ICYMI: Chatham High School To Receive Solar Panels In Countywide Project

Editor's note: ICYMI is a look back at the site's biggest story of the week.

Morris County has finally approved a contract for a solar panel installation company to complete a years-long project throughout the region that will help save municipalities money in utility costs.

The Morris County Improvement Authority awarded a $6.8 million contract to HESP Solar, based out of Suffern, New York, for the continuation of the Solar 2 program, which began in 2011.

The project calls for the construction of nine projects at county government, school, and municipal sites in Morris County.

HESP has partnered with California-based Barrier Solar as its subcontractor on the project.

The work will proceed on several ground-mounted solar projects in mid-to-late May, with all work expected to be complete between September and November of 2016. If work is completed before Dec. 31, 2016, the projects will remain eligible for a 27.4-percent reimbursement from the federal government, the county said.

The nine projects to be developed include:

• Morris County Library, Hanover Township, roof and canopy panels
• Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, Parsippany, roof and canopy panels
• Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance tract, Morris Township, ground panels
• Chatham High School, roof panels
• Chester Township municipal building, ground panels
• Sandshore Elementary School, Mount Olive, ground panels
• Tinc School, Mount Olive, ground panels
• Long Valley Middle School, Washington Township, ground panels
• Benedict A. Cucinella School, Washington Township, roof panels

There were 16 potential solar sites up for review in 2015. A county committee studied the issue and reviewed the economics of the project, the county said, and decided on the aforementioned nine sites.