The L&D Solar Farm is the 27th grid-connected centralized Solar 4 All project and the eighth built on a landfill or brownfield site. Once the L&D Solar Farm is in service, the Solar 4 All program will have utilized 150 acres of landfill and brownfield space by installing more than 140,000 solar panels, capable of generating nearly 45 MW-dc of solar power, which is enough to power about 7,500 homes annually.
"Waste Management is proud to partner with PSE&G on this important project," said John Wohlrab, director - government relations, Greater Mid Atlantic Area, Waste Management. "The former L&D landfill will have a productive new life as a solar farm that will be an environmental and economic asset for the region, reducing our carbon footprint and expanding the use of renewable energy in New Jersey."
"This project is another example of how the Board approved Solar 4 All program is helping to achieve the goals of the Christie Administration's State Energy Master Plan," said N.J. Board of Public Utilities President Richard S. Mroz. "Solar arrays installed in New Jersey, such as those developed through PSE&G's Solar 4 All program, advance the State's goal of increasing diverse, clean, in-state generation and play a critical role as New Jersey continues to meet its Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard with solar now accounting for almost 3 percent of the in-state generation mix with more than 1.5 gigawatts of capacity."
Since 2009, PSE&G has invested more than $500 million on the Solar 4 All program and created more than 2,000 jobs. PSE&G estimates that at the height of construction, there will be approximately 180 people onsite working on the L&D solar project in a range of jobs, including electricians, engineers, carpenters, heavy equipment operators and laborers.
"PSE&G is a national leader in landfill solar development," said LaRossa. "In addition to powering thousands of homes annually, the L&D Solar Farm is giving new purpose to landfill space that would otherwise have limited opportunities for development."
Solar 4 All is a 125 MW-dc community solar program that utilizes rooftops, parking lots, utility poles and landfills/ brownfields for large-scale, grid connected solar projects. There are currently 101 MW-dc of the 125 MW-dc total in service.