Sorry for the delay, it's the Christmas season and solar power plants and school boards are low on my priority list. Anyway, some interesting info to report. December 5th's meeting of the Northampton Area School Board was another exercise in really bad government. Talk about a freak show experience, this is like a side-show carnival. One wonders how most of the board members were ever elected to a position of trust and authority. A couple striking things were evident during this meeting. First, school board member Jane Erdo exudes a contempt for the public I have never seen in a politician before. Not only is she disrespectful and rude, she is a downright confrontational and attacks the public. All during the meeting, as in previous meetings, she threatens the entire audience with shutting down their right to speak. When they do speak, she is combative, nasty and childish. I have rarely seen such an ugly personality, but having one administering what they think is best, to our students, is down right scary.
During the meeting, Erdo complained about people mentioning the solar power plant project. She stated it's a done deal and a closed issue. At the public comment period, at the end of the meeting, she decided to hide in the bathroom like a spoiled child holding their ears. When she finally emerged, it was just in time to rudely belittle a 13 year old student who had just lost her mother. To think that someone like this, holds your children's education in their hands, is disturbing. Further, to see an elected official who doesn't want to hear from the people, who she is representing, begs the question, what is her agenda?
Secondly, the other school board members seem terrified of her and she appears to run the whole meeting, pulling the puppet string of the board president Dave Gogel, who appears to be a ventriloquist dummy sitting on her lap. I would have to say, she exercises more power than he does, oft times admonishing him as to what to do.
One small bright spot in the meeting was school board member Darin Arthofer, who dared to question the intent of the contract for the solar power plant. He was immediately jumped upon by Erdo who turned her full hormone raged fury against him. To his credit, he did not back down under her onslaught and has asked for documents pertaining to this issue, which Gogel and the superintendent said he will receive. Erdo suggested the discussion of this go on in "executive session", which means -behind closed doors, like everything else the board does. I guess she doesn't want the rabble to see them squabbling, but perhaps the hold she has over them is breaking.
Another gem that was gleaned from the meeting was the fact that the school board solicitor and the board members stated they did not know who Eric Abeshaus was. No wonder he never had a background check. If only they had read the contract they signed, they would see, on page 29, it was signed between school board president David Gogel and Eric Abeshaus, CEO of the shell company "Energy Alliance Group (Northampton) LLC" on June 17th. Funny they never looked into the company that was started less than a month earlier and has the same address and phone number of the electrical company reaping the rewards of this project- MetroTek. So, are they just really incompetent and are they not telling the truth? Abeshaus was seen exiting a board room with the school board members, the superintendent and Reiner Jaeckle a few minutes before the start of the Nov 8th School board meeting, but vanished before the meeting started, most likely not wanting to be seen by the media.
At the conclusion we learned Metrotek is redesigning the plans for the solar power plant and the board has promised to review them first and then open them up to the public for comment before they go any further. I wonder if they will stick to their word..........to be continued.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
NORTHAMPTON AREA SCHOOL BOARD -NOV.22 Incompetant at no charge!
Well, it was another interesting night with the school board meeting last night. They are not backing down on their idiotic and uneducated decision to let Metrotek put a giant solar power plant on Lehigh and Moore elementary schools and thereby making Metrotek and Eric Abeshaus millionaires. Instead of doing the responsible and correct thing, admitting they made a blunder of monumental proportion, they decided to pull out all the stops, put the petal to the metal and tell the public what a wonderful thing they were doing for the district and the kids. As one guy said, they were "putting lipstick on a pig". Well, you can't sugarcoat this $14 million, 6.5 acres giant pig.
Let's go through some of the highlights. They tried every which way but crying to say everyone knew about the project. The school board asked why we wer upset now, they told us they were doing it? "We didn't hide it." "We can't send letters home to taxpayers on every little thing we do." "You sent us to represent you, do we have to check with you on everything?" "We had the kids in mind with this one." (huh??!) "We can't answer the question about how it will affect property values, it may increase them." -(that gem was from Dave Gogel). Board member Cory Fenstermaker told us he drives by a giant solar panel power field every day and has learned to ignore it! He doesn't even notice it anymore??! (tell that to the kids with a small play area that will always be covered in shadow from the 13.5 foot tall monstrosity) Board President Dave Gogel even said when asked who will want to send their kids to this school with this giant metal monster behind it "I think a lot of people will be drawn to it." (????) Bob Koch had the audacity to say "parents would complain about the constuction, if we put them on the roof" (!!the whole reason we have this problem is you DIDN'T put them on the roof).
