Ramsey's Closed Landfill Site Solar Potential Assessment

The MN Brightfields Initiative is a program exploring the potential and feasibility of developing renewable energy on Closed Landfill Program (CLP) sites.  This initiative includes a wide array of state and federal agencies, as well as various associations and organizations, including the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA).  A primary focus of the MN Brightfields Initiative is to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from CLP sites (estimates are that CLP sites account for about 1/5 of all state agencies' greenhouse gas emissions).  

Ramsey's CLP site was identified by the MN Brightfields Initiative as a potential candidate for further analysis, at least in part due to the larger boundary of state (MPCA) owned land compared to the actual waste footprint (the landfill itself).  Recently, City of Ramsey Staff were informed that the CDFA's Brownfields Technical Assistance Program selected Ramsey's CLP site for free technical assistance in assessing the site's solar potential. 

The City will be working with the MN Brightfields Initiative to identify stakeholders for inclusion in a future on site meeting to discuss the potential economic asset the CLP site could be.  As of now, that meeting and site visit would likely occur sometime mid-April to mid-May.

This is being handled as part of Staff's regular duties.

No action necessary, this is for informational purposes only.