In Mount Olive, CEP Renewables, CS Energy, Terrasmart, Lindsay Precast and NJR Clean Energy Ventures announce the completion of a solar project.
A site in conversion
In Mount Olive, New Jersey, the largest solar project on a landfill site is underway. It allows the local authorities to recover $2.3 million in taxes while transforming a degraded site. Indeed, it is the former Combe Fill North Landfill Superfund site that becomes a clean and revenue generating site.
Chris Ichter, Executive Vice President of CEP Renewables, states:
“We are thrilled to have been able to work closely with our long-time, reliable partners to convert another previously unusable landfill into a renewable energy generating power plant. There are more than 10,000 closed landfills in the United States, but only a small fraction of these parcels have been redeveloped. Transitioning more of these landfills to solar projects will create more local tax revenue, jobs, cleaner air and affordable energy for residents across the country.”
There has been an 80% increase in the number of solar landfill projects in the U.S. over the past five years. The main driver of this recent trend is landfill expertise.
An innovative methodology
Indeed, CEP Renewables has experience in the redevelopment of degraded sites. This extensive experience explains why the local township is willing to enter into a public-private partnership. In addition, CS Energy had experience in implementing 216MW of landfill solar project since 2011.
Mike Dillon, Director of Operations at CS Energy, states:
“We are proud to have been selected by CEP Renewables to bring our expertise to this impactful solar landfill project because of our track record of delivering these ambitious projects safely, on time and within budget. This is our eighth project with CEP Renewables, our seventh project with Lindsay Precast and our fourteenth solar landfill project with Terrasmart. Our strong partnerships with each of these industry leaders have also enabled us to efficiently deliver this high-quality solar landfill project, which will bring significant financial and environmental benefits to this community over the long term.”
In addition to the technology project, Mount Olive requires the purchase of the landfill through redevelopment. This unique structure allowed the project to win the 2021 Award for Innovation in Governance from the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
The Mount Olive project now serves as a model for other closed landfill projects in the United States. NJR Clean Energy Ventures will operate the solar facility. CEP Renewables retains ownership of the land.
