MACTEC Selected to Provide Environmental Engineering Design, Permit Support for New England Solar Project

WAKEFIELD, MA, Mar. 1, 2011 – MACTEC will be providing engineering design and permit support for the design/installation of a $10 million solar power project. Allen Kibler, President of MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc., (www.mactec.com) made the announcement. The 2.4 megawatt solar panel array will be constructed on a closed landfill in the Town of Scituate, MA.

The project developer is Brightfields Development LLC of Wellesley, MA (Brightfieldsllc.com). Brightfields specializes in the development of solar energy projects on contaminated land and landfills and offers site remediation and management, and liability transfers as part of their services. Brightfields is currently developing solar projects in five states on landfills, contaminated properties, and federal superfund sites.

According to MACTEC Senior Principal Engineer William J. Weber, P.E., MACTEC will complete a topographic survey, evaluate existing landfill conditions, conduct wetland delineation, and provide geotechnical/civil engineering evaluations and permitting services.

"Massachusetts is one of the nation's leaders in promoting clean energy and we are looking forward to participating in the vibrant market. In Scituate, about 9,500 panels will be mounted on the landfill. MACTEC will examine the landfill's current condition, establish a baseline, and identify any potential long-term construction issues."

According to MACTEC Vice President Pat Pontoriero, "This is one of several solar projects on which MACTEC and Brightfields are collaborating. Solar developments on landfills are examples of the early success of EPA's Repowering America's Land Initiative. Solar can often be a good solution for low or negative valued sites with contamination, unfavorable location, geotechnical issues, or other challenges. Making solar part of the remedy provides numerous advantages to our industrial and municipal clients."

MACTEC (www.mactec.com), based in Alpharetta, GA, is a leading engineering and design, environmental, and construction firm focused on four strategic business lines: Industrial/Commercial, Infrastructure (Transportation and Municipal), Energy, and Federal. MACTEC offers an ever-broadening portfolio of sustainable solutions, from renewable energy to facility asset management. With annual revenues of more than $440 million, MACTEC's 2,700-plus employees work from over 70 offices nationwide. MACTEC consistently ranks in the top 10% of Engineering News-Record's Top 500 Design Firms. The firm has been a fixture in New England for over 135 years, founded originally in the region as EC Jordan Company.

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