United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (51 02G)
EPA 542-F-l 1-006
April 2011
Green Remediation Best Management Practices:
Integrating Renewable Energy into Site Cleanup
Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Principles
for Greener Cleanups outline the Agency's policy for
evaluating and minimizing the environmental "footprint" of
activities undertaken when cleaning up a contaminated
site.1 Use of the best management practices (BMPs)
identified in EPA's series of green remediation fact sheets
can help project managers and other stakeholders apply
the principles on a routine basis, while maintaining the
cleanup objectives, ensuring protectiveness of a remedy,
and improving its environmental outcome.2
Overview
Use of renewable energy resources provides a significant
opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of
activities conducted during investigation, remediation, and
monitoring of hazardous waste sites. Substitution of energy
from fossil fuel resources
with energy from renew-
able resources is a primary
approach for addressing
energy as one of the five
core elements of green
remediation strategies. In
turn, lower consumption of
fossil fuel will reduce
emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) as well as particulate
matter and other air pollutants.
Materials
& Waste
Land&
Ecosystems
Air&
Atmosphere
Water
EPA estimates that operation of 12 common cleanup
technologies at Superfund sites could consume an
average of 631,000 MWh annually between 2008 and
2023,3 a quantity equivalent to the electricity
consumption in about 55,000 homes over one year.4
Technology
Average Annual
Electricity
Consumption (MWh)
Average
Annual Cost
($)*
Pump and treat
Thermal desorption
Multi-phase extraction
In situ thermal treatment
Air sparging
Soil vapor extraction
Ex situ stabilization
Other"
Total
490,000 52,381,000
93,000 9,941,700
18,700 1,999,030
13,000 1,389,700
10,000 1,069,000
6,700 716,230
22 2,352
6 641
631,428 MWh $67,499,653
* Using the August 2010 national average ot $1 06.90/MWh tor commercial use
**lncluding ex situ bioremediation otsoil, in situ bioremediation (source), in situ
chemical oxidation (source), in situ bioremediation ot groundwater, and in situ
chemical oxidation ot groundwater
Renewable sources of energy for production of electricity or
direct power needed for site cleanup can include:
* Solar resources captured by photovoltaic (PV), solar
thermal, and concentrating solar power systems
* Wind resources gathered through windmills to generate
mechanical power or turbines of various sizes to
generate electricity
* Geothermal resources, primarily through geoexchange
systems such as geothermal heat pumps or by accessing
subsurface reservoirs of hot water
* Hydrokinetic and marine resources, through the hydro-
power of rivers and streams or the tidal and thermal
influences of oceans, and
* Biomass such as untreated woody waste, agricultural
waste, animal waste, energy crops, landfill gas and
wastewater methane, anaerobic digestion, and algae.
Methane captured from decomposing organic materials in
landfills or wastewater treatment can also be used for direct
heating rather than for electricity generation. Aspects of
using this (ultimately finite) source of energy will be
described in EPA's upcoming fact sheet on best
management practices for addressing landfills at
contaminated sites.
Evaluating the potential for integrating renewable energy at
a hazardous waste site to achieve a "greener cleanup"
typically involves:
Lighten the
Energy Load First
Use your energy dollar
wisely by beginning with
an energy audit and
consistently using BMPs
for energy conservation
and efficiency.
Maxim/zing energy effi-
ciency and monitoring
energy demand of remedi-
ation system(s), auxiliary
equipment, buildings or
sheds, and the supporting
infrastructures for a new or
existing project [page 2]
Exploring potential applications for onsite production of
energy from renewable resources [page 2]
Conducting a preliminary renewable energy assessment
to obtain site-specific information [page 6]
Conducting a detailed economic and technical
feasibility study for large or utility-scale renewable
energy projects [page 6], and
Considering purchases of clean energy from offsite
resources through various mechanisms such as
renewable energy certificates [page 7].
