Asbury Park-based Solar Landscape, together with Asbury Park School District, said more than 3,300 solar panels on four schools across the district have been energized. The panels will generate more than 1.3 megawatts of electricity, supplying more than half of the schools’ power needs and saving the school district more than $120,000 annually.
“As an Asbury Park-based company, being a good partner to our local community — especially students and educators — is a driving force behind our mission and is a core reason that our 100-plus employees come to work every day,” Solar Landscape CEO Shaun Keegan stated. “Together with Asbury Park School District, we are lowering emissions and doing our part to combat climate change by accelerating the transition to renewable energy. When we can do it in a way that directly benefits our neighbors by saving them money and creating jobs and educational opportunities, it is even more rewarding.”
Entering into a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Asbury Park School District, Solar Landscape will provide electricity at no cost for the entire term of the agreement. The panels will provide 52% of the electricity for Asbury Park High School, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Upper Elementary School and Bradley Elementary School.
In the first year alone, the panels will generate 1.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity, equivalent to avoiding the CO2 emissions of burning 1.25 million pounds of coal.
“This is a momentous day for Asbury Park and an exciting step forward into the clean energy economy for our students, faculty and staff,” RaShawn Adams, superintendent of schools, stated. “The financial savings created by these solar panels empower our schools to fund other critical parts of our educational curriculum. Plus, using renewable solar energy demonstrates to our students and community exactly how we can all fight climate change together.”
