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Westerly selects solar lease finalist for closed landfill; council approves moving forward
Summary
The council approved staff recommendation for a ground-lease solar project on the closed landfill with projected lease receipts of about $7.18 million over the term (roughly $240,000/year). Councilors discussed earmarking the revenue for the transfer-station enterprise fund.
The Westerly Town Council voted to move forward with a recommended ground-lease agreement for a solar photovoltaic project on the town’s closed landfill. Staff and a hired consultant reviewed competitive bids and recommended Kearsarge Energy as the preferred developer; the manager reported the proposal would generate roughly $7,176,180 in lease receipts over the lease term and an estimated $240,000 per year in income for the town.
Council discussion focused on how the revenue might be used. One councilor proposed placing lease revenue into a restricted account earmarked for the transfer-station enterprise fund to help offset the town’s solid-waste costs (noting the transfer station historically operates with a deficit and the town charges a per-ton tipping fee). Other councilors said the council can decide allocation later. The council voted to approve the recommendation and authorize the manager to finalize lease negotiations and contracts.
The manager noted that, unlike a net-metering credit approach, this contract is income-based (the town will receive a lease payment rather than power credits) and that detailed contract terms and timing will be finalized during negotiations.
