In a foreshadowing of what will be, a flock of ducks and blue herons flew in a lightly clouded sky at the Yolo County Central Landfill.

The birds represented the next phase of development at the “dump,” where soon people will not only be able to dispose of their trash but do a bit of birdwatching and hiking.

The groundbreaking ceremony held Friday commemorated the start of construction of a solar energy canopy system at the Landfill, located near county roads 28H and 104, south of Woodland.

The 466 kilowatt system, developed in partnership with ForeFront Power, marks a major milestone in the county’s clean energy and climate goals, according to county staff.

“As you drive by the landfill in the coming months, you’re going to see these solar panels put up on stilts, which is going to look at little odd in this beautiful field,” Yolo County Integrated Waste Management Division Director Marissa Juhler told about 33 people present for the occasion in an area where tall grasses had been mowed back.

“We have a vision for this landfill,” she continued. “There is a reclamation plan in place for this 45 acres we are on, and that vision is for this to be a wholly reclaimed site in 20 years. We are going to have seasonal wetlands, woodland and riparian habitat. We envision that this is going to be a place where you can come and park your car under a shaded canopy and go for a walk in nature. Do some bird watching. And that has been part of our plan all along. I think that is pretty remarkable that we’re doing such innovative and forward-thinking things and I do like to think we are the best landfills, not just in the state but the nation. It is remarkable.”

“This is a destination landfill,” noted 3rd District Supervisor Mary Sandy in welcoming the audience to her Third District, adding that when she tells people this, “they really think I’ve lost it. But we know. We know what we’ve got here.”

“Welcome to the Third District,” she said, before noting that all five supervisors were present.

“What you’ve done here to make this vision a reality is a testament to your work,” she said in complimenting landfill staff.

Scheduled for completion in late 2025, the solar canopy will generate over 750,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, or enough to power about 130 homes per year.Once operational, the system will offset 89% of the landfill’s electrical consumption and is projected to save the county around $3 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years.

“This is a game-changing step for one of our county’s most critical infrastructure sites,” Sandy continued. “What’s even more impressive is how we’re doing this with no upfront costs and no bond funding. How about that?”

Sandy also noted that ForeFront Power will also operate and maintain the system at no cost to the county. “Thanks to the creative funding model we’re building this solar project without burdening taxpayers; and we’ll see significant utility savings over the long run.”

“But beyond the fiscal savings, this project delivers real environmental benefits,” she noted. “The new solar system (I love saying the ‘new solar system’) will generate 750,000 kilowatt hours of clean electricity annually. … It will also reduce 380 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

“That’s equivalent to taking 88 gas-powered cars off the road; or the emissions from 422,000 pounds of coal; or the carbon captured by 380 acres of forest each year,” she said. “These are real, measurable steps toward the county’s climate and sustainability goals of becoming net negative in carbon emissions by 2030. It’s a bold goal and it takes efforts just like this if we’re going to reach that goal.”

Also speaking during the event were supervisors Sheila Allen and Angel Barajas, who noted the innovative work at the landfill.

The Landfill is already considered a regional leader in sustainable waste operations, home to initiatives such as on-site methane capture, composting, and the Big Blue Barn Thrift Store, according to county officials.