Solar Panels in Parsippany Re-Visited
Posted in: Environment, View All Entries by admin on June 10, 2011
Earlier this month, the Township Council voted to approved two small solar panel projects to be placed at the Community Center (1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha) as well as a second project at the Parsippany Library (449 Halsey Road, Parsippany). We fully support the Council’s decision to move forward with important renewable energy projects, especially since it will also help Parsippany residents save on energy costs. However, we question their motives for agreeing… especially given their lackluster record on solar panels in the past. In December of 2008, the Council voted unanimously against another solar panels project that would have helped the community capture even more energy AND maintain ownership of the panels.
Here’s our take:
“Parsippany needs Council members that can look outside party lines to make decisions that are in the best interest of our community, not a rubber stamp Council that agrees with whatever the mayor presents. When our Democratic mayor and Democratic governor proposed solar panels the Council was adamant about the project being a waste of money and without long-term benefit for the township — and voted unanimously against the project. Now when our Republican mayor presents a similar idea with less long-term energy savings and without maintaining ownership of the panels, the Council unanimously approves the project without discussion.” - Annelise Catanzaro
“I find it interesting how these projects are going forward with little debate, when the previous administration presented perfectly viable projects, such as Sharkey’s Landfill to power the sewer plant, where the town was offered a grant of $1.7 million from the state; a grant that other towns like Chatham and Morristown snapped up – our council vehemently voted it down. One incumbent council member was quoted at the time as saying he ‘wasn’t impressed’ by the 1.7 million grant. I wonder how it sits with the taxpayers when your Councilman says he’s not impressed when someone drops 1.7 million in his lap to help the town. But this is typical of the partisan games that these folks play — to the detriment of Parsippany. ” - Tom Wyka
- Click here to read the full story in Parsippany Life: “Council says let the sun shine in through solar panels”
Are environmental issues an important local issue for you in Parsippany? If so, please let us know!