Solar Power Project Completed On Capped Landfill In Rhode Island

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The Coventry Landfill Solar project in Rhode Island has been completed. It features a 5.740 MW solar array.  Using a landfill in this dual-purpose manner is both practical and smart because the land was not likely to be used for anything else. In other words, no land already in use needed to be found, obtained, and transformed for the solar power farm installation. 

These projects provide environmental and economic benefits to local communities, and this particular one is no exception. They also demonstrate how various stakeholders can come together and collaborate to do some good in local communities. One of the privileges of writing for CleanTechnica is highlighting these many clean energy success stories. 

Jonathan Mancini, Senior Vice President of Solar & BESS Project Development at Ameresco, answered some questions about the new solar project.

What is the capacity of the new solar power system?

5.741 MW DC which will produce 7,725,000 kWhs in one year.

How long did the landfill operate and how long did it take to convert the land area to solar power?

Several factors contributed to the landfill’s conversion to solar energy. The remediation plan, approved by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, included provisions for future solar deployment. The landfill was capped in 2020 using WatershedGeo® ClosureTurf®, which further facilitated efficient solar installation.  As a result of these attributes, the solar project was finally completed by the end of 2025.

How many jobs were created for the solar power installation phase?

During construction, approximately 77 electrical and civil workers worked on site, along with an additional 15 part-time support employees.

The economic benefit to the town is estimated to be approximately $4.4 million. What will produce that benefit amount?

The majority of the economic benefit was derived from lease rental payments and property taxes.

How many homes can be powered by the new solar power system and how much CO2 can be avoided?

The system can power approximately 600 homes and avoid 3,759 tons of CO2 in year one and 88,545 tons over 25 years (per EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).