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Politics & Government

Solar Energy Farm on Rt. 33 Approved by Zoning Board

At Manalapan's last Zoning Board meeting, Kenneth Pape and Millhurst LLC got the "OK" to build a solar energy farm on Rt 33.

Attorney Kenneth Pape and his team of experts stood before the Zoning Board on Thursday, Aug.4, where he received the “OK” to develop a new solar energy farm in Manalapan Township.

Millhurst, LLC owns the 11.75-acre property for the site, located on Rt. 33 between the bowling alley and the Jersey Power & Light substation.

John Martinez, design engineer, stated “there will be an approximately 50 ft. landscape buffer as you look into the site from 33 and it will run the entire length of 33,” which should help maintain visual appeal.

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It is also a vacant site, so there will be no extra construction necessary to clear the area.

According to Lloyd Hoffstatter, solar energy expert, the equipment to build solar energy farms “efficiently and cost effectively was not really available until around 2000,” which is partly why solar farms have become more widespread.

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Pape explained another reason the company wishes to build the farm is the company’s financial gain.

Section 1603 of the stimulus bill, passed two years ago, states that the federal government will render a 30 percent grant of total costs for alternative energy sources until December of this year. “That will get your attention,” Pape remarked.

Hoffstatter explained that the way these solar panels work is through sunlight hitting the panels, which create direct current energy.  The DC energy is put in an inverter, transforming it into alternating current electricity. The AC energy is increased in voltage and then fed directly into power lines.

Hoffstatter said the entire process would produce very little noise, and the apparatus should still be producing energy 50 years from now with minimal maintenance.

The structure would produce three megawatts of electricity, which would power approximately 300 houses.

When looking from an environmental standpoint, Hoffstatter said it is “roughly the equivalent of taking a little over 200 cars off the road.”

“I think this is a no brainer,” said board member Arthur Tortorelli.

The board voted unanimously, with the stipulation that the farm is fenced in for safety reasons.

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