Southern Sky Renewable Energy LLC, a solar energy developer based in Boston, has been granted access to the currently closed, town-owned Canton, MA landfill and plans to develop a 5.6 megawatt solar photovoltaic facility on the site.
Southern Sky Renewable Energy brings 40+ years of real estate development, finance, engineering, community relations and legal experience to the renewable energy development field. Coupling that expertise with sound project development practices the company ensures that each stage of its renewable energy projects is a success – from conception to production.
“We are excited to be a part of the thriving solar industry in the Commonwealth,” said Frank McMahon a principal at Southern Sky Renewable Energy. “Every day the number of green jobs and solar projects continues to grow, this project and partnership between the Town of Canton and Southern Sky Renewable Energy represents another major step in solidifying the renewable energy future of the region.”
“It will be great to see this closed landfill reused for the purpose of producing clean, renewable energy,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “This installation will provide enough electricity to power more than 750 homes, and be a big step toward Governor Patrick’s goal of 250 MW of installed solar power by 2017.”
Southern Sky Renewable Energy has been granted a post closure use permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). The company has also filed an interconnection application with NSTAR, both final steps in constructing what is expected to be the largest solar photovoltaic project in New England, on the closed, town-owned Canton Landfill.
The Canton Board of Selectmen has granted final approval to the project and the construction timetable is approximately six to nine months after a successful interconnection agreement is negotiated with NSTAR. The solar facility will have minimal impact on the environment and abutting properties, both during the construction phase as well as throughout the life of the project.
The solar arrays will consist of approximately 24,000 photovoltaic modules, and the 3.25-foot by 5.5-foot panels will be configured in abutting groups of ten parcels. Energy will be collected via electrical conduit to a load center and transformer, whereby the transformer will send the equivalent kilovolt-amps (kVAs) into the NSTAR distribution system.
“The Canton Landfill Solar facility will allow us to turn what is currently an unproductive asset into a revenue generator,” said Victor D. Del Vecchio, Chairman of the Town of Canton Board of Selectmen. “The facility will produce electricity for years to come from a clean, renewable source.”