There was truth stretching all over the place that night. The school is supposedly doing this to reduce their carbon footprint. If you believe in that kind of thing, why would you leave lights on in rooms in the schools all night. (a neighbor who lives behind the school told them 9 rooms, are lighted throughout the night) They said they needed an automatic light switches to take care of the problem and will have that slated for a future project. (?? how 'bout usin' a finger to shut them off??) Bob Yanders, the school's facilities director and the lack of common sense behind this project, who at the township meeting pointed to his wedding ring and Reiner Jaeckle of Metrotek, saying "We're family!", stated there were recycling bins in all the class rooms in the school. An out and out fabrication, no one I know has ever seen one on school property. He said the schools have 2 dumpsters, one for trash, the other for recyclables, also never seen by anyone I know. (go by Lehigh Elementary and check it out, maybe they rushed one there last night!) An astute taxpayer noted that at certain events that take place at the high school, there are entire trash cans full to overflowing with water and soda bottles. The most idiotic argument the school board used was that the kid's play area was "useless land" that just gets constantly mowed. I have a yard around my house that my kids play in, I can tell you for a fact that it's not useless. I can also tell you for a fact that the very area they are about to give away for 20 years- the school students constantly play on, in fact the 4th-6th grades use it as their recess playground.
I would have to say the most offensive and abusive school board member was Jane "Morticia Frankenstein" Erdo. After leaving her coffin at dusk, had plenty of time to get to the meeting to show her contempt for the taxpayers of the district. Constantly she railed against the people she represents, rudely belittled them and constantly threatened to shut down public comment, which she eventually did. She stated we went over all this back when it was proposed, a boldfaced lie-as there was nothing in the newspapers about the size of the project or opposition to it. If people had known, there would have been opposition, that's how you know no one knew. She does this, as she is apt to tell you, because she will only be up for re-election in 2013. Well, that undead looking member will have the same surprise many politicians did this last election-you can't give the taxpayer the middle finger and expect they will forget it. We have a looong memory.
The ever present Rex D'agostino, a radical environmentalist and member of the Green Party, who doesn't live in the district, was there again, to promote how great solar energy is, for solar's sake. The size/scope of the project, affects on property value, the children's play area being taken away, making millionaires out of 2 guys on our tax dollars while using our land- mean nothing to him. Solar for solar's sake alone. One can only imagine, if there was a plan to government mandate every student wear 20 lb. solar panels on the front and back of them whenever they went outside-he would be the first to promote it.
To sum it up, the Northampton School board can't admit they made a mistake. Bethlehem area school board put up solar panels on their schools to the tune of 1.6 megawatts. They received grants and bought the systems themselves (no get rich quick second party) and THEY PUT THEM ON THE ROOFS). They stand to get $250,000 a year for their projects. Northampton's is 2.2 Megawatts and they get a paltry $100,000 a year- simply because they decided go with the first guy to offer them a proposal. Hmmm, wonder where the rest of the money goes from the NASD plan?? (to Metrotek). The ever offensive Jane Erdo stated on this topic "Sometimes you don't need a second opinion!" Really? I buy a camera and I shop around all over the place, this is a $14 million dollar project with over $20 million in SREC and energy profits. Ok, you guys work for free, but how much is incompetence costing the taxpayers?
I guess the next step is the Lehigh Township zoning board. Metrotek has 2 options- either it's a second use of the land, which is not allowed or it's a accessory use, like a playground. Well, a 2.2 megawatt power plant is not a playground. The Northampton School Board stated last night that if zoning permits can not be obtained, their contract with Metrotek is null and void. Let's see if this is true.
Let's go through some of the highlights. They tried every which way but crying to say everyone knew about the project. The school board asked why we wer upset now, they told us they were doing it? "We didn't hide it." "We can't send letters home to taxpayers on every little thing we do." "You sent us to represent you, do we have to check with you on everything?" "We had the kids in mind with this one." (huh??!) "We can't answer the question about how it will affect property values, it may increase them." -(that gem was from Dave Gogel). Board member Cory Fenstermaker told us he drives by a giant solar panel power field every day and has learned to ignore it! He doesn't even notice it anymore??! (tell that to the kids with a small play area that will always be covered in shadow from the 13.5 foot tall monstrosity) Board President Dave Gogel even said when asked who will want to send their kids to this school with this giant metal monster behind it "I think a lot of people will be drawn to it." (????) Bob Koch had the audacity to say "parents would complain about the constuction, if we put them on the roof" (!!the whole reason we have this problem is you DIDN'T put them on the roof).
