Duke Energy and Buncombe County are joining together to construct a new solar power plant on a former landfill in the town of Woodfin.
Duke Energy will own and run the 5-megawatt solar power plant on Buncombe County’s closed landfill–near to Interstate 26 and the French Broad River.
The plant is to be located on 25 acres and linked to the Duke Energy grid. The county will lease the property to Duke Energy under a 25 year deal. For Buncombe County to use the solar power produced in its 100 percent renewable energy target, it must own the Duke Energy Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) to offset the electricity used by the county’s service.
The new solar plant will help meet the 2030 renewable energy targets of the county, while providing electricity to all customers of Duke Energy in the Carolinas.
“Working with local communities is critical to advancing our clean energy plan. This project is an innovative example of how to creatively repurpose land to advance community goals.”
Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president.
The plant is expected to come online in the second half of 2021 and will produce enough energy annually to power about 1.000 homes and businesses.
“We are excited to see the solar farm on the county’s retired landfill moving forward. This is a great way to make productive use of land that cannot be used for many other purposes while helping the county meet its goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2030.”
Brownie Newman, board of commission chairman.
