Cost savings and environmental attributes will benefit New Jersey municipal authority

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – The Hackettstown Municipal Utilities Authority (HMUA), which provides water and sewer service to more than 22,000 residents in five New Jersey municipalities, has announced that its Water Pollution Control Plant is home to a brand new solar array. The system was financed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with HelioSage Energy, a developer of commercial and utility scale solar projects. As the system owner, HelioSage was responsible for all engineering, procurement and construction costs, and will be responsible for ongoing operations and maintenance costs. Over the course of a long term contract with HelioSage, the HMUA’s only financial obligation will be to pay a monthly solar electric bill.

A dedication ceremony, including a ribbon cutting and a tour of the solar array, was held on Thursday, October 6th. Attendees included a host of political representatives and interested parties from nearby localities. During the ceremony, New Jersey Assemblyman John DiMaio (NJ-23) spoke about the benefits of solar, especially for municipalities. “These solar panels should be a point of pride for all the municipalities the HMUA serves. They represent significant cost savings associated with a critical civic function, and they are a highly visible example of how environmental best practices and economic best practices can go hand-in-hand.”

As the central component of the sewer utility, the Hackettstown Water Pollution Control Plant treats an average of nearly 2 million gallons of wastewater each day. Like all water and wastewater treatment facilities, the plant requires signficant energy supply. According to HelioSage Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Baker, solar is proving itself as a viable solution for municipal authorities across the country. Said Mr. Baker, “The EPA estimates that 3% of the country’s total energy needs stem from water and wastewater treatment. Forward looking authorities like the HMUA have recognized that their unique combination of energy needs, available land, and comfort with long range planning makes their treatment facilities ideal candidates for solar. We applaud the HMUA for its vision, and are delighted to be a part of their solar story.”

Construction of the solar array was handled by the Flemington, New Jersey based solar integrator Advanced Solar Products. Construction began in late July, 2011, and the system was approved for interconnection by mid September. The array is expected to produce around 42,000 kilowatt hours per year. 

About Hackettstown Municipal Utilities Authority

The Hackettstown Municipal Utilities Authority is a Water and Sewer Authority providing service to the Town of Hackettstown, Independence Township and Mansfield Township in Warren County, and Mt. Olive Township and Washington Township in Morris County. The Water Utility includes six well supplies, a surface water treatment facility supplied by three reservoirs, and 105 miles of water distribution mains. The Sewer Utility includes 95 miles of sanitary sewer collection system which transports wastewater for treatment at a Water Pollution Control Plant rated at 2 million gallons per day (MGD).

About HelioSage

HelioSage is a solar energy services provider. The Company was founded by several of the principals of Greenlight Energy, Inc., one of the country's largest independent wind energy companies at the time of its 2006 sale to BP Alternative Energy. With experience built upon 400MW of financed renewable energy projects, HelioSage ensures risk reduced, financially sound investments in both solar electricity and solar energy systems. For more information about HelioSage, please visit www.heliosage.com.