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Committee approves EPA-backed solar projects on two Cleveland landfills, fronted by local utilities
Summary
The utilities committee approved an emergency ordinance allowing solar arrays on two city landfills, funded largely by a US EPA grant (~$14.8 million) and fronted by Cleveland Public Power and Port Control (~$8.9 million) to meet tax-credit deadlines; electricity could flow by January 2028, officials said.
The City of Cleveland utilities committee on June 20 approved an emergency ordinance authorizing solar projects on two landfills — the Kolthoff Road site near Cleveland Hopkins Airport and the West 11th/Spring Road site in Old Brooklyn — that officials say are largely funded by a US Environmental Protection Agency grant.
City staff told the committee the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant will provide about $14.8 million for the city’s portion of the projects, while Cleveland Public Power (CPP) and the Department of Port Control are fronting roughly $8.9 million to meet time-sensitive investment tax-credit deadlines. "These are assets of our customers...we are getting [a] significant opportunity through the federal government that we hope stays available," the director said.
Why it matters: officials said the projects would add locally generated renewable electricity to the city’s portfolio, provide long-term savings and help meet federal and municipal sustainability goals. The West 11th installation will benefit CPP customers and include native pollinator plantings and a parklet area; Kolthoff’s installation will be owned by Port Control and sited south of the airport.
What the committee heard: staff described an 18-month parallel schedule for the two sites and said electricity could be flowing by January 2028. A port representative and sustainability staff emphasized the need to secure design-build teams and meet investment-tax-credit timing. "In June, we'd hire and contract the selected design build firm ... The project moved about 18 months ... January 2028, electricity would be flowing," the chief said.
Funding and repayment: committee members pressed staff on the discrepancy between several figures in the record — a $14.8 million EPA grant, a certificate of funds referencing a larger figure, and the roughly $8.9 million that CPP and Port Control would front. Staff explained the $14.8 million is a grant on a reimbursement basis and that local departments are advancing funds to meet procurement and tax-credit deadlines. The chief told the committee the grant will be expended first and reimbursed monthly until the grant balance is spent, with investment tax-credit refunds expected after project completion in mid‑2028.
Ownership and operations: staff said West 11th will be owned by Cleveland Public Power and serve its customers, while the Kolthoff site will be owned by the Department of Port Control and used on airport property. The director told the committee the projects are designed to avoid enabling other entities to serve customers inside Cleveland or to create a third utility: "this does not allow anybody to come into the City of Cleveland and serve power customers," the director said.
Next steps and timeline: staff said an RFP has been issued and a design-build selection would be confirmed by board resolution in early June; once contracted, procurement and construction would proceed to meet the federal tax-credit timelines. The committee approved the ordinance and directed staff to continue briefings as the project advances.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 06202026 was introduced as an emergency ordinance and stood approved by the committee; the clerk was asked to sign up the ordinance for final processing.
