of the township the details of the property. According to him, the property includes a 5-acre plot with a frontage of 200 feet facing Rike Drive and the additional 27-acre surrounded by lands close to Monroe Township. He explained that the solar farm will not use the wetlands in the property. He explained the intention of the company to re-forest the area on receiving approval and leave over 20 feet from the entrance as buffer area before the area planned for installing solar panels. The project will develop 23 acres during the first phase and the rest in the second phase.
The solar panels proposed for the farm will be installed utilizing a pile driver and will not require concrete foundation. The solar panels will be linked to the inverters through underground pipes to transfer the generated power. The power generated from the plant will be sent to the power grid of the utility from the farm. Township board has called for the next hearing on the project on 12th January 2011.