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 ------- |