CEP Renewables to develop largest landfill solar project in North America

Red Bank, New Jersey-based CEP Renewables LLC will soon begin construction on the largest solar project installed on a capped landfill in North America.

The 25.6 megawatt solar project located in Mount Olive, New Jersey is expected to transform the former Combe Fill North Landfill Superfund site into an income-generating, clean energy producing asset. The project, referred to as the Mt. Olive Solar Field, will have the capacity to provide clean power for over 4,000 homes, create new jobs and generate significant tax dollars, along with improving the quality of the environment for the local community.

"New Jersey Gov. Murphy's dedication to continuing to advance New Jersey's leadership role in the renewable energy industry demonstrates foresight for the state's future, better positioning it economically and preparing it to withstand climate-driven challenges," said Gary Cicero, CEO of CEP Renewables. "The Mount Olive solar project will contribute substantially to New Jersey's renewable energy mandate of 50 percent clean energy by 2030."

According to a release, the Mount Olive property served as a landfill from 1966 to 1981, but was not properly closed when the owner went bankrupt and abandoned the property in the early 1980s. In 1982, it was placed on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Priorities List of Superfund sites.

"The landfill had a long and complicated history that challenged our community with environmental and financial hurdles. By taking the site through the redevelopment process, and through partnership with designated redeveloper CEP Renewables, this site has become a model for brownfield and landfill redevelopment projects in New Jersey,” commented Robert Greenbaum, mayor of Mount Olive Township. “The township will recoup nearly $2.3 million in past taxes while at the same time transitioning the old landfill to a revenue-generating, clean energy power plant. We're very proud of that hard-fought accomplishment.”

"EPA Superfund sites are incredibly complex sites," said Alyssa Sarubbi, project manager for CEP Renewables. "They take an exceptional amount of time, investment and advanced expertise to bring from inception to interconnection. The company has the capability, experience, and tenacity to get these types of projects done."

CEP Renewables has developed and energized over $200 million worth of solar power generation projects comprising over 450 acres in just the past three years.