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The Association of
Energy Engineers (AEE)
offers a directory of
professionals certified
by AEE in specialized
energy areas.5
Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Monitoring
Energy Demand
EPA's Principles for Greener Cleanups establish a goal to
reduce the environmental footprint of cleanup activities to
the maximum extent possible. To achieve this goal, a wide
variety of strategies could be employed to minimize total
energy use and maximize use of renewable energy, as one
element of a greener cleanup. General BMPs for energy
conservation and efficiency include:
Retaining in-house experts or hiring a professional
auditor to conduct an energy audit of existing systems for
treating contaminated soil/sediment, ground/surface
water, and air, as well as supporting buildings. A walk-
through with an auditor using thermographic equipment,
for example, can quickly
reveal air loss from heating or
cooling equipment. No/low
cost energy audits may be
available from a local utility
provider, and many state or
local agencies can assist in
finding qualified auditors.
Following equipment vendor recommendations for
routine maintenance, conducting periodic inspections,
and quickly repairing or upgrading industrial equipment
such as fans, pumps, air compressors, dryers, and steam
units, when needed.
Periodically re-evaluating existing treatment systems to
identify opportunities for remedial system optimization,
which could involve changes such as equipment
downsizing or shutoff. BMPs for optimizing efficiency of
common cleanup technologies such as pump-and-treat
(P&T), soil vapor extraction (SVE) systems, and
bioremediation are described in other fact sheets of
EPA's publication series on green remediation.6"' /c
Using Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)
energy conservation/efficiency tools such as the FEMP
checklist of measures for office settings (including
temporary modular or mobile facilities) and suggested
processes for procuring industrial equipment.7'8 Other
opportunities for technical and planning assistance to
add renewable energy sources at federal facilities may be
available through energy savings performance contracts
(ESPCs) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).9
Increased awareness of a cleanup project's energy
consumption often leads to increased use of energy
efficiency/conservation measures. Project managers are
encouraged to routinely track energy use through utility-
provided meter readings and tools such as:
Online calculators or software available from
government or non-profit organizations at no cost, such
as the NOx and Energy Assessment Tool (NxEAT); EPA
offers an online compendium of such tools10
Commercial software products
A plug-based meter to measure power use of small
devices consuming "vampire loads" (when the device is
turned off) and connection of these devices to a
switchable power strip or "smart" surge protector, and
An inexpensive whole-building, whole-system, or sub-
metering device installed at the electricity meter or
service panel to record and display consumption
information; this device also can be used to monitor
onsite energy production. At the Pemaco Superfund Site
in Maywood, CA, for example, an integrated DC/AC
system supporting groundwater
P&T operations and a roof-top
PV array provides real-time data
on daily and lifetime energy
production, PV array voltage
and current, and utility voltage
and frequency.
Additional reductions in energy costs can be gained by
modifying a treatment system to operate at a heavier load
during nonpeak, lower-cost hours assigned by the local
utility. This type of system optimization also will reduce
loads on the utility grid during peak hours. Other
information that can help an organization conduct a self
audit of industrial processes is available from the
EnergyStarฎ Program.11
How Clean Is the Electricity at
Your Site?
The Green Power Partnership
offers the PowerProfilertool to
determine air emissions
associated with your electricity
supplier's particular fuel mix.12
When designing a new
remedial system or
evaluating options to
increase efficiency of an
existing system, project
managers can also
consider offsite energy
usage such as the
electricity needed to manufacture remedial materials.
Doing so may help avoid simply shifting the energy
demand from an onsite to an offsite source or substituting
one form of petroleum-based energy with another.
Onsite Production of Renewable Energy
EPA encourages project managers to explore methods for
producing energy from onsite resources during all stages of
site investigation and remediation. Related BMPs include:
Using micro-scale forms of renewable energy for small
equipment and portable devices
Implementing small-scale renewable energy systems
(typically rated below 10 kW) that provide direct power
for selected components of a treatment system,
supplement energy drawn from the grid, or meet the
power demand of "polishing" technologies
Designing medium- and large-scale systems that meet
more or all of the onsite energy demand or much of the
demand over long-duration cleanups; system scaling
should account for potential reduction in the demand as
cleanup progresses, as well as the possibility to re-
purpose the system over time
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Considering utility-scale facilities (rated above 1 MW)
that meet onsite demand and/or feed to the grid for
offsite use, through partnerships with utility companies
and/or independent developers or through full ownership
Using hybrid systems that produce power from multiple
renewable resources
Designing phase-in approaches that accommodate
limited budgets for capital expenses or meet energy
demands of activities on uncontaminated portions of a
site over time
Striving for 100% onsite renewable energy sources at
remote locations to avoid increased utility loads and
costs for grid connection, and
Capitalizing on financial incentives such as federal or
state tax credits and rebates; in some incentive structures,
credits may be transferred from ineligible purchasers to
eligible project partners.
