CEP Renewables and Luminace announced they have completed construction and initiated commercial operation of the 10 MW BEMS community solar landfill project, located on the Big Hill Landfill in Southampton, New Jersey.
The project is the first in the state to have two 5 MW solar systems atop a landfill that spans across two utility territories. This fixed tilt project also utilizes ballasted solar racking technology from Terrasmart, as well as bifacial solar panels.
The project is projected to supply clean energy to thousands of local residents, the majority of whom are low-to-moderate-income households.
CEP Renewables developed the project, CS Energy acted as the EPC contractor throughout construction, and Luminace is the long-term owner and operator of the project.
The BEMS project real property was purchased through the redevelopment and tax lien foreclosure process. The Big Hill landfill site had been abandoned by its former owner for nearly 40 years and, as a result, accrued approximately $2 million in tax liens.
CEP Renewables addressed this by acquiring the tax liens from the Township by brokering a public-private partnership, which allowed CEP to pay back all past-due taxes, foreclose on the landfill, and become the legal owner of the site.
