At least 50 existing landfill sites in the U.S. will find new life as producers of renewable energy. Reactivate and Waste Management (WM) plan to transform these waste-laden areas into community solar, small utility scale solar and storage projects.

The solar energy projects, to be constructed, owned and operated by Reactivate, are intended to expand access to energy saving opportunities for households, nonprofits and local businesses. In addition to creating workforce training and skills building programs, the developments will increase local contracting, enabling contractors and equipment suppliers to participate in new economic opportunities.Source: Reactivate

“Repurposing sites that would otherwise be vacant former landfills and cannot support traditional development helps us meet America’s growing energy demand,” said Utopia Hill, CEO of Reactivate.

“WM is committed to strengthening the communities where we live and work,” said Tara Hemmer, WM chief sustainability officer. “We are proud to work with Reactivate, a company WM selected for this project, to help revolutionize these landfill sites to provide needed solar energy."

The first phase of projects is expected to reach commercial completion by late 2027.