EDISON — The Planning Board approved Public Service Energy Group’s (PSEG) plans to convert the Edison landfill into a solar energy farm at its Oct. 19 meeting.
It wasn’t the first time such a project has gone before the Planning Board. Another company, Medford-based Solar Wind Energy, received an approval earlier this year from the board.
The Township Council tabled the issue this summer, however, and Solar Wind Energy subsequently sold its approval to PSEG.
PSEG had to come before the board for another approval because the specifics of the project had changed.
“This is almost a do-over for you, except it’s a good do-over,” said Glenn Kienz, attorney for PSEG. “You had a previous application on this landfill by a private solar provider. Needless to say, they do it a lot differently than Public Service does.”
Kienz said PSEG’s plan for 21 acres would be using about half the area indicated in Solar Wind Energy’s plan. In addition, he said PSEG only intends to build on top of the land, not on the sides of the elevated areas.
PSEG planner Paul Drake said he thinks the site is a good choice for the project.
“We think we can use this site to develop a very good project here in Edison Township,” he said.
This project would be the fourth of its kind underway for PSEG, Drake said. Panels are affixed to the land via a concrete ballast racking system. Energy harnessed via this setup goes into the power grid.
PSEG’s project is structured around a 20-year lease from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), with the option for two five-year extensions.
The project would not prevent the DEP from site monitoring, Drake said.
“We’re just leasing the surface of the space of the landfill,” he said. “We’re not looking to get into the landfill business as owners.”
Construction — which PSEG would want to start in late winter or early spring — would likely take four to six months.
The power company hit two snags in the application. The barbed-wire fence in the plans is not permitted in the township. Also, the question remained whether PSEG would be held to landscaping requirements, since the landfill is an existing site with the trees already removed.
At worst, PSEG would have to pay $18,000 in tree fees. Although Kienz tried to negotiate between the board and his client during the hearing, it was determined that the utility and the board would work together to remedy those issues.
While the board approved the project, PSEG will need to clear additional approvals from Edison and the state before starting any work.