There was truth stretching all over the place that night. The school is supposedly doing this to reduce their carbon footprint. If you believe in that kind of thing, why would you leave lights on in rooms in the schools all night. (a neighbor who lives behind the school told them 9 rooms, are lighted throughout the night) They said they needed an automatic light switches to take care of the problem and will have that slated for a future project. (?? how 'bout usin' a finger to shut them off??) Bob Yanders, the school's facilities director and the lack of common sense behind this project, who at the township meeting pointed to his wedding ring and Reiner Jaeckle of Metrotek, saying "We're family!", stated there were recycling bins in all the class rooms in the school. An out and out fabrication, no one I know has ever seen one on school property. He said the schools have 2 dumpsters, one for trash, the other for recyclables, also never seen by anyone I know. (go by Lehigh Elementary and check it out, maybe they rushed one there last night!) An astute taxpayer noted that at certain events that take place at the high school, there are entire trash cans full to overflowing with water and soda bottles. The most idiotic argument the school board used was that the kid's play area was "useless land" that just gets constantly mowed. I have a yard around my house that my kids play in, I can tell you for a fact that it's not useless. I can also tell you for a fact that the very area they are about to give away for 20 years- the school students constantly play on, in fact the 4th-6th grades use it as their recess playground.
I would have to say the most offensive and abusive school board member was Jane "Morticia Frankenstein" Erdo. After leaving her coffin at dusk, had plenty of time to get to the meeting to show her contempt for the taxpayers of the district. Constantly she railed against the people she represents, rudely belittled them and constantly threatened to shut down public comment, which she eventually did. She stated we went over all this back when it was proposed, a boldfaced lie-as there was nothing in the newspapers about the size of the project or opposition to it. If people had known, there would have been opposition, that's how you know no one knew. She does this, as she is apt to tell you, because she will only be up for re-election in 2013. Well, that undead looking member will have the same surprise many politicians did this last election-you can't give the taxpayer the middle finger and expect they will forget it. We have a looong memory.
The ever present Rex D'agostino, a radical environmentalist and member of the Green Party, who doesn't live in the district, was there again, to promote how great solar energy is, for solar's sake. The size/scope of the project, affects on property value, the children's play area being taken away, making millionaires out of 2 guys on our tax dollars while using our land- mean nothing to him. Solar for solar's sake alone. One can only imagine, if there was a plan to government mandate every student wear 20 lb. solar panels on the front and back of them whenever they went outside-he would be the first to promote it.
To sum it up, the Northampton School board can't admit they made a mistake. Bethlehem area school board put up solar panels on their schools to the tune of 1.6 megawatts. They received grants and bought the systems themselves (no get rich quick second party) and THEY PUT THEM ON THE ROOFS). They stand to get $250,000 a year for their projects. Northampton's is 2.2 Megawatts and they get a paltry $100,000 a year- simply because they decided go with the first guy to offer them a proposal. Hmmm, wonder where the rest of the money goes from the NASD plan?? (to Metrotek). The ever offensive Jane Erdo stated on this topic "Sometimes you don't need a second opinion!" Really? I buy a camera and I shop around all over the place, this is a $14 million dollar project with over $20 million in SREC and energy profits. Ok, you guys work for free, but how much is incompetence costing the taxpayers?
I guess the next step is the Lehigh Township zoning board. Metrotek has 2 options- either it's a second use of the land, which is not allowed or it's a accessory use, like a playground. Well, a 2.2 megawatt power plant is not a playground. The Northampton School Board stated last night that if zoning permits can not be obtained, their contract with Metrotek is null and void. Let's see if this is true.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
NORTHAMPTON AREA SCHOOL BOARD -INCOMPETANT OR CORRUPT? Part DUH!
-Night of the Living School Board
Last night the Northampton Area School board faced the parents, residents and taxpayers for the first time over their well hidden 20 year, 6.5 acre land give-away to Metrotek and Eric Abeshaus. Well, we finally found out, though Reiner Jaeckle of Metrotek called Abeshaus and upstanding citizen, the School Board had no idea of the Federal lawsuit and never bothered to look into anyone's background involved in this project. Actually, they couldn't answer many questions about how the project was vetted and at the very least, are highly incompetent.
