US solar developer CEP Renewables said on Monday that it has achieved commercial operation of a 10-MWdc community solar farm called BEMS, situated on the Big Hill Landfill in Southampton, New Jersey.
The project was completed on behalf of Luminace Holdings LLC, a Brookfield Renewable company. Luminace is the long-term owner and operator of the plant.
CEP Renewables was in charge of the project development, with CS Energy acting as the EPC contractor.
The BEMS plant features two 5-MW solar systems installed atop a landfill, spanning two utility territories. Utilising ballasted solar racking technology from Terrasmart and bifacial panels, the fixed tilt project has transformed a previously limited-use site into a solar power plant, CEP Renewables said.
The Big Hill landfill site, long neglected by its previous owner, amassed tax liens totalling millions of dollars. CEP Renewables established a public-private partnership with the Southampton Township that saw the firm acquire the tax liens from the Township, settle all overdue taxes, and initiate foreclosure on the landfill property.
As a result of the arrangement, CEP now owns the site, while the Township has been able to recoup roughly 40 years of interest and back taxes, the solar developer added.
