Council discusses and moves to adopt community energy plan tied to BPU grant program

The council debated Resolution 2026-220 to adopt the Milltown Community Energy Plan as part of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) grant program. Proponents and staff said the adoption is procedural and required to access grant funding to develop and implement projects; a council member urged broader resident input, suggesting a referendum on major energy-direction decisions.

Several members expressed frustration with state grid management and rising electric rates and reiterated previous proposals such as leasing borough acreage for solar arrays to lower costs for residents. Administrator Scott Stevens and the borough engineer clarified that adopting the plan enables the borough to submit supporting documentation required by BPU and pursue the grant; the clerks then called the roll. The transcript records at least one dissenting vote recorded during the roll call.