RE-Powering America's Land:
Aurora, Colorado
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 146.4-acre property in Aurora, CO contains areas contaminated with petroleum,
solvents, and other contaminants, which originated from historic activities at nearby
Buckley Air Force Base. The property is zoned for industrial uses, and adjacent land
is owned by the city and maintained as parks, recreational land, and open space.
Because the property is located within Buckley Air Force Base's Accident Potential
Zone, it is subject to strict land use restrictions, including height, line-of-sight, and
radio-frequency restrictions.These restrictions significantly reduce redevelopment
options for the property.
Community Goals
The City of Aurora's 2009 Comprehensive Plan emphasizes strategies to increase
the number of renewable energy projects on city property, incentivize renewable
energy projects, and reduce the city's greenhouse emissions. With success of a 1-MW
solar system at Buckley AFB nearby and the inception of the Aurora Campus for
Renewable Energy, repurposing this vacant property for solar energy production
fits with the city's vision for the site and city-wide development plan. Given the
use restrictions and Colorado's abundant solar resource, a solar array looks to be a potential option to transform this site into a
community asset.
Feasibility Study: Solar
EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for solar power generation on the Property at the Northeast
Corner of 6th Avenue and Tower Road. 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 solar resource availability;
¦	Identify possible system size, design and location; and
¦	Review the economics of the proposed system.
For more information, visit www.epa.gov/renewabieenergyiand or contact deanenergy@epa.gov
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
November 2011
Property at the Northeast Corner of
6th Avenue and Tower Road
Aurora, Colorado
Site Facts:
Site type: Brownfield
Renewable technology: Solar
Contacts:
EPA Region 8
Timothy Rehder
rehder.timothy@epa.gov
(303)312-6293
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

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