Solar arrays installed on portions of the former Ciba-Geigy site in Toms River, N.J. (Credit: Google Earth)
The developer of a solar field at the former Ciba-Geigy chemical plant site in Toms River is requesting another year to complete the final phase of the project.
Toms River Merchant Solar has filed an application with the township’s planning board to extend the approval granted in 2019 to develop three portions of a solar farm at the site. The original project was proposed to include up to three separate solar array configurations: a 28 megawatt grid-supply array; a 2 megawatt net-metered array, and a 5 megawatt community solar array. To date, the 28 MW grid-supply array and 2 MW net-metered array have been built, but the 5 MW community solar array has not.
Solar arrays installed on portions of the former Ciba-Geigy site in Toms River, N.J. (Credit: Google Earth)
Solar arrays installed on portions of the former Ciba-Geigy site in Toms River, N.J. (Credit: Google Earth)
According to the planning board filing, the 5 MW portion is subject to approvals by governmental agencies outside of the township’s control before construction can begin, and those approvals have not yet been granted. Under state law, developers must ask for periodic extensions (depending on the type of development proposed) after projects have been approved, but not built. The extension continues the planning permission initially granted by the board, and also preserves the regulations under which a site may be developed under the zoning codes as they applied at the time of the initial approval.
The 5 MW “community solar array” will provide solar-generated electric power to subscription customers (approximately 830 homes) through New Jersey’s community solar pilot program.
The Ciba-Geigy site exists on 1,216 acres in the township’s industrial zone. The solar array, once completed, is expected to utilize about 117 acres of land.
The hearing on the matter will be conducted at the planning board’s May 4, 2022 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at the township municipal complex.
