JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (“JinkoSolar” or the “Company") (NYSE: JKS), a fast-growing, agile global solar power product manufacturer, announced that the company will supply its modules to a 5.75MW array of solar panels located on the site of the former Canton landfill in Canton, MA. In partnership with Boston-based renewable energy project developer Southern Sky Renewable Energy LLC (SSRE), the project brings life to the two decades-long unused space, serving as a valuable revenue generator and clean power solution for the local community.
The Canton landfill project is part of a growing movement to revitalize abandoned, underused industrial areas known as “brownfields” and convert them into economically productive, clean power-generating sites. JinkoSolar worked with New England-based ISM Solar Solutions, LLC and SSRE to design and implement a solar panel array that maximizes energy generation capacity for the 15-acre site. The facility was constructed by Gemma Renewable Power, LLC, a nationally recognized Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor that provides a full range of services to owners and developers of renewable energy projects. Upon completion later this year, the solar array will produce enough solar energy to generate $16.3M in property lease and energy generation revenue for the town of Canton.
“Hundreds of closed landfills across the state are sitting idle when they can, in fact, be turned into major sources of revenue. For communities like Canton that are in dire need of tangible economic growth, solar power arrays provide a major opportunity,”said Francis X. McMahon, managing director of SSRE. “With this opportunity in mind, we opted for JinkoSolar’s ground-mounted solar panels because they provide a non-invasive, topographical solution that is perfectly designed for this type of project. We look forward to showcasing this project as a case study for a new, environmentally-sound direction for communities like Canton.”
The town of Cantonexplored several options for repurposing the former landfill site, many of which they rejected due to capital intensity. In 2010, following a request for proposals for the landfill solar project, Canton selected SSRE’s proposal. After analyzing the revenue generation potential, various town boards reviewed and signed off on the $25 million project that incorporates 19,844 JinkoSolar solar modules – making it one of the largest solar electric developments in New England.
“Redevelopment projects like this bring a multitude of benefits to local communities, in addition to the inherent advantages of clean, renewable power generation,” said Arturo Herrero, Chief Marketing Officer at JinkoSolar. “As a global company with a vested interest in the communities where we do business, we strive to partake in sustainable solutions that are economically – and environmentally – viable in the long run. We are proud to be a part of this project in partnership with SSRE because it sets the stage for a new era of vitality in Canton.”
“Our price- and quality-sensitive arrangements with technology suppliers around the world ensure that we get the job done right, and on time,” said Greg Lucini, CEO of ISM Solar Solutions, LLC, which facilitated the working partnership between JinkoSolar and SSRE.“Canton was a smooth project from start to finish, thanks to our reputable partners JinkoSolar and SSRE.”
SSRE has signed on for a 25-year lease to operate the Canton landfill solar site, which is expected to come online in the summer of 2012.