Connecticut Turns Closed Landfills Into Solar Power Hubs
The state is scaling solar projects on capped landfills to utilize vacant land and boost utility-scale generation.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Energy
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Do you support repurposing closed local landfills for solar energy generation?
Connecticut is increasingly repurposing its 294 closed landfills to host solar energy arrays. There are currently 29 large-scale solar projects either built or approved on these capped sites across the state.
Why it matters
State incentives prioritize brownfield redevelopment over other land types, allowing municipalities to generate revenue from otherwise restricted town-owned properties. This strategy helps maximize utility-scale solar capacity while utilizing land with limited alternative commercial potential.
A 1 megawatt solar facility requires a minimum flat plateau of approximately 5 acres for installation. The recently opened New Haven project utilizes 1,900 solar panels, with 6 total projects receiving approval from the Connecticut Siting Council since 2023.
The players
Greenskies Clean Energy
A renewable energy developer specializing in commercial and industrial solar installations, including landfill-based energy arrays.
Connecticut Siting Council
The state regulatory body responsible for approving the construction and modification of major energy infrastructure, including power facilities.
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
The state agency tasked with managing environmental conservation and energy policy, including the permitting of closed landfill redevelopments.
The details
Developers install solar arrays directly onto the top of landfill caps by using non-penetrating mounting systems that protect the underlying sealing material. Sites are selected based on their proximity to existing electrical grid infrastructure to minimize interconnection costs. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection must approve all construction permits for these sites to ensure the integrity of the landfill capping remains uncompromised.
Timeline
2016: Greenskies Clean Energy opens its first two solar landfill projects.
2023: Start of the period for six Connecticut Siting Council approvals.
July 2026: A new solar facility opens in New Haven.
End of 2027: Greenskies Clean Energy expects to double its landfill solar portfolio.
The Tech Race
Connecticut is following the precedent established by state brownfield redevelopment incentives to compete in the regional race for utility-scale solar capacity. This shift marks a departure from traditional greenfield solar development toward the conversion of underutilized, government-owned assets.
Municipalities with closed landfills gain a revenue-generating asset that transforms vacant, capped land into a local power source. These projects rely on nearby existing electrical grid infrastructure, which allows for more efficient integration into the state's broader energy network.
The takeaway
The strategy of using closed landfills for solar production is poised to scale, with developer Greenskies Clean Energy targeting a doubling of its current portfolio by the end of 2027. Watch for the Connecticut Siting Council's decisions on the four pending permit applications to gauge the rate of future expansion.
What happens next
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is currently reviewing permit applications for four additional landfill solar projects.
Further reading
Read more about regional power generation in our Energy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The CT Mirror.
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Do you support repurposing closed local landfills for solar energy generation?
