Lakewood Mayor Steven Langert and Senator Robert W. Singer along with the Township Committee recently passed a resolution that will help Lakewood Township use federal stimulus funding to save energy, improve efficiency, and help the environment through the use of solar energy, all without spending local tax dollars. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the stimulus package enacted in February 2009, Lakewood Township has received an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant of $678,200.00. Steven Reinman, the director of Economic Development; John Franklin, director of Public Works; and Tony Arrrechi, assistant Public Works director, determined the projects and township sites that are prime for energy upgrades.
Senator Singer said, “We should realize tremendous savings by tapping into solar energy. To that end, the energy grant will allow us to put solar panels on different buildings and structures owned by the township, which will save money on energy every year.”
“This is like the gift that keeps on giving,” said Mayor Steven Langert. “This initiative is seeking to create more value for Lakewood than the initial grant, and provide the township with energy savings that will be worth even more in the long term.”
Ervin Oross, director of Lakewood Township’s Community Development Department who helped secure the funds for Lakewood, will work with Birdsall Engineering, Inc. (BEI), Eatontown, to devise a strategy for combining the block grant with other funding to create more value for Lakewood.
As a first step, BEI will perform an energy audit of the township and complete a strategy within 60 days – well ahead of the deadline of 120 days specified by the grant requirements.
Scott MacFadden, BEI president, said BEI will be auditing the township’s energy use and creating a strategy for reducing energy use, especially fossil fuels, and improving energy efficiency in transportation, facilities and other operations.
The initial federal grant is just a starting point for energy funding, said Daniel Swayze of PMK Group, Inc., the Birdsall subsidiary that is handling the details of the project. “Our goal is to secure additional grants to turn this $678,200 into multiple times its value.” Swayze said. “With this amount of initial seed money, Lakewood has a terrific opportunity to make a difference for the community and reduce their energy costs.”
The township must spend the money on energy-related initiatives over the next three years.
i’ll believe it when i see it
How will this save “residents” money?? Sounds like it will strictly benefit the township. Will our taxes go down if the township gets a smaller electric bill??
I will keep an eye out to see if any solar panels end up on houses belonging to “the connected few”!
This will not benifit residences! You should definatly change the title. Its missleading.
“…put solar panels on different buildings and structures owned by the township…”
And how much will it cost to remove and replace the panels, at “prevailing rate”, when the roofs under the solar panels need replacing? It takes a loooooong time to start getting payback from installing panels.
I think the best way to use this money is to install a system that collects all the hot air our officials emit at these press releases. We can harness it and have enough power to heat the homeless camp and run the lights for the blue claws night games.
Lets follow the money…..
People this is all a hoax. Don’t believe any of it . This is all part of the religion of Obama that to save the world we need to be Green through socail justice and these crummy projects. What a waste of money . This aint no gift. America is flat out broke . The money that will come, will be paid back with higher taxes and infaltion . It may seem to get all the goodies now, but L’maysah the dollar printing machine is currently running 24/7. I just hope that we don’t turn into Zimbabwe.
If you put solar on the roof how long will it take to pay for its self. By the time it does your roof will need to be replaced. now you have to pay to take the panels down. Have the roof done & pay to have the panels put back up. We just put them up on a business the manufacture said it will take about 30 years to pay for itself. We will see. What is wrong with wind farms off the coast? It wont be in your backyard. It will be off the coast.
#8 you are clearly a green guru, but your facts are probably based on a misunderstanding or someone sold you a very bad deal. anyhow this is a federal grant and EVERY dollar saved, however they save it, means less tax increase for us. I like that. why dont you?