New York City Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway, New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland and New York City Economic Development Corp. President Seth W. Pinsky have released a request for proposals (RFP) for companies to design, construct, install and operate wind and solar power facilities at the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island.
Approximately 75 acres of land are available for lease and have the potential to be developed into large-scale facilities that could generate up to 20 MW of renewable energy. The project would more than double the city's current renewable energy capacity, according to the New York City Economic Development Corp.
During the hottest summer days, demand for electricity forces the activation of inefficient in-city peaker plants, some of which burn heavy fuel oil. The solar and wind facilities at Fresh Kills will reduce the need for peak generation at these facilities and help to meet the PlaNYC goal of a 30% reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030.
Fresh Kills spans 2,200 acres on the western shore of Staten Island and served as the city's principal solid-waste landfill until 2001. In 2006, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation began work to develop Freshkills Park, which will incorporate the solar and wind power installations outlined in the RFP.
Proposals are due on a rolling basis and will be reviewed at each submission deadline. Submission dates are May 24, 2012; Aug. 15, 2012; Nov. 15, 2012; and Feb. 15, 2013.
The full RFP can be viewed here.
