(This story by Chris Mays was published in the Brattleboro Reformer on Feb. 8, 2018.)
[B]RATTLEBORO — Companies from around the world are collaborating on what Windham County officials say will be the largest net-metering solar project in Vermont.
“It’s a big project,” said Bob Spencer, executive director of Windham Solid Waste Management District. Spencer estimated the total cost will be between $10 million and $12 million.
The projects involves the construction of an array of 16,000 solar panels that will blanket the surface of the old landfill, which was closed and capped 23 years ago. The array will occupy about 25 acres.
Sky Solar Holdings, a company based in China, is leasing the property from the district. Sky Solar hired Encore Renewable Energy in Burlington to submit an application to the state Public Utilities Commission for a certificate of public good, and to sign up customers for net-metering credits.
Sky also has subcontracted with Gransolar, or GRS of Spain, for engineering, procurement and construction. Spencer said two full-time Gransolar employees are based in Vermont for the duration of the project.
“Landfill specialists” Sanborn, Head & Associates, based in Concord, New Hampshire, developed the site plan. Solar panels will come from Game Change of New York City.
Spencer said he had wondered whether the project would still happen, after hearing the Trump administration announce plans to slap tariffs on solar equipment, but construction started on schedule about a month ago.
Municipalities and schools in district member towns had first claim to the net-metering credits that will be generated from the array, which will produce about 5 megawatts of power. The credits are purchased at a discounted rate, and will go toward Green Mountain Power bills.
The town of Brattleboro is the biggest “offtaker” in the project, with 25.3 percent of the credits; Brattleboro Union High School is next with 20.2 percent; the Brattleboro Retreat gets 19.2 percent, Landmark College 11.5 percent, Marlboro College 8.9 percent, the town of Wilmington 2.8 percent, and Vernon Elementary School 2 percent. Groups taking smaller percentages include elementary schools in Putney and Dummerston, and the town of Readsboro, among others.
Green Mountain Power will create service lines to connect the array to the grid. Spencer said some new roads were needed for the project, but there is no excavation planned.
“It’s important because we have a cap and we don’t want moisture getting into the cap,” said Spencer, referring to the technique used to seal the landfill.
Dummerston-based Evans Construction built the roads in a week, company owner Jason Evans said.
Spencer said work crews will need to work around the 40 methane wells on the property, and ensure they can be reached.
“It’s a pretty complicated project in that sense,” he said.
To satisfy runoff and erosion concerns, work crews built berms and installed compost filters around the site, a condition of the site’s state stormwater permit, which was amended for the project.
Spencer expects the district will get significant revenue from selling compost to Evans for growing grass around the array — improving vegetation also is part of the stormwater plan.
Spencer applauded the progress so far.
“We’re pleased with Gransolar and Evans Construction,” he said. “Their work has been really good.”
The array is scheduled to go online before the end of June.
Spencer expects to see a “busy construction site” in April and May. “There could be 100 workers out here,” he said.