When asked why other projects were not looked at?- "Dunno". When asked why the project was not put up to bid, so as to get the taxpayer a better deal than the crummy one they got?- "Dunno". When asked why they needed such a large project taking up so much land?-"Dunno". When asked why the hid the very large size and scope of the project for so long and signed on without public knowledge or debate?-"Dunno". When asked why they didn't have their own engineer look over the plans that Metrotek had created for their schools?-"Dunno". Why is the address for Energy Alliance and Metrotek in the same building with the same phone number?-"Dunno".
Here is what we did find out- one guy contacted the board when he found out they were looking into a possible solar project-his call was not returned. They used Metrotek and let no one look at the plans, not even their own enginner, because they have a relationship with Metrotek. They had little concern for the kids at the school or their outdoor environment. The school board's main concern was- saving the $100k a year on energy bills, which boils down to .0012 of 1% of their budget. Honestly, many of the board members, including Geraldine Skrapits, starred blankly at the crowd, giving no input or emotion the entire hour and a half of public comment, which got very heated at times. It seemed they had not looked into the project very well and rubber stamped it because of Facilities Manager Bob Yanders joyous approval of it and his friend Reiner of Metrotek. That seemed enough for the board members. Last night, they looked like they got caught with their pants down.
What will they do now? Will they do the right thing and as one person demanded "dissolve this contract and start over with public input?" or will they try to ram it down our throats at the township level, making the lawyers on both sides rich? One thing that came out of the whole meeting, no one would have been there if the panels had been put on the roof for the school's own energy consumption. Most people were against the school giving the land for 20 years to a power company to sell the electric back to the grid and score millions in SRECs (sustainable renewable energy credits), along with the grants and money from selling the energy.
One thing is certain, 5 of the 9 school board members are up for re-election in 2011 and this project will probably determine the outcome of that election. One school board member, Jane Erdo, was especially beligerant to the public, using language not appropriate to the children who were present and stated that her seat is up in 2013 and the public can take it up with her then. The response was resounding applause from the crowd who didn't appreciate her animosity. On a more disturbing note, Reiner Jaeckle's (owner of Metrotek) wife was seated among the crowd and profanities and vulgarities could be heard issuing from her whenever a parent or citizen was questioning the appropriateness of the solar project. Perhaps this whole project is more about $$green$$ than "green".
Last night the Northampton Area School board faced the parents, residents and taxpayers for the first time over their well hidden 20 year, 6.5 acre land give-away to Metrotek and Eric Abeshaus. Well, we finally found out, though Reiner Jaeckle of Metrotek called Abeshaus and upstanding citizen, the School Board had no idea of the Federal lawsuit and never bothered to look into anyone's background involved in this project. Actually, they couldn't answer many questions about how the project was vetted and at the very least, are highly incompetent.
When asked why other projects were not looked at?- "Dunno". When asked why the project was not put up to bid, so as to get the taxpayer a better deal than the crummy one they got?- "Dunno". When asked why they needed such a large project taking up so much land?-"Dunno". When asked why the hid the very large size and scope of the project for so long and signed on without public knowledge or debate?-"Dunno". When asked why they didn't have their own engineer look over the plans that Metrotek had created for their schools?-"Dunno". Why is the address for Energy Alliance and Metrotek in the same building with the same phone number?-"Dunno".
Here is what we did find out- one guy contacted the board when he found out they were looking into a possible solar project-his call was not returned. They used Metrotek and let no one look at the plans, not even their own enginner, because they have a relationship with Metrotek. They had little concern for the kids at the school or their outdoor environment. The school board's main concern was- saving the $100k a year on energy bills, which boils down to .0012 of 1% of their budget. Honestly, many of the board members, including Geraldine Skrapits, starred blankly at the crowd, giving no input or emotion the entire hour and a half of public comment, which got very heated at times. It seemed they had not looked into the project very well and rubber stamped it because of Facilities Manager Bob Yanders joyous approval of it and his friend Reiner of Metrotek. That seemed enough for the board members. Last night, they looked like they got caught with their pants down.
What will they do now? Will they do the right thing and as one person demanded "dissolve this contract and start over with public input?" or will they try to ram it down our throats at the township level, making the lawyers on both sides rich? One thing that came out of the whole meeting, no one would have been there if the panels had been put on the roof for the school's own energy consumption. Most people were against the school giving the land for 20 years to a power company to sell the electric back to the grid and score millions in SRECs (sustainable renewable energy credits), along with the grants and money from selling the energy.
