RE-POWERING
AMERICA'S LAND
INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING
MAPPER
FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis
Office of Land and Emergency Management


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

WHAT IS THE RE-POWERING MAPPER?

What Sites were Screened?

The RE-Powering Mapper is a Web-based geographic information tool
developed by EPA's RE-Powering America's Land initiative that provides
information on location and renewable energy potential for contaminated
lands, landfills and mine sites. The site data are collected from state and federal
sources. Each screened site includes attributes such as resource capacity
potential and proximity to electric transmission lines. Within the RE-Powering
Mapper, users can filter, query and select sites that have pre-screened favorably
for solar, wind, biomass/biofuel and geothermal energy potential. The Mapper
is a first step in the process for finding contaminated lands to site renewable
energy. Additional site-specific research and analyses are needed to verify
viability for renewable energy project development at a given site.

in 2021, the RE-Powering Mapper screened over 190,000 sites for
renewable energy potential. This includes 43,476 sites collected from EPA
program databases, including: Superfund, Brownfields grantees, Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action and the Landfill
Methane Outreach Program.

An additional 147,500 sites were collected from state programs in California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

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Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Mafiagemen t

AEPA


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

What is the Renewable Energy Potential of
Screened Sites?1

Using information gathered about the RE-Powering screened sites, technical
potential can be estimated at these sites. Identifying technical potential at
a site is the first step in the process of determining if renewable energy is a
viable reuse of a site. After technical potential is determined to be sufficient
at the site more site-specific information including economical information,
market costs, technical constraints and policy considerations are reviewed
for the site. Market and economic potential were not calculated for the RE-
Powering screened sites because this information is locally dependent and
subject to change, while technical potential does not have a cost element and
not as likely to fluctuate over time.

Technical Potential for Screened RE-Powering Sites:
over 1,078,000 MW

Overall Potential

Market potential - The portion of the
economic potential that could be achieved
given current costs, policies and
technical constraints.

Economic potential - The portion of the
technical potential that is economically
viable, but requires additional policies to
break down market barriers.

Technical potential - Potential that is
technically possible, without consideration
of cost or practical feasibility.

1 For renewable energy potential when a site screened positively for multiple renewable energy types, the type with the greatest
capacity value was used. Duplicate sites may exist.

Potential Installed Capacity Based on Percentage of Acreage
Screened and Reused for Renewable Energy Development

10%

25%

50%

100%

Of Acres

Of Acres

Of Acres

Of Acres

Over

Over

Over

Over

107,800

269,500

539,000

1,078,000

MW

MW

MW

MW

Results by Technology

Screening Results

All Sites

Sites

Acres

Est. Capacity
(MW)

All Technologies

190,976

39,604,078

1,078,000

Solar

190,976

39,604,078

885,907

Wind

111,849

33,027,493

178,710
347,040
N/A

Biomass

31,037

33,452,225

Geothermal

190,956

39,603,987

v>EPA

Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Management


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

Highlights and Opportunities

The screened sites represent thousands of acres of land with renewable energy
development potential (see chart below). The reuse of these often under-
utilized properties as renewable energy systems may represent an opportunity
for cost savings, additional revenue and job growth for local communities.

These projects can also help communities advance clean energy goals and
reduce their greenhouse gas footprint.

Based on resource availability, site size and distance from existing infrastructure,
the RE-Powering Mapper identified:

158,171 sites screen positively for renewable energy potential in states that
have a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) or goal.

70,811 sites screen positively for renewable energy potential in states that
have a RE-Powering policy that encourages renewable
energy on contaminated lands.

33,910 sites screen positively for distributed-
scale photovoltaic (PV) solar or larger in states that
encourage community solar or other
shared renewables.

82,090 sites screen positively for off-grid solar and
could be used on-site to reduce energy use or power
green remediation.

3,667 sites screened positively for biofuels.

Solar on Landfills

Closed landfills represent unique opportunities for developing solar resources.
Landfills are typically located near transmission lines and roads, near population
centers and cover larger areas with minimal grade. Most municipalities have
landfills and the land costs are usually lower when compared to open spaces.
The RE-Powering Mapper includes 18,298 landfills that screened positively for
solar potential.

As of 2021, the RE-Powering Initiative has identified 297 completed solar on
landfill projects generating 881.7 MW of electricity. For example, the East
Providence, Rl, landfill is home to a 14-acre, 3.7-MW solar project completed
under a 15-year Power Purchase Agreement with the local utility. The project
leveraged additional clean-up efforts by using gravel from a highway demolition
project and compost from the landfill to cap the site.

