July 2018 | Issue 17 RE Landfill Solar Project Leverages EPA/NREL Feasibility Study News Digest from EPA's RE-Powering America's Land Initiative Our Mission EPA launched RE-Powering America's Land: Siting Renewable Energy on Potentially Contaminated Lands, Landfills and Mine Sites to encourage the siting of renewable energy on thousands of currently and formerly contaminated properties across the nation. EPA recently launched 5)EPAIand on Twitter to help you learn about what is being done to protect and clean up our land. Stay up to date on topics including site cleanups, learn about renewable energy technologies on contaminated sites, sustainable materials management, and understand how EPA responds to hazardous material emergencies. Follow SEPAIand and join the conversation: https://twitter.eom/@EPAIand Spotlight - Landfill Solar Installation Combines EPA/NREL Feasibility Study and Community Solar Model Eau Claire, Wl, recently celebrated the powering of Sky Park Landfill Solar, a 1-MW solar installation on 7.5 acres of a former landfill. The 26-acre landfill accepted municipal solid waste from 1948 until 1965. The city-owned site is now capped and has been sitting idle since its closure. The city now receives lease revenue from the solar developer and offsets 100% of the energy use at the municipal swimming pool using energy credits from the solar project. The developer and contractor held a community volunteer dav to engage residents in construction of the project. -Powering News ------- The installation resulted in part from a solar photovoltaics (PV) feasibility study prepared by EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The study concluded that about 92% of the Sky Park Landfill was feasible for solar PV development, assuming the removal of vegetation from the majority of the site. - Photo Credit: City of Eau Claire The Sky Park solar installation is a community solar project, the first of its kind under utility Xcel Energy's Solar Connect Community. Customers who subscribed to the project will receive energy bill credits for 25 years. Subscriptions were sold at a minimum size of 200 watts, which is enough energy to offset about 3% of an average residential customer's usage. Subscriptions could be sized up to 100% of a customer's average annual usage, not to exceed 400 kW. The program is revenue neutral for Xcel Energy and paid for through the solar subscriptions. City officials also credit the Sky Park Landfill Solar project with helping them to receive Gold status under the DOE-funded SolSmart initiative. SolSmart uses criteria including permitting, utility engagement, community engagement, and market development to recognize and rank communities on removing obstacles to solar development. RE-Powering Publications Highlight Growth and Benefits of Renewable Energy on Contaminated Lands Using publicly available information, RE-Powering maintains an inventory of in-progress and completed renewable energy installations on contaminated sites and landfills, as well as the economic and environmental benefits associated with such sites. This information is highlighted in RE- Powering's RE-Powering Benefits Matrix and RE-Powering Tracking Matrix. As of December 2017, the RE-Powering Initiative had identified 253 renewable energy installations on 238 contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites, with a cumulative installed capacity of 1,398 megawatts (MW) and consistent growth in total installations since the inception of the RE-Powering Initiative. Approximately 69.5% of these installations are large-scale systems with a project capacity of 1 MW or more, either exporting energy onto the utility grid, offsetting onsite energy demands, or powering cleanup. RE-Powering Mapper Update RE-Powering recently released the RE-Powering Mapper 2.0. Like the original Mapper, the updated tool aiiows users to view information about renewable energy potential on more than 80,000 contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites. Users can connect easily to Mapper 2.0 online and can interact with the map, filter data, and print images for reports, among other useful features. The updated tool can be launched from the RE-Powering Mapping and Screening Tools webpage. This page includes useful resources, such as a 1-page Quick Start Guide, a full User Guide and the Data Documentation with explanations of the underlying data and screening criteria. Users can also download the Mapper spreadsheets and spatial data from this page. All sites included in Mapper 2.0 are from the most recent data collection and screening process completed in 2015. in 2018, RE- Powering is working to refresh these data and add additional states. JOB CREATION ENERGY SAVINGS RE- POWERING BENEFITS ENVIRON- MENTAL BENEFITS REVENUE ------- RE-Powering has also identified benefits, as reported by project stakeholders, for 204 of the total 253 renewable energy land installations the Initiative is tracking. These benefits include revenue from land leases and taxes, cost savings associated with renewable energy installations, and environmental benefits such as greenhouse gas offsets. While the RE-Powering Benefits