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UPPER TOWNSHIP - RC Cape May, the owners of B.L. England power plant, wants to build one of New Jersey's largest solar arrays on what is now its nine-hole public golf course.

The 26 acres of solar panels would generate 4 megawatts of energy for sale to electric customers across the region, company spokesman Stephen Ross said.

This is less than 1 percent of the 447 megawatts the B.L. England power plant can produce at maximum output, but it is enough to power 4,000 homes.

"We're excited about the project. I think it's going to help this end of Cape May County lead the way on green energy in New Jersey," he said.

Golfers said they would hate to lose the course. The course hosts a weekly men's and women's league Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Company employees have always been involved in the course, down to helping in its construction. They run its clubhouse and are course regulars, getting a discount on rounds of golf here.

But Upper Township residents such as Mike Hagan said they enjoy the course because of its combination of short and long holes. He took off work from his Seaville graphics company, Michael Anthony Graphics, to shoot a round with his son, Michael Hagan Jr.

"I'd be pretty upset to lose this," he said. "We love this place because of the layout. It has a par 5 and some par 3 holes. I've been coming here 10 years."

Michael Hagan Jr., 17, said a round of golf here is cheaper than other courses. The senior at Ocean City High School has played golf for four years.

"I like the idea of solar power. I just think they should do it somewhere else," he said.

Neighbors in Beesleys Point met with the company last week to go over details of the proposal. But the solar panels provoked little consternation among neighbors.

"I think it's a great idea, and I'd like to see it get pursued," neighbor Bonnie Roller said.

Her parents, who live next to her behind the golf course, attended the meeting.

The company wants to add nature trails and invite school groups to see the completed solar array.

Neighbors suggested adding public bathrooms and security gates around the solar array to prevent vandalism.

"My husband and I wondered why they weren't pursuing wind power instead," Roller said.

Ross said the company determined it could not generate as much energy with windmills as it could through solar energy. The tentative proposal calls for building the array about 10 feet off the ground on mounts that will allow the panels to track the movement of the sun to maximize their photovoltaic potential.

"The wind turbines would be much more visible than the solar cells," Ross said. "We wanted to do something that would be the least disruptive as possible to our neighbors while also being beneficial in helping the state reach its renewable energy goals."

The company plans to plant more trees around the solar array to screen it from Route 9 and neighbors.

Mayor Richard Palombo said the project had a lot in its favor, including the dual use as a park.

"I'm not pushing it either way," he said. "I'm happy to see they're considering green energy. We want to make sure neighbors are OK with it."

Ross said the project requires local and state approvals, including a state coastal permit. The company would like to install the panels next year, he said.

E-mail Michael Miller:

MMiller@pressofac.com

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