Summary
Looking to advance its sustainability goals for a clean energy future, the City of Somersworth, NH partnered with Ameresco to build a solar PV installation at its municipal landfill – New Hampshire’s first landfill solar project to be placed on a superfund site. The project, with a capacity of 2.6 MW, is expected to generate 3,500 MWh annually and over 67,000 MWh over 20 years. The energy produced by the installation will be sold to the City under the state’s group net metering program, adding green energy to the City’s collective energy portfolio.
“I want to express our excitement for this long-awaited groundbreaking as it repurposes City-owned land that otherwise had very limited use. This is another example of Somersworth’s drive to continue its efforts to stand alongside our sister Communities in striving to improve upon our collective movement towards a greener, cleaner future.”
– Matt Gerding
Mayor of Somersworth, NH
2.6 MW
Project Size
~2,500 Metric Tons
Annual Carbon Savings
~3,500 MWh
Annual Electricity Generation
67,000+ MWh
Projected Electricity Generation
over 20 Years
Customer Benefits
Repurposing limited-use land at the Somersworth Landfill benefits the City’s sustainability efforts and aligns with New Hampshire’s broader clean energy goals. Additional benefits of the solar installation include:
- Expected annual electricity generation of ~3,500 MWh
- Estimated annual CO2 reduction of 2,500 metric tons
- Annual energy production is equivalent to one of:
- ~480 homes’ electricity use
- ~580 gas-powered cars removed from the road
- ~2,800 acres of US forests sequestering carbon
Solution
Ameresco worked with the City of Somersworth, NH along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) to obtain necessary permits and approvals for the solar installation. The 2.6 MW-DC / 2 MW-AC solar PV project leverages the opportunity to beneficially re-purpose the Somersworth Landfill as a solar energy facility.
In addition to furthering the City’s sustainability efforts, this project is expected to generate over $2 million in economic benefits through energy savings, lease income, and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). The energy produced by this project will be sold to the City under New Hampshire’s group net metering program.