The RE-Powering mapper
includes 18,298 landfills that
screened positively for
solar potential.

EPA SUPERFUND

1,885 sites

9 Million acres

<§> 149,297 mw capacity

EPA BROWNFIELDS

Mb 35,067 sites
Ulllll

1.4 Million acres
1 05,1 50 MW capacity

EPA RCRA

3,864 sites

15.3 Million acres

MINE LANDS

17,756 sites

1.5 Million acres

89,525 mw capacity

LANDFILLS

ML 18,298 sites
uimi

491,639 acres
57,400 MW capacity

STATE TRACKED

147,500 sites

13.5 Million acres

272,346 MW capacity

4 I Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Managemen t




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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

Solar Technologies
What is Solar Energy?

Solar technologies generate electricity from the
sun's energy. There are several different types of
solar energy technologies. The RE-Powering Mapper
only includes solar PV technology. Solar PV converts
the sun's light energy directly into electricity. PV
technology is scalable; the amount of electricity
generated is directly related to the number and
efficiency of installed panels. It can technically be
sited anywhere, though the economics may make
a project unfeasible in lower resource areas. Four
scales of solar PV were evaluated:

Utility Scale PV Solar - Uses PV technology
at the 5 MW and greater scale at sites with
the greatest resource and acreage availability.
Electricity generated is typically exported to
the grid.

Distributed Scale PV Solar - Uses PV
technology at the 5 MW and lower scale at
sites with strong resource and smaller acreage
availability. Electricity generated may be
exported to the grid or used to offset onsite
electricity consumption, depending on site
requirements and market conditions.

Off-grid PV Solar - This category represents
PV technology being used at a smaller scale,
typically to power the energy needs of a single
property when interconnection to the grid may
not be feasible. Additional sites with lower solar
resource may be technically and economically
feasible depending on the potential for battery
backup and cost barriers associated with grid
interconnection (e.g., due to remote locations).

Unknown Acreage PV Solar - These sites might
be suitable for the above scales, but acreage
information is not available.

Annual Average Solar Resource

PV Solar Results by Technology Scale

Screening Results

All Sites

Sites

Acres

Est. Capacity (MW)

Utility Scale PV

17,649

38,973,009

838,291

Distributed Scale PV

64,268

328,552

47,616

Off-Grid PV

82,090

39,604,078

N/A

Unknown Acreage PV

108,886

N/A

N/A

Annual Average Solar
Global Horizontal Irradiance
kWh/m2/day

2.94- 4.00
4.01-4.25
4.26-4.50
4.51-4.75
4.76-5.00
5.01-5.25
| 5.26-5.50
| 5.51-5.75
I 5.76-7.00

v>EPA

Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Management I 5-


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE: RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

What are Examples of Successful Solar PV Projects on
Contaminated Land?

RE-Powering America's Land Initiative tracks the installation of renewable
energy projects on contaminated lands, landfills and mine sites:

Solar at an Abandoned Copper Mine—Developers installed a 7-MW solar PV
array in 2017 at the Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site in Strafford, Vermont. The
$65 million solar project is located on 28 acres of the abandoned copper mine,
making productive use of land contaminated with sulfuric acid and metallic
tailings (sulfide ore). Operating from the early 1800s through 1958, Elizabeth
Mine was once the largest copper producer in the United States. The site's 150
years of mining activity contaminated groundwater, surface water and nearby
streams, leading to a Superfund designation in 2001. Remedial action has
addressed contamination, and EPA continues to monitor the cover system for
the tailing impoundment as well as surface water and groundwater conditions.
Developers began work on the 19,900-panel solar project in 2010. Because of
the remote nature of the site, the developer had to coordinate with the local
utility (Green Mountain Power) for an interconnection. The project included an
upgrade of approximately four miles of utility lines, 10 miles of dedicated fiber
optic communications line, and an upgrade to the regional substation. These
grid upgrades benefited the community with a more reliable electrical system.
In addition, developers used local civil, mechanical and electrical contractors
for the project, driving employment for the local economy. It is estimated that
the project avoids 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide (C02) and provides electricity
sufficient to power 1,200 homes annually.

Solar panels installed at the Elizabeth Mine project in Strafford, Vermont.

