Byram expresses dismay over solar project

By Jennifer Jean Miller
BYRAM — Byram Township Council Members expressed their dismay with the $88 million solar project controversy that has divided the members of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

The project went belly up and now taxpayers in Sussex, Morris and Somerset Counties may be responsible for footing the bills.

Mayor Jim Oscovitch and the council made this a formal topic of discussion on the council agenda at its March 9 council meeting.

Several schools and municipal buildings throughout Sussex County have already been equipped with solar panels, as a way to potentially garner revenue. Other schools and buildings that were supposed to receive the panels, have not.

Lawsuits have erupted over SunLight General, the company which has been unable to pay back approximately $26 million in bonds it owes to Sussex County as well as money it allegedly owed PowerPartners Mastec.

"I'm disappointed in the freeholder position on this that we're on the hook for $24 million," Oscovitch said.

He described it as another awkward position that the county has put taxpayers in, referring to the Sussex County Municipal Utilities Authority (SCMUA) as another one.

"This is going to effect all of us," Councilwoman Marie Raffay said. "I think we are owed explanations and there is no information."

Byram's school district was one of the places that had solar panels installed in the school parking lots, except for Lenape Valley Regional High School.

"We didn't think [the project] was a scam," Raffay said. "We didn't think it would be as bad as this has turned out."

Oscovitch suggested the council pen a joint letter, or draft a resolution, demanding an audit into the matter.

Freeholder Gail Phoebus and Assemblyman Parker Space (R-24) have both requested that the state and federal justice departments launch an investigation.

"We don't have a gag order," Oscovitch said.

Oscovitch said if the council does not wish to draft a letter as a unifed board, he would write one on his own.

"I'm disappointed in the leadership in the county," he said.

He suggested the possibility of a member or members of the county or state government coming to a council meeting to discuss the issue further.

Should the council wish to write a letter, the town's attorney Tom Collins said discussion of the topic and the resolution or letter should be presented publicly and appear on a future agenda.