A screen shot from Monday's Zoom meeting.
Uupdate, feb. 28 2025: this project did not move forward
DERBY — The city could see an extra $50,000 a year over the next 20 years by leasing land at the Derby landfill for a solar-powered farm.
The Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwoman on Monday (March 13) approved a proposal by a Greenwich solar company, Citrine Power, LLC to lease between 5 and 6 acres at the capped landfill at 80 Pine St.
Citrine wants to install a 1‑megawatt solar energy generating facility, consisting of about 2,500 solar panels. It would generate power that Citrine would sell directly to United Illuminating.
The board voted 7 – 1 in favor of Citrine’s proposal. Alderwoman Barbara DeGennaro cast the sole dissenting vote.
The board held a virtual public hearing prior to approving the facility, which drew only a handful of residents. Only one resident, Karen Kemmesies, spoke during the public portion.
Derby’s approval is just the first of several approvals Citrine must obtain before the solar farm is a done deal here.
According to Cela Sinay Bernie, managing partner with Citrine, the proposal must win an auction held by United Illuminating, during which companies vie for the opportunity to connect to UI’s grid.
If UI gives Citrine the OK, the proposal must next be approved by the state’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, or PURA.
Facilities that are 1 megawatt in size or under do not require Siting Council approval, according to Sinay Bernie.
If PURA gives the OK, then Citrine would need to obtain necessary approvals and permits from Derby’s land use boards, as well as from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP.
If all those approvals and permits come to fruition, Citrine hopes to begin the solar farm installation in late fall or early winter, Sinay Bernie said.
She said Citrine plans to invest between $2.5 and $3 million into the Derby project.
Citrine has developed several other solar farm projects throughout Connecticut and the Northeast, including in North Branford, Middlefield and East Hampton.
Citrine was the sole bidder for the Derby project.
Derby officials said the landfill is open space that can’t be used for much else.
“It’s $50,000 a year guaranteed to the City of Derby for 20 years,” said Derby Economic Development Director Roger Salway. “This initiative will benefit Derby and reduce the demand on fossil fuel generation, which is a major contributor to the high cost of electricity in Connecticut. And, most importantly, there is no cost to the city. The system design, site construction and build, operation and maintenance will be the responsibility of the solar investor, Citrine Power.”
Mayor Richard Dziekan said he’s optimistic about Citrine’s project.
“It will be great if they get can this,” Dziekan said. “If we have an extra $50,000 a year in our budget, we can help out someplace in our community. I would like to see the money go to our students.”
Kemmesies, as the only member of the public to speak during Monday’s brief hearing, said she supports the idea of a solar farm, so long as it doesn’t negatively impact any wetlands.
Sinay Bernie said while there are some wetlands on the roughly 60-acre parcel, the solar panels would be far enough away to not have any impact.
“As long as there are no concerns about wetlands, I’m okay with it,” Kemmesies said. “If it’s a guaranteed $50,000 each year, that’s always a good thing.”
Derby’s landfill is no stranger to solar panels. Back in 2015 under Mayor Anita Dugatto’s administration, a New York company installed some 3,000 solar panels there.
That project was supposed to help the city reduce its electricity costs. The new deal is structured differently, with a set payment.
“This way (with the Citrine lease) the city knows exactly what is received and can easily incorporate the benefits received into the budgeting process,” said Walt Mayhew, the mayor’s chief of staff.
Alderman Gino DiGiovanni asked what would happen at the end of Citrine’s 20-year lease, and questioned whether Derby would be on the hook to remove the panels.
Salway said Citrine would remove the panels.
Additionally, the lease the BOA/BOAA approved Monday states Citrine will pay the city $25,000 a year after the 20-year lease expires, in years 21 to 25. Salway said the typical lifespan of solar panels is about 25 years, but after 20 years, they start to develop a haze and generate less power.
