Manchester Township, New Jersey

commission to host their first annual rain barrel workshop. Residents have learned how to construct a rain barrel they can keep and use at home, and learn the many benefits of installing one. In addition, Manchester is holding a rain garden workshop in February of 2020. Both workshops will allow residents to understand the importance of stormwater runoff and how they can help minimize the pollution for healthier, cleaner, drinking water. In 2008, Manchester Township received a New Jersey State League of Municipality Innovation Award for the innovation of the sun tubes in conjunction with the newly installed lighting system, when it was considered “high-tech” lighting. And they have never looked back. Sylvester notes, “We recently had a feasibility study done and we have to cap our landfill per NJDEP requirements. So, we’re working with a company on a Solar Energy Harvesting project to install a solar farm on top of the cap to utilize that space so it will serve a dual purpose. The best thing is it will PREFERRED VENDOR n NextGrid www.nextgrid.com be a zero out of pocket expense to the Township through a Power Purchase Agreement. Veni sums it up well, “At the end of the day, our biggest goal is to save energy and reduce our carbon footprint as best we can with using as little money as possible, and making sure every project is financially justifiable. If there’s a rebate or funding, we’re going to get it, even if it holds the project up. I don’t ever want to have to say to our residents, “We could have received $4,000 for that project but we didn’t want to wait, or we didn’t feel like filling out the grant forms.” That’s not our way of doing things.”