One thing is certain, 5 of the 9 school board members are up for re-election in 2011 and this project will probably determine the outcome of that election. One school board member, Jane Erdo, was especially beligerant to the public, using language not appropriate to the children who were present and stated that her seat is up in 2013 and the public can take it up with her then. The response was resounding applause from the crowd who didn't appreciate her animosity. On a more disturbing note, Reiner Jaeckle's (owner of Metrotek) wife was seated among the crowd and profanities and vulgarities could be heard issuing from her whenever a parent or citizen was questioning the appropriateness of the solar project. Perhaps this whole project is more about $$green$$ than "green".
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
NORTHAMPTON AREA SCHOOL BOARD -INCOMPETANT OR CORRUPT?
I have to wonder which? Not only have they given away our children's playgrounds at Lehigh and Moore elementary for $0 for 20 years, all for a measly $2 million spread out over 20 years in reduced electric, all the while making an electrical contractor with questionable business practices and his federally indicted financier, very rich men, and all the while keeping it quiet. NOW I get word from an inside source that the other shoe is going to drop. It appears they may have a SECOND $15 million dollar solar power plant project in the works at George Wolf elementary in Bath, PA!!! I wonder what is going to be in THEIR Christmas stockings?
They knew people were pissed off last night that they kept the first 2 projects secret, what will they do with the public's anger over this. I wonder what they threw in with this great deal, a new house perhaps for Metrotek head Reiner? Perhaps hot and cold running massages? Can't wait to find out at the next school board meeting on November 8th at 6:30 in the 1st Floor Conference Room at the District Administration Building, 2014 Laubach Avenue, Northampton, PA.
I wonder if Abeshaus passed the FBI background check to be on school grounds? Find out at the next Northampton Area School District Board meeting.........to be continued...
They knew people were pissed off last night that they kept the first 2 projects secret, what will they do with the public's anger over this. I wonder what they threw in with this great deal, a new house perhaps for Metrotek head Reiner? Perhaps hot and cold running massages? Can't wait to find out at the next school board meeting on November 8th at 6:30 in the 1st Floor Conference Room at the District Administration Building, 2014 Laubach Avenue, Northampton, PA.
I wonder if Abeshaus passed the FBI background check to be on school grounds? Find out at the next Northampton Area School District Board meeting.........to be continued...
Night of the Jaeckle
Last night was probably one of the most heated sessions of the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors meetings ever. For the first time (other than a flyer that has been circulating via word of mouth from neighbor to neighbor) citizens of the township, as well as parents of students at the school, learned of the intrusive power plant plan that was so secret that the township supervisors had only recently heard about it.
Well, we found out why it was secret. The school board learned from Nazareth township that if the public finds out, they can stop the project at the township. The plan was developed by Metrotek an electrical engineering company run by Reiner Jaeckle and his financier Eric Abeshaus, and was given the greenlight by the Northampton Area School Board in a 9-0 vote. At the meeting, representing the School Board, was Bob Yanders, head of facilities. The plan is for 6.4 acre Solar power plant, 13 feet high with over 5,000 panels, generating 2.2 Megawatts. The School board is leasing the land to Metrotek for 20 years for $0 and in return will get $2 million in reduced energy spread out over 20 years. Metrotek and it's investors (to include Abeshaus) would receive all state and federal grant money, stimulous money, and the money from selling the excess energy back to the grid. In addition, they would get the SRECs (sustainable renewable energy credits), which are given yearly and over the life of the project would amount to $13-$20 million dollars!
Also there were approx. 70 township residents that were highly anxious to give the school board, the superintendant and Metroteks Jaeckle/Abeshaus, a piece of their mind. When they grilled the Metrotek duo, along Bob Yander, on a myriad of topics, many couldn't be answered. How safe is this for our kids?, why are you using most of the remaining land on school grounds?, will this affect property values? How much is this costing us in state and federal taxes? Why would the school district do this for such little gain?
Boiled down, the citizens found out, for $2 million in reduced energy rates and a $0 land lease for 20 years, the school board is going to make Reiner Jaeckle and Eric Abeshaus millionaires, with a no bid contract. The project would use most of the children's play area land at the school and would be a 13 foot tall, 6.4 acre metal nightmare.
