E.P. Solar Field Construction Nears

The developer of the first solar energy field in East Providence is expected to begin construction of the facility next week.

“You’ll really start to see a beehive of activity from now on until the fall,” said East Providence Planning Director Jeanne Boyle. “It has to be done by then.”

Boyle was referring to the contract CME Energy, the developer, has with National Grid to generate power.

The 3.7 megawatt project is being built at the former Riverside landfill off of Forbes Street. East Providence has been capping the landfill for months with guidelines from the RI Department of Environmental Management.

“They’ll start moving earth and laying conduit,” said Boyle of the developer.

CME will be installing 13,000 solar panels over 30 acres of the 220-acre site. CME is leasing the land from the city.

“Eventually,” said Boyle, “the plan is to add more panels to create a 9 megawatt facility.”

The project is relatively unique, she said.

“It’s one of only a handful of projects selected by National Grid to generate power for the utility,” she said. “It’s the first in Rhode Island moving toward construction.”

The project took birth in October, 2010, after the planning department selected CME Energy’s proposal from seven it received following the distribution of a request for proposals.