The Park Installs One of the Largest Solar Canopy Projects in New Jersey

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ – The Connell Company had reason to celebrate on Tuesday at a ribbon cutting ceremony for their newly installed solar canopy at their Berkeley Heights campus known as The Park. The project consists of 9,158 solar panels affixed to parking canopies and on the rooftop of 100 Connell Drive, which houses the new innovation hub for Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions. The panels cover approximately 1,500 parking spaces, including 38 electric vehicle charging stations, and 100,000 square feet of the building’s roof area. The installation is expected to generate roughly 4.9 million kWh annually — the equivalent of enough carbon-free electricity to power 560 homes for the next 30 years. “At The Park, we are constantly looking for opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Shane Connell, Executive Vice President of The Connell Company. “Sustainability remains top of mind as we consider how to transform and improve the office experience in ways that not only lead to increased tenant and employee satisfaction, but also contribute to the greater good of our community. Brightcore has been an ideal energy service provider in cultivating a more green campus, and we’re very proud to see this initiative come to fruition.” “We are super excited about the Connell’s commitment to the sustainability goals, their commitment to making this campus a major renewable energy project within the state that is the largest in Berkeley Heights Township and one of the largest solar projects in the state of New Jersey, as far as office campuses are concerned,” said Stan Tolstunov, Vice President Solar at Brightcore. He also recognized Dave Friedin, Senior Vice President at Connell Real Estate & Development Co, for being instrumental in the process. “I want to mention your tremendous support throughout the project,” said Tolstunov. Connell thanked their campus partner, Fiserv. “They believe in what we’re doing here and believe that what we’re doing here will help attract the talent in building the tech hub here, which is an innovation center bringing 3,000 people here.”  He also thanked Mayor Angie Devanney and the Township, who have been a great partner of ours, he said. Mayor Angie Devanney said this project will put Berkeley Heights on the map as the largest solar parking canopy installation today in the township, and among the largest in the state. “As we now know solar power is pollution free and causes no greenhouse gasses to be admitted after installation. This reduces our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels. Solar is a renewable clean power that is available every day of the year, even on cloudy days, they still produce some power,” she said. “The return on investment is unlike paying for utility bills. So this is a good investment in Berkeley Heights.” She added, “I just want to say to The Connell Company, it took three years, maybe three and a half years to get some zoning in place and start to realize the vision that you had when we discussed this back in late 2018. It is just such an honor – to be able to be a small cog in the journey of the vision that you realized here in Berkeley Heights. So as the Mayor of the Township, I am proud to be a part of this celebration, and this very momentous occasion.” Mike Richter, President at Brightcore recognized Mayor Devanney, Connell, and Fiserv for their teamwork. “It’s easy to do nothing. We all hear about climate change and the problems that we have, and they’re real, and they’re big. But you have to be a little bit different, go out on a limb a little bit. The Connells have done that. I think, for all the money saved, and the carbon avoided — these are measurable, repeatable great things. I think one thing that really needs to be known is, this is a model of what can be done. You can’t do everything, we can’t solve it all – but you know, as Gandhi says, ‘Be the change you want to see.’ This is an example of what we can do right now. It’s a real, tangible example of leadership.” In addition to the 100 Connell Drive solar installation, Brightcore also developed a second rooftop-mounted solar project at The Park’s 200 Connell Drive. The company aims to help others dramatically reduce their reliance on fossil fuels through a comprehensive approach to both energy efficiency and clean energy resources. Based on an assumed $.10/kWh of utility avoided cost, Brightcore estimates the 100 Connell Drive project’s cost savings will translate to $496,843 annually — or more than $12.4 million over the system’s 25-year life cycle. The Park, which is set on a 185-acre campus 30 minutes from Manhattan, features 1.5 million square feet of premier Class A office and flexible workspaces and is home to marquee companies such as L’Oreal, Fiserv, and Samsung. The Park’s sprawling campus also features a 176-room Embassy Suites; fitness and health amenities, and a Life Time Fitness; programmed green spaces for active and passive recreation, and Round Table Studios — a 40,000-square-foot co-working space that offers a curated selection of thoughtfully designed workstations, private offices, and community spaces. The Park is undergoing a phased upgrade plan with completion slated for 2023. For more information, please visit https://theparkatnj.com/.