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Success Stories and Case Studies on Siting Renewable Energy on Contaminated Land and Mine Sites
The following fact sheets highlight how contaminated land and mine sites that have been revitalized as viable source of renewable energy. If you have a project to be highlighted, please contact cleanenergy@epa.gov.
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Renewable Energy Electricity Generation Facilities
- Casper Winds Wind Facility, Wyoming
- Fort Carson Solar Array, Colorado
- Bethlehem Steel Winds Project, New York
- Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
- New Rifle Mill Site, Colorado
- West Contra Costa County Wastewater District, California
Renewable Energy Powering Remediation
- Apache Powder, Arizona
- Frontier Fertilizer, California
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California
- Operating Industries Landfill, California
- Pemaco, California
- Summitville Mine Site, Colorado
Renewable Energy Powering Brownfields Redevelopment
Retooling Brownfields for Green Manufacturing
Renewable Energy Electricity Generation Facilities
Casper Winds Wind Facility, Wyoming (PDF)
(4 pp, 548K)
While Chevron is remediating soil and ground water at a former petroleum refinery in Casper, Wyoming, the company is using part of the property for the 16.5 megawatt
(MW) Casper Wind facility, bringing a productive use to otherwise idle land. Though the project faced some opposition from nearby residents, Chevron worked collaboratively
through a public process to respond to environmental and aesthetic concerns, and successfully complete a wind power-generating facility.
Fort Carson Solar Array, Colorado (PDF) (1 pg, 377K)
Former Landfill Becomes Home to the Army's Largest Solar Array
- Solar panels sited on 15-acre decommissioned landfill.
- 2 MW, 12-acre solar PV array generates 3,200 MWh of electricity annually, 2.3 percent of Fort Carson’s energy consumption.
- Fort Carson purchases power at reduced rate under 20-year power purchase agreement with local utility.
Bethlehem Steel Winds Project, New York (PDF)
(1 pg, 321K)
Development of Wind Power Facility Helps Revitalize Rust Belt City
- 30-acre former steel mill on Lake Erie shoreline.
- 18 wind turbines generate enough electricity annually to power 9,000 homes.
- Power sold as renewable energy certificates to Constellation New Energy, which provides power to homes and businesses.
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada (PDF)
(1 pg, 394K)
A Bright Energy Future for Nellis Air Force Base
- U.S. Air Force-owned site includes 33-acre decommissioned landfill.
- 140-acre, 14 MW Solar PV array provides enough power to meet 25% of the base's energy need.
- Nellis AFB saves $1 million annually on electricity.
New Rifle Mill Site, Colorado (PDF)
(2 pp, 481K)
Solar Energy to Power Wastewater Reclamation at Former Uranium Processing Site
- 2.3 MW combined PV solar system powers reclamation of contaminated wastewater.
- City of Rifle saved $2 million siting 12-acre system on city-owned contaminated land.
- Rifle Energy Innovation Center adjacent to the site will foster research and entrepreneurship in solar, biomass and geothermal energy.
West Contra Costa County Wastewater District, California (PDF)
(1 pg, 329K)
Innovative Solar Technology Turns Unusable Land into Power Generating Property
- Solar panels sited in 10-acre storm water collection basin.
- 1 MW solar PV system generates 30% of urban wastewater treatment facility’s electricity needs.
Renewable Energy Powering Remediation
(Green Remediation)
Apache Powder, Arizona (PDF) (1 pg, 382K)
Solar and Wind Energy Used to Power Cleanup of Contaminated Ground Water at Apache Powder
- 1,100-acre Superfund Site in Rio Cochise County, AZ.
- Windmill and solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and power pumps for surface and ground water remediation in remote area of the site.
- Cost of renewable energy component three times less expensive than cost of supplying electricity to these remote areas.
Frontier Fertilizer, California (PDF)
(1 pg, 313K)
Photovoltaic Panels Power Ground Water Treatment System
- 8-acre parcel on Superfund site being redeveloped for residential use.
- 5.7 kW solar PV system powers ongoing water treatment at the site.
- Solar energy saves $1,500 annually in energy costs.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California (PDF)
(1 pg, 353K)
Solar Panels Power Ground Water Treatment System
- U.S. DOE responsible for cleanup of 11-square mile site.
- Solar treatment units (STUs) address ground water contamination at remote wells that are difficult to connect to the power grid.
- STUs allow faster treatment of groundwater, with an average run time of 17 hours per day in the summer.
Operating Industries Landfill, California (PDF)
(1 pg, 367K)
Landfill Gas Powers Property Cleanup
- 190-acre Superfund site, former landfill with potential for ground water contamination.
- Landfill gas capture generates electricity to power onsite leachate treatment plant.
- Six 70 kW microturbines save $400,000 annually in energy costs.
Pemaco, California (PDF)
(1 pg, 366K)
Solar PV Powers Soil and Ground Water Treatment System at Superfund Site
- 1.4-acre Superfund site in urbanized area, rezoned for recreational use.
- Rooftop solar PV panels offset power costs of water pumping and treatment.
- $21,000 investment in solar energy saves nearly $3,000 annually.
Summitville Mine Site, Colorado (PDF)
(1 pg, 318K)
Hydroelectric Plant Powers Contaminated Water Treatment at Former Gold Mine
- Acid mine drainage from remote 1,400-acre mine site contaminates watershed.
- Micro hydroelectric plant incorporated into surface water management.
Renewable Energy Powering Brownfields Redevelopment
(Brownfields Redevelopment)
Belmar Mixed Use Development, Colorado (PDF) (1 pg, 328K)
Green Buildings, Largest Rooftop Solar Array in U.S. Replace Contaminated Site
- Walkable mixed-use development replaces abandoned shopping mall in Lakewood, Colorado city center.
- 1.7 MW solar PV system mounted on three parking structures cover 190,000 square feet, the largest rooftop solar PV array in the United States.
Retooling Brownfields for Green Manufacturing
(Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturing)
Former Maytag Appliance Factory, Iowa (PDF)
(1 pg, 303K)
Small Town Redevelops as Wind Energy Manufacturing Hub
- Former Maytag factory produces support towers for wind turbines.
- City of Newton attracts $21 million investment, creating 140 green jobs.
- Manufacturing wind power equipment near generation sites lowers transport costs.
Keystone Port Industrial Complex, Pennsylvania (PDF)
(2 pp, 468K)
Solar and Wind Power Equipment Manufactured at Former Steel Mill
- Facilities on former steel mill manufacture solar panels and wind turbines for renewable energy projects in the region.
- Federal and state incentives attract $104 million investment in manufacturing facilities, creating 450 green jobs.