RE-Powering America's Land:
Evaluating the Feasibility of Siting Renewable Energy Production
on Potentially Contaminated Land
                       Puerto Rico
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.

Puerto Rico Landfill Sites
    Landfills Across Puerto Rico
Site Facts:
   Site type: RCRA sites
   Renewable technology: Solar
   Generation potential: Utility scale and energy
   for remediation

Contacts:
   EPA Region 2
   Vince Pitruzzello
   pitruzzello.vince@epa.gov
   (212)637-4354
   National Renewable Energy Lab
   Gail Mosey
   gail.mosey@nrel.gov
   (303) 384-7356
   www.nrel.gov
Puerto Rico has great solar resource potential, but there are limited solar energy
facilities. Closed landfills, which have few alternative uses, are one option for siting
solar facilities in Puerto Rico. Solar panels can be installed atop the cap to power landfill operation and maintenance activities and
for potential sale back to the power grid.
This study would examine landfills in Puerto Rico to determine which sites have the greatest potential for solar facilities. Important
characteristics include acreage and distance to transmission lines and roads.

Feasibility Study: Begins Spring 2010
NREL is conducting a feasibility analysis of placing solar panels on the landfills. The study will screen all landfills for solar siting
potential based on criteria such as acreage, slope, distance to graded road and to transmission and landfill closure date. This
preliminary screening will allow NREL to identify the highest potential sites to then more specifically:
        Identify possible photovoltaic system size and type for those sites;
        Review the economics of the proposed systems; and
        Highlight financing options.
     For more information, visit www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland or contact cleanenergy@epa.gov
&ER
                        U.S. EPA OSWER

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