Landfill-capped community solar projects completed in Berkeley

CS Energy and Luminace announced the completion this week of two 5-megawatt landfill community solar projects in Berkeley Township Eagle Solar I and II.

The co-located installments are among the first to simultaneously close a landfill and build a solar system on top of it. The work is projected to save participants some $6.4 million over the projects’ life.

The Berkeley Township Landfill long remained uncapped, despite ceasing operations in the early 1980s. In 2020, CS Energy and Berkeley Township entered a public-private partnership to close it.

CS Energy then spent nearly two years completing the process required to close the landfill and build a community solar system atop it.

In April, Gov. Phil Murphy visited the site as he unveiled a number of statewide solar initiatives and investments.

Former Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato, now a Republican state senator in the 9th District, spearheaded the project, which current Mayor John Bacchione, also a Republican, carried forward.

“We are thrilled to have joined forces with CS Energy and Luminace to close this landfill at no cost to our taxpayers and residents while also offering more affordable and cleaner sources of energy to our community,” said Amato. He expressed gratitude to late Administrator John Camera for his "instrumental role" in the projects. “My administration and the Council have set robust goals for resiliency and green initiatives and are pleased to have this outside-the-box, strategic method for generating revenue for the township on township-owned land," Amato said.

“These projects achieve many goals in Berkeley Township, which include the final capping of our long-closed landfill, providing green energy to our residents at a discounted rate, and improving the environment by reducing our carbon footprint,” said Bacchione.

Strong track record

Eagle Solar I and II are a part of New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. Including these two sites in Berkeley Township, CS Energy has now completed 310 MW of solar projects in the Garden State.

"We're excited to be working alongside Luminace on another innovative and impactful project in New Jersey," said John Ervin, vice president of development at CS Energy. "Our extensive experience in the region, and on landfill solar projects in particular, enabled our team to successfully lead the development, design and construction of this complex project while working closely with regulators and project stakeholders.”

"Given CS Energy's market-leading experience as a developer and EPC contractor on landfill solar projects, coupled with their community solar experience and significant footprint in the Northeast, we are proud to collaborate with CS Energy once again as they successfully develop these landmark projects," said Brendon Quinlivan, CEO of Luminace one of the largest fully integrated decarbonization-as-a-service providers in North America. "CS Energy and Luminace have a longstanding relationship and strong execution track record over the last decade, and we are pleased to collaborate with CS Energy again to enable affordable clean energy to local residents as well as provide a long-term asset to the local community."

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More NJ solar projects:

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• Ocean State Job Lot adding rooftop solar at NJ store



• Solar projects in Southampton, Old Bridge turn ‘trash to treasure’

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