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Monroe Council Adopts Redevelopment Plan to Allow Solar Field on Closed Landfill
Summary
The council adopted a redevelopment plan for roughly 80 acres of a former municipal landfill to permit a community solar array. Administration said the settlement with BFI shifts operational control to CEP Renewables, with DEP/EPA approval and financial sureties to protect taxpayers; residents raised questions about leachate and long-term liability.
Monroe Township Council voted Aug. 3 to adopt a redevelopment plan that rezones approximately 80 acres of a former municipal landfill to allow a single-use solar energy field.
Administrator Kevin McGowan told residents the site — located between Lonnie Street and Spotswood Englishtown Road — was historically a municipal landfill closed in the late 20th century and operated under Superfund oversight. He said the redevelopment plan “essentially changes the underlying zoning of that 80 acres to permit nothing except the solar array project,” and that the redeveloper, CEP Renewables, must still seek planning-board approval and DEP/EPA operational control before taking over the site.
Residents pressed for details about environmental safety and liability. One resident noted past leachate issues and asked for guarantees the township would not resume liability; McGowan explained that leachate is collected by a pump station and routed to regional treatment and that, under the settlement, the redeveloper must obtain DEP/EPA approval and post financial sureties so taxpayers are not left with cleanup costs. “There is a financial surety involved so that the township and its taxpayers don't have to take on that burden,” McGowan said. Another longtime resident urged subsurface testing before construction, saying historical dumping included buried tankers and chemicals.
Council members also emphasized that the redevelopment plan would limit permitted uses at the site to the solar energy system and that any developer would need to document safeguards and financial assurances. After public comment the council adopted the ordinance by roll call.
