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County Council Approves New Solar Project

A solar energy project is coming to the Salford Landfill.

SALFORD - Oxford County has approved a new solar energy project at the Salford Landfill. 

Warden David Mayberry says the 500 kW SmallFit installation will be put back into the grid. "500 kilowatts would probably produce enough power to handle about 100 homes, and I think the entire cost of the project will be about $2.5 million dollars and that is all up front cost. And then after that the cost of operating, because it is operated by the sun, is minimal, and anyone that has solar panels realizes that the maintenance on solar panels is virtually nonexistent and the depletion rate on them is estimated to be about 1/2 percent a year; so for the next 40 or 50 years we will have a very cheap source of energy, and we know that the cost of energy will continue to increase." 

The investment for the solar energy project will be funded by landfill reserves and will provide an expected capital payback of about 10 years. Mayberry says they hope to have the panels built next year and the project will be put out for tender now. 

Mayberry says the County’s pursuit of renewable energy projects is supported by Oxford County’s Strategic Plan and, more recently, the Community Sustainability Plan and Council’s commitment to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050.

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