According to a Boston Globe report, the state has approved a plan by Western Massachusetts Electric that will involve photovoltaic panels being placed in landfills. The project is expected to generate 6 megawatts of electricity by 2012, with the earliest panels set to be in operation by next year.
Utility president Peter Clarke told the newspaper that the project will involve a "low-mounted array on landfills" and that "we're going to stick to larger, ground-mounted structures."
Under the Green Communities Act in Massachusetts, companies are currently allowed to own solar energy generation facilities of up to 25 megawatts. That figure will increase to 50 megawatts after January 2010.
Looking ahead, Massachusetts may also be a model for other states to follow when it comes to developing solar energy resources in areas not known for hot weather and strong sunlight. The decision to put unused landfill space back to work with solar energy resources is also not likely to go unnoticed by other states.
