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Somerville council approves assignment of landfill solar redevelopment agreement to CEP Renewables
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Summary
After a multi-year development process the council unanimously authorized sale/conveyance and assignment of the borough landfill solar redevelopment agreement to CEP Renewables; developers said the project will cap and remediate the landfill at no capital cost to the borough and deliver community solar to about 1,500 homes.
The Somerville Borough Council voted unanimously on March 16 to approve the sale, conveyance and assignment of the redevelopment agreement for portions of Block 124 to CEP Renewables LLC, clearing a key step for a planned landfill-to-community-solar project that developers say will bring discounted electricity to roughly 1,500 homes.
Colin (borough staff) told the council the Board of Public Utilities approved the community solar application and the borough now awaits Department of Environmental Protection confirmation that the array will be placed on the former landfill. Eric Millard, chief commercial officer at CS Energy, said CS selected CEP to take over the project as part of corporate changes and that CEP has provided financial and technical documentation the borough required.
Steve Goen, who said he serves as general counsel for CEP Renewable projects, described the plan as two 2.5-megawatt community solar arrays sited on a capped landfill. He and Eric Millard said the project would produce enough output for about 1,500 homes and provide an average subscriber discount of roughly 29%, which developers estimated could save about $600 per household per year. The presenters said capping and remediation of the landfill will not require borough capital funding; developers reported securing a large grant from the New Jersey EDA through the HDSRF program to cover about 75% of capping costs and said the developer will fund the remaining remediation out of project financing.
Thomas Watt, vice president of construction and estimating at CEP, explained construction constraints tied to liner and ground-temperature requirements; he estimated a roughly 12–18 month construction window once work begins. Presenters said they expect to break ground in 2026 (weather dependent) and reach commercial operation in 2027, with subscriber enrollment and program outreach to follow at the end of construction.
Council members asked about the scope of the current vote. Council member Glenn Dennehy (speaking as a council member during discussion) confirmed the motion before the body was to approve the assignment of the redevelopment agreement only and not to change other contractual terms. After discussion the council moved, seconded and adopted Resolution No. 120 approving the sale and conveyance of the identified lots and authorizing assignment of the redevelopment agreement from CS Energy/Hathaway Solar LLC to CEP Renewables LLC; the roll call vote recorded all six members voting "Yes." The council encouraged developers to begin site work once DEP confirmation and other final paperwork are complete.
The developers and council noted several remaining administrative and technical steps: DEP confirmation that the site is a landfill suitable for capping and array placement, final easements and interconnection agreements with the utility, and standard permitting and construction scheduling. The council’s approval advances the project from long-term planning toward construction and operation.
