Unusable land at the Knox County Landfill is getting a new purpose.
The Knox County Board approved an option agreement with Ameresco Solar Land Holding to have solar arrays set up on around 45 acres of land.
The space is considered brownfield land, unusable because of the potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
Bob Bondi, the Infrastructure Committee Chair, says that the land was unusable and this turns it into something taxable for the county.
“Land that we otherwise couldn’t use or couldn’t be used for farming or anything else for, literally, centuries and puts it into production and allows us to have a potential lease from Ameresco. And a fairly long term, at least 20 years if this should come together like we hope.”
The agreement will see solar panels installed over landfills 1 and 2 with a 20-year lease term.
During last month’s meeting, Board Chair Jared Hawkinson explained that there was potential to expand the acreage being used for the solar panels.
“We’ve got the land potentially room to expand a little bit out there. I think there’s some space that isn’t over landfill that is going to be researched to add to the acreage.”
Ameresco will take over the mowing and maintenance of the land and operations of the solar farm.
Tri-States Public Radio is reporting that Ameresco will pay $1.2 million in property taxes over 25 years.
