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Smithfield council authorizes RFP for solar on town landfill; bidders must cap site
Summary
Council approved issuing an RFP to solicit proposals to develop ground-mounted solar on the town landfill parcel; bidders must cap and cover waste and may lease or buy the parcel.
The Smithfield Town Council on Feb. 4 authorized a request for proposals to solicit developers to install a ground-mounted solar array on the municipal landfill located at 0 Ridge Road (Assessor's Plat 42, Lot 91).
Town Planner Mike Phillips told the council the new RFP narrows the project to the portion of the two lots that is already cleared and specifically requires any proposer to re-inter and cap exposed solid waste before installing solar. "There would be two different options available," Phillips said: qualified developers could either lease the land from the town or propose to purchase it outright.
Phillips said the town previously issued a broader RFP and is now focusing on the capped, cleared landfill area after further review. He also said there has been significant interest from solar developers with landfill experience. The RFP includes the landfill capping requirement; Phillips confirmed that a bidder must commit to capping the landfill as part of its proposal.
Council members asked whether wind remained an option for renewable projects at the site; Phillips said the town currently does not allow wind energy anywhere in town and that wind options are no longer being considered.
The council voted to authorize release of the RFP. The motion passed with recorded support; the meeting record states "Ayes have it."
