CS Energy has begun construction on a 10 MW landfill community solar project in Berkeley, NJ. The development consists of two 5 MW solar energy systems and is the first project to simultaneously close a landfill and build a community solar system on top of a landfill. the company says.
“We are excited to partner with CS Energy and Luminace to close this landfill at no cost to our taxpayers and residents while providing more affordable and cleaner energy sources for our community,” said Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato. “My administration and the council have set strong goals for sustainability and green initiatives and are delighted to have this outside the box, strategic way of generating revenue for the municipality on council-owned land.”
After landfill operations ceased in 1982, the Berkeley Township Landfill remained unrestricted due to a lack of funds available to close the landfill. CS Energy and Berkeley Township entered into a public-private partnership to close the landfill in 2020, and CS Energy spent nearly two years conducting all the relevant studies and permitting work needed to complete the project.
This project is part of New Jersey’s Community Solar Pilot Program, which is now being established as a permanent, long-term initiative, and will also contribute significantly to the state’s goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.
With the completion of this project, CS Energy will have completed 310 MW of solar projects in the state and a total of 231 MW of landfill solar projects in the United States.