One explosive, yet highly interesting fact came out when one of the township residents asked school facilities manager Bob Yanders if he had done background checks on the people they are doing business with. Without waiting for an answer he proceeded to ask him if he knew Eric Abeshaus was named in a Federal Lawsuit with fraud and corrruption. He told Yander he had found it out in 2 minutes on Google. I looked it up and in a March 27, 2009 article in the Express-Times, Abeshaus, along with his father and others in Circle Systems Group, was accused of not safety testing high school football helmets their company was contracted to refurbish.
All in all an interesting night, next stop the Lehigh township zoning board, as now Northampton Area School District will attempt to get a variance to allow Metrotek to operate the power plant on school grounds as a second principal usage. I wouldn't miss that one for anything. I am sure the next School Board meeting will also be VERY interesting, as the NASD will probably be asked to explain themselves in this matter.
"What were they thinking??"
Well, we found out why it was secret. The school board learned from Nazareth township that if the public finds out, they can stop the project at the township. The plan was developed by Metrotek an electrical engineering company run by Reiner Jaeckle and his financier Eric Abeshaus, and was given the greenlight by the Northampton Area School Board in a 9-0 vote. At the meeting, representing the School Board, was Bob Yanders, head of facilities. The plan is for 6.4 acre Solar power plant, 13 feet high with over 5,000 panels, generating 2.2 Megawatts. The School board is leasing the land to Metrotek for 20 years for $0 and in return will get $2 million in reduced energy spread out over 20 years. Metrotek and it's investors (to include Abeshaus) would receive all state and federal grant money, stimulous money, and the money from selling the excess energy back to the grid. In addition, they would get the SRECs (sustainable renewable energy credits), which are given yearly and over the life of the project would amount to $13-$20 million dollars!
Also there were approx. 70 township residents that were highly anxious to give the school board, the superintendant and Metroteks Jaeckle/Abeshaus, a piece of their mind. When they grilled the Metrotek duo, along Bob Yander, on a myriad of topics, many couldn't be answered. How safe is this for our kids?, why are you using most of the remaining land on school grounds?, will this affect property values? How much is this costing us in state and federal taxes? Why would the school district do this for such little gain?
Boiled down, the citizens found out, for $2 million in reduced energy rates and a $0 land lease for 20 years, the school board is going to make Reiner Jaeckle and Eric Abeshaus millionaires, with a no bid contract. The project would use most of the children's play area land at the school and would be a 13 foot tall, 6.4 acre metal nightmare.
One explosive, yet highly interesting fact came out when one of the township residents asked school facilities manager Bob Yanders if he had done background checks on the people they are doing business with. Without waiting for an answer he proceeded to ask him if he knew Eric Abeshaus was named in a Federal Lawsuit with fraud and corrruption. He told Yander he had found it out in 2 minutes on Google. I looked it up and in a March 27, 2009 article in the Express-Times, Abeshaus, along with his father and others in Circle Systems Group, was accused of not safety testing high school football helmets their company was contracted to refurbish.
All in all an interesting night, next stop the Lehigh township zoning board, as now Northampton Area School District will attempt to get a variance to allow Metrotek to operate the power plant on school grounds as a second principal usage. I wouldn't miss that one for anything. I am sure the next School Board meeting will also be VERY interesting, as the NASD will probably be asked to explain themselves in this matter.
"What were they thinking??"
Monday, October 25, 2010
SCHOOL BOARD SPENDS $1000 TO MAKE $10 -GOVERNMENT COMMON SENSE
Psssst . . . . I’ll let you in on a secret that the
Northampton Area School District doesn’t want you to know.
The School District wants to lease 6 1/2 acres of the
grass/field at the Lehigh Elementary School in Cherryville,
Lehigh Township, Walnutport, to a power company to install a
large solar power plant. The lease would be for 20 years.
There would be over 5,000 large panels -- nearly 13 feet tall
-- surrounded by a fence just as high. This solar farm will
cover most of the remaining recreational play area on the
school grounds. Many of the students will be confined to the
macadam and what remaining grass and drainage fields are left.
The plan is to let the power company generate electricity on
the leased public land and sell that energy to the school at a
reduced rate. In reality, this is a tax loophole so that the
energy company and its subcontractor who would actually install
the farm can get the tax credits and grant money from taxpayers
through the federal stimulus bill, without having to own land
or pay property tax. The project is estimated at $14 million
dollars and the school is guaranteed to receive $2 million in
reduced energy costs over a 20-year span. Most likely, the energy company would
receive what are known as SRECs, Sustainable renewable Energy Credits, which
can total another 8 million dollars or more over the 20 year life of the system.
