Kearsarge Energy installs 3.3-MW solar project on New Hampshire landfill

Kearsarge Energy and the City of Manchester, New Hampshire, announced the successful completion and commercial operations for 3.3-MW solar renewable energy project at the Dunbarton Road Closed and Capped Landfill. The project generates guaranteed energy cost savings and tax revenues for the city. The local New Hampshire economy was a big winner amidst a tough year; development and construction generated more than 10,000 person-hours of professional and skilled labor and will continue to require local maintenance and operations staffing for the next 20+ years with total project costs of approximately $7 million.

Kearsarge Energy responded to an initial Request for Qualifications from the City of Manchester in 2018 and worked closely with Manchester to design and develop the project. Kearsarge financed and developed the project using its own sponsor equity, partnering with financial institutions for debt and tax equity. Kearsarge, as it does on all its projects, will own and operate the solar array for the project’s life, underlining its leadership in sustainable energy development and operations in the Northeast.

Transforming 12 acres of underutilized land at the former Dunbarton Road landfill into a renewable energy producer comprised of more than 8,000 solar modules under the newly expanded New Hampshire Net Metering Program, the project feeds 3.8 million kWh into the utility grid annually, which will support the electricity demand of approximately 350 average New Hampshire homes.

Manchester will receive energy savings and tax revenue estimated at more than $500,000 over 20 years at no cost to the city. The leadership of Mayor Joyce Craig in conjunction with the Manchester Department of Public Works and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services drove this project to successful conclusion.

“We began this project back in 2018, and after years of planning, I’m thrilled to announce the solar array is operational,” said Mayor Joyce Craig. “The electricity produced by these solar panels will be enough to power hundreds of homes annually across the city. I want to thank the hard work of the Manchester Department of Public Works and our partners, including Kearsarge Energy, for their commitment to this project.”

News item from Kearsarge Energy

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Original Source: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/01/kearsarge-energy-installs-solar-project-capped-new-hampshire-landfill/