Matrix is not a comprehensive assessment of all benefits associated with completed renewable energy projects on contaminated lands, it represents the breadth and magnitude of benefits being realized across the country by those developing these types of installations. Site Highlights The RE-Powering Tracking Matrix includes renewable energy installations on contaminated land across the United States, with sites ranging from former landfills to industrial properties. Some installations on the tracking matrix include: • Chevron Richmond Refinery Solar Project (CA): This 10.5-MW solar installation is constructed on a former oil refinery site, making productive use of a remediated landfill and compacted fertilizer ponds. The project was built in part by graduates of the RichmondBUILD academy, a public-private partnership that trains workers from low-income households for high-growth, high-wage construction and renewable energy jobs. Construction of the solar installation offered local economic benefits by requiring a workforce of 50% local residents and using Richmond-based contractors and suppliers. • Dover Landfill Solar (MA): This 1.4-MW solar installation will allow Dover and Boston metro residents to enjoy local clean energy at no cost to join, while saving 10% on their electricity bills. The installation is expected to avoid approximately 1,300 metric tons of C02 each year, equivalent to removing 270 cars from the roads or planting 1,250 acres of forest. The project also created local jobs and helped Dover achieve Green Community status, which will allow the town to apply for additional grant money from the state. • Osgood Landing Solar (MA): This 6-MW solar installation on a former manufacturing site and state-designated brownfield is supported by a Power Purchase Agreement that includes a 15% discount on electricity. The town expects to accumulate over $6 million in energy savings and payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, revenue over the life of the project. ------- Preserving Farmland and Open Space As available land for open space and farmland declines, many states across the country are increasingly examining the value of using brownfield sites for renewable energy. The use of landfills and other contaminated properties for renewable energy turns underutilized land productive and can help preserve open space and farmland as greenfields. A study from the University of California concluded that the use of non-greenfield sites—including contaminated lands—could help the state meet its 2025 electricity demands without sacrificing important farmland. In particular, the study examined land use and renewable energy options in the state's Central Valley. The Valley is an important agricultural region, providing more than 8% of total output in the United States. At the same time, the Central Valley area has high energy demand, and the location is ideal for solar. The competing need for farmland and renewable energy spurned the study, which concluded that opting for non-agricultural lands can still provide sufficient renewable energy development potential while also meeting objectives such as protecting air and water quality. The study examines the techno-ecological outcomes (e.g., grid reliability, air pollution reduction, fuel diversity) of four specific types of non-agricultural land for renewable energy: the built environment, including buildings, rooftops, and parking lots; land with soil too salty for farming; reclaimed contaminated land; and reservoirs. The study found that 2% (1,098 square kilometers) of the Central Valley is composed of contaminated lands, with a generation-based potential of 407 and 335 terawatt-hours/year for solar photovoltaics and concentrating solar power, respectively. The study also concluded that the majority of those contaminated sites are located within 10 kilometers of the 10 most-populated cities in the Valley, suggesting that renewable energy installations on such sites could be good options to meet high energy demands. Illinois Passes Legislation to Boost Renewable Energy Interest in renewable energy continues to grow across the United States. Many states now offer tax breaks or other financial incentives for renewable energy installations, and at least 29 states, 3 territories, and Washington, DC, have a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in place, requiring some percentage of total electricity generation from renewable energy resources. ------- In 2017, the state of Illinois implemented Public Act 99-0906 (known as the Future Energy Jobs Bill). With a focus on advancing the state's environmental goals through zero emissions energy generation, the Act promotes deployment of distributed energy resources, encourages investment in renewable energy resources, and updates the state's energy efficiency standards. The Act includes specific language noting the state General Assembly's findings that, "Developing brownfield solar projects in Illinois will help return blighted or contaminated land to productive use while enhancing public health and the well-being of Illinois residents." Public Act 99-0906 includes a provision for Zero