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Unstable and contaminated – these words are often used to describe sites of previous landfills. Unfit for habitation, municipalities across the United States have been tasked with finding a new purpose for these brownfields, which are often redeveloped as golf courses and makeshift neighborhood parks. But what else can we transform these brownfields into? Can alternative development drive the growing trend for beneficial reuse of an otherwise-forgotten site?
We at Colliers Engineering & Design have observed a rapidly growing trend in the environmental and energy markets to develop alternative uses for landfill and brownfield sites. More and more states are signing bills to reduce carbon emissions associated with greenhouse gases by means of alternative energy sources. Here in New Jersey, for example, Executive Order No. 274 established an interim groundhouse gas reduction target of 50 percent below 2006 levels by 2030. What Is a Brownfield? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a brownfield is “a property, the expansion, development or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” There are more than 450,000 brownfields estimated to be in the United States, keeping thousands of acres from redevelopment. To help combat this problem, EPA created the Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program, with the possibility of bringing new life to the land. Many capped landfills have just sat vacant. With the waste breaking down underneath the surface, contaminants prevent new life from sprouting. New green incentives and access to federal and state funding have municipalities and environmental engineers thinking outside the box. That is where brightfields come into play. Brightfields are previous brownfields transformed into a solar power project. These are attractive for developers for a multitude of reasons, which we will discuss, but they have become increasingly popular, especially on the East Coast. The Popular Hot Spot for Green Energy With the limited amount of development allowed on capped landfills, solar power farms have become a popular option for municipalities and states to benefit from. According to Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), almost half of all renewable energy projects in the past 10 years were developed on capped landfills. Over 73% of these projects were in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. “As more funding becomes available and pushes for renewable energy to become standard, RMI predicts capped landfills will become home to more solar farms.” There are a few reasons that these projects have grown in popularity over the last decade. Along with the additional funding available on both the state and federal levels, capped landfills are not stable enough to sustain vegetation. Due to the decomposition of waste in the capped landfill and the gasses that decomposition processes release, these sites have been cleared of trees and other large vegetation. This allows for the sun to hit a larger area that has been left open for years. Powering On When it comes to transforming brownfields into brightfields, there are a lot of rules and regulations set by the EPA to follow. There must be a certain amount of space, called shrinkage, between each installed solar panel. Solar farms cannot just be placed onto any previous landfill site. For public safety and per regulations, brightfields must be placed on capped or closed landfills. Like many parts of the process, the materials closing the landfill must be reported to the state and EPA, and only “clean” materials, such as stone, sand and soil, can be used to close it. Every part of the process is so closely monitored by federal and state officials, not just because of the access to funding, but for the safety and stability of the land. The engineers planning these massive solar power farms are responsible for communicating with the agencies and assisting the developers in getting as many solar panels installed as possible. The more solar panels, the more power that can be generated. Now Charging More and more states and municipalities are moving toward greener initiatives to combat climate change. According to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, solar power has become more accessible across the nation, with an estimated 97.2 gigawatts of solar power capacity. That is enough energy to power 18 million homes! As more funding becomes available and pushes for renewable energy to become standard, RMI predicts capped landfills will become home to more solar farms. These projects will bring new life to the contaminated lands and certainly keep the energy and environmental markets growing.
