The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are working together to examine the possibility of utilizing potentially contaminated sites, such as brownfields, Superfund sites and former landfills or mining sites as locations for renewable energy production. The study is part of EPA’s RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative, which was launched in 2008 to encourage the development of renewable energy on contaminated land.
There are 26 sites in 20 states that are being evaluated for the potential use of wind, solar, biomass or geothermal energy production. Each site will be evaluated to determine the best renewable energy type for the site, potential energy generating capacity, economic feasibility and return on investment.
Successful examples of renewable energy projects being constructed on contaminated sites are already in existence. Over 20 projects have been completed and more are underway. In 2010, a six megawatt solar array was built on a superfund site in Sacramento County, CA. The solar array is being used to power the cleanup of the site.
One possible site under evaluation is the West Haymarket brownfield site in Lincoln, NE. Funds from the feasibility study are being used to look at the possibility of using the site to generate renewable wind energy. The energy could be used to power a planned 16,000 seat arena and other civic, commercial and retail projects. Using wind energy would make the $340 million redevelopment project more sustainable and reduce its carbon footprint.
Another site undergoing evaluation is the Round Grove Creek Landfill, part of the Municipal Farm Site that is owned by the city of Kansas City, MO. The site offers just over 14 acres of clear, level land, located close to a public utility substation and power lines, making it an ideal site for solar energy production. Another area of the Municipal Farm Site, the Western Portion, contains 19 acres of brownfield sites and 120 acres of vacant, clear and level land located close to power lines and railroad lines, making the site ideal for biopower development.
The overall goal of these studies is to provide information on the best way to renew and revitalize the potentially contaminated sites while protecting public health and the environment and providing economic benefits to the communities around them, including the creation of jobs. Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response says, “These studies are the first step to transforming these sites from eyesores today to community assets tomorrow.”
