Parsippany-Troy Hills Awarded Grant To Meet Sustainability Goals

Press release from The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills:

July 21, 2021

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills was awarded a $2,000 Sustainable Jersey capacity-building grant funded by the PSEG Foundation. Four $20,000 grants, eight $10,000 grants and twenty $2,000 grants were distributed to municipalities in 14 New Jersey counties.

The grant awards will fund a range of projects including green infrastructure implementation, stormwater management and floodplain restoration; green business certification programs, buy-local campaigns, farmers markets and sustainable take-out container campaigns; community and pollinator gardens; energy efficiency upgrades and studies; educational campaigns focused on a variety of sustainability issues such as water conservation, food waste, recycling, and single-use plastics; general green team support and more.

“This is a proud day for Parsippany, as we’re recognized once again by Sustainable Jersey – our partners in environmental stewardship – in our pursuit of Distributed Energy Resource Feasibility,” said Mayor Soriano. “This endeavor is not just about revamping our energy infrastructure to be more sustainable; it’s also about modernizing our systems to be protected in the event of disaster and emergency. We’re trying to address both the immediate need in creating more efficient energy transfer, while also investing in existing technology to improve what’s already there long-term. Thanks to Sustainable Jersey, we’re well on our way.”

Parsippany’s DER grant will be focused on researching feasibility on renewable resources at municipal facilities to integrate technologies while reducing the town’s carbon footprint. The grant will partially cover the cost of hiring an Environmental & Engineering Consultant to assess the feasibility of installing solar panels, ground source heat pumps, wind energy and other energy storage at the wastewater treatment plant.

“Congratulations to the municipalities that received grant funding today. I continue to be amazed by what is possible when elected officials, municipal staff, green teams and community members work together to create vibrant and sustainable communities,” said Randall Solomon, executive director for Sustainable Jersey. “These grants will build capacity as municipalities move sustainability programs forward.”

The PSEG Foundation has contributed $2.5 million dollars in funding to the Sustainable Jersey grants program for municipalities and schools. “The PSEG Foundation is committed to helping build sustainable communities by empowering and investing in the people, environment and infrastructure of the communities we serve,” said Calvin Ledford, PSEG director of Corporate Social Responsibility and president of the PSEG Foundation. “Supporting Sustainable Jersey and local municipalities, schools and school districts puts resources where they’re needed to positively impact the environment and local communities, having a lasting impact on neighborhoods throughout New Jersey.”

Proposals were evaluated by an independent Blue-Ribbon Selection Committee. The Sustainable Jersey grants are intended to help municipalities make progress toward a sustainable future in general, and specifically toward Sustainable Jersey certification.

Known as The Crossroads of Northern New Jersey, Parsippany is the largest municipality in Morris County, with over 53,000 residents and counting. Adopting sustainable and environmentally conscious practices to address climate issues could have considerable impacts on adoption by other municipalities in the region. Increased focus on sustainable living has shown improvements to community health, neighborhood aesthetics, and many other higher standards to living.

This press release was produced by The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills. The views expressed here are the author's own.