Sunny Outlook For Lowered Energy Costs

A solar energy system installed on an industrial property in Morris Township is expected to offset 90 to 100 percent of the building’s electricity needs. The system is located atop the Opper Building at 1 Cory Road, a 280,450-square-foot warehouse-style facility divided into units ranging from 8,000 to 133,000 square feet.

The system was designed and installed by Pro-Tech Energy Solutions of Branchburg. Alexander Opper, managing member of the Opper Group, which owns the building, said that the new solar system makes the property more attractive to tenants.

"Solar means lower electricity costs,” he said, adding that he expects the system to pay for itself in five years.

The Opper Group qualified for the US Treasury’s 1603 Grant Program to offset part of its capital investment in the project. The company also will be eligible to participate in the State’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program. Opper Group can obtain tradable certificates for each 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity the solar array generates. 

The photovoltaic system's capacity is 445.90 kW and it was built with all American-made components.