DOE Renewable Energy from Contaminated Lands

A summary of points of interest from the DoE webcast on renewable energy from brownfields. The main takeaway is that the brownfield remediation funding provided by ARRA will be administered by the EPA and likely used for applications already received.  Individual states, however, might choose to pursue brownfield remediations in conjunction with renewable energy production using DoE State Energy Program funds provided by ARRA.

April 22, 2009 Webinar

Panel

• Otto VanGeet, NREL
• Misty Conrad, NREL
• Brian K. Johnson, New Mexico Energy Conservation and Management Division
• Pam Swingle, EPA Region 4, Office of Pollution Prevention and Innovation

Overview

DoE’s Technical Assistance Project (TAP) sponsored the webinar with participation from EPA.  The session focused on the steps required to develop renewable energy projects on contaminated or old industrial sites (brownfields).  DoE’s interest in brownfields centers around the potential for adding renewable energy capacity while the EPA is focused on remediating property and reducing demand on greenfields.

Considerations for the selection of brownfields for renewable energy development include the following:

• Renewable resource assessment: Example wind capacity
• Land access: Control for at least 20 years
• Transmission access: Ability to reach existing grid
• Economics: Value of energy produced offset investment
• Permitting: If federal land, NEPA requirements may be significant
• Power Production Agreement: Established with utility or owner
• Financing

There is the potential that individual states will apply State Energy Program funds received from DoE under the auspices of ARRA to pursue projects that turn brownfields into renewable energy production assets.  Also, EPA annually awards competitive grants for assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites to promote their redevelopment and reuse.  Applicants are usually municipalities or counties, but states may also apply.  An eligible entity may apply for up to $200,000 per site to address contamination by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.  Cleanup grants require a 20 percent cost share, which may be in the form of a contribution of money, labor, material, or services, and must be for eligible and allowable costs.

The ARRA appropriation of approximately $100M for brownfield grants will be administered by EPA.  EPA is expected to award the additional brownfield funding provided by ARRA based on applications already received for 2009.  Link to Presentations