Field Applications
Use of these strategies and BMPs
in various scales and com-
binations is illustrated at several
ongoing or completed cleanups. At the GM Powertrain site
in Bedford, IN, for example, micro-scale PVequipment;was
used to power weather stations and stream gauge monitors
that guided removal actions along
a five-mile stretch of contaminated
soil. Information collected from
both the weather stations and
stream gauges was transmitted to
an onsite trailer where it was
recorded on a computer that
operated data logging software.
Use of this relatively inexpensive
system avoided the need for
frequent replacement of batteries
or infeasible access to grid
electricity at remote offsite locations. Solar-powered
equipment such as this also could be used during site
investigation, remediation feasibility studies, and
monitoring of long-term remedial work.
The Lake City Army Ammunition Plant near Kansas City,
MO, offers an example of integrated units comprising
commonly used reme- . .
dial equipment along
with a renewable en-
ergy source. Five
solar-powered skim-
mer pumps were used
to recover approxi-
mately 200 gallons of
non-aqueous phase
liquid from depths
reaching 180 feet. Each unit, which cost about $6,000,
included a 65-watt PV panel and a vacuum/canister pump
assembly. The recovery system fully operated off-grid and
could be transferred from one well to another, as needed.
Small-scale renewable energy systems can be designed
with or without intertie to the utility grid. Off-grid SVE at the
former Ferdula Landfill in Frankfurt, NY, relies on a wind-
driven vacuum process rather than
electrically powered air blowers.
Over the initial five years of
operation, concentrations of target
volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) decreased by more than
90%. Based on the amount of
energy provided by the system's
single windmill, the $14,000
capital/installation cost of this
wind system was recovered within
the first year of operation due to
avoided electricity purchasing. Operation and maintenance
(O&M) cost for the wind-driven extraction system is below
$500 each year. In contrast, the site owner estimates that
installation of a conventional, 25-hp blower-driven SVE
system achieving a comparable rate of VOC removal
would have cost nearly $500,000 and involved an annual
O&M cost of $75,000.
Small-scale systems can also introduce renewable energy
at sites with limited space or in densely populated areas. At
the Frontier Fertilizer Superfund Site in Davis, CA, a
$35,000 5.7-kW PV array was installed in 2007 on the
roof of a building used for ex situ groundwater treatment.
Successful integration of solar energy and availability of
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding
led to 2010 expansion with a significantly larger (68-kW),
ground-mounted PV system on 0.5 acres adjacent to the
building. The PV system
now meets 1 00% of the
remediation system's an-
nual energy demand,
which encompasses op-
eration of 1 6 wells that
extract groundwater for
treatment in granular
activated carbon vessels.
Costs for the new PV system totaled approximately
$350,000, which was fully covered by ARRA funding. EPA
Region 9 also will receive approximately $100,000 in state
renewable-energy rebates to be incrementally dispersed on
a monthly basis over five years; these funds will be applied
toward implementing the site's 25- to 30-year cleanup
plan. Based on a current annual savings of $20,000 (due
to avoided electricity purchases) and utility forecasts, the
federal government will recover capital and installation
costs for the new system in approximately 14 years.
Substitution of fossil-fuel generated electricity with the
onsite renewable energy is anticipated to reduce indirect
emission of carbon dioxide (equivalent) by approximately
119,000 pounds each year over the PV system's
anticipated 20-year lifespan.
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Some renewable energy systems
are designed to operate on- or off-
grid \o accommodate changing site
conditions or project constraints.
Decisions regarding grid-intertie
also may be affected by whether
production of excess energy can
result in financial benefits such as
utility net metering. At the former
Nebraska Ordnance Plant in Mead,
NE, for example, a 10-kW wind
turbine powers groundwater circulation wells used for air
stripping and ultraviolet (UV) treatment. The system reduces
consumption of utility electricity by 26% during grid intertie
mode but can also operate off-grid when needed. Over 1 5
years, the electricity savings could exceed $40,000.
Estimates at the time of wind turbine installation (2003)
suggested that a similarly sized system operating fully off-
grid would cost approximately $45,000.
Corrective action at the former St. Croix Alumina Plant in
St. Croix, VI, relies on a hybrid system that employs both
solar and wind resources to recover hydrocarbons from
groundwater. Since 2002, the system has expanded on a
modular basis to include:
Four wind-driven turbine compressors for powering seven
pneumatic pumps; four of the pumps are set at the
oil/water interface for skimming hydrocarbons, and three
are set below the water table for total fluid recovery
Four wind-driven electric generators (WEGs) to power
four submersible pumps and the fluid-gathering system;
at an average wind speed of 12 mph, each WEG
provides 6.8 kWh/day
A 495-watt PV system to provide additional electricity for
the submersible pumps and fluid-gathering system, and
Control panels that can draw electricity from either the
WEGs or PV panels, or both, as needed.
Use of this direct drive electricity system avoids the need for
storage batteries, consequently lowering the project's
capital and maintenance costs and avoiding battery
disposal. Capital costs (excluding wells and pumps) totaled
approximately $50,000, or about 50% of the expected cost
for grid connection. More savings were gained through
federal tax credits received by the site owner. Each day, the
system recovers approximately 1 13 gallons of free product
and 25,000 gallons of groundwater.
At the Summitville Mine Superfund Site in Colorado, a new
36-kW micro hydroelectric plant will begin operating in
201 1 after three years of construction. The plant will
generate electricity for an onsite water treatment facility
used for long-term treatment of mining-impacted water of
the Alamosa River network. Electricity production will rely
on energy of water diverted from Whiteman Fork Creek to
the plant, over a 65-foot
drop. Construction included
installing an inlet structure
and 16-inch penstock that
delivers diverted water to the
plant's turbine at an average
rate of 10 cubic feet per
second, although flow rates
will vary through the seasons.
The water treatment facility uses approximately 1 million
kWh of electricity each year to operate at a rate of 1,600
gallons per minute. (Due to snow buildup on nearby and
onsite roads, the site typically shuts down for five months
each year.) EPA Region 8 expects the new power plant to
generate approximately 145,000 kWh/year (equivalent to
powering about 20 homes) and avoid emission of 120
metric tons of carbon dioxide associated with regional
electricity production. This production rate will meet 15-
20% of the existing treatment facility's energy demand and
is expected to reduce cleanup costs by approximately
$15,000 each year due to avoided electricity purchases.
Near-term completion of a more efficient water treatment
facility is expected to additionally reduce the amount of
needed grid electricity.
Integration of renewable energy for site cleanup can also
involve creative partnerships. Groundwater remediation at
the Aerojet-General Corporation Superfund site in Rancho
Cordova, CA, for example, involves a public/private
partnership among the property owner, the Sacramento
Municipal Utility District (SMUD), and an energy developer.
Groundwater extraction and ex situ treatment is powered
by an onsite 6-MW solar farm. The 40-acre farm meets
about 30% of the remediation system's total power
demand, including electricity for air-stripping units, UV
reactors, and ion exchange vessels treating over 20 million
gallons of groundwater each day. Each year, substitution of
grid electricity with power generated by the solar farm
avoids an estimated
6,000 tons of carbon
dioxide, 5 tons of
nitrogen oxide, and 4
tons of sulfur dioxide.
Capital costs totaling
approximately $20
million are offset by
about $13 million in incentives to be provided by SMUD
over a 10-year period. Over the project's 25-year life, use
of solar energy is anticipated to save more than $10
million in electricity costs. Reuse plans for other parts of the
site include residential and industrial properties that could
benefit from future expansion of the solar farm.
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Lessons Learned
Based on information shared by
project managers experienced in
installation and use of onsite
renewable energy systems, EPA has identified BMPs
associated with logistics, such as:
Carefully planning transport of large and heavy
components such as wind turbine blades and nacelles;
this can involve state/local permits, schedules for police
escorts and suitable weather, navigation of structures
such as bridges, and travel on unpaved roads
Incorporating additional security measures to prevent
damage or theft of system components, and
Instituting clear maintenance plans for solar or wind
equipment and auxiliary components such as data
loggers (particularly components exposed to weather),
forecasting sufficient budgets for the maintenance, and
assuring the plan can continue during long-term O&M
conducted by state or other organizations; large systems
also need advanced plans for future decommissioning.
Other BMPs based on lessons learned relate to improved
remedial system designs and construction that can better
integrate renewable energy:
Siting a new treatment facility/system to meet renewable
energy system needs, even when onsite renewable energy
is not used immediately; for example, south-facing
orientation of a treatment building would maximize
benefits of a future PV system
Designing treatment systems that operate intermittently
(while still meeting cleanup goals) to match renewable
energy availability, consequently avoiding the need for
storage batteries that typically result in efficiency loss
Adequately freeze-proofing cleanup components such as
groundwater circulation wells during construction, to
avoid energy loss in pumps and auxiliary equipment used
on a year-round basis, and
Designing for maximum use of renewable energy to treat
air with low concentrations of contaminants; examples
include solar-powered flares for low volumes of passive
landfill gas, small solar-powered fans for mitigating soil
vapor intrusion into buildings, and vent stack-mounted
wind turbines to reduce pressure within air stacks and
draw soil vapor from beneath building slabs.
EPA also recognizes general practices in the renewable
energy industry:
Coordinating early with the local utility when designing a
renewable energy system to be tied to the grid, to assure
equipment such as circuit breakers and all installation
methods meet the utility's standards and maximizes
protection of utility lines as well as onsite power lines
Scheduling sufficient planning time that accounts for
operational permitting, availability of preferred installers,
and potential backlogs in equipment manufacturing
Taking advantage of economies of scale; for example,
labor costs for installing each unit of a large "surplus
energy" system may be lower than for a smaller system
Considering use of several microinverters rather than a
large central inverter for AC/DC conversion, to prevent
full shutdown if an individual component fails, and
Including solar thermal technology as an option, which
can be used to heat water needed for industrial systems
at a cost typically lower than PV systems.
Results from the Agency's remedial optimization studies
indicate that increased use of geothermal energy can
provide additional project efficiencies. Potential methods
for tapping this renewable source of energy include:
Using geothermal heat pump systems to condition
interior air of buildings; these systems rely on a relatively
simple ground heat exchanger and heat pump to capture
the natural heat (or cold air) in shallow ground, which
typically remains at 50-60ฐF
Integrating a heat exchange system to capture thermal
mass in pumped groundwater prior to treatment (and
reuse excess heat generated by P&T processes)
Using combined heat and power (CHP or
"cogeneration") to drive a closed-loop P&T system
Installing subsurface piping to access shallow aquifers
that also can provide a heat exchange system
Modifying equipment such as standard diesel generators
to recover, store, and reuse energy otherwise lost as
"waste heat," and
Installing heat collectors within ground surface asphalt,
from where a heat pump can recover and deliver heat to
aboveground areas or to contaminated subsurface areas
for enhanced biological degradation.
Managers of cleanup projects in the vicinity of suitable
feedstock producers can also use biomass resources to
generate energy. One simple application is the use of
electricity generators that are converted to operate on
material such as wood pellets instead of diesel fuel. In
contrast, DOE's Savannah River Site provides an example
of large-scale use of biomass resources. Two new biomass-
, , fueled boilers have
replaced fuel oil-fired
boilers that support K
Area and L Area
cleanups. The new
boilers operate on
100% biomass con-
sisting primarily of
forest logging residue
and local wood waste.
More information about renewable energy technologies for
remedial actions is available in EPA's Smart Energy
Resources Guide.13
EPA's RE-Powering America's Landinitiative identifies
renewable energy development potential on current and
formerly contaminated land and mine sites. Online
information includes state and national maps displaying these
sites and details about related incentives.14
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Renewable Energy Assessments
A renewable energy assessment provides general
information about how renewable resources could be used
to meet the energy needs of a cleanup. A qualified third-
party site assessor can fully analyze the site, its
infrastructure, and past records on energy use. Although
many assessors specialize in particular technologies such
as PV systems, some are qualified to assess multiple
resources. At sites where certain technologies are targeted,
vendors or installers of these systems may offer site
assessments for fees to be credited against future
purchasing or installation
costs. Yet others may
provide no-cost assessment
as part of a bidding
process, particularly for
large-scale projects.
The Midwest Renewable
Energy Association offers
an online locator for finding
certified assessors.I5
Project decision-makers should assure that a renewable
energy assessment includes:
General analysis of the energy demand and additional
recommendations for energy efficiency
Preliminary evaluation of the site's renewable energy
resources, which may include multiple sources
Estimated output of the renewable energy system(s)
Recommendations on specific locations at which to place
the system, and associated site conditions
An estimated cost range for the system, with a list of
specifications or conditions that could influence costs,
and
A list of pertinent federal, state, and public utility incen-
tives applying to the site.
Organizations such as trie
American Wind Energy
Association and Solar
Energy Industries Association
and local chapters offer
hands-on workshops and
webinars.16'17
Alternatively, in-house staff
who are properly trained in
planning and managing
renewable energy systems
(particularly small-scale
applications) can be an
asset to organizations that
manage or oversee clean-
up at multiple sites. Ready access to such experts may
reduce the costs and additional time associated with
procurement of outside consultants, improve treatment-
system optimization efforts, and enhance plans for long-
term remedial operations. In-house experts could also help
organizations gain efficiencies concerning administrative
and technical continuity among sites, including the
potential to reuse a renewable energy system no longer
needed for its original remedial purpose. During renewable
energy resource assessment, specialized activities could
include:
Researching existing data available from DOE's National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which offers maps,
geographical information system (GIS) data, and
meteorological ("met") data from U.S. measurement
stations18
Investigating access to data that may be available from
other organizations who routinely gather information at
nearby met towers
If insufficient data are available, conducting a detailed
wind energy evaluation through installation of one or
more met towers and interpretation of data collected
over 1 2 months
Using equipment such as radiometers and sun trackers
for precise measurement of solar radiation and using
online tools such as PV Watts19 or RETScreenฎ20 to
calculate energy production and cost savings
Integrating geothermal applications in treatment system
and building designs
Designing suitable specifications to include in materials
for procuring equipment, installers, or maintenance
providers of renewable energy systems, and
Using software models such as NREL's CREST or SAM to
assess renewable energy cost incentives.21
More information on
assessing solar, wind,
water, geothermal, and
biomass resources is
available from the DOE
Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy
(EERE).22
The Database of State
Incentives for Renewables
and Efficiency (DSIRE) is
frequently updated with new
information on state, local,
utility, and federal incentives
available in each state.23
Economic and Technical Feasibility Studies
A technical and economic feasibility study provides
detailed, site-specific information on the potential to install
a large or utility-scale renewable energy system. Based on
electric load and cost data for existing or in-design
treatment systems, the study will evaluate options and help
assure long-term cost savings. The study should include:
NREL's Feasibility Study of
Economics and Performance
of Solar Photovoltaics at the
Sfringfellow Superfund Site in
Riverside, CA, illustrates the
detail involved in renewable
energy studies.24
Detailed description of
the anticipated energy
resource
Estimates of annual
energy production
Annual O&M costs, and
Life-cycle cost analysis of
initial expenses, energy
savings, financial incentives, and simple payback.
The study also should compare costs and key technical
considerations for alternatives such as:
Continuing to purchase electricity from the existing utility
Integrating the renewable energy system into the existing
electrical distribution system with an appropriation or
other available funds
Integrating the renewable energy system into the existing
electrical distribution system under an ESPC or utility
energy savings contract, and
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Leasing a portion of the site to a third-party developer for
renewable energy production while purchasing
renewable electricity through a power purchase
agreement (PPA). The Fort Carson military base in
Colorado, for example, leases land to the local utility,
which in turn supplies electricity to the base at a
discount. Capital costs for the site's 2-MW solar farm,
which is situated on a new evapotranspiration landfill
cover, were paid by an independent developer. In
addition to reducing the base's operational costs,
installation of the solar farm provided the opportunity to
productively reuse areas occupied by the properly
capped landfill. Eval-
uation of the solar
energy potential also
led to installation of
several small, off-grid
PV systems for other
onsite needs, such as
pumping fresh water
to drinking tanks for
wildlife.
At the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR), multiple
assessments of renewable energy resources have led to a
comprehensive approach for installing renewable energy
systems as part of the U.S. Air Force Center for Engineering
and the Environment (AFCEE) optimization program.
MMR's remediation program involves nine P&T systems
(operating at a maximum flow rate of about 1 7-18 million
gallons per day) and a
widespread monitoring well
network. Annual electricity costs
for the treatment systems had
reached approximately $2.2
million by 2008.25 Under the
Massachusetts net metering
program, AFCEE anticipates a
seven- to eight-year return on a
$4.6 million, 1.5-MW wind
turbine that began operating
onsite in December 2009.
