Henrico County is poised to grow to be the primary locality within the area and one of many first in Virginia to have photo voltaic panels put in in a closed landfill, producing low-cost, renewable vitality to energy a close-by sewage pump station.
Below a proposal set for consideration by the Board of Supervisors, BrightSuite, a subsidiary of Dominion Power, will design, set up and preserve a 349-kilowatt photo voltaic photovoltaic system on about 2 acres of the closed Springfield Street Landfill, 10600 Fords Nation Lane west. Henrico.
Along with renting the positioning for $1 per yr, Henrico will buy the electrical energy generated by the photo voltaic array to offer as much as 100% of the electrical energy wanted to function the Allen’s Department Sewage Pump Station. By permitting the county to obtain a decrease charge, the association will save taxpayers an estimated $600,000 to $700,000 in electrical energy prices over the 30-year lease time period. If authorized, the system will seemingly be operational by spring 2025.
“Putting in photo voltaic panels on the closed Springfield Street Landfill is sensible on all fronts,” stated Supervisor Tommy M. Branin, whose Three Chopt District contains the landfill. “It advantages the setting by getting renewable vitality from the solar and lowering our dependence on fossil fuels. It creates a very good use of land that isn’t developed. It additionally serves the taxpayers, as a result of we’re not paying for construct or function the system, and we purchase electrical energy at a reduction.I commend BrightSuite for partnering with us to advance Henrico’s Go Inexperienced initiative whereas additionally persevering with to guard landfill programs and the setting.
On the Board of Supervisors retreat in January, Branin urged county officers and Dominion Power to research methods to make use of the Springfield Street Landfill as a possible website for photo voltaic panels. The proposed partnership is Dominion Power’s first landfill challenge with a locality within the area. Whereas photo voltaic panel programs have been put in at coated landfills in different states, officers say they solely know of a number of different areas in Virginia — together with Fairfax and Albemarle counties — the place photo voltaic panels could be positioned in a landfill.
“Henrico’s proposed settlement with BrightSuite underscores our county’s dedication to being an environmental chief,” stated County Supervisor John A. Vithoulkas. “I commend the Board of Supervisors for persevering with to problem and encourage us to innovate and do extra on this realm. Solar energy is a vital a part of our future, and it gives nice worth for our taxpayers. .
“We’re excited to companion with Henrico County on this new photo voltaic challenge on the Springfield Street Landfill, the primary of its sort within the area between a locality and Dominion Power,” stated Joe Woomer, vice chairman of Dominion Power. of latest enterprise and buyer options. “This challenge is carefully aligned with Dominion Power’s imaginative and prescient to grow to be the nation’s most sustainable vitality firm, whereas serving to the county develop its use of renewable vitality and enhance environmental stewardship.”
Dominion Power, by way of BrightSuite, gives sustainable vitality options for houses and companies. With practically 25 megawatts of rooftop and ground-mounted photo voltaic programs in operation, BrightSuite is without doubt one of the prime photo voltaic suppliers within the Commonwealth.
The 191-acre Springfield Street Landfill operated as a municipal landfill from the late Sixties to 2014. It presently serves as considered one of two public utility websites within the county, receiving family and yard waste in addition to recyclable for off-site transportation. Since 2010, a 4 megawatt generator has captured methane gasoline produced on the landfill and turned it into electrical energy that’s exported to the utility grid on the market.
The Springfield Street Landfill would be the seventh Henrico county-owned website with a photo voltaic photovoltaic system. By means of the county’s partnership with BrightSuite, rooftop photo voltaic programs have been put in on the Public Security Constructing, Highland Springs Excessive College, Holladay Elementary College and JR Tucker Excessive College. The county additionally has photo voltaic programs on the Libbie Mill Library and Psychological Well being East Middle.
Related programs are deliberate on the Division of Recreation & Parks’ administration constructing, Fairfield Space Library and 5 colleges: Glen Allen Excessive, Holman Center, Colonial Path Elementary, Harvie Elementary and Kaechele Elementary. Moreover, a ground-mounted system is beneath design for the James River Juvenile Detention Middle campus. In every system, Henrico pays no capital or ongoing upkeep prices, and it purchases electrical energy at negotiated costs which are aggressive with these out there by way of utility grid programs.
