Thursday, October 1, 2026
The conversion of Thurston County’s closed Waste and Recovery Center landfill into a grid-scale solar facility has progressed to its final legal and engineering review.
The $30,000 annual lease project is slated for mid-2026 construction under EDF Renewables 25-year power purchase agreement with Puget Sound Energy, pending approval by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners.
EDF Renewables proposed 3-megawatt, alternating-current solar photovoltaic array would occupy 21 acres at 2420 Hogum Bay Road NE in Lacey.
The project’s design phase has cleared multiple technical and regulatory milestones since it was first proposed to commissioners in 2023.
Thurston County Climate Mitigation Senior Program Manager Rebecca Harvey told the Solid Waste Advisory Committee at a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 6, that negotiations with EDF are about 75% complete.
“The project would provide revenue to the county in the form of lease payments. It, of course, would generate clean and reliable electricity to the power grid, and by doing so, it helps to meet state and county climate goals,” Harvey said.
The Thurston County Public Works Department, the board and community members have supported the initiative from its inception, she said.
The landfill’s conversion, Harvey added, aims to repurpose a closed facility with minimal development potential and institutionalize renewable energy targets under Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act. The act mandates 100% renewable electricity by 2045.
In March 2024, EDF Renewables received exclusive site control through an option-to-lease and right-of-entry agreement.
The agreement authorizes environmental assessments, geotechnical analysis and electrical interconnection design, while the county finalizes a 25-year ground lease.
The Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Public Works Department are now in the process of completing a legal review of the lease terms governing land tenure, indemnification and decommissioning.
EDF representative Kenton Martin said EDF pursued a fixed-rate lease model rather than revenue sharing to uphold stable project returns.
“We work with the landowner to agree upon a fixed rate for the site, and that rolls into our financial models,” he said.
The landfill lease is expected to generate $30,000 annually, according to an appraisal by Integra Realty Resources under a fair-market study funded by EDF.
The agreement also stipulates decommissioning and end-of-life requirements, including removal of photovoltaic hardware, recycling of equipment and site restoration to pre-project conditions.
Harvey said the exclusivity clause became the most complex portion of the negotiations.
“It was a challenge for the county to allow exclusive right to use the site because, of course, there are other contractors on the site for different reasons,” she said. “But we got there, and we found the language that worked and executed that option-to-lease agreement.”
EDF’s conceptual plan, submitted in July 2025, sets forth a fixed-tilt, ballasted photovoltaic system of about 7,900 panels. The configuration uses concrete ballast blocks over gravel to avoid breaching the landfill’s protective cap.
“Everything sits on top of concrete ballast and gravel,” Martin said. “If one or two of those start to sink a little more in the future, they can just lift it back up, readjust the rock, and add more gravel.”
Harvey said EDF and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) are also finalizing joint interconnection and permitting work.
“EDF is continuing to work with PSE on ongoing interconnection studies and electrical grid upgrades, as well as the engineering design and permitting tasks, including environmental surveys, civil engineering design, which are also almost complete," she said.
Methane flaring and groundwater monitoring systems would be managed under county oversight under the landfill’s post-closure permit.
The panels would link to PSE’s distribution system through a nearby substation without altering roadways or storm water infrastructure. Above-ground conduits and utility trenches would prevent disturbance of the landfill containment layer.
In 2023 coverage by The JOLT News, Harvey estimated the construction phase would create 60 to 90 temporary jobs for eight months and deliver energy to 375 households for 25 years.
EDF expects to complete lease execution and local permitting within six months and begin construction in the second quarter of 2026.
The private developer plans to qualify for federal, safe harbor tax benefits through domestic manufacturing of panels, inverters and racking systems, largely sourced from Texas.
Commercial operation is targeted for December 2027 following grid commissioning. The 35-year design life may permit future extensions with county consent and new market contracts.
“We’re pretty confident as long as we can finalize the lease and permitting within the next six months and get going, we shouldn’t have too hard of a time to hit a December 2027 commercial operation date,” Martin said.
EDF expects to finalize civil engineering design this month and forward site plan documentation to the Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development Department in early 2026.
12 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
The_Armed_Gardener
Methane from landfills can be, and frequently is, captured and used as a renewable energy source to generate electricity. This practice, known as landfill gas (LFG) energy development, helps to reduce harmful methane emissions and can offset the use of fossil fuels.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Report this
CommonScense
This sounds like a good use of the land since it is essentially unfit for much.
Good luck keeping the solar panels clean with all the birds out there pooping everywhere.
Perhaps the the birds will stay closer to the dump and yard waste area.
The amount of methane the rotting fill is out gassing at this time is not worth
harvesting. After an earthquake some years back it did go up for a bit but then went back down.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Report this
jimlazar
Gee: The county could start allowing the dumping of busted up concrete, and use that for the concrete and gravel ballast. Contractors would haul it to the site and give it to them for free.
We managed to build a retaining wall out of our former driveway when we had it replaced. But an awful lot of concrete is wasted.
If there was a place to take it without a tipping fee, a lot would show up.
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Report this
RiriSD
thanks The JOLT
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
Taxpayer
What, if any, are the plans for the existing dog park that currently occupies this parcel? This park appears to be very active.
Would this project be commercially viable without taxpayers support, if not maybe it shouldn't be undertaken.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
robpen
I support this project provided it does not interfere with groundwater monitoring systems and includes appropriate methane flaring or, ideally, methane recovery for energy production, so as not to contribute to climate change.
In recent years solar power has become a less advantageous investment in our region because hydroelectric output peaks in the summer. We previously sold our surplus summer electricity to California, but that market has diminished as California’s solar capacity has expanded. However, with hotter and smokier summers, increased air-conditioning use, growing numbers of electric vehicles, and the expansion of data centers, local summertime electricity demand is rising—suggesting that this additional power could be effectively used within our own system. Jim Lazar would be the best person to confirm this assessment.
We may also take this opportunity to remember that our garbage does not simply disappear when it is collected. Each of us can help reduce waste by buying less, purchasing in bulk, choosing used goods when possible, and investing in quality products that last.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Idiotic waste.
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
JohnFronono
And there he is. Keep up the positivity there tiger!
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
SouthSoundGuy with another valuable take haha
Congrats on getting your GED
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Report this
Boatyarddog
SS GUY....
like your Comment Once Again, IDIOTIC! What else to do with a 100+yearlife span Dump, cover it with a job producing imcome producing, pretty clean energy investment. Hooked up right there with minimal Infrastructure invesment. I wish it was not Part of PSE though.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 Report this
CobraCommander
Boatyarddog, don't expect mental infants to comprehend grown-up things. MAGA is like that - they insult and disparage what they don't understand and what FOX says is bad.
Friday, November 14, 2025 Report this
MichaelC
Sounds like a good idea, however, I just want to make sure the existing functions of the Waste and Recovery Center are unaffected. Looking at the map in the article they look fine, but just want to know for sure.
Saturday, November 15, 2025 Report this