Board of Commissioners hear solar landfill proposal

Published 11:50 am Saturday, October 19, 2024

The Board of Commissioners met on October 15. Public works director Jim Littlefield addressed the Board of Commissioners. “Over the last several years, we’ve been discussing the landfill project. I’ve always brought up the concept of reusing that land and putting it in beneficial use for the County, short term and long term.” He stated that in his opinion a solar array and development of a solar facility was the best option.

Robbie Blanton, from SCS Engineering, addressed the Commissioners. “It’s been about five and a half years since we embarked on the process of the remedial cap permitting for Sumter County.” He shared options for the dump. “Watershed GEO is here tonight, they have a patent for the closure turf product that we use to cap the landfill, and additionally, they have a solar panel system that’s made directly to go onto the turf.”

He gave Watershed GEO’s estimate for power production. “So we’ve got about 18 Acres of turf. And so they put together their typical layout they would for these types of panels, and they’re able to generate about 6.27 megawatts at a conceptual level.”

Chris Timpson, with watershed GEO, gave specifics. “We’re really a team of engineers, and we have this technology where we can close landfills, and we also work in the civil infrastructure space as well.”

Timpson contrasted the project to putting solar on farm land. “This is taking that impaired land that already exists, and we’re able to put solar on it.”

Timpson told how demand for power had ramped up. “All of a sudden, now, because of data centers, everything from artificial intelligence to cryptocurrency mining, new demand that the utilities are struggling to meet, so they need new capacity for the first time now in a couple decades. The interesting thing about that is that some of the very data center operators that are causing the new load also have clean energy and renewable energy commitments within their company. So they’re not just telling the utilities they need more power, they’re telling them they need more clean power.”

County Administrator Doug Eaves commented. “The substation to collect the wattage cannot be put on the actual land fill land. What are you concepts and plans for that?”

Timpson responded. “What we’ve done is a conceptual layout of how much solar can physically fit onto the property. What we would typically need to take the next step. . . is a formal letter of intent to empower us to go out and do the rest of the design.”

Hooks questioned if the project would only affect the landfill portion of the property. Littlefield responded that all of the 100 acres would be necessary to meet to the 20 megawatt threshold.

Blanton responded to questions about buffers, stating they had taken them into account. “What we did is we created some buffers on that, and then we also looked at steeper slopes and what looked like drainage areas or roads.”

Commissioner David Baldwin entertained a motion to enter into a letter of intent to explore the possibility of solar panels on the land. Commissioner Mark Waddell made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Clay Jones, passing unanimously.

Amy Adams spoke during citizens comments. Adams and her husband had been previously told that their sale was considered a business and not a yard sale. She questioned the Commissioners.
“Can you find out for me if we truly are on a cease and desist and give me a yes or no in writing?”

Eaves noted changes in permitting created by the General Assembly. He stated that previously the cost of permits in the County depended on the value of the construction components. “The General Assembly took away that value component, so now asking a flat fee based upon either the cost of the inspection per hour or fixed rate per the components within that construction permit.”

Hooks noted the County does not currently have an ethics ordinance, and asked the Commissioners to review of draft of a proposed ethics ordinance for the County.

Christopher B. Young, with the correctional institute, was recognized for 15 years of service. Tarrance Carter Jenkins, with building and grounds, was recognized for 7 years of service.

William Theo Baldwin, with the fire department, Richard E. Coleman, also with the fire department, Amethyst Hodges, probate clerk, Wendy K. Winters, in the Sheriff’s office, LaQuettia S. Williams, with the correctional institute, and Angela Williams, with juvenile court, were all recognized for 5 years of service to the County.

Shaniqua Bradley, with jail operations, Keadria Chambliss, with the correctional institute, Lewis Green, with the Sheriff’s office, and Michael B. Lowery, also with the Sheriff’s office, were all recognized for 3 years of service.