Solar energy being used to help cleanup landfill
From a story on WKOW-TV, Channel 27, Madison:
TOWN OF MIDDLETON (WKOW) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Energy to study solar energy while cleaning up contamination at the former Refuse Hideaway Landfill in the Town of Middleton.
The Refuse Hideaway Landfill operated from 1974 to 1988 and caused environmental contamination of the groundwater in the area. The state took over cleanup efforts in 1992. State officials say the cleanup will take decades to complete and with that comes a yearly $6,000 price tag to power the process.
44 solar panels have been built at the former landfill site which will save the state about 25-percent of the $6,000 yearly costs to power the decontamination process. “In addition to the savings, these solar panels are the kind of sustainable practices we need to limit greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change,” DNR Secretary Matt Frank said. “How this country handles remediations may mean more work for companies like the one that installed these solar panels, and help grow the green economy nationwide. That, in turn, will help this country become more energy independent.”
