As visitors flock to Cape May’s sunny beaches and developing wine industry, so do New Jersey solar companies due to increased business. The city of Cape May itself is committed to solar photovoltaic panels. With an installation located on their Water Works Building, built in 1926, the City of Cape May is merging tradition with new technology! This installation itself has generated over 30,531 kWh of electricity and avoided 24,775 kg of carbon emissions.
However, Cape May, as a landmark of restored and vintage Victorian homes, is facing some unease about NJ solar installations. The Historic Preservation Commission does not want roof solar systems to be seen from the street. The HPC has even petitioned the City Council to change design standards, which have been in place since 2003 when solar systems were not quite as popular, to limit the use of modern building products on their historic buildings. But as energy costs rise, residents do want to lower their energy costs. Many residents are displeased because they can not get approval from the City to install panels due to street-visibility. As solar systems and wind turbines become smaller, less intrusive, and more efficient, it is historic landmarks like Cape May that will be the true indicators of alternative energy adoption.
If you live in Cape May County and are interested in residential solar or commercial solar, let us know and we’ll get you connected to a local installer right away!