In September, the commission will also open its new Business Accelerator at an office building on Chubb Avenue in Lyndhurst that will offer sustainable or green start-up companies a chance to lease portions of the building’s 13,000 square feet at below market rates. The commission said much of the businesses’ initial workings would be retained in the district, such as research and development and if successful, the services would reach to municipalities at low cost rates.

NJMC Executive Director Robert Ceberio said two businesses have already showed strong interest in the accelerator: one that would use radio wave technology to capture energy from changing tides and one that remodels kitchens with all green products.

"This is really cutting edge, really innovative. These are total start-up companies where we help them get through the process," said Ceberio. "In more cases than not, it is technology that they do have that is a bench model that needs to be tested and we’re going to give them the opportunity to test, whether it be in the municipalities or on our own grounds."

Much has been done already to eliminate the reliance on non-renewable energy in the district. Last year the commission signed a 20-year solar energy purchase contract with Philadelphia-based Epuron that would feed 51 percent of the commission building’s energy needs with 700-kilowatts of solar power from panels being installed on Disposal Road. This is in addition to solar installed on the new science building, methane collection at NJMC-owned landfills and updating vehicle fleets from gas to hybrid.

Local towns have begun to embrace the need for energy savings and emerging technology that can get them there as well. The Rutherford Board of Education has been in discussions to contract a company that would outfit the schools with cost efficient measures such as censored lighting and energy efficient windows at a guaranteed no-financial risk. Carlstadt has already built a LEED certified school and North Arlington has been conducting an internal energy audit and is collaborating with the NJMC on installation of solar arrays on municipal buildings.

In some facets, however, some entities are struggling with the decision to move ahead with their desire to go green, grappling with the startup costs that are associated with things like solar power, LEED certified building and hybrid vehicles.

Lyndhurst, for example, recently began investigating the feasibility of outfitting all municipal buildings with solar panels to cut down electric costs. However, at least one of the largest buildings may already be out, according to Commissioner Brian Haggerty. Due to numerous heating and air conditioning units on the roof of Town Hall and other ancillary building obstructions resulting from construction of the Sally port, Haggerty said panels would need to be raised, which would add to the cost of just laying them flat on the roof. In addition, state subsidies have nearly run dry for solar projects, said Haggerty.

"We’ll have to look to the schools where the roofs are flat because there is no air conditioning and see what is feasible there. The schools can absorb energy all summer long while they are closed," said Haggerty. "Now we have already noticed the HVAC systems are filthy: that’s one thing we can do to help the efficiency of the systems that just use a ton of energy."

Ceberio said experts at the commission would be open to assist municipalities like Lyndhurst when conducting energy audits and setting up solar initiatives. He said in the township’s situation, where the capital costs are enormous, leasing the roof space as the agency is doing with the Disposal Road property involves little to no cost and may be a better route.

"The other thing we are looking to do is create a system to use our landfills for 12-megawatts of power in the next RFP [request for proposals] and try to make the legislative changes so that we can get some of that power to our municipalities at a cheaper cost," said Ceberio. "Right now, the statute doesn’t let you go beyond meters."

A public hearing will be held on the new master plan on Sept. 9 in two sessions at the commission building, one at 10 a.m. and one at 7 p.m.