New Jersey installs solar panels on 40 acres of land to power 1,600 homes

BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (PIX11) -- Deep in the pine barrens is a project being called the first of its kind.

"This is more historic than even I thought it was," said Governor Phil Murphy (D-New Jersey).

On Friday, Murphy touted his administration's investments in solar energy at Berkeley Township's Eagle Solar Field.

It's a 10MW project that the state says is able to power 1,600 homes. It's all but complete, turning away from its old life as a landfill.

"There's nothing else that's going to go on top of this. It might as well be solar panels," said Murphy. "We can do this around the State."

The 40 acres of land here went unused for decades until last year when construction began, turning this into one of the biggest community solar projects in the state.

"The energy is ready to go this minute," said Berkeley Mayor John Bacchione. "The switch has been turned on."

Bacchione says details are being finalized on how residents will be able to sign up to receive the solar energy. "This is energy that is renewable energy that's going to save people in Berkeley Township money," he said. 

Governor Murphy says he will meet with officials from the State Department of Environmental Protection next week to take inventory of other open landfills in the State and consider using them for future projects.