Skip to content

A town square for an unsquare town

redbankgreen

Standing for the vitality of Red Bank, its community, and the fun we have together.


Our community pillars help us carry out our 100-Year Vision

Check it out

Health and Wellness

Red Bank YMCA

At the heart of the Red Bank community since 1874, our Red Bank Family YMCA is here to support health and well-being for all. We’re a special place where people of all ages, interests and backgrounds gather to grow in spirit, mind and body.

Learn More
organization-banner
organization-banner
10k

M’TOWN SOLAR PROJECTED TO SAVE MILLIONS

By DUSTIN RACIOPPIhot-topic right

Middletown has wrapped up a months-long town-wide study pinpointing locations ideal for solar panels, and may soon bring on a contractor to start the process of getting off the grid.

If it does, the town could save taxpayers $6.6 million over the next 15 years — and perhaps double that, if the town board of education gets on board, officials said.

Eatontown-based Birdsall Services Group, after months of review, has targeted nine locations at which to install solar panels throughout town.

On the list: Middletown Arts Center; Tonya Keller Community Center; Department of Public Works; New Monmouth Library; the Croydon Complex; the sewer authority; the old train station; the new train station; and the Kings Highway complex.

“The next step is for the committee to review the report with the consultant, then move forward with request for proposals to bring on a contractor to start,” Committeeman Kevin Settembrino said.

If the town follows through, Settembrino said it would save the town $400,000 in “real cash” a year, based on current energy rates. And that, Mayor Tony Fiore added, “with very little, if any, capital outlay for the implementation is a win-win for us.”

The savings could double, he said, if the school board joins in and solar panels are installed at school-owned properties. The township committee is “working diligently” with the school board to join the program, but so far there’s been more foot-dragging than serious discussion of the school system getting involved, Fiore said.

“At this point I don’t know if they’ll be part of it,” he said. “The township can’t wait forever.”

Going with a private contractor may not be a done deal, though.

If the town can enter a power-purchasing agreement with Monmouth County that provides more savings, the town may go that way, Settembrino said.

“Whatever the greater savings is to the township and the board of education will be the path that the town selects, bar none,” he said.

But time is of the essence, Fiore said, making the chances higher that the town will go with a private company to install the panels and provide solar power.

“We’re looking to wrap this whole thing up in the fall to achieve these savings in 2012,” he said.

Remember: Nothing makes a Red Bank business owner happier than to hear "I saw your ad on Red Bank Green!"
Partyline
RED BANK: AMID THE BLUE
A rack of small vessels at the Navesink Riverside Residences and Marina added colors to the river’s deep blue, as seen from the Red Ba ...
[GIF] COUNTDOWN TO TREE LIGHTING
The final countown and lighting of Broad Street toward the end of the Holiday Express Concert. GIF below and video right after.
PANORAMA: HOLIDAY EXPRESS CONCERT
Tim McLoone and his Holiday Express band light up the crowd on Broad Street before the annual tree lighting.
THANKSGIVING EVE: WHAT WAS GOING ON
Nothing marks the arrival of Thanksgiving weekend like reacquainting with someone from high school that you hoped to never see again in your ...
RED BANK: YES, RED BANK
Kayaker Carla Fiscella shared this lovely autumn vignette along the Swimming River at Chapin Avenue from last week.
RED BANK BUCKS GIVEAWAY
Red Bank RiverCenter will host a $5,000 Red Bank Bucks Giveaway at Toast City Diner this Saturday. It’s essentially free money, and who do ...
RED BANK: TREE TIME!
This year’s Christmas tree arrived at Riverside Gardens Park in Red Bank Saturday. It will be lit (along with the rest of the downtown) as ...
RED BANK LIBRARY HOLIDAY HOURS
RED BANK CLASSIC 5K RUNNING A DEAL
Red Bank 5K Classic sets 2024 date, with discount registrations starting Friday.
PBA TOY DRIVE BRINGS JOY TO LOCAL KIDS
Help make a kid’s Christmas a bit nicer with a toy donation to the annual Red Bank PBA toy drive.
FUNDRAISERS SUPPORT GLOBAL REFUGEE RELIEF
Fundraisers with the United Nations Refugee agency on Broad Street collecting donations for refugees worldwide, and killing time between cha ...
“PUT IT IN THE WINDOW!”
The King of Rock and Roll was seen hanging in the window of Jack’s Music Shoppe. When asked if there was any reason behind it apart fr ...
RED BANK: WATCH YOUR STEP
The painted sidewalk at 205 Broad Street (featured in a recent Where Have I Seen This) getting a new look today.
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS GOING UP
Jim Bruno of Powerhouse Signworks takes a minute for a photo and a thumbs up while hanging the wreaths and lights in advance of the annual t ...