Columbia, Illinois Issues RFQ Seeking Solar Developer to Partner on a Landfill Project

CHICAGO - Nov. 27, 2017 - PRLog -- The City of Columbia, Illinois is seeking a solar developer to partner in the installation, operation, and maintenance of a photovoltaic solar array on an approximately 50-acre closed landfill. Last week the City published a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on BrownfieldListings.com, which is open to all qualified developers potentially interested in pursuing a brightfield project on Columbia's publicly owned landfill.

The RFQ declares the city's goals are to increase renewable energy use within the city of Columbia and increase its revenue opportunities. The City bostes it has a variety of options for offtakers for the potential brightfield project on the former landfill site, which include:

• City facilities and/or street lights

• Residential and commercial community solar subscriptions

• Utility companies (Ameren and/or Monroe County Electric Cooperative)

Most of Columbia's residents and businesses use power supplied by Ameren; however, a portion subscribe to the Monroe County Electric Cooperative.

The landfill site is a single ~50-acre parcel located at 1253 Bremser Road in Columbia, Illinois, which is in Monroe County. While Columbia currently owns the landfill, it is located outside of the municipal boundaries in unincorporated Monroe County. As a result, use of this site for a solar energy array would require proper zoning and securing appropriate permits from Monroe County, rather than the City of Columbia itself.

Old growth trees cover approximately 35% of this site. In the RFQ, Columbia stipulates it would be open to the removal of a portion of the trees "if required for a successful, mutually beneficial project." The RFQ also states that it will be the responsibility of the solar developer to manage and maintain all vegetation on the site.

The solar developer that is ultimately successful will also be responsible for decommissioning and removing the solar array at the end of the lease period.

Columbia's RFQ is due by 4:00 p.m. (CST) December 20, 2017 and calls on solar developers to pitch their qualifications, experience and proposals to advance to the next phase of due diligence, where a selected developer will work with the city to develop requisite information and, at its own expense, complete an interconnection study. Whereupon, the parties may subsequently establishing a letter of intent, lease option or lease agreement.

Questions regarding RFQ requirements or submittals must be received by 4:00 CST on December 15, 2017.

View and download the Columbia's Landfill Solar RFQ and contact the city at: https://brownfieldlistings.com/listings/view/1127/rfps

RFQ Submittals Due: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 by 4:00 p.m. (CST)