MMR completed a follow-on renewable energy study and
environmental assessment and subsequently awarded a
contract to construct two more 1.5-MW wind turbines. The
turbines will collectively offset 100% of the treatment
systems' energy use. In addition, NREL is conducting a
feasibility study (under EPA's RE-Powering America's Land
initiative) on viability of a solar farm at the MMR landfill.
EPA's Greener Cleanups Contracting and Administrative
Toolkit provides samples of specifications in service contracts
executed by EPA and other agencies to help institute use of
renewable energy during site cleanup. The Toolkit also
contains related language incorporated in records of decision,
consent decrees, and other administrative documents.
Purchasing Clean Energy from Offsite
Resources
EPA encourages voluntary purchases of clean energy for
use at sites where onsite production of renewable energy is
technically or economically infeasible or cannot meet the
full energy demand of cleanup. Recent NREL studies
estimate that the total retail sales of renewable energy in
voluntary markets exceeded 30 million MWh in 2009, a
1 7% increase from the previous year.
Cleanup project managers can work with their utility
procurement affiliates to purchase clean energy through a
number of options involving electricity generated from
offsite renewable resources ("green power") or renewable
energy certificates (RECs). Also known as "green tags,"
RECS represent the clean energy attributes of renewable
energy production. Sales of RECs accounted for
approximately 62% of the clean energy market in 2009.
In many cases, green power equal to all or a share of a
project's energy needs can be purchased directly from a
utility through a green pricing program. A list of utilities
offering green power options is available from EERE.27 In
states with restructured electricity markets, renewable
energy also is available from competitive providers of
electricity or RECs. Additional information about utility
green pricing, green power marketing, and RECs is
available from DOE's Green Power Network.28
When considering RFC purchases, the potential of a
purchase to encourage development of new renewable
energy projects should be evaluated. To additionally
maximize a RFC purchase's impact on growth of the
renewable energy sector, managers of long-term cleanup
projects can consider purchasing RECs as part of a five- to
ten-year year contract from a renewable energy project that
has not yet been built.
Many renewable energy products in the retail market are
certified by independent parties as a means of increasing
the credibility of renewable energy and environmental
benefit claims. The Green-e Energy program administered
by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions, for
example, provides clear criteria for renewable energy
products and enables sellers of renewable energy products
to voluntarily conform to the program's standard.29
More insight on clean energy is available in the Guide to
Purchasing Green Power: Renewable Electricity, Renewable
Energy Certificates, andOn-site Renewable Generation.30
Additional information, tools, and technical support are
available online from EPA's Green Power ป e,tn
program to : 4POWER
Partnership, a voluntary
encourage green power procurement.0
PARTNERSHIP
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A Sampling of Success Measures for
Integrating Renewable Energy into Cleanups
Increased substitution of fossil fuels with fuel produced from
renewable resources
Lower emission of CHC, as well as particulate matter and
other air pollutants
Lower energy costs associated with petroleum fuel
consumption
Contributions to state renewable energy portfolios and
national goals for energy independence
Reduced loads on utility infrastructures
Reduced environmental footprints associated with utility grid
extension and road extension to remote sites
Integrating Renewable Energy into Cleanup:
Recommended Checklist
Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Monitoring Demand
Conduct an energy audit
Conduct prescribed maintenance and inspections
Re-evaluate opportunities for system optimization
Track energy consumption through tools such as plug-in
meters and whole-system meter devices
Onsite Production of Renewable Energy
Integrate renewable energy sources at various scales
and from multiple resources
Pursue opportunities to "scale up" and generate surplus
electricity for credit or sale
Explore creative financing techniques such as tax credits,
rebates, and community partnerships
Renewable Energy Assessments
Assure preliminary assessments are conducted by
qualified personnel
Maintain in-house experts to assist with assessment and
follow-up purchasing and maintenance of systems
Economic and Technical Feasibility Studies
Assure a thorough study that includes energy production
estimates, O&M costs, and return on investment over
the life of a system
Examine other options such as energy production that is
integrated within the existing utility structure or a PPA
Purchasing Clean Energy from Offsite Resources
Voluntarily purchase clean energy as a substitute for
onsite production or to supplement offsite production
Select clean power products certified through an
independent third-party program such as Green-e
EPA appreciates the many document contributions from project managers
and others who are integrating renewable energy into site cleanup;
contributing practitioners include representatives of EPA regional offices,
AFCEE, USACE, and NY DEC.
