Solar Panels Delivered to French's Landfill Site

The former French's Landfill site took one of its final steps toward becoming a solar farm this week.

Hundreds of solar panels arrived and were staged near the entrance along Sally Ike Road in the township's Herbertsville section, generating attention from motorists passing by.

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said the panels will be placed onto pilings when they are installed – for now, they're staged on the ground. Installation is expected to be complete by the end of the year, he said.

"It's really closing an open wound," he said. "Now when people look, they won't see an old landfill, they'll see a solar farm."

Last year, the township contracted with a North Jersey firm, Standard Alternative, to run the solar array. The township will benefit through solar energy revenue sharing, interest payments from Standard Alternative as part of the township's bond agreement as well as through heavily discounted electricity for township and BTMUA buildings and infrastructure. After 15 years, the township will own the solar array outright.

The federal government compelled Brick Township to close, cap and monitor the landfill which, decades ago, was privately owned.

Acropolis said the site should begin generating solar energy shortly after the panels are installed by the end of the year.