Solar PV on a Capped Municipal Landfill
Solar PV on a Capped Municipal Landfill Brian Huntley Project Manager, Tighe & Bond
Amy McDonough Project Developer, Borrego Solar
Solar PV on a Capped Municipal Landfill
Amy McDonough, Borrego Solar Brian Huntley, Tighe & Bond 6/22/2012
Presentation Overview
■ Easthampton’s Solar History ■ Solar Project Development ■ Project Design
■ Construction ■ Questions
History of Easthampton Solar Development ■ Oliver Street Landfill Closed and Capped 1996 ■ Easthampton Creates Solar Zoning Overlay – Loudville Road landfill excluded from zoning overlay – Better site but political issues
■ Easthampton Develops Solar RFQ – – – – – –
Bids due June 2010 Awarded in August 2010 Contracts signed December 2010 In construction September 2011 System ready by end December 2011 Interconnection Completed May 2012
Solar Project Development - RFQ ■ Site walk – Slope, shading, three phase power/interconnection
■ Review landfill documents
■ Develop preliminary array – Layout, equipment, interconnection
■ Production model – Shading, temperature, daylight hours, snow, equipment efficiency
Solar Project Development - RFQ
■ Permitting analysis ■ EPC Price ■ Project finance – Finance factors – Proposal terms – Project contracts
■ Contract Review ■ Schedule
Project Permitting
■ RDA to Conservation Commission – Negative Determination issued
■ MEPA Request for Advisory Opinion – No MEPA reviewed required
■ MassDEP Post Closure Use Permit – Pre-application meetings, permit issued ~ 60 days
■ Planning Board Special Permit – Granted with minor conditions
■ WMECO Interconnection Application
WMECO Interconnection ■ Upgraded ~ 1 Mile to Three Phase ■ Standard WMECO Interconnection (Jan. 2011) – Reviews application, provides study scope/cost – Initial cost estimate – Completes impact study/revises estimate – Completes detailed study/revises estimate
– ISO-NE reviews application/studies – Execute agreement (October 2011)
■ 125 days versus 192 days
Project Design
■ Civil Design Aspect – Engineering
» Geotechnical Engineering » Site/Civil Engineering » Opinion of Probable Cost » Assistance During Bidding » Construction Phase Services
Construction Sequencing
Construction – Site Prep
Construction – Access Roads
Construction - Ballasts
■ Precast versus Cast in Place Blocks
Construction - Racks
Construction - Modules
Construction – Electrical Equipment
Construction – Electrical Equipment
Concerns ■ Minor impact to cap surface and vegetation ■ Rain, rain and more rain ■ Hurricane and tropical storm during construction ■ 12” of snow in October ■ Schedule to place 962 5,000 lb ballast blocks
Press and Education ■ Media Day – Boston Globe – Lieutenant Governor Murray – MassDEP Commissioner Kimmell – Easthampton Mayor Tautznik
■ MassDEP Fieldtrip
Questions “It’s just awful to look at.” “Those of us most affected by this aren’t going to see any benefits.’’
One neighbor “described himself as ‘mildly opposed’ to the project. He worries that the 5,000-pound concrete blocks that anchor each solar array will puncture the cap of the landfill, leading to toxic leaks into the ground water or clouds of methane.”
Amy McDonough Project Developer, Borrego Solar
Solar PV on a Capped Municipal Landfill
Amy McDonough, Borrego Solar Brian Huntley, Tighe & Bond 6/22/2012
Presentation Overview
■ Easthampton’s Solar History ■ Solar Project Development ■ Project Design
■ Construction ■ Questions
History of Easthampton Solar Development ■ Oliver Street Landfill Closed and Capped 1996 ■ Easthampton Creates Solar Zoning Overlay – Loudville Road landfill excluded from zoning overlay – Better site but political issues
■ Easthampton Develops Solar RFQ – – – – – –
Bids due June 2010 Awarded in August 2010 Contracts signed December 2010 In construction September 2011 System ready by end December 2011 Interconnection Completed May 2012
Solar Project Development - RFQ ■ Site walk – Slope, shading, three phase power/interconnection
■ Review landfill documents
■ Develop preliminary array – Layout, equipment, interconnection
■ Production model – Shading, temperature, daylight hours, snow, equipment efficiency
Solar Project Development - RFQ
■ Permitting analysis ■ EPC Price ■ Project finance – Finance factors – Proposal terms – Project contracts
■ Contract Review ■ Schedule
Project Permitting
■ RDA to Conservation Commission – Negative Determination issued
■ MEPA Request for Advisory Opinion – No MEPA reviewed required
■ MassDEP Post Closure Use Permit – Pre-application meetings, permit issued ~ 60 days
■ Planning Board Special Permit – Granted with minor conditions
■ WMECO Interconnection Application
WMECO Interconnection ■ Upgraded ~ 1 Mile to Three Phase ■ Standard WMECO Interconnection (Jan. 2011) – Reviews application, provides study scope/cost – Initial cost estimate – Completes impact study/revises estimate – Completes detailed study/revises estimate
– ISO-NE reviews application/studies – Execute agreement (October 2011)
■ 125 days versus 192 days
Project Design
■ Civil Design Aspect – Engineering
» Geotechnical Engineering » Site/Civil Engineering » Opinion of Probable Cost » Assistance During Bidding » Construction Phase Services
Construction Sequencing
Construction – Site Prep
Construction – Access Roads
Construction - Ballasts
■ Precast versus Cast in Place Blocks
Construction - Racks
Construction - Modules
Construction – Electrical Equipment
Construction – Electrical Equipment
Concerns ■ Minor impact to cap surface and vegetation ■ Rain, rain and more rain ■ Hurricane and tropical storm during construction ■ 12” of snow in October ■ Schedule to place 962 5,000 lb ballast blocks
Press and Education ■ Media Day – Boston Globe – Lieutenant Governor Murray – MassDEP Commissioner Kimmell – Easthampton Mayor Tautznik
■ MassDEP Fieldtrip
Questions “It’s just awful to look at.” “Those of us most affected by this aren’t going to see any benefits.’’
One neighbor “described himself as ‘mildly opposed’ to the project. He worries that the 5,000-pound concrete blocks that anchor each solar array will puncture the cap of the landfill, leading to toxic leaks into the ground water or clouds of methane.”