I I Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office, of Land and Emergency Management

APRIL 2023

Solar for Groundwater Remediation—There are several cases in which PV
solar facilities have been used to power groundwater remediation on Superfund
sites, such as the Frontier Fertilizer site in Davis, California; the Pemaco
site in Maywood, California; the Apache Powder site near Benson, Arizona;
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory near Livermore, California; and the
Re-Solve chemical reclamation site in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.These solar
projects provide significant energy cost savings and, in some cases, support
groundwater treatment in remote areas that would otherwise require the
installation of costly power lines or generators.

¦i—

The Elizabeth Mine Superfund Site project in
Strafford, Vermont included an upgrade of
approximately four miles of utility lines, ten miles
of dedicated fiber optic communications line, and
an upgrade to the regional substation.

AEPA


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

Wind Technologies
What is Wind Energy?

Wind energy is captured by wind turbines with
propeller-like blades mounted on a tower. The force
of the wind causes the rotor to spin and the turning
shaft spins a turbine to generate electricity. Wind
technology is scalable; based on site conditions,
different turbine designs can be used to meet
different electricity needs. The following types of
wind production were evaluated:

Utility Scale Wind - Uses wind technology
at the 15 MW or greater scale at sites with the
greatest resource and acreage availability.
Electricity generated is typically exported to
the grid.

Community Scale Wind - Uses wind
technology at the 1.5 to 15 MW scale at sites
with strong resource and smaller acreage
availability. Electricity generated may be
exported to the grid or used to offset onsite
electricity consumption, depending on site
requirements and market conditions.

Facility Scale Wind - Uses wind technology
at the 1.5 MW or less scale at sites with limited
acreage, potentially using a range of turbine
sizes. Electricity generated may be distributed
to the local area through the distribution
system, often serving only adjacent properties,
or more commonly to power the energy needs
of a single property when interconnection to
the grid may not be feasible.

Unknown Acreage Wind - These sites might
be suitable for the above scales, but acreage
information is not available.

Wind Speed at 80 Meters

meters

Wind Speed at 80
meters/second

i 1.31-3.90

Wind Results by Technology Scale

Screening Results

All Sites

Sites

Acres

Est. Capacity (MW)

Utility Scale Wind

601

31,019,207

155,350

Community Scale Wind

9,770

1,868,763

23,359

Facility Scale Wind

18,851

139,521

N/A

Unknown Acreage Wind

82,627

N/A

N/A

v>EPA

Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Management I f


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

What is an Example of a Successful Wind Energy Project on
Contaminated Land?

The Bethlehem Steel Mill site, located in Hamburg arid Lackawanna, New York,
is now home to two wind projects totaling 35 MW of capacity. The site served as
a steel mill for nearly 80 years before closing in the mid-1980s—leaving behind
a 1,600-acre site contaminated with steel slag, industrial waste and mine acid
drainage. The site became the subject of an EPA RCRA facility investigation
in the 1990s. In 2006, EPA declared a 30-acre tract of the site suitable for a
wind project, and developers worked with the state to place a protective cap
and groundwater monitoring wells before installing 2.5-MW turbines. The
installations were completed in phases, with one 20-MW, 8-turbine project
completed in 2007 and the second 15-MW, 6-turbine project completed in
2012.The two projects combined provide approximately $190,000 in annual
tax revenues for local communities and school districts and created five
permanent green jobs and 140 construction jobs in an area with historically
high unemployment.

8 I Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office, of Land and Emergency Management

APRIL 2023

The two projects combined provide approximately
$ 190,000 in annual tax revenues for local
communities and school districts and created
five permanent green jobs and 140
construction jobs in an area with historically high

unemployment.

AEPA


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE: RE-

Biomass Technologies
What is Biomass Energy?

Biomass energy or "bioenergy" is generated from
organic feedstocks. Wood is the largest biomass
energy resource. Other sources of biomass include
food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues
from agriculture or forestry and the organic
component of municipal and industrial wastes.
These feedstocks can be used as a solid fuel or
converted into liquid or gaseous forms to produce
electric power, heat, chemicals or fuels. Two types
of biomass production were evaluated:

Biopower facility - Burns biomass resources
to produce heat, which is used to boil water
for a conventional steam-turbine generator
to produce electricity. Biopower facilities use
cumulative biomass resources that can include
residues from woody stock such as forests,
primary and secondary mills and urban
wood waste.

