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The Town of Islip announced a win-win situation for its residents.
According to a press release, a solar developer company called Agilitas Energy has transformed two barren landfills in Holbrook and Hauppauge into solar farms.
The Massachusetts-based company, which launched the solar operations last month, will be leasing the properties for $120,000 a year.
“The Town of Islip is pleased to announce that our partnership with Agilitas Energy has transformed two closed Town landfills into green energy solar facilities, generating both clean power and an annual income for our taxpayers, as well as reducing our carbon footprint,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter.
Agilitas Energy’s managing partner Ken Rubin believes everyone will benefit from this endeavor.
“The Town of Islip wins because they generate guaranteed income for 20 years from underutilized parcels of land,” he explained. “The energy consumer wins because we are lowering the cost energy. And, we all win because we are creating green energy that benefits our environment.”
Before the transformation, the 39-acre Holbrook former landfill was desolate and had been closed down since the 1980s. The other location in Hauppauge is located in Blydenburgh Park and it has not been in use since the 1990s after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program closed down the site.
Town officials say the new solar arrays are expected to generate over 7 million kilowatts, which can power 5,000-plus homes. That power will be sold to PSEG Long Island, which will be distributed by its system operator of Long Island Power Authority.
Top: Solar farm photo by Unsplash’s American Public Power Association.
