WILBRAHAM – Town officials and representatives from Altus Power America celebrated the completion of a solar power installation comprised of 3,059 panels on about four acres of land at the Wilbraham Disposal and Recycling facility on Boston Road on Sept. 7.

Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Edmond Miga Jr. said the project was four years in the making and would save the town at least $100,000 annually on its electricity bill.

“To me, solar is not only about saving money on our electric bill, but is a symbol of energy independence,” he noted. “Building solar on the capped landfill was the best possible use of that land.”

Alana Chain, senior construction manager for Altus Power, said the project started construction during the last week of May and was completed in early July.

“It’s a beautiful construction site,” she added. “The town was amazing to work with. The [Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection] was amazing to work with. Everyone, all around, just worked together to get it done.”  

Sean Rheuben, managing director for Altus Power, said the power would be provided to Wilbraham for a 20-year period. After that time, there is an option to extend the lease.

“Obviously, there is the option for the town to ask us to remove the facility,” he explained. “We view them in the useful life of these projects – 30 to 40 years.”

Hank Ouiment, managing director of Renewable Energy Partners, said the project generates 972 kilowatts in direct current per day or 750 kilowatts of alternating current on a daily basis.

Chain said there have been other solar installations created in towns such as Sheffield, Hampden, Belchertown and communities in eastern Massachusetts such as Plymouth.

In October 2015, Hampden officials celebrated the completion of its 4.3-megawatt solar array at 229 Somers Road. The electricity from the project is sent to National Grid and net metering credits produced by the system are sold to East Longmeadow and Belchertown.

Rheuben said 100 percent of Wilbraham solar facility’s power is for the town.

“We’re really excited about this project and the fact that it got built really quickly from the time that we started our involvement in the project and it really reinforces our commitment to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and also the supporting towns in this state,” he noted.  

He added the town also benefits by gaining property taxes from the facility.