CALDWELLS, NJ — The roofs are still being replaced – but the solar panels are coming off for good.
The Caldwell-West Caldwell Public School District won't be putting solar panels back on the roofs of Jefferson and Wilson elementary schools after their roofs are replaced, administrators recently decided.
The board of education approved a partial termination and release agreement with DG Northeast 21, LLC at their meeting on July 20. The district will pay the power provider $566,033 under the terms of the buy-out, and assumes "full responsibility" for removal and disposal.
Board president Julianne Grosso said the move will benefit the district and the two involved schools over the long run. Both roofs will continue to be replaced, she added.
"It's much better than us taking the panels off and then paying for the loss of energy and putting the panels back on," Grosso said.
The district serves students from Caldwell and West Caldwell.
Watch footage from the board's July 20 meeting here (discussion of the roofing projects begins around the 5-minute mark).
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