RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A project proposed by Richmond's Office of Sustainability could transform a capped landfill east of Richmond's Oakwood area into a solar meadow that would produce energy and support pollinators. Site for proposed project: Capped landfill According to the city's website, the proposed project would repurpose a roughly 25 to 30-acre capped landfill located at 3800 E. Richmond Rd. that previously operated from the 1960s until 1983. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, capping a landfill involves using materials to create a cover over the area. This is intended to keep waste in place and prevent people and wildlife from coming into contact with the waste. Cap layers can be made of asphalt, concrete, vegetation, drainage, geomembrane or clay, according to the agency. Map of area for proposed East End Solar Meadow Project (Courtesy of Richmond's Office of Sustainability)Diagram of capped landfill with solar meadow (Courtesy of Richmond's Office of Sustainability) The area around the capped landfill is now a debris collection site and recycling convenience center for the city and Richmond residents. The city considers the capped landfill to be a practical spot for the project because it offers an otherwise unusable plot of land rather than taking over working farmland or an ecosystem. "Given the restricted uses of the capped section, it is a good candidate for a solar photovoltaic energy system and pollinator meadow," the city said. Combining a solar farm and pollinator garden (Courtesy of Richmond's Office of Sustainability) According to the city, a solar farm is a large-scale installation of photovoltaic panels -- which produce energy from sunlight -- mounted directly to the ground. The panels produce renewable energy that is then fed into the local energy grid. Solar panels avoid greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels like coal, diesel and natural gas. The city defines a pollinator garden as being a garden with plants specifically selected to attract pollinating insects and other beneficial wildlife. They typically include a variety of native flowering plants that provide food, pollen and habitat for pollinators like bees, butterflies, birds, bats and beetles. For this project, the land underneath the panels would be used as a pollinator garden, which the city said would lower maintenance costs, support local ecosystems and improve the efficiency of solar panels through temperature regulation. Ownership and energy production According to a spokesperson for the Office of Sustainability, the city intends to enter into a land lease with a vendor that would own and operate the solar meadow. The office reportedly issued a request for information on Aug. 12 for this project after holding community engagement sessions with surrounding neighborhoods to hear feedback. As for how much energy the solar meadow would produce, the spokesperson said an exact amount cannot yet be determined, but an initial estimate is that it could produce 5 MW -- meaning megawatts -- or more. Estimates for how many homes could be powered by this amount of energy vary and depend on the solar meadow's measured efficiency, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. If approved, the energy produced by the project would be fed back into the energy grid. Community Benefits Agreement The city said that during community engagement sessions, residents mentioned an interest in possible benefits like youth education, art and compost drop-off sites, among others. As part of the land lease, the city said it would be able to use some funds made by the project in a way benefiting nearby communities, though those decisions will come further down the line if and when a vendor is selected. "The [Office of Sustainability] will lead further engagement sessions alongside the final selected vendor, and City Council President Newbille to outline what this looks like during the due diligence process," the spokesperson said. What's next? According to the Office of Sustainability, the next steps in the process involve finalizing a draft and lease for the Richmond City Council to review and select the final vendor. "It's anticipated that this will be before Council in the next two months," the spokesperson said. Afterward, the spokesperson explained that the process to go from the project's start date, which has not yet been determined, to construction and eventual operation of the solar farm could take two or more years. The site is intended to be operational for several decades, according to the city. This would be the first project of its kind in Richmond. ...read more read less