Uncommon solar-power concept 'floated' for Gloucester County townships
FRANKLIN TWP. — The idea of solar electric generating facilities that float on pontoons is getting pitched to two towns that share jurisdiction over a sand and gravel mine here.
A Maryland firm proposes to float two solar arrays on a “quarry” or blue hole in an active mining operation run by Sahara Sand Inc./Sil Kemp Concrete on Coles Mill Road near North Blue Bell Road.
Noria Chamberton JV LLC says its project would cover about four acres of water and a sliver of waterfront. The entire property takes in about 105 acres, with only several acres in use for the mining operation.
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The smaller of the two arrays would be in Franklin and would be used only to power the mining operation. The other would straddle both townships and its output would go to the Atlantic City Electric regional grid.
However, neither Franklin nor Monroe zoning rules permit solar fields at the sites.
Zoning boards in both communities will have to decide on whether granting a use variance carries more benefits than detriments.
The Franklin board meets Tuesday night to consider the proposal. Monroe's board is to do it Thursday night.
The state Board of Public Utilities counts four operational floating solar arrays, with operations between 2012 to 2022. Those arrays are in Sayreville, Middlesex County, and Jackson, Ocean County, with two in Short Hills, Essex County.
In combination, they offer 16.7 megawatts of generating capacity.
The BPU believes the larger Short Hills facility, operated by New Jersey American Water, is the most powerful in the county at 8.915 megawatts.
A July 2020 BPU staff said of the project, then proposed, there is “relatively little experience with this novel technology, and that much of the data comes from overseas” to form an assessment of its future.
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The state Department of Environmental Protection looked at all solar facility siting options in a report issued in December 2017. It noted that floating solar facilities were increasing in number, but said more study was needed.
An updated analysis is to be issued this year.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
Have a tip? Reach out at jsmith@thedailyjournal.com. Support local journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: South Jersey communities look at unique solar power facility idea
