Landfill Solar Project

Solar Farm At The Dennis Transfer Station

The Town of Dennis has entered into a public/private partnership with American Capital Energy to install and operate a 6 Megawatt (23,000 photovoltaic panels) on the Town landfill cap. This will be one of the largest community-hosted photovoltaic projects in MA. This project is anticipated to satisfy the municipal electrical load (i.e. Town buildings and Town electrical use). This will also offset electrical use of the DY School System and Water District. This project is anticipated to save approximately $500,000 annually for the next 20 years.

View the Landfill Solar Project photo gallery.

The project history started:

  • May 5, 2009 - Annual Town Meeting - Voters authorize a change in zoning to allow solar development of landfill cap area.
  • May 4, 2010 - Annual Town Meeting - Voters authorize the Board of Selectmen to issue Request for Proposals for a 20-year agreement to construct and operate a solar farm.
  • July 29, 2011 Request for Proposals Due.
  • November 15, 2011 - Special Town Meeting - Voters unanimously support awarding the American Capital Energy landfill solar project.
  • December 20, 2011 - The Board of Selectmen approves the Power Purchase Agreement.

Most of 2012-13 was filled with permitting and project preparations:

  • March 16, 2012 - Post Closure Use Permit Application.
  • May 24, 2012 - MA Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Determination.
  • August 2, 2012 - Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) project approval.
  • August 24, 2012 - NSTAR easement.
  • September 10, 2012 - project approval from NSTAR.
  • January 24, 2013 - Application for net metering Department of Public Utilities.
  • October 23, 2013 - pole installation for connection.
  • June 13, 2014 - Mechanically Complete.
  • August 5, 2014 - Awaiting final connection by NSTAR.
  • September 11, 2014 - Connected to the grid and activated.
  • March 18, 2015 - "Data Acquisition System" operational - view the data monitoring device.

Evaluation Team

  • Richard White - Town Administrator
  • David Johansen - DPW Superintendent
  • Greg Rounseville - DPW Assistant Superintendent
  • John Giorgio - Attorney Kopelman and Paige
  • Mark Abrahams - CPA from the Abrahams Group
  • Mike Slattery - Member of Alternative Energy Committee