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Somerville council approves assignment of landfill solar redevelopment agreement, aims to power about 1,500 homes
Summary
The Borough of Somerville voted unanimously to allow assignment of its landfill redevelopment agreement to C Renewables LLC; the project will cap and remediate the landfill and install two 5 MW community solar arrays expected to serve about 1,500 homes and deliver an average subscriber discount near 29%.
The Somerville Borough Council on March 16 approved the sale and assignment of a landfill redevelopment agreement that will transfer the project from CS Energy Hathaway Solar LLC to C Renewables LLC.
Colin, a borough staff member who introduced the item, said the Board of Public Utilities’ approval arrived last week and staff recommended proceeding with the assignment so the developer can begin construction. Eric Mard, identifying himself as chief commercial officer for CS Energy, and counsel and project leads from C Renewables described the redevelopment plan: remediation and capping of the borough landfill followed by installation of two five-megawatt community solar arrays that the presenters said will supply about 1,500 homes and yield an average subscriber discount of roughly 29 percent.
Council members framed the vote as narrowly limited to assignment of the redevelopment agreement; Mayor Brian Gallagher said the item before the council was "assignment of the redevelopment agreement" and thanked the developers for moving the project forward. The council moved, seconded and approved Resolution 120 — authorizing the sale and conveyance of specified station and landfill redevelopment parcels and permitting assignment and assumption of the redevelopment agreement — by unanimous roll call.
Developers said the project will be funded in part by grants and developer capital. Presenters told the council they secured a substantial New Jersey EDA HDSRF grant that will cover about 75 percent of capping costs and that the developer will fund the remainder, so the borough will bear no capital cost for the remediation work. Officials said construction could begin in 2026 if weather allows and the project is expected to be operating and selling power to subscribers in 2027.
Council members and the presenters addressed subscriber outreach and eligibility: officials said the formal application and enrollment process will begin near project completion and that state community-solar rules require at least 51 percent of the capacity be allocated to low- and moderate-income households. Presenters said municipalities typically help with local outreach and that the developer prefers an opt-in model but is open to working with the borough on the enrollment approach.
The council highlighted neighborhood and environmental benefits of properly capping the landfill and generating local renewable electricity. Mayor Gallagher summarized the civic value by noting the project will cap a long-troubled site and deliver electricity savings to residents, calling it "clean electric coming from a dirty landfill." The council recorded the roll-call vote approving the assignment (all present members voted yes). The governing body instructed staff to finalize required ministerial confirmations and to proceed with the conveyance and assignment per the redevelopment agreement.
What happens next: the developer and borough staff will complete the assignment paperwork and begin preconstruction activities; enrollment and subscriber outreach are expected to begin well into construction, with commercial operation targeted in 2027.
