Nautilus Solar Energy and ISM Solar Development open solar farm on remediated landfill

Nautilus Solar Energy LLC, Summit, New Jersey, and ISM Solar Development LLC, East Providence, Rhode Island, have recently announced the opening of a 3.43 megawatt (MW) community solar project at a remediated EPA superfund site.

Located in Cranston, Rhode Island, the project was designed to “transform a former environmental liability into an environmental asset” by providing clean energy to over 500 Rhode Island households that reside in National Grid’s territory.

"Today, we are celebrating the transformation of a brownfield into a clean, renewable energy source, while making the benefits of solar power available to more Rhode Islanders," said Gov. Dan McKee at a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 18. "The state's community solar program allows National Grid customers, who want to reduce carbon emissions but who cannot install solar panels on their own homes, to subscribe to a local solar project and receive a discount on their electric bills. This locally constructed community solar project provides environmental and economic benefits and is a win-win for the State of Rhode Island and its constituents and I congratulate ISM Solar, Watershed Geo and Nautilus Solar."

The community solar project was developed by ISM Solar, and Nautilus serves as the owner-operator responsible for the project management, long-term asset management, and maintenance services for the projects.

"This community solar project represents the importance of partnership between industry, the state of Rhode Island, and the local community. It's exciting to continue the great work with ISM Solar, and we are proud to be the energy partner of choice in Rhode Island," said Eric Paul, executive director of origination at Nautilus Solar.

The project is uniquely built on ClosureTurf, a patented brownfield closure system designed to withstand supporting 9,000 solar panels attached to a racking system and held down by over 60,000 ballast blocks to protect the landfill cap. Engineered by Watershed Geosynthetics, an environmental solutions company, this material is specifically designed to address and solve soil erosion, slope integrity, gas emission, installation and maintenance cost control, EPA regulation compliance, and longevity of structure and appearance.