Solar Panels Spark Dissent in Oradell

If you haven't seen the rectangular solar panels that have popped up on some of the streets in RiverDell, make your way over to Blauvelt Drive in Oradell. Residents Dick Joel and Jeff Harold have some strong words to say about PSE&G's project.

"It’s ugly as hell, leaning over my driveway," Joel said. "PSE&G just came into town without any notice and started slapping them up. They violate our own borough code that they should be 18-feet in the air and they are not. It's a useless, ugly contraption hanging on my pole and inappropriate to have in a suburban town."

PSE&G received regulatory approval from the state in 2009 to install 200,000 solar panels on aluminum street light and utility poles in its service region. So far, 82,000 solar panels have been installed statewide, with at least 180,000 panels in the works to go up by 2012.

"I went away for the winter and when I returned I find this massive solar panel on the pole outside by home," Harold said. "PSE&G has a right to use the poles for power and telephone lines, but not to generate power."

The poles chosen for the panels must have a clear southern or southwest exposure with a 120-volt line attached to it so the panel can be hooked directly into the grid. The panels must be installed a minimum of 15 feet off the ground to comply with safety codes. 

The panels are installed at a 30-degree tilt, so that if rain or snow falls, it will flow off the panel and onto the ground.

According to Councilman Michael Harte, he and borough administrator Laura Graham have been in the process of setting up a meeting with David Hollenback, the Regional Public Affairs Manager at PSE&G for the area.

"I've been in contact with numerous homeowners when they first started appearing," Harte said. "The process right now is that I've asked our borough administrator to reach out to Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk. I am taking a proactive approach, and if need be, will go to the highest official to make sure we're not being infringed upon."