Dive Brief:
- Mayor Bloomberg announced that a former landfill ail be the site of the largest solar energy project in New York City.
- The project is set to begin in the latter half of 2015 at Freshkills Park, located in Staten Island, New York.
- 30,000 to 35,000 solar panels are expected to be installed on 45 acres at the former landfill, whose land will be leased to SunEdison Inc., the solar energy company that won the bid.
Dive Insight:
The installation of the panels will increase the city's renewable energy capacity by 50%. Mayor Bloomberg said solar energy is decreasing in cost, transforming it into a realistic solution for cities to strengthen their power grids in a sustainable way. "It is only fitting that Freshkills, once a daily dumping ground, will become a showcase of urban renewal and sustainability," Mr. Bloomberg said Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
