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CAPE MAY - Waffle machines use a lot of electricity, but that's no longer a problem for local restaurateur Micki McGlade.

You could say her waffles are made by the sun.

McGlade's on the Pier recently became the first restaurant in town, and the first business on the city's historic Promenade, to go solar. Right before Labor Day, the roof of the restaurant was filled with 76 solar panels installed by Mercury Solar Systems.

McGlade said it was a combination business and environmental decision. From a business standpoint, the system is expected to save her about $12,000 per year.

"Everything's electric. All these juice machines, the waffle makers and the toasters, boy do they draw," McGlade said.

The restaurant, open from Memorial Bay to Columbus Day and especially known for its breakfast omelets, might still have been using fossil fuels to cook waffles if not for all the ecological benefits the panels offered.

The 17.48 kilowatt system is expected to offset 32,251 pounds of carbon emissions per year, which, according to Mercury Solar, is equal to planting 3.39 acres of trees, which are known for storing carbon as they grow.

That makes McGlade feel good, and she hopes the savings could go even higher. This is the first system on the beachfront but there is some speculation it will outperform panels in other locations. Unlike many New Jersey shore towns, the ocean here is to the south and that is the perfect direction for panels to face. The ocean and beach may also boost production from reflection off the white sandy beach and the water. McGlade said others will be watching.

"This is, I believe, the first system on the Jersey shore," McGlade said.

The economics may not be for everybody since a big investment is needed up front, although McGlade said it should pay for itself in about five years. She said it cost $156,000 but federal tax credits and state rebates reduced it to $120,000.

Besides saving on the electric bill, bigger returns can come from selling Solar Renewable Energy Credits or SREC's, said McGlade's accountant Keating Weinberger. Companies that emit carbon must buy the credits, which sell for about $675 for each megawatt. Weinberger said the systems typically produce five to seven megawatts a year.

"I installed a system at my office in Rio Grande. I got my money back at the four-year mark exactly," Weinberger said.

Mercury Solar Systems President Jared Haines said New Jersey has some of the best solar incentives in the country, including the SREC's. Mercury Solar has installed about 12 percent of the systems in the Garden State.

New Jersey, according to the state Board of Public Utilities, is the first government entity to adopt the use of SREC's to finance solar energy on a broad scale. The state had six solar installations seven years ago and now has 4,340 of them and is No. 1 in the nation in the number of solar panels per square mile. Part of that is the rebate program but the SREC's are another factor.

McGlade said her local bank, Sturdy Bank, did not hesitate to finance the project.

She also knew quite a bit about solar panels already since she put a 6.02 kilowatt system totaling 20 panels on her Lower Township home several years ago. The rebates are higher for residential systems so she paid less than half the cost of the $63,000 system.

"I have electric everything at home: electric baseboard heat, air conditioning, pool filter, lights, refrigerator, hot water, appliances. My bill is $12 to $18 a month," McGlade said.

She said the financial returns for solar power investments are better than savings accounts or the stock market right now.

A woman known to be frugal also likes the idea of combating waste. She even cut back on breakfast toast servings here because people weren't eating it all. If they ask for more toast, she supplies it. She just doesn't like waste.

McGlade doesn't even want to waste the sun beams coming down on her roof when they can be used to cook the waffles.

"This is an absolute win, win, win, win. You can watch the carbon savings on the meter. You're saving the environment. It's equal to more than three acres of trees. You're doing something good and then you look at the economic side."

So how are the waffles? There haven't been any complaints.

Contact Richard Degener:

609-463-6711

RDegener@pressofac.com

1 comment:

• RussOCNJ (34) posts 9:48 am

  The fact is solar costs at least 8- 10 times what electricty costs from the power company around here. It is actually a lose, lose, lose situation. The cost of this project jacks up federal taxes and is tacked on to the utility bills of everyone in the State. The activities to make all the extra money that is needed to pay for this will use many times the electricity that will be "saved." These reporters needs to stop being cheerleaders for "green" projects and need to get thir facts straight.

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