A new 10MW solar array is set to be built in New York City, boosting the city’s solar energy capacity by 50%.

Located on 45 acres of land at Freshkills Park, a former landfill site on Staten Island (artist’s impression, pictured), it will generate enough clean electricity to power around 2,000 homes.

It is part of the PlaNYC initiative, the city’s long term sustainability plans, which include a goal of replacing all street lights with energy efficient LED lighting by 2017.

SunEdison, which is to build and run the solar plant will install between 30,000 to 35,000 solar panels on two sites in the park.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said: “Over the last 12 years we’ve restored wetlands and vegetation and opened new parks and soccer fields at the edges of the site. Thanks to the agreement we will increase the amount of solar energy produced in New York City by 50% and it is only fitting that Freshkills, once a daily dumping ground, will become a showcase [for] urban renewal and sustainability.”

The project is expected to be completed by 2016.