RE-Powering America's Land: Putney, Vermont Evaluating the Feasibility of Siting Renewable Energy Production on Potentially Contaminated Land Feasibility Studies to RE-Power Communities The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's RE-Powering America's Land initiative encourages renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated land and mine sites when it is aligned with the community's vision for the site. 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.This effort pairs EPA's expertise on contaminated sites with NREL's expertise in renewable energy. The feasibility studies will provide site owners and communities with a realistic and achievable plan for putting renewable energy on a given site. Site Description The Basketville Warehouse site is a brownfield in the center of Putney Village, Vermont. From about 1969 until it was closed in 2002, the property operated as a basket manufacturing company. Before that, it operated as a woolen mill factory and a paper mill. The 6.1 -acre property contains seven buildings that are unoccupied or used as warehouse space. Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments conducted in 2006 and 2007 found elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the site soils. A draft cleanup plan was developed for the site's proposed reuse as an affordable housing complex, but the redevelopment did not take place and the proposed plan was not finalized. The property is fenced to limit human contact until a redevelopment plan is finalized and the property can be appropriately cleaned up. Community Goals The "Baskets to Biomass" project proposes development of a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) facility utilizing biopower at the Basketville site. The site is across the street from the town's largest energy consumer, the Putney Paper Company, which will benefit from the electricity and heat generated by the plant. In addition, nearby buildings could benefit from the heat produced with the development of a district heating system. If the proposed "Baskets to Biomass" project is feasible, the Phase I environmental site assessment will be revised and the draft cleanup plan will be updated to reflect this reuse. Feasibility Study: Biopower EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for biopower power generation on the Basketville Warehouse site. The feasibility study will evaluate the technical and economic opportunities and challenges at the site. It will: ¦ Provide a preliminary analysis of the viability of the site; ¦ Assess biopower potential; ¦ Identify possible facility type, size, and location; and ¦ Review the economics of the proposed facility. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/renewabieenergyiand or contact deanenergy@epa.gov Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response November 2011 Basketville Warehouse Site 7 Bellows Falls Road Putney, Vermont Site Facts: Site type: Brownfield Renewable technology: Biopower Contacts: EPA Region 1 John Podgurski podgurski.john@epa.gov (617)918-1296 EPA Headquarters Lura Matthews matthews.lura@epa.gov (202) 566-2539 www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland National Renewable Energy Lab Gail Mosey gail.mosey@nrel.gov (303) 384-7356 www.nrel.gov The information presented in this fact sheet comes from the proposal; EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. SEPA ------- |