Success Stories - Siting Renewable Energy on Contaminated Land Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada A Bright Future for the Nellis Air Force Base Site Description Nellis Air Force Base is a 14,000-acre facility located northeast of Las Vegas. It encompasses the Frenchman and Yucca Flats. The site provides advanced combat training and is home to every type of aircraft in the United States Air Force (USAF) inventory. The property itself is divided into three main areas, which include the airfield and mission support functions, munitions, and military housing. In addition, the property contains the Nevada Test and Training Range. Property History The 140 acres chosen for the solar facility includes a 33-acre former landfill. Operational from 1958 to 1966, the landfill contained debris from building demolition, paint sludge, wood buildings and other solid waste. In 1996, the landfill was capped with native soils and groundwater monitoring wells were installed for sampling every five years. Contaminants of concern were found in the 2005 sampling, including polychlorethene (PVC) and trichlorethene (methyl chloroform). ...The project's 2006 environmental impact statement determined that the landfill area, along with the adjacent desert land, was suitable for housing the solar project. Renewable Energy Development Working with the Nevada Power Company, SunPower Corp., and MMA Renewable Ventures LLC, the USAF developed renewable photovoltaic (PV) technology powerful enough to provide a quarter of the entire base's energy needs. The PV system consists of 72,416 solar panels on ground-mounted, fixed-tilt systems engineered to follow the path of sun. Generating 14 megawatts, the PV system covers 140 acres, including the 33-acre capped landfill. Constructing part of the PV system on top of this former landfill allowed Nellis Air Force Base to take advantage of land that could have remained vacant for decades, maximizing the project's cost effectiveness. Using funds from private-sector companies that received federal tax credits for solar power investment including Citibank, Allstate, John Hancock Financial Services, and Merrill Lynch, the USAF hired SunPower to construct the $100 million PV system from June to December 2007. Presently, MMA finances, owns and operates the PV system under a 20-year contract with the USAF. In return, the USAF is able to take advantage of power purchase agreements allowing Nellis to purchase electricity at a guaranteed fixed rate. The solar PV system is estimated to save the USAF $1 million annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 24,000 tons annually. QUICK FACTS: Location: Property Size: Site Ownership: Former Use: Contaminants: Project Type: Type of RE: Project Cost: Key Partners: Current Status: EPA Region 8, Clark County, Las Vegas, Nevada 140 acres United States Air Force Military base infrastructure & housing, weapons testing, landfill Polychlorethene (PVC), trichlorethene Not EPA-tracked Solar PV Estimated $100 Million; includes 72,416 solar panels on ground- mounted, fixed-tilt systems U.S. Air Force, SunPower Corporation, Nevada Power Company & MMA Renewable Ventures LLC Complete and operational PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS: Implementing a solar power system on the capped landfill area allowed Nellis Air Force Base to take advantage of land that could have remained vacant for decades. The renewable solar energy system allows NAFB to save $1 million on electricity and 24,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The project allows the Nevada Power Company to reach their solar power compliance goals six years ahead of schedule. Project is estimated to generate at least 25 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, enough to power 2350 homes. CONTACT: Nellis Air Force Base Captain Justin McVay Chief of Internal and Media Relations (702) 652-2407 CONTACT: SunPower Corp. Helen Kendrick (408) 240-5585 To learn more siting renewable energy on contaminated land, visit: www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland ------- |