Success Stories - Siting Renewable Energy on Contaminated Land Steel Winds, Lackawanna, New York Development of Wind Power Facility Helps Revitalize Rust Belt City Site Description The 30 acre former Bethlehem Steel Mill in Lackawanna, New York sat idle for 30 years. Situated on 2.2 miles of lakefront property on Lake Erie approximately six miles south of Buffalo, the former steel mill has been a symbol of economic downturn. Recently with the help of New York State, the US EPA, the City of Lackawanna, and private wind energy development partners, the site has become a promising symbol of economic development. Property History For almost 80 years, a steel mill owned by Bethlehem Steel operated on the shores of Lake Erie . At the height of production, the steel mill employed over 20,000 people. After the closing of the mill in the 1970s, the City of Lackawanna saw a ripple effect through its economy and a population decline of 30%. Currently, Lackawanna is designated as a New York State Empire Zone. Empire Zones are economically distressed cities and communities throughout New York that offer a variety of tax incentives to spur economic growth and job creation. The 30 acre site was contaminated with steel slag and industrial waste, preventing its redevelopment. In May 2002, EPA awarded the City of Lackawanna a $200,000 Assessment pilot to investigate contamination at various properties in the city, including the mill. Once the assessment was completed, the steel mill was chosen as a prime property for wind energy redevelopment because much of the construction could occur without the excavating the contaminated soil. Instead, the windmill foundations, service roads and green space cover the contamination. Renewable Energy Development QUICK FACTS: Location: Property Size: Site Ownership: Former Use: Contaminants: Project Type: Type of RE: Project Cost: Key Partners: Current Status: EPA Region 2, Erie County, NY 30 Acres Private - BQ Energy and UPC Wind Steel mill Heavy metals; acid mine drainage Region 2 Superfund; EPA Brownfields Wind Power $40 million State of New York; City of Lackawanna BQ Energy; UPC Wind; Clipper Windpower; EPA Up and running with an additional 10 wind turbines scheduled to be built The steel mill is an ideal site for the production of renewable energy because of existing transmissions lines and roads on the property. Wind studies concluded the property had a wind energy potential class of four out of seven and would be a suitable place for turbines. A wind energy potential class of 4 will generate between 400 and 500 watts of power per square meter that can be converted by a wind turbine. As the city progressed in planning the wind energy redevelopment, a name was given to the site, Steel Winds. Teaming up with BQ Energy and UPC Wind, Lackawanna was able to develop a strategy for the property that would power 9,000 homes a year. The developers chose the Liberty 2.5-megawatt wind turbines manufactured by Clipper Wind. In 2006, the turbines were some of the largest and most efficient on the market while also being easy to repair. Additionally, the turbines were domestically produced in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and are the largest manufactured in the United States. The City of Lackawanna also chose two local construction firms to supply the labor for the project, putting 40 people to work at the site. By June 2007, all eight turbines at Steel Winds were open for operation. The power generated at Steel Winds is sold as renewable energy certificates to Constellation NewEnergy, who then sell to homes and businesses. Currently, the wind mills employ about five people and in lieu of property taxes, BQ Energy will pay the City of Lackawanna $100,000 a year for the next 15 years. Future plans for the property include the construction of 10 additional turbines, bringing the site's total capacity to 45 megawatts. PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS: Steel Winds is one of the first urban wind farms in the country. Wind turbines were domestically manufactured in Cedar Rapids, IA. Wind turbines will generate over 50 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough electricity to power 9,000 homes. Steel Winds has received statewide recognition for the project and serves as a model project for other 'Rust Belt' communities, and the renewable energy generation potential of contaminated sites. CONTACT: City of Lackawanna Office of Economic Development, (716) 827-6421 To learn more siting renewable energy on contaminated land, visit: www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland ------- |