PMFORUM Breaking News
Breaking News in the Project Management World
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Clean energy projects on Contaminated Superfund Sites being studied in USA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department
of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are evaluating
the feasibility of developing renewable energy production on Superfund,
brownfields, and former landfill or mining sites. Superfund sites are
the most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in
the USA identified by EPA for cleanup due to the risk they pose to
human health or the environment. Brownfields are properties at which
expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence
of contaminants.
EPA is now investing in a project that pairs EPA's expertise on contaminated sites with the renewable energy expertise of NREL. The project is part of the RE-Powering America's Land initiative, which aims to decrease the amount of green space used for development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide health and economic benefits to local communities, including job creation.
The project will analyze the potential development of wind, solar, or small hydro development at 12 sites. The analysis will include determining the best renewable energy technology for the site, the optimal location for placement of the renewable energy technology on the site, potential energy generating capacity, the return on the investment, and the economic feasibility of the renewable energy projects. The 12 sites are located in Calif., Fla., Kan., Mass., Mich., Minn., Pa., Puerto Rico, R.I., W.Va., and Wis.
The
EPA estimates that there are approximately 490,000 sites and almost 15
million acres of potentially contaminated properties across the United
States that are tracked by EPA. This estimate includes Superfund,
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Brownfields, and
abandoned mine lands.
Photo right: Solar photovoltaic (PV) facility at a former landfill in Fort Carson, Colorado, USA courtesy of EPA.gov.
Cleanup goals have already been achieved and controls put in place to ensure long-term protection for more than 917,000 acres across the USA. Through coordination and partnerships among federal, state, tribal and other government agencies, utilities, communities and the private sector, many new renewable energy facilities can be developed on these potentially contaminated properties.
Some of the sites under consideration for renewable energy projects have completed cleanup activities, while others may be in various stages of assessment or cleanup. Renewable energy projects on these sites will be designed to accommodate the site conditions.
In September 2008, EPA launched the RE-Powering America's Land initiative to promote the developing of renewable energy on potentially contaminated land and mining sites. EPA partnered with NREL to do an initial screening to determine sites that may be used for renewable energy projects.
More information on the RE-Powering America's Land initiative, go to http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/
More information on NREL, visit http://www.nrel.gov/
EPA is now investing in a project that pairs EPA's expertise on contaminated sites with the renewable energy expertise of NREL. The project is part of the RE-Powering America's Land initiative, which aims to decrease the amount of green space used for development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide health and economic benefits to local communities, including job creation.
The project will analyze the potential development of wind, solar, or small hydro development at 12 sites. The analysis will include determining the best renewable energy technology for the site, the optimal location for placement of the renewable energy technology on the site, potential energy generating capacity, the return on the investment, and the economic feasibility of the renewable energy projects. The 12 sites are located in Calif., Fla., Kan., Mass., Mich., Minn., Pa., Puerto Rico, R.I., W.Va., and Wis.
Photo right: Solar photovoltaic (PV) facility at a former landfill in Fort Carson, Colorado, USA courtesy of EPA.gov.
Cleanup goals have already been achieved and controls put in place to ensure long-term protection for more than 917,000 acres across the USA. Through coordination and partnerships among federal, state, tribal and other government agencies, utilities, communities and the private sector, many new renewable energy facilities can be developed on these potentially contaminated properties.
Some of the sites under consideration for renewable energy projects have completed cleanup activities, while others may be in various stages of assessment or cleanup. Renewable energy projects on these sites will be designed to accommodate the site conditions.
In September 2008, EPA launched the RE-Powering America's Land initiative to promote the developing of renewable energy on potentially contaminated land and mining sites. EPA partnered with NREL to do an initial screening to determine sites that may be used for renewable energy projects.
More information on the RE-Powering America's Land initiative, go to http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/
More information on NREL, visit http://www.nrel.gov/