The solar energy project which is about to be started in Morris County is without a shadow of a doubt going to be one which helps to save at least 35 % of the total energy consumed by households collectively.

There was an announcement by officials on the 11th of February 2010 that the schools & agencies which signed up for the renewable/solar energy project in Morris County are going to be saving around 35 % on their energy bills in the coming year and this figure is expected to rise to 40 % maximum by the conclusion of this fifteen year program. Stephen Pearlman, the attorney for the improvement authority of Morris County who are working on the project together with the board of freeholders for the county, said, “It is going to cost them around 10.6 cents for every kilowatt hour that they generate from solar power as opposed to the average of 15 cents which is the cost of generating the same amount of energy from traditional sources. This is a great moment. Today, we see an idea become a reality.”

Tioga Energy from Califronia & SunDurance Energy from South Plainfield have together won a contract worth $22.3 million last December to lead this initiative and are going to be preparing the buildings for the solar panels and upgrading the roofs by June. Solar panels are going to be installed in fourteen public schools and even a few government buildings of the county. The participants in this include, regional school districts from West Morris, Morris Hills, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Boonton and the Commission for the Morris Country Park. Christine Johnson, the superintendent of Boonton School feels that they could save aronuf $16,000 during the first year of this plan itself which would be a saving of around 36% in her district. She estimates this figure to go up to at least $25,000 by the fifteenth year of the project. Solar panels are going to be installed in Boonton high school & John Hill & School Street elementary schools. This includes an upgrade worth $100,000 for the roof which is also going to be paid for by the county. Johnson says, “Anything which we could do to let the people know that we are saving money and reducing the consumption of energy is worthwhile.” John Bonanni, the county administrator said, “I expect this county to begin a 2nd round of solar installations & hope that more schools & towns are enticed to participate this time.