Bristol moves closer to solar farm at former landfill

Zoning change and energy auction are the only obstacles to new life for the old landfill

By Christy Nadalin
Posted 6/14/19

Bristol is one step closer to realizing a plan that will make good use of the town’s long closed and capped Minturn Landfill.

For years, town officials have been looking into the …

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Bristol moves closer to solar farm at former landfill

Zoning change and energy auction are the only obstacles to new life for the old landfill

Posted

Bristol is one step closer to realizing a plan that will make good use of the town’s long closed and capped Minturn Landfill.

For years, town officials have been looking into the possibility of installing a solar grid on the property. The idea was first floated around 2012, and a request was sent out in the fall of 2016 for proposals from renewable energy companies who could plan, permit, design, install, finance, operate and maintain a solar grid on the unused land. The electricity generated could be used to supply the town or be sold to National Grid. One key condition is that the project is to be developed with no up-front costs to the Town of Bristol.

In a 2016 Providence Journal article, Community Development Director Diane Williamson, who is away from the office this week, said, “It’s a great way to get revenue for the town with little impact … The risk would be all with the developers and we would be able to get a revenue stream or offset some of our expenses.”

“It’s putting to use property that isn’t in any productive use right now.”

By early 2017, the town had received 16 bids, and they hired a consultant, Competitive Energy, to help determine which energy development firm to work with. NuGen Capital Management, a privately held firm operating out of Warren, was selected. NuGen’s founder and CEO is Bristol resident David Milner. NuGen and the Bristol Town Council signed a contract in early 2019 that will allow NuGen to operate the facility, with the Town of Bristol profiting as the leaseholder. The agreement is contingent on NuGen finding a buyer or buyers for the energy.

“They have entered the energy market and have set the rate at which they are willing to sell the energy they produce,” said Town Administrator Steven Contente. “”The town is leasing the land, and it’s up to NuGen to develop it and make a profit."

Up next, the Bristol Town Council will be holding a second reading and public hearing on Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. on a proposal to amend the zoning ordinance to allow and regulate solar photovoltaic facilities on town-owned and capped landfills. The amendment is required because the former landfill is located in an OS (open space) zone, and solar was never officially an approved land use in that location.

If approved, the amendment will take effect immediately, and the town should know by the end of the month if NuGen will move forward.

“It’s not a done deal until the energy sale is approved,” said Mr. Contente. “Otherwise, it’s back to the drawing board.”

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