Sunoco brings solar to NJ school

Maybe it's propitious that Sunoco gets its name from the Sun Oil Co.

As part of an air pollution settlement, it's bringing more of the sun to the Red Bank Elementary School near its Eagle Point Refinery in West Deptford Township.

The 46 kW system will consist of 200 panels and is expected to provide about 15 percent of the school's electricity needs.

The project stems from air pollution violations at the refinery from 2006 to 2008.  They included air pollution that exceeded permit levels. The facility also failed to conduct emissions tests for various pieces of equipment.

The settlement agreement called for Sunoco to pay a penalty of $98,390 and to provide at least $295,160 funding for a photovoltaic system to provide green energy to a municipal or school building in the area. The Red Bank School is located adjacent to the refinery.

"This solar array will help meet a portion of the Red Bank School's electricity needs, taking energy off the power grid that otherwise would be generated by power plants that emit air pollutants," DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said in a press release today. "This project is making something positive out of a negative, creating green energy that is good for the environment and public health."

The West Deptford School District will retain the rights to Solar Renewable Energy Credits and receive tax benefits for producing green energy. Schools Superintendent Kevin A. Kitchenman said an informational kiosk would be built in the school lobby.

Sunoco idled its processing units at the refinery earlier this year. It had refined some 150,000 barrels of oil per day for gasoline, home heating oil, jet fuel and other products.