From Dumps to Power Plants: The Rocky Road to Solar on America's Landfills

This analysis is based on reporting originally published by Waste Dive.

Thirteen years ago, solar panels on U.S. landfills were a novelty, with just over a dozen such sites nationwide. Today, that number has swelled into the hundreds, a testament to the compelling logic of repurposing contaminated land for clean energy. Yet, the path from closed dump to functioning solar array is fraught with practical and financial obstacles that threaten to stall further growth.

While projects continue to advance—like a recently approved 2-megawatt installation in Virginia and another moving through permits in New York—the low-hanging fruit has largely been picked. Experts warn that the future of landfill solar hinges on navigating a perfect storm of remediation costs, shifting federal incentives, and geographical limitations.

"The concept is undeniably attractive: generate revenue, offset site maintenance, and put otherwise useless land to work," said Kelly Sarber, chief commercial officer at renewable developer Epic Star Energy. "But the execution is where idealism meets the hard ground of reality."

The challenges are multifaceted. Landfills are not blank canvases. Their uneven topography, gas management systems, and protective caps complicate installation. Setback requirements can shrink a 50-acre site to just 15 usable acres. Specialized engineering is needed to avoid damaging containment liners, driving costs significantly higher than standard ground-mounted solar. The development timeline can stretch to five years or more.

According to the U.S. EPA’s Re-Powering America’s Land Initiative, roughly 330 landfills hosted renewable energy projects as of 2024, contributing about 4.4 gigawatts (GW) of power. For context, the U.S. solar industry added over 11 GW of capacity in just the third quarter of 2025 alone, highlighting landfill solar's niche status.

Steven P. Gouin, an attorney with Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla who has worked on multiple such projects, notes a stark divide. "In states with supportive policies, every well-capped, easily-owned landfill likely already has solar," he said. The remaining pool of over 10,000 closed sites nationally often involves murky ownership, remote locations, or requires extensive—and expensive—cleanup before any panel can be installed.

Policy has been a decisive factor. New Jersey's 2012 Solar Act, which created incentives for brownfield development, is cited as a model success. "The only landfills here without solar are either still active or in regulatory limbo," Gouin explained.

The federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided a massive boost, offering tax credits that could cover up to 70% of project costs for qualifying brownfield solar developments. "It was the perfect combo of incentives that made tougher projects pencil out," said Angie Daoud, COO of Onyx Renewables.

However, the recent rollback of key federal incentives in the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" has cast a shadow. "Projects in the pipeline will finish, but new development may slow dramatically without that support," Daoud added, noting that states now feel pressure to create their own programs.

The potential remains vast, driven by rising energy demand and the scarcity of large, uncontaminated plots near urban centers. "The fundamental economics—the need for cheaper, local power—will continue to drive demand for these locations," Sarber concluded.

Voices from the Field

Maya Chen, Sustainability Director for a Midwestern City: "This isn't just about energy. It's community revitalization. We turned a local eyesore into a power source that stabilizes rates for hundreds of homes. The process was bureaucratic, yes, but the long-term payoff for our residents is undeniable."

David Park, Civil Engineer specializing in brownfields: "Each site is a unique puzzle. The engineering solutions exist, but they cost 20-30% more than a standard solar farm. The conversation must shift from pure idealism to realistic funding models that acknowledge these upfront costs."

Rebecca Vance, Environmental Advocate: "It's infuriating. We have thousands of toxic scars on the landscape, and a clear way to clean them up *and* fight climate change, yet we're letting tax credit politics get in the way. This isn't a niche issue; it's a failure of political will to prioritize real environmental justice over empty rhetoric."

Leo Gallagher, Rural County Commissioner: "For us, it's an economic lifeline. A closed landfill is a dead asset, a liability. Solar turns it into a modest revenue stream and creates a few local jobs during construction. It's a pragmatic solution for land that has no other future."