N.P. mayor sees money in town landfill

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The mayor of North Providence says a municipal landfill shut for 17 years could be a moneymaker from solar power.

The Providence Journal reports that Mayor Charles Lombardi says the 16-acre property could bring in as much as $100,000 to $150,000 a year.

He says much of the income would come from an energy company interested in using the site for a solar panel farm. Lombardi envisions a large collection of panels on about 13 acres.

Lombardi says town officials could lease the land to a solar energy developer or lease the property and collect a fee for maintaining the solar equipment.

He also says North Providence could lease 2 acres to K&R Auto Salvage for temporary storage of damaged automobiles for at least $16,000 a year.