Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Verona council hears draft Community Energy Plan, adoption set for July 20
Summary
DMR Architects presented a draft Community Energy Plan that identifies 13 priority initiatives across seven strategies, cites Sustainable Jersey funding and potential for a $250,000 implementation grant, and recommends steps including municipal facility efficiency upgrades and public EV charging; council solicited public comments through July 16 ahead of a July 20 adoption vote.
DMR Architects presented a draft Community Energy Plan to the Verona Town Council on July 6, outlining 13 priority initiatives drawn from a longer list of 42 options and recommending actions for the next three to five years. "Tonight, I'm gonna be presenting the community energy plan for Verona for the next 3 to 5 years," the DMR presenter said, summarizing the report's goals and timeline.
The plan, funded in part by a $10,000 Sustainable Jersey planning grant, tracks community energy purchases and greenhouse-gas sources and identifies residential and on-road vehicle use as the largest local energy contributors. The presentation noted growth in electric-vehicle ownership—from eight EVs in 2015 to 81 in 2020—and mapped opportunities for rooftop solar and municipal facility upgrades. DMR also highlighted that completing the plan opens eligibility for a larger $250,000 implementation grant on Sustainable Jersey’s site.
Town Manager Kevin O'Sullivan said the plan is posted on the township website and asked residents to submit comments by July 16 so the council can vote on formal adoption at the July 20 meeting. "We'll collect comments over the next 2 weeks, and we'll present the final report to the council for adoption at the next council meeting," O'Sullivan said.
Council members pressed DMR on data sources and benchmarking. The presenter said data points and sources are cited in the report (largely Sustainable Jersey and PSNG) and that census-derived demographic figures in the draft will be updated before adoption. One council member urged siting chargers where the municipal fleet and year-round usage would maximize benefit; DMR agreed more site identification is needed.
The next step is a public comment period running through July 16 and a council adoption vote scheduled for July 20. The council and administration said adopting the plan would strengthen Verona’s ability to compete for implementation grants and guide capital and operational decisions on EV infrastructure, municipal facility efficiency, and community outreach.
