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

Jeddo Tunnel
The JeddoTunnel was constructed in the late 1800s in the deep coal formations
in the Middle Anthracite Region in Pennsylvania. It drains four major coal basins
covering nearly 33 square miles and averaging 40,000 gallons per minute or
60 million gallons per day. The local tributaries, including the Little Nescopeck Creek watershed, are severely impacted by
contaminants from previous mining activities.
The hydro-turbine could be used to offset power needs from nearby facilities, including a school, a senior home, and a water
treatment plant. The hydro-turbine would also be used as an educational tool for the students at the school.

Feasibility Study: Fall 2009- Spring 2010
NREL is conducting a feasibility study of installing a 40-100 kilowatt hydro-turbine facility to distribute power to local facilities. It will
also assess and evaluate whether the site is suitable to be a hydropower model for many of the other drainage tunnels throughout
the Anthracite Region. The study will:
        Provide a preliminary analysis of the economic and physical viability of the site;
        Assess the hydro and thermal resource and make hydro-turbine sizing recommendations;
        Review the economics of the proposed system(s); and
        Highlight financing options.
          Jeddo Tunnel
          Luzerne County
         Drums, Pennsylvania
Site Facts:
  Site type: Brownfields
  Renewable technology: Hydropower
  Generation potential: Community scale

Contacts:
  EPA Region 3
  Patricia Corbett
  corbett.patricia@epa.gov
  (215)814-3173
  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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