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Cincinnati is moving forward with a solar project on the long-closed Center Hill Landfill in Winton Hills. This will turn unused land into a clean energy asset. The solar array is expected to generate enough electricity to power about 1,200 homes annually. However, it will be supplying city operations rather than individual households. After losing federal grant funding, the city secured alternative financing through a power purchase agreement with a developer. Officials say the project supports Cincinnati’s renewable energy goals. Moreover, it reduces emissions and repurposes brownfield land without disturbing new green space.
Cincinnati’s landfill solar project is moving ahead with plans to install a solar array on a long-unused landfill.
The landfill solar project could generate enough green power to supply roughly 1,200 homes’ worth of electricity each year.
City leaders say this project will transform a former dump in Winton Hills into a renewable energy asset that supports Cincinnati’s clean energy goals and reduces emissions. The project builds on the city’s broader solar efforts, including large solar installations already operational or in development.
Project overview and landfill solar project details
The city of Cincinnati is preparing to install solar panels on the former Center Hill Landfill. This is a 60-plus acre brownfield site in the Winton Hills neighborhood that hasn’t received trash in decades. The landfill solar project aims to convert that once-unused land into a productive clean energy source.
Local officials say the array will produce enough electricity to power about 1,200 average homes annually. However, the power will feed city infrastructure and operations rather than be sold directly to households.
“It’s not only a smart investment in terms of being on a landfill, but it’s also a smart investment in terms of return on investment for the city,” said a city council member Mark Jeffreys.
He added that landfill solar installations provide environmental benefits by repurposing closed dumps without disturbing new farmland or green spaces.
The project is designed to maximize the property’s solar potential. The relatively flat, sunny acreage and existing access roads and power lines reduce construction barriers compared with entirely new sites.
Federal funding, setbacks and financing solutions
City leaders initially planned to fund the landfill solar project with nearly $10 million in federal grant money. That funding was part of a broader energy initiative. However, it was rescinded when the Environmental Protection Agency ended a national clean energy grant program.
Despite that setback, Cincinnati officials said they found alternative financing by partnering with a solar developer under a power purchase agreement (PPA). Under this model, the developer builds and operates the array. The city then agrees to buy the power over time. A similar arrangement helped finance the New Market Solar project in Highland County.
The PPA structure allows the project to keep moving forward without delaying construction, which city officials insist is crucial for qualifying for available tax credits and incentives.
How landfill solar fits into wider clean energy goals
The landfill solar project is part of a larger push by Cincinnati to grow its renewable energy portfolio. Ohio’s largest city has already supported utility-scale solar initiatives such as the 100 megawatt New Market Solar Project in Highland County. This project supplies power to city facilities. Cincinnati has also supported residential aggregation programs.
According to the city’s Green Cincinnati Plan, planners broke ground on the Center Hill landfill solar conversion as part of broader sustainability goals to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
Local environmental advocates highlight that transforming closed landfills into solar fields, sometimes called brightfields, is a growing practice nationwide. By using brownfield sites for clean energy, cities can reduce reliance on fossil fuels while avoiding new land disturbances.
Other municipalities across the country have made similar land reuse decisions. For example, a former landfill in Connecticut is being repurposed into a solar array capable of powering hundreds of homes. This demonstrates how cities can turn environmental liabilities into assets.
Community impact and future outlook
Residents and local leaders have emphasized community benefits beyond clean energy. The landfill solar project aligns with Cincinnati’s goals to improve energy equity, reduce utility costs for public facilities, and strengthen local energy resilience.
City officials say the project could help lower operational costs over time, freeing up funds for other municipal priorities. They also note that solar arrays can support local job creation in construction and maintenance during the installation phases.
Beyond Cincinnati’s borders, Ohio has seen mixed success with landfill solar initiatives. Some counties have approved solar on closed landfills, while others have faced opposition or project cancellations. This underscores the importance of planning and community engagement.
FAQs
What is the Cincinnati landfill solar project?
It’s a plan to install a solar array on the former Center Hill Landfill in Winton Hills. This could generate clean energy equivalent to powering about 1,200 homes annually.
Why build solar on an old landfill?
Closed and capped landfills usually cannot be used for buildings or many other developments, but they can support solar energy infrastructure. Repurposing them helps produce clean energy from land that otherwise sits unused.
Who will use the electricity generated?
The electricity is expected to power city infrastructure and operations rather than being sold directly to individual residents.
How is the city paying for this project?
Cincinnati initially planned to use a federal renewable energy grant to help fund the project. However, that grant was later canceled. The city is exploring alternative funding strategies (such as partnerships or power purchase agreements) to move the project forward.
Does this practice happen elsewhere?
Yes. Other communities — including Ohio cities near Cleveland — have worked to turn old landfills and brownfields into solar farms using state and federal support and incentives.
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