RE-Powering America's Land:
Evaluating the Feasibility of Siting Renewable Energy Production
on Potentially Contaminated Land
                St. Marks, Florida
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.

St. Marks Refinery Site
The City of St. Marks was originally founded in 1528 and is the third oldest
settlement in North America. The community's early sea-port business of shipping
and warehousing were supplemented by petroleum refineries and heavy industry.
The former St. Marks Refinery is the City's largest eyesore and a significant impediment to economic development. Built in 1954,
the refinery processed crude oil for jet fuel and asphalt, and manufactured specialty chemicals until it closed in 2001 after 47 years
of operation.
EPA's Region 4 Office is working with the City of St. Marks to further assess environmental issues at the site. The site has river access
and is adjacent to a City of Tallahassee power plant. It is available for redevelopment as a commercial or industrial installation.

Feasibility Study: Spring - Summer 2010
NREL is conducting a study to analyze the physical and financial feasibility of a  solar commercial generating station located on the
St. Marks Refinery site. The study will:
       Identify possible photovoltaic system size and type;
       Review the economics of the potential solar system; and
       Highlight financing options for the system.
      St. Marks Refinery, Inc.
         627 Port Leon Drive
          St. Marks, Florida
Site Facts:
  Site type: Brownfields (55 acres)
  Renewable technology: Solar
  Generation potential: Community scale

Contacts:
  EPA Region 4
  Margaret Olson
  olson.margaret@epa.gov
  (404) 562-8601
  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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