OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – You possibly can’t do something with an outdated pile of trash, however the Omaha Public Energy District and Douglas County have a plan.
It is taking a lined landfill that closed in 1989 and turning it right into a photo voltaic array. A utility-scale photo voltaic facility on a landfill is the primary of its type in Nebraska. The mission is a partnership between OPPD and Douglas County.
“The less individuals which might be within the landfill the higher,” mentioned Kent Holm, director of Douglas County Environmental Companies. “Possibly sooner or later, there shall be some makes use of that may be made right here. However for now, we see it as a possible use and an excellent supply of renewable vitality.”
The renovation was made doable by a $3.5 million grant from the Nebraska Environmental Belief.
“We have been working to search out methods to get it completed and search for causes that can allow issues to occur that can permit us to proceed this. And so the Nebraska Environmental Belief is basically doing that for us,” mentioned Brad Underwood, vice OPPD system change president.
The 160-acre plot of land is predicted to generate solely a small portion of OPPD’s whole vitality output, however they are saying it is price it.
“And the rationale we’re fascinated by that is our neighborhood continues to develop. Our neighborhood wants vitality and particularly, we want extra vitality throughout occasions when our methods are harassed, particularly in the summertime, ” mentioned Underwood.
The vitality shall be processed at an present OPPD substation close by, which is able to assist energy houses within the space.
“Something across the location can profit from the ability itself,” Underwood mentioned.
The radius and variety of homes it could use is unknown. That shall be decided in a feasibility research that can happen within the first half of this yr. In line with OPPD, the mission will take three years to finish.
Josh Wilshusen lives throughout the road and mentioned he would assist the ability.
“Inexperienced vitality is sweet so long as it is sustainable…if it is an financial selection, I am 100% for it.”
As a result of it’s funded by way of a grant, OPPD says the mission won’t change costs for patrons.
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