In many of these
instances, the installer will get the rights to the 20 years of
maintenance needed for the upkeep of the system. With an $81.5
million school budget, it hardly seems worth it for the
taxpayer or the School District to enter into such a long-term
risky agreement, losing any future use of the land should
expansion need to occur in the township.
Betcha didn’t know that. And betcha didn’t know we heard it was
awarded through a no bid contract.
Until recently the School Board has kept the project under
wraps, we believe, so as not to alert the public and avoid prying questions
from those pesky parents curious about the unknown health risk
to the nearly 700 students at Lehigh Elementary. And then
there’s those troublesome taxpayers worried about property
values and asking about a myriad of other questionable
practices, such as subleasing public land to a power company in
a for-profit business venture.
Did you miss the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on
October 20? School and power company officials were there. So
was Congressman Charlie Dent, Julie Harhart,
and Secretary Hanger (Department of Education).
Whoops! They broke ground before securing the proper permits
and getting approval from the Township since this
requires a conditional use hearing. The School Board will
finally get around to filling the Township Board of Supervisors in on
its little secret Tuesday night (October 26), 7PM at the Lehigh Township
Municipal Building in Walnutport. I urge you to attend this hearing and help
us learn the details. But don’t tell them where you heard it.
-Concerned citizen of Lehigh Township
Northampton Area School District doesn’t want you to know.
The School District wants to lease 6 1/2 acres of the
grass/field at the Lehigh Elementary School in Cherryville,
Lehigh Township, Walnutport, to a power company to install a
large solar power plant. The lease would be for 20 years.
There would be over 5,000 large panels -- nearly 13 feet tall
-- surrounded by a fence just as high. This solar farm will
cover most of the remaining recreational play area on the
school grounds. Many of the students will be confined to the
macadam and what remaining grass and drainage fields are left.
The plan is to let the power company generate electricity on
the leased public land and sell that energy to the school at a
reduced rate. In reality, this is a tax loophole so that the
energy company and its subcontractor who would actually install
the farm can get the tax credits and grant money from taxpayers
through the federal stimulus bill, without having to own land
or pay property tax. The project is estimated at $14 million
dollars and the school is guaranteed to receive $2 million in
reduced energy costs over a 20-year span. Most likely, the energy company would
receive what are known as SRECs, Sustainable renewable Energy Credits, which
can total another 8 million dollars or more over the 20 year life of the system.
In many of these
instances, the installer will get the rights to the 20 years of
maintenance needed for the upkeep of the system. With an $81.5
million school budget, it hardly seems worth it for the
taxpayer or the School District to enter into such a long-term
risky agreement, losing any future use of the land should
expansion need to occur in the township.
Betcha didn’t know that. And betcha didn’t know we heard it was
awarded through a no bid contract.
Until recently the School Board has kept the project under
wraps, we believe, so as not to alert the public and avoid prying questions
from those pesky parents curious about the unknown health risk
to the nearly 700 students at Lehigh Elementary. And then
there’s those troublesome taxpayers worried about property
values and asking about a myriad of other questionable
practices, such as subleasing public land to a power company in
a for-profit business venture.
Did you miss the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on
October 20? School and power company officials were there. So
was Congressman Charlie Dent, Julie Harhart,
and Secretary Hanger (Department of Education).
Whoops! They broke ground before securing the proper permits
and getting approval from the Township since this
requires a conditional use hearing. The School Board will
finally get around to filling the Township Board of Supervisors in on
its little secret Tuesday night (October 26), 7PM at the Lehigh Township
Municipal Building in Walnutport. I urge you to attend this hearing and help
us learn the details. But don’t tell them where you heard it.
-Concerned citizen of Lehigh Township
Psssst . . . . I’ll let you in on a secret that the
Northampton Area School District doesn’t want you to know.
The School District wants to lease 6 1/2 acres of the
grass/field at the Lehigh Elementary School in Cherryville,
Lehigh Township, Walnutport, to a power company to install a
large solar power plant. The lease would be for 20 years.
There would be over 5,000 large panels -- nearly 13 feet tall
-- surrounded by a fence just as high. This solar farm will
cover most of the remaining recreational play area on the
school grounds. Many of the students will be confined to the
macadam and what remaining grass and drainage fields are left.
