RE-Powering America's Land: Ulster, New York 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 256-acreTechCity site is the largest industrial site in the town of Ulster, New York. For decades, the property housed an industrial center, which was the economic heart of the Central Hudson Valley region. In the early 1990s, the plant closed and 8,000 jobs were lost. The plant closing left behind groundwater contamination that will require remediation over the next 100 years via a pump-and-treat system. TechCity has undertaken a multi-million dollar effort to redevelop the property including central utility decommissioning, running separate high-efficiency utilities and conducting ongoing planning and environmental work. Community Goals The redevelopment plant leaves large areas of more than 50 acres open for ground- mount solar and calls for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) over large-scale buildings, each of which is larger than five acres in size. Renewable energy manufacturing businesses have been attracted as tenants and currently manufacture PV modules, solar thermal products, LED lighting, and energy-efficient roofing materials onsite. Bringing renewable energy production to the site could further bolster the efforts of these green businesses. Feasibility Study: Solar EPA and NREL are collaborating to conduct a study on the potential for solar power generation on the TechCity 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 solar resource availability; ¦ Identify possible system size, design and location; and ¦ Review the economics of the proposed system. TechCity Ulster, New York Site Facts: Site type: RCRA Renewable technology: Solar Contacts: EPA Region 2 Vince Pitruzzello pitruzzello.vince@epa.gov (212) 637-4354 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. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/renewabieenergyiand or contact deanenergy@epa.gov &EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response November 2011 ------- |