Power from the landfill

Solar farm explored

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY — When Phase One of the landfill is full, in about 11 months from now, it must be closed and capped. A traditional capping would involve a membrane on top of the landfill, with several feet of earth above it, which would support grass or other vegetation.

But at the government center on June 4, lawmakers saw another option for capping the full cells. A representative from Cornerstone Environmental Technologies gave a presentation and explained how new solar technology could be used to generate electricity at the landfill.

The technology is a solar film, which unlike more established rigid solar panels, is flexible and is, therefore, suitable for being placed on the face of a capped landfill, which moves with changes in the weather. Richard Peluso, who gave the presentation, said, however, that such an installation would be expensive, and no projects of that type had yet been established in New York State.

Peluso, however, also talked about a “tried and true” method of extracting power from the landfill, which would be to capture methane produced by the decomposing garbage and burn it in a couple of generators to produce energy. This is an option that has been briefly explored by the county in the past, and there seems to be renewed interest among lawmakers.

Peluso said that the installation would cost millions of dollars to install, but the payback period could be as short as three years. With the landfill expected to produce methane for decades to come, the gas could produce a steady revenue stream for the county. Also, the solar and gas programs could be pursued simultaneously.

But Peluso isn’t the only person interested in the landfill’s methane. Joe Darling, a NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) representative, told lawmakers that the DOT is interested in partnering with the county in a possible compressed natural gas and liquid natural gas distribution facility. It would be used to supply state and, eventually, county natural gas vehicles with fuel. Darling said the gas produced at the landfill would be desirable because of its high methane content.

In a related development, a committee headed by county manager David Fanslau recommended to the legislature that it hire a company called Mid Atlantic Solid Waste Consultants, LLC to create a classification and categorization of all real property parcels to develop a user fee for the collection of solid waste. The plan calls for the elimination of tipping fees at the landfill. This was part of the ongoing process whereby the county is moving in the direction of closing the landfill, and not pursuing the construction of the Phase Two expansion.

The county would still collect solid waste, but much of it would be recycled, and the rest would be exported out of county. Legislators are expected to vote on retaining the company on June 11.

Solar farm on the drawing board

The landfill also figured in another discussion. The county is exploring the option of locating one of the state’s first solar farms on county-owned land, and one of the sites being considered is the landfill and land around it.

In a press release issued after the meeting, county chairman Jonathan Rouis said, “Sullivan County is in a unique position within the Hudson Valley because we have the appropriate climate and topography for a solar farm, and through the Center for Advanced Sciences & Technology at Sullivan County Community College, we also have the trained local workforce to build, operate and maintain it. Building New York’s first, or one of its first, solar farms would also put Sullivan County at the forefront of an emerging national industry, and bring much-needed jobs to our communities.”

There are various ways to operate a solar farm, and the Sustainability Policy Committee has asked county staff to explore the pros and cons of each. There are at least three options being considered. First, the county could develop the project and utilize the energy generated for its own needs or sell the power to the utility company. Second, the county could develop the project and sell the completed system to a utility company, as is being considered with several other municipalities. Or, third, the county could lease the property to a private developer who could sell the power to the county, through a pre-approved agreement, or could sell it to a utility company. An analysis of the options is expected to take place in the coming weeks, with a presentation to the Sustainability Policy Committee at their August 6 meeting.