Solar facility at former landfill being explored

The placing of a solar installation at the site of a former landfill is being looked at by the town.

Town Board members are considering whether to move forward on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency findings that a 500,000 kilowatt solar installation could fit on the former town landfill.

The recommendation was discussed during a recent meeting, with Jennifer Metzger saying the installation would use about 3.07 acres of the 5.07-acre property along Hickory Bush Road. She added that she expects to meet with state Department of Environmental Conservation officials to determine precautions needed to avoid damaging the landfill’s cap.

“The full report we’ll get ... in January or February, but, in the meantime, I can talk with the DEC now that I’ve got (a site map) and they can give us their assessment,” she said.

Metzger said town officials would need to determine whether they want to pay for the installation or work through a developer under a power purchase agreement. Both plans would have electricity sent into the power grid and credited toward the amount of electricity used by the town.

Board members said they would also consider having the project done as part of a shared services agreement.

“I know that there are other municipalities in Ulster that want to do the same thing and have gotten assessments,” Metzger said.

Officials said they would contact Saugerties, Wawarsing, Gardiner and Shawangunk to determine if a joint project is feasible.

“If you do an aggregated (request for proposals), that really can cut the price with a developer,” she said.

The town landfill was closed in 1993 as part of a statewide effort to put solid waste disposal in the hands of county officials.