EPA, the Department of Energy, and the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals have developed resources for local governments to cultivate renewable energy on potentially contaminated and underutilized sites.
***Solar & Wind Energy Screening Decision Trees
EPA and the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab have developed draft decision trees to screen brownfields, greyfields, rooftops, abandoned parcels, and landfills for solar and wind energy potential. The solar and wind screening decision trees are designed to encourage leadership from local governments and other stakeholders in the development of renewable energy resources at the community level.
The decision trees address a gap of expertise that typically lies with solar and wind developers. They provide specific criteria in a step-by-step process, are formatted so users can evaluate either an individual site or sites across a community, and address both privately and publicly owned sites.
EPA is accepting comments on the draft decision trees through February 16, 2012, and seeks city and county volunteers to beta test the decision trees. Please email Karen Irwin at irwin.karen@epa.gov if you would like to volunteer. For more information, visit:http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland.
***Cultivating Green Energy on Brownfields: A Nuts and Bolts Primer for Local Governments
The National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals recently released a primer that will help local governments evaluate the potential for developing renewable energy on brownfields and other contaminated sites. The resource, Cultivating Green Energy on Brownfields: A Nuts and Bolts Primer for Local Governments, serves as a starting point for local governments considering renewable energy as part of redevelopment strategies for brownfields.
Source: State and Local Climate and Energy Program