References [Web ac
U.S. EPA; Principles for Greener C/eonups; August 27, 2009;
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/greencleanups/principles.html
U.S. EPA; Green Remediation: Incorporating Sustainable
Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites; EPA
542-R-08-002, April 2008; http://www.cluin.org/greenremediation
U.S. EPA; Energy and Carbon Footprint of NPL Sites: Tier 1 and Tier 2
Total NPL Sites 2008-2030; draft, September 3, 201 0
U.S. EPA; Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator;
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html
Association of Energy Engineers;
http://www.aeecenter.org/custom/cpdirectory/index.cfm
U.S. EPA; Green Remediation Best Management Practices:
ฐ Pump and Treat Technologies; EPA 542-F-09-005, December 2009
b Bioremediation; EPA 542-F-l 0-006, March 2010
cSoi/ Vapor Extraction & Air Sparging; EPA 542-F-l 0-007, March 2010
U.S. DOE FEMP; Office Energy Checklist;
http://wwwl .eere.energy.gov/femp/services/energy_aware_oec.html
U.S. DOE FEMP; Procuring Energy-Efficient Products;
http://wwwl .eere.energy.gov/femp/technologies/procuring_eeproduc
ts.html
U.S. DOE FEMP; Energy Savings Performance Contracts;
http://wwwl .eere.energy.gov/femp/financing/espcs.html
U.S. EPA; CLU-IN Green Remediation Focus; Footprint Assessment;
http://www.cl uin.org/green re mediation/subtab_b3.cfm
U.S. EPA; EnergyStar; Plant Energy Auditing;
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=industry.bus_industry_plant_
energy_auditing
U.S. EPA; Power Profiler;
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/buygp/powerprofiler.htm
U.S. EPA; Smart Energy Resources Guide; EPA 600/R-08/049, March
2008; http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/pubs/600r08049/600r08049.htm
U.S. EPA; RE-Powering America's Land;
http://www.epa.gov/oswercpa/
Midwest Renewable Energy Association; http://www.mreacsa.org/
American Wind Energy Association; http://www.awea.org/
Solar Energy Industries Association; http://www.seia.org/
U.S. DOE NREL; Renewable Resources Maps & Data;
http://www.nrel.gov/renewable_resources/
U.S. DOE NREL; PVWatts; http://www.nrel.gov/rredc/pvwatts/
Natural Resources Canada; RETScreen; http://www.retscreen.net/
U.S. DOE NREL; http://financere.nrel.gov/finance/content/CREST-
model; https://www.nrel.gov/analysis/sam/
U.S. DOE EERE; http://wwwl .eere.energy.gov/site_administration/
prog ra ms_offices. html
DSIRE; http://www.dsireusa.org/
U.S. DOE NREL; http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fyl 1 osti/48770.pdf
U.S. EPA; CLU-IN Green Remediation Focus;
http://www.cl uin.org/green re mediation/subtab_d32.cfm
26 U.S. EPA; Greener Cleanups Contracting and Administrative Toolkit;
http://www.cl uin.org/green re mediation/docs/Greener_Cleanups_Co
ntracting_and_Administrative_Toolkit.pdf
27 U.S. DOE EERE; Green Power Markets; http://apps3.eere.energy.gov
/greenpower/markets/pricing.shtml?page=0
28 U.S. DOE EERE; The Green Power Network;
http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/
29 Center for Resource Solutions; http://www.green-e.org
30 U.S. EPA; http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/documents/purchasing_
guide_for_web.pdf
31 U.S. EPA; Green Power Partnership; http://www.epa.gov/greenpower
EPA is publishing this fact sheet as a means of disseminating information
regarding the BMPs of green remediation; mention of specific products or
vendors does not constitute EPA endorsement.
Visit Green Remediation Focus online:
http://cluin.org/greenremediation
For more information, contact:
Carlos Pachon, OSWER/OSRTI (pachon.carlos@epa.gov)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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