RE-Powering America's Land:
Evaluating the Feasibility of Siting Renewable Energy Production
on Potentially Contaminated Land
           Middleton, Wisconsin
EPA/NREL Partnership
In September 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the
RE-Powering America's Land: Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated
Land and Mine Sites initiative. EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy's National
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are collaborating on a project to evaluate the
feasibility of siting renewable energy production on potentially contaminated sites.
EPA has provided more than $650,000 through an interagency agreement that pairs
EPA's expertise on contaminated sites with NREL's expertise in renewable energy.
The project will analyze the feasibility of siting renewable energy on 12 sites across
the country. The analysis will include, among other things, the best renewable
energy technology for the site, the optimal area to locate the renewable energy
technology on the site, potential renewable energy generating capacity, the return
on investment, and the economic feasibility of the renewable energy projects. NREL
will also pursue an analysis to explore the potential for siting alternative fuel stations
(e.g., electric charging stations) at former gas station sites.

Refuse Hideaway Landfill Superfund Site
The Refuse Hideaway Landfill is a former landfill located in Middleton, Wisconsin. The
site is a 23-acre landfill on a 40-acre parcel and was operated by Refuse Hideaway,
Inc. from 1974 through 1988. During its operation, Refuse Hideaway received
approximately 1.2 million cubic yards of municipal, commercial and industrial waste
and was placed on EPA's Superfund National Priorities List in  1992. Groundwater
contamination at the site includes varying levels of volatile organic chemicals.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) believes the remediation system will operate indefinitely and would like to
install a photovoltaic (PV) system to power the treatment building at the landfill and reduce the treatment system's consumption of
grid electricity down to backup usage only. WDNR has funded a consultant and the purchase and installation of the PV equipment
using Wisconsin Environmental Fund money. The Department currently spends approximately $6,100 a year and uses 48,000
kilowatts a year operating the treatment building.

Feasibility Study: Fall 2009- Spring 2010
NREL, in conjunction with a consultant hired by WDNR, is conducting a study to analyze feasibility of using solar power at the
Refuse Hideaway Landfill Superfund site to run the ongoing remediation system.  It will:
       Review PV system size and type;
       Evaluate the economics of the proposed system; and
       Highlight financing options.
     Refuse Hideaway Landfill
          Superfund Site
          7812 Highway 14
        Middleton, Wisconsin
Site Facts:
  Site type: Superfund
  Renewable technology: Solar
  Generation potential: Energy for remediation

Contacts:
  EPA Region 5
  John Fagiolo
  fagiolo.john@epa.gov
  (312)886-0800
  National Renewable Energy Lab
  Gail Mosey
  gail.mosey@nrel.gov
  (303)384-7356
  www.nrel.gov
     For more information, visit www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland or contact cleanenergy@epa.gov
&ER
                        U.S. EPA OSWER

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