NEW YORK CITY-The city’s efforts to revitalize the FreshKills landfill with solar and wind power on StatenIsland’s West Shore is coming closer to fruition after localofficials announced that the borough is officially seeking adeveloper for the 75-acre site. Deputy Mayor CasHolloway and representatives from the New YorkCity Economic Development Corp. and the Departmentof Environmental Protection were on-hand on Tuesdayafternoon for the official release of a request for proposals forthe design, construction, installation and operation of a solarfarm and wind turbines on the property.

“New York City needs energy to keep it running, and we want thatpower to be reliable, clean and affordable,” Holloway says,explaining that the RFP, if successful, will more than double therenewable energy capacity throughout the five boroughs. “Renewableenergy is the most sustainable kind, and under Mayor Bloomberg’sleadership we’re maximizing the use of city assets to develop asmuch as possible.”

According to the city, the property has the potential togenerate up to 20 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to powerroughly 6,000 homes. Borough President James P.Molinaro has previously proposed to erect seven 400-foot windturbines on the site, but the individual proposals mayvary. Submission dates are May 24, August 15, November 15 anda final submission date of February 15, 2013.