Old Landfill Powers 100 Homes With Solar in Washington

An old garbage dump in Washington just got a second life as a clean energy powerhouse.

Pierce County finished installing 2.45 acres of solar panels on the former Purdy Landfill in March, turning decades-old waste into renewable energy. The array will generate over 1 million kilowatt-hours annually, enough electricity to power approximately 100 homes or drive an electric car around the Earth 120 times.

The $2.3 million project came from a Washington State Department of Commerce grant and connects directly to the Peninsula Light Company grid. The landfill operated from 1941 to 1989, collecting sewage and household waste from nearby Gig Harbor and University Place before crews capped it with soil and a synthetic liner.

That cap made the site perfect for solar panels. The soil layer can't be disturbed or regraded, so ground-mounted solar arrays fit naturally without compromising the environmental protections already in place. Plus, the location gets excellent sun exposure.

County spokesperson Michelle Kircher tackled a common myth head-on. "The Pacific Northwest receives more sunlight annually than Germany, the leading global user of solar," she explained. Western Washington's cool climate actually helps solar panels operate more efficiently than hotter regions.

The project responds directly to community priorities. In 2021, Pierce County passed a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45% between 2015 and 2030, with residents specifically requesting more renewable energy and community solar projects.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend beyond clean electricity. Net revenue from the solar array will flow back into the Key Peninsula community through energy assistance and efficiency programs for low-income residents.

Pierce County plans to gather community input through workshops, surveys, and interviews to determine exactly how the funds should ease energy burdens and reduce pollution. The county is already using the site for education, hosting tours with Workforce Central, Goodwill, and environmental science students from Clover Park Technical College.

The solar panels will add just 0.2% to Peninsula Light Company's total energy load without impacting customer electricity rates. The utility already receives mostly carbon-free power through the Bonneville Power Administration.

The county chose not to include battery storage systems at this time but may consider adding them in the future to capture excess power during sunny days and release it during peak demand hours.

Turning an environmental cleanup site into a community energy resource shows how creative thinking can multiply the benefits of sustainability efforts.