Emission Credits, under which the Illinois Power Agency will procure 10-year contracts for Zero Emission Credits in a quantity equal to 16% of the energy delivered by utilities in 2014. The bill also revamps the state's RPS to include goals for procurement of renewable energy credits for a minimum 13% of each utility's load in the 2017 delivery year. This goal then increases by at least 1.5% each delivery year, to at least 25% by 2025 and continuing at no less than 25% of each utility's load for each subsequent delivery year. In August 2017, the Illinois Power Agency also issued the Fall 2017 Procurement Wind and Solar Requests for Proposals on behalf of the state's three major energy utilities. The RFP process was intended to identify bidders to provide for the delivery of 1,000,000 Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) per year from new utility-scale wind projects and 1,000,000 RECs per year from new utility-scale solar projects and brownfield photovoltaic projects over a 15-year contract period. The RFP deadline closed on August 1. Results have not been publicly released. EPA has pre-screened 6,985 contaminated sites in Illinois for renewable energy potential. This includes 5,541 sites tracked at the state level under the Illinois State Response Action and Illinois Voluntary State Response Program, and 1,444 sites tracked by EPA. Screening estimates total nearly 52,094 MW of potential renewable energy capacity on contaminated sites across Illinois. Maryland Pushes Renewable Energy Forward In some states, progress towards renewable energy is continuing despite potential setbacks. In Maryland, a group of environmental advocates, businesses, faith organizations, labor unions, and the Maryland NAACP recently proposed that the state increase its RPS to require Maryland utilities to buy half of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2030. The proposal follows on the heels of a decision earlier in the year to change the RPS from 20% by 2022 to 25% by 2020. EPA has pre-screened 337 contaminated sites (RCRA, Superfund, Brownfields, AML and Landfills) tracked by EPA in Maryland for renewable energy potential. RE-Powering is working with Maryland to include state-tracked sites in the 2018 RE-Powering Mapper update. ------- Resources Consideration of Greener Cleanup Activities in the Superfund Cleanup Process (EPA). This memorandum recommends approaches for regional remedial Superfund programs lo consider when evaluating "greener cleanup activities throughout the remedy selection process, including during response action selection and implementation. Regional managers should also consider these recommendations when evaluating non-time critical removal actions. The recommended approaches include use of best practices and other activities designed to reduce potential environmental impacts when implementing response actions under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 as amended. Sunshine for Mines: A Second Life for Legacy Mining Sites (Rocky Mountain Institute). The mining industry faces the challenge of decommissioning mines at the end of their productive life. Due to contamination from mining activities, productive alternative uses for the site—and, therefore, potential revenue sources—are limited. The Rocky Mountain Institute published a report that identifies key opportunities to employ renewable energy developments at legacy, or inactive, mine sites. Solar and wind energy developments are assessed for appropriate alternative uses for these sites and can produce revenue and transform former mining sites from liabilities into assets. 2017 Standard Scenarios: A U.S. Electricity Sector Outlook (National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL]). This NREL report illustrates how natural gas, wind, and solar photovoltaics (PV) make up the majority of projected future capacity additions across a wide range of scenarios. The report discusses four areas of recent and projected future change in the U.S. electricity sector: • Prevalence of natural gas and renewables for meeting future power sector capacity demand • Relative competitiveness of wind and PV • Potential impacts of low-cost energy storage • Impacts of nuclear power plant lifetimes on projected generation mixes. Utilizing the Energy Resource Potential of DOE Lands (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-managed lands continue to be a valuable asset among the nations' property holdings. The potential for energy projects has attracted the interest of the private sector, and DOE sites can now boast of housing projects that generate electric power using wind turbines and solar panels. DOE-managed lands present an opportunity that can result in leasing revenues or production interests payable to DOE by developers to offset the cost of maintaining such properties. ------- Existing, idle DOE-managed lands could become income generators, transitioning current liabilities into assets. Here Comes the Sun: A State Policy Handbook for Distributed Solar Energy (National Conference of State Legislatures). This handbook is designed for state legislators, legislative staff, energy officials, and