Partnering with VHB, Encore undertook an ambitious project to transform a former junk yard that once contained solid waste, salvaged materials, tires, drums, tanks, and contaminated soil into a 2.1-megawatt community solar array. VHB performed environmental studies required for Vermont’s Section 248 permitting process, which included a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) that identified several recognized environmental conditions (RECs) and two Phase II investigations to characterize the site’s soil and groundwater. VHB’s findings informed the development of a soil management plan, which allowed mitigation of contaminated soil to occur concurrently with construction of the solar facility. This approach saved time and project costs while adequately mitigating risk to human health and the environment. The solar array’s development supported the site’s environmental remediation required for regulatory approval.
Through the project team’s close coordination with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the solar array became operational in September 2021, bringing power to approximately 325 homes annually and providing pollinator-friendly groundcover.
