뉴저지 오션 카운티(Ocean County)의 브릭 타운십(Brick Township) 지역은 미국 환경보호청(EPA) 제2지부로부터 수퍼펀드 사이트(Superfund Site)의 태양광 에너지 사용에 대해 ‘부지 재이용 우수상’을 수상했다. 이는 정부 건물과 지역 사회 공원에 전기를 공급하는 2만4천 개의 태양전지 패널 배열을 만들 수 있는 42 에이커 상당의 Brick Township 매립지의 재사용에 대한 성과의 결과이다.

1940년대부터 매립지의 하수처리·건설부산물·오염원 등을 포함한 폐기물을 처리하고 있으며, 개인 소유자가 Brick Township 매립지를 취득하기 전인 1973년까지 운영된 바 있다.

Today, Brick Township in Ocean County, N.J., received the first-ever "Excellence in Site Reuse Award" from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 for its use of solar energy at a Superfund Site. The award recognizes the township's reuse of the 42-acre former Brick Township Landfill site to create a 24,000 solar panel array that supplies electricity to its government buildings and community parks.

Started in the 1940s, the landfill accepted many waste materials, including sewage, construction debris, and contaminated liquids. A private owner operated it until 1973, when Brick Township acquired the property. The township continued operating the landfill until its closure in 1979, and the site was placed on the EPA's Superfund National Priorities List in 1983. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection initially had the lead responsibility for the cleanup until the Agency took it over in 2007, and the work at the site was completed in 2013.

The work at the site has included placing a cap on the landfill to prevent rainwater from seeping into the landfill and spreading contamination. In addition, there are restrictions placed on the property that prevent the underlying groundwater from being used as drinking water. The groundwater will continue to be monitored to ensure that the cap continues to function properly. While the cap was being designed, Brick Township worked to develop the plan to install solar panels on the landfill.

A solar development company, Standard Alternative, LLC, is currently operating the solar array and will continue to operate it until 2029. The township plans to take over ownership at that point. Brick Township estimates that the array will save the township about $13 million through discounted energy prices over the course of 15 years. The installation of solar panels began in June 2013, and the solar array became operational in 2014. It generates about 7,400 megawatt-hours of energy per year.

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 7월 28일]