others who want to learn about and assess state-level distributed solar photovoltaic policies. The handbook provides tools to investigate options and practices to leverage the economic and reliability benefits of solar energy while addressing the challenges presented by this localized approach to energy generation. This document covers the many options and innovative approaches states have implemented or considered when it comes to rate design, incentives, integration, financing, regulation and workforce development. The report also provides readers with references and resources for deeper exploration of the topics covered. Two Markets. Overlapping Goals: Exploring the Intersection of RPS and Voluntary Markets for Renewable Energy in the United States (The RPS Collaborative). This report explores interactions between renewable portfolio standards and voluntary markets for renewable energy in the United States, and outlines principles for supporting continued growth of both markets. A Prospective Analysis of the Costs. Benefits, and Impacts of U.S. Renewable Portfolio Standards (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). This report explores the potential costs, benefits, and other impacts of state renewable portfolio standards (RPS). This new report evaluates RPS policies prospectively, under a continuation of existing policies as well as possible renewable energy expansions. This is the third in a series of reports; the first two focused on the historical costs and the historical benefits and impacts of state RPS policies. Link to Rural Development and a Renewable Future (Center for Rural Affairs). The Midwest and Great Plains are home to much of the nation's installed wind energy capacity. This new report from the Center for Rural Affairs reports that rural communities in these regions stand to benefit from new renewable energy development as projects provide new economic activity, including tax revenue to rural communities, added income for landowners, and new jobs. ------- Save the Date Wind Project Repowering Due Diligence Summit (EUCI) - Denver; CO; August 13 -14, 2018 This program is designed to provide expert insight on the repower development market, providing holistic coverage of the financial, technical, and legal due diligence items involved in repowering wind farms, and insight on evaluating what constitutes as a bankable repower project. West Virginia Brownfields Conference (West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Centers) - Charleston, WV; September 5-7, 2018 The 2018 West Virginia Brownfields Conference will include sessions covering all aspects of brownfields redevelopment, interactive workshops, and two networking receptions. This redevelopment event attracts over 250 stakeholders including economic development professionals, environmental professionals, real estate developers, lawyers, state and local officials, EPA and other federal officials, entrepreneurs, planners, bankers, investors, and community redevelopment professionals. Renewable Energy 101 (EUCI) - Chicago, IL; September 10 -11, 2018 This course provides a thorough primer on renewables. It delivers insight into the technologies themselves, focusing on real-world cost and performance. It covers metrics for assessing renewable technologies, and comparing them to traditional generation. It untangles the complex issue of grid integration, detailing the technical and economic challenges that variable renewables impose on electricity grid operation. It offers a pragmatic guide to the various state and federal policies that impact renewables. Solar Power International & Energy Storage International 2018 (SEIA) - Anaheim, CA; September 24 - 27,2018 This event focuses on creating an environment that fosters the exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise for furthering solar energy development in the United States. ------- Pennsylvania Brownfields Conference (Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania) - Lehigh Valley, PA; October 1 - 3, 2018 The conference provides opportunities for transforming communities throughout Pennsylvania. The Conference is planned in collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP). AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium 2018 (AWEA) - Colorado Springs, CO; November 13 -15, 2018 The wind energy industry continues to experience rapid growth due to strong state and federal incentives. Over the next several years, the federal PTC will phase down so the time to focus on the next phase of wind energy growth and development is now. Contact Us v>EPA For more information, contact Marc Thomas via email at thomas.marc@epa.gov or visit http://www.epa.gov/re-powering. Disclaimer: All information in this newsletter is publicly available. References to third-party publications, websites, commercial products, process, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, are for informational purposes only. No endorsement or recommendation should be inferred and is not implied. EPA and the United States Government do not endorse any non-federal product, service or enterprise. United States Environmental Protection Agency ------- |