Once an environmental and financial burden, New Jersey landfill being redeveloped as a solar field

A retired New Jersey landfill – once an environmental and financial burden to the community because of its improper closure in the 1980s — will soon become home to the largest solar project of its kind in North America.

CEP Renewables began the development of a 25.6 megawatt (dc) solar project in Mount Olive, New Jersey at the former Combe Fill North Landfill site. Once completed, the solar project will be the largest on a capped landfill in North America.

“New Jersey Governor Murphy’s dedication to continuing to advance New Jersey’s leadership role in the renewable energy industry demonstrates foresight for the state’s future, better positioning it economically and preparing it to withstand climate-driven challenges,” said CEP Renewables CEO Gary Cicero. “The Mount Olive solar project will contribute substantially to New Jersey’s renewable energy mandate of 50% clean energy by 2030.”

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Combe Fill North Landfill was placed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List of Superfund sites after the property’s owner went bankrupt and abandoned the site.

The Mt. Olive Solar Field will provide clean power for over 4,000 homes.

“EPA Superfund sites are incredibly complex sites,” said Alyssa Sarubbi, project manager for CEP Renewables. “They take an exceptional amount of time, investment, and advanced expertise to bring from inception to interconnection. The company has the capability, experience, and tenacity to get these types of projects done.”

CEP Renewables specializes in developing solar power projects on unusable lands.

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Source: Renewable Energy