The plan is to let the power company generate electricity on
the leased public land and sell that energy to the school at a
reduced rate. In reality, this is a tax loophole so that the
energy company and its subcontractor who would actually install
the farm can get the tax credits and grant money from taxpayers
through the federal stimulus bill, without having to own land
or pay property tax. The project is estimated at $14 million
dollars and the school is guaranteed to receive $2 million in
reduced energy costs over a 20-year span. Most likely, the energy company would
receive what are known as SRECs, Sustainable renewable Energy Credits, which
can total another 8 million dollars or more over the 20 year life of the system.
In many of these
instances, the installer will get the rights to the 20 years of
maintenance needed for the upkeep of the system. With an $81.5
million school budget, it hardly seems worth it for the
taxpayer or the School District to enter into such a long-term
risky agreement, losing any future use of the land should
expansion need to occur in the township.
Betcha didn’t know that. And betcha didn’t know we heard it was
awarded through a no bid contract.
Until recently the School Board has kept the project under
wraps, we believe, so as not to alert the public and avoid prying questions
from those pesky parents curious about the unknown health risk
to the nearly 700 students at Lehigh Elementary. And then
there’s those troublesome taxpayers worried about property
values and asking about a myriad of other questionable
practices, such as subleasing public land to a power company in
a for-profit business venture.
Did you miss the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on
October 20? School and power company officials were there. So
was Congressman Charlie Dent, Julie Harhart, Governor Rendell,
and Secretary Hanger (Department of Education).
Whoops! They broke ground before securing the proper permits
and getting approval from the Township since this
requires a conditional use hearing. The School Board will
finally get around to filling the Township Board of Supervisors in on
its little secret Tuesday night (October 26), 7PM at the Lehigh Township
Municipal Building in Walnutport. I urge you to attend this hearing and help
us learn the details. But don’t tell them where you heard it.
-Concerned citizen of Lehigh Township
Northampton Area School District doesn’t want you to know.
The School District wants to lease 6 1/2 acres of the
grass/field at the Lehigh Elementary School in Cherryville,
Lehigh Township, Walnutport, to a power company to install a
large solar power plant. The lease would be for 20 years.
There would be over 5,000 large panels -- nearly 13 feet tall
-- surrounded by a fence just as high. This solar farm will
cover most of the remaining recreational play area on the
school grounds. Many of the students will be confined to the
macadam and what remaining grass and drainage fields are left.
The plan is to let the power company generate electricity on
the leased public land and sell that energy to the school at a
reduced rate. In reality, this is a tax loophole so that the
energy company and its subcontractor who would actually install
the farm can get the tax credits and grant money from taxpayers
through the federal stimulus bill, without having to own land
or pay property tax. The project is estimated at $14 million
dollars and the school is guaranteed to receive $2 million in
reduced energy costs over a 20-year span. Most likely, the energy company would
receive what are known as SRECs, Sustainable renewable Energy Credits, which
can total another 8 million dollars or more over the 20 year life of the system.
In many of these
instances, the installer will get the rights to the 20 years of
maintenance needed for the upkeep of the system. With an $81.5
million school budget, it hardly seems worth it for the
taxpayer or the School District to enter into such a long-term
risky agreement, losing any future use of the land should
expansion need to occur in the township.
Betcha didn’t know that. And betcha didn’t know we heard it was
awarded through a no bid contract.
Until recently the School Board has kept the project under
wraps, we believe, so as not to alert the public and avoid prying questions
from those pesky parents curious about the unknown health risk
to the nearly 700 students at Lehigh Elementary. And then
there’s those troublesome taxpayers worried about property
values and asking about a myriad of other questionable
practices, such as subleasing public land to a power company in
a for-profit business venture.
Did you miss the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on
October 20? School and power company officials were there. So
was Congressman Charlie Dent, Julie Harhart, Governor Rendell,
and Secretary Hanger (Department of Education).
Whoops! They broke ground before securing the proper permits
and getting approval from the Township since this
requires a conditional use hearing. The School Board will
finally get around to filling the Township Board of Supervisors in on
its little secret Tuesday night (October 26), 7PM at the Lehigh Township
Municipal Building in Walnutport. I urge you to attend this hearing and help
us learn the details. But don’t tell them where you heard it.
-Concerned citizen of Lehigh Township
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