In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague is joined by Scott Tess, the Sustainability and Resilience Officer for the City of Urbana, Illinois. They discuss the 5.3 megawatt community solar project that was developed on the city’s closed municipal solid waste landfill in Urbana Illinois in Central Illinois (home of the University of Illinois). This episode holds a special place in Montague’s heart because the landfill was the very first solar project he walked back in 2016 when he we just getting into the PV industry full-time.
Scott provides an in-depth overview of the project, explaining how the City initially identified the landfill as a potential site for solar development and went through a competitive procurement process to select a developer (TotalEnergies is the ultimate developer/owner-operator). He highlights the challenges and uncertainties they faced, such as determining the commercial viability of the site compared to open farm fields and navigating the state's incentive programs.
The conversation delves into the benefits of repurposing brownfields like landfills for solar projects, including generating revenue for the City through lease payments, reducing maintenance costs, expanding access to renewable energy for low-income residents, and putting the property back on the tax rolls.
Scott also shares insights into the development process, including the importance of properly locating inverters to minimize noise disturbances, the use of a ballasted racking system to avoid penetrating the landfill cap, and the potential for incorporating pollinator-friendly vegetation in the project.
Scott also discusses the City's involvement in the Solarize Urbana-Champaign program, which competitively selects a single solar installer and offers bulk pricing and community education to encourage residential and small business solar adoption. He highlights the program's success in providing peace of mind and significant cost savings for participants.
Overall, the episode provides a comprehensive look at the challenges, opportunities, and benefits of developing solar projects on brownfields, as well as the role municipalities can play in supporting and promoting renewable energy initiatives within their communities.
Social Media Handles
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotttess/
http://www.urbanaillinois.us/
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00:00 - Introduction
02:08 - Scott Tess' Background in Sustainability
03:30 - Urbana's Municipal Electric Aggregation Program
4:24 - Scott Tess's Role in Sustainability
07:44 - Repurposing brownfields for solar energy development
12:18 - Solar panel development, benefits, and challenges.
13:49 - Project Timeline and Construction
16:59 - Vegetation Management and Site Design
19:05 - What Property Owners Need to Know about Construction of These Projects
21:18 - Brownfield Solar Project Development Timelines and Incentives.
26:05 - Developer Partnerships
30:53 - Overview of Solar Urbana and Challenges to getting Subscribers
32:06 - Solarize Urbana-Champaign Program Overview
38:26 - Conclusion
