Princeton Could Earn $50,000/year by Installing Solar Panels at Landfill

Princeton could earn up to $50,000 per year by installing solar panels at the closed landfill on River Road, according to preliminary projections.

Rich Price, a representative of Gabel Associates, told township and borough officials on Monday that an environmental feasibility on the property showed that there’s nothing to inhibit the project from going forward on the brownfield site.  

While nothing has been finalized, Price outlined how the solar project might work.

He said the township could lease the landfill property to a solar developer who would finance, construct and operate a solar facility for a 15-year period.

The township would receive annual lease payments of rougly $15,000-$20,000 or an upfront fee from the solar developer.

Neighboring property owner Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority, one of the Princeton’s largest electricity users, would purchase the electricity produced by the solar panels. Princeton's Planning Director Lee Solow said it’s estimated that Stony Brook could purchase electricity at a lower rate than it does now.

Details are still to be ironed out, but Princeton would also receive a portion of whatever Stony Brook saves each year, which could be in the range of $20,000-$30,000 each year for Princeton’s share, Solow said on Monday.

At the end of the 15-year contract, the developer could remove the equipment and return the site to its original condition, renegotiate another contract or Princeton could buy the facility at fair market value.

Gabel said next steps include meeting the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, negotiating a financial structure with Stony Brook and preparing a request for proposals.

The hope is to issue the RFP in late October with proposals due from solar developers by Dec. 8.

Gabel said DEP approval to modify the landfill plan is a critical step in the process- without it, the solar plan can not move forward.