MAY 1, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
The Ridgewood Planning Board performed a courtesy review of a proposal that was subsequently approved by the Board of Education to add solar energy units at George Washington (GW) and Benjamin Franklin (BF) middle schools, Each school will be getting its own unique project.
A presentation before the BOE in March focused on the general overview of the plan, as well as the potential financial savings. The courtesy review performed last week by the Planning Board took a deeper look at the structural aspects and impact on the surrounding area.
The larger of the two projects, slated for BF, features a carport structure somewhat similar to the one constructed at William Paterson University in Wayne. Doug Bagwill, an engineer, noted that there were a few differences between the two projects, notably the dual-incline inverted canopy that prevents snow from shedding off the side of the panels, pushing it toward the center.
“The whole concept of that is instead of a situation here when it’s melting and sliding, it’s going to go to the center port instead of the edges,” said Jim Wavle, president of Verterra Renewable Energy, who oversaw solar panel projects at the district’s other schools. “It keeps the weight distributed over the support.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/board-reviews-solar-panel-plan-1.1323095