Biofuels facility - Integrates biomass
conversion processes and equipment to
produce fuels, power and chemicals from
biomass. The technology uses cumulative
herbaceous sources such as crop residues.

v>EPA

SHEET

APRIL 2023

Solid Biomass Feed Stock by County

Biomass Results by Technology Type

Solid Biomass
metric tons/year

0 - 50,000
50,001 -100,000
100,001 -150,000
| 150,001 -250,000
| 250,001 - 500,000
H 500,001 -2,012,602

All Sites

Sites

Acres

Est. Capacity (MW)

3,667

16,992,986

73,340

30,909

31,918,868

309,090

Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Managemen t I 9


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

What is an Example of a Successful Biomass Energy Project on
Contaminated Land?

The Savannah River Steam Plant in Aiken, South Carolina, is located on a
federally owned Superfund site that was once home to a coal-fired steam plant.
Today, the site features a 20-MW biomass-fueled steam cogeneration plant
and two smaller biomass-fueled plants. The installations provide power for site
operations for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security
Administration. The developer secured an Energy Savings Performance Contract
(ESPC) to finance, design, construct, operate, maintain and fuel the facility under
a 19-year fixed price contract valued at $795 million. The ESPC uses contractor-
guaranteed savings in energy and operational costs to fund the project under a
financed mortgage.The Savannah River biomass project provides an estimated
$36 million in annual energy savings and contributes to DOE's renewable
energy goals, while also reducing water consumption, lowering operating and
maintenance costs, and reducing pollutant emissions.

18 I Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office, of Land and Emergency Managemen t

The Savannah River biomass project provides an
estimated $36 million in annual energy savings
and contributes to DOE's renewable energy goals,
while also reducing water consumption, lowering
operating and maintenance costs, and reducing
pollutant emissions.

AEPA

irling ton, V7


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RE-POWERING AMERICA'S LAND INITIATIVE:

RE-POWERING MAPPER FACT SHEET

APRIL 2023

Geothermal Technologies
What is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal facilities use heat stored in the earth to generate electricity. This
heat comes from the original formation of the planet, radioactive decay of
minerals, tectonic activity and solar energy absorbed at the surface. Geothermal
energy is unique when compared to other renewable energy resources because
it is more closely related to mineral or conventional fossil fuel resources, due to
subsurface characterization. One type of geothermal production was evaluated:

Geothermal heat pump-The upper 10 feet of the Earth maintains a nearly
constant temperature between 50° and 60°F (10°-16°C). Geothermal heat
pumps take advantage of this resource to heat and cool buildings and heat
water. Geothermal heat pump systems consist of three parts: the ground loop
heat exchanger, the heat pump unit and the air delivery system (ductwork).
The ground loop heat exchanger is a system of pipes buried in the shallow
ground near the building (or in a vertical well if land for a horizontal loop
is limited). Water source heat pumps work on the same principle as ground
source systems but use an adjacent body of water as the heat sink. A fluid
(usually water or a mixture of water and antifreeze) circulates through
the loop to absorb or relinquish heat within the ground. Geothermal heat
pumps use much less energy than conventional heating systems since they
draw heat from the ground. Geothermal heat pumps typically serve a single
property, though they may also be viable for use in multi-tenant applications
such as integrated district heating systems.

Geothermal Results by Technology Type

Screening Results

All Sites

Sites

Acres

Est. Capacity

(MW)

Geothermal Heat Pump

190,956

39,603,987

N/A

What is an Example of a Successful Geothermal Energy Project on
Contaminated Land?

Davton Tech Town, located in downtown Dayton, Ohio is a premier
technology-focused business campus. The Creative Technology Accelerator
(CTA) building is a sustainable facility that includes a geothermal heating and
cooling system. Previously, the site was home to the General Motors (GM)
Delphi Harrison Thermal System Facility. The GM plant occupied 40 acres and
produced automotive air conditioning compressors and related components,
electric refrigerators, household appliances and machine guns during World
War II. There are documented incidents of spills of solvents, plating materials
and petroleum products that were used in facility operations. The CTA
building is certified Gold in the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
(LEED) program. LEED certification recognizes green building and best-in-
class building strategies and practices. The building is expected to save over
$66,000 and 300,000 kilowatt-hours/year related to sustainable building and
the geothermal system.

Tech Town Campus. Photo courtesy of City Wide Development.

v>EPA

Office of Communications, Partnerships, and Analysis Office of Land and Emergency Management I 11


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&EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency


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