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    Illinois Solar farm to be located on closed Landfill

    Feb. 10, 2023
    The solar array is estimated to produce 10,000 MWh of electricity in the first year itself, reducing the city’s carbon footprint by more than 7,000 tons. Over the life of the project, it is projected to generate 278,000 MWh of energy
    Aerial view of landfill site courtesy of EagleView and Ameresco.
    Aerial view of landfill site courtesy of EagleView and Ameresco.

    Ameresco is leading construction of a 5-MW solar array on a former landfill site.

    The Massachusetts-based renewable energy project developer and builder has teamed up with the city of Alton on the landfill-sited solar farm. Construction begins this spring and should be completed by the end of the year, according to the release.

    The solar installation is expected to generate about $1 million in revenue for the city and nearby businesses over its 30-year lifespan. It will also help in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from traditional energy sources, the company says.

    The solar array is estimated to produce 10,000 MWh of electricity in the first year itself, reducing the city’s carbon footprint by more than 7,000 tons. Over the life of the project, it is projected to generate 278,000 MWh of energy and reduce 197,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

    Ameresco and the city of Alton also plan to educate the public about the benefits of clean energy by installing a self-guided, instructional display near the solar site. With the completion of this project, Alton will be taking a step forward in achieving its clean energy goals set by the Illinois Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The act aims to have 40-percent of Illinois’ energy generated from renewable sources by 2030 and 50-percent by 2040.

    “Once completed, this solar array is expected to provide the city of Alton with substantial revenue from clean energy generation while also making beneficial use of a previously un-usable brownfield site,” said Jon Mancini, Senior Vice President of Solar Project Development at Ameresco.

    “Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming, directly impacting communities through adverse weather events – including the increased flooding we’ve experienced here in Alton,” said Alton Mayor David Goins. “Though global warming is a worldwide problem, this project will benefit our city through local job creation and increased property tax revenue while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    Headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, Ameresco’s portfolio includes energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions delivered to clients throughout North America and Europe. The company has been involved in a variety of renewable energy projects, including wind, microgrids and renewable natural gas, as well as solar.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.