Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

November 27, 2024

Nearly 2MW solar array proposed on former Bristol landfill

Contributed 685 Lake Ave. in Bristol
By David Krechevsky

A project to develop a nearly 2-megawatt solar array on the site of Bristol’s former landfill is progressing through local and state approvals.

The Bristol City Council on Oct. 8 unanimously approved an agreement between the city and C-Tec Solar LLC of Bloomfield to lease approximately 7.7 acres within the Bristol solid waste transfer site at 685 Lake Ave., which overall includes nearly 60 acres. The land targeted for the project is part of Bristol’s former landfill that is no longer in use. 

While the council approved the agreement, it referred it to the Planning Commission and the city’s corporation counsel for review.

According to city officials, Bristol plans to lease the site to C-Tec Solar for $50,000 per year for 20 years. C-Tec will place solar voltaic panels on-site using a “ballast system” that will not disturb the cap or transfer station operations. 

The solar panels are expected to annually produce up to 1.625MW of electricity, which CTEC Solar will sell to the power grid. 

The project, which was first discussed between city and CTEC officials in Dec. 2020 following a request for proposals, was on the agenda for the Nov. 25 meeting of the city Planning Commission, which is required by state law to review and sign off on the project because the city is leasing municipal property to a private business. The commission did not act on the proposal, however, stating it had several questions. The project is expected to be on the agenda for the commission’s Dec. 23 meeting.

The project also requires approval from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and state Siting Council. 

In its petition filed with the state Siting Council, C-Tec states it has successfully developed over 100 MW of commercial solar projects in the Northeast, including 11 projects in Connecticut.

DEEP has provided initial comments to the Siting Council, but has not issued a final determination on whether it will endorse the project.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF