11,000 Solar Panels to be Installed at Woburn Landfill

What was once a dumping ground, could soon be a source of renewable energy.

At this week’s City Council meeting, officials approved a proposal that calls for the installation of solar panels, 11,000 of them to be exact, at the North Woburn landfill.

The Woburn Daily Times reports the vote passed by an overwhelming 8-0 margin.

As part of the approval, American Capital Energy, Inc. will oversee the design, construction and finances of the solar panel project over the next 20 years.

The Merrimac Street landfill, used as a dump from 1966 to 1985, was cleaned and capped between 1999 and 2006. Now, 40 acres of land is just waiting to be used.

Mayor Scott Galvin pushed to reach agreeable terms for the project because of the electricity savings it would provide for the city. The solar panels would cut the city’s costs by nearly one half, allowing for roughly $400,000 in savings.

According to American Capital Energy, Inc., the project could get underway by the Spring of 2016.