Why Not Ohio? Brownfields for Solar and Wind Power Sites

[irishbobcat]

Why Not Ohio? Brownfields for Solar and Wind Power Sites


Brownfields have become an attractive option for renewable-energy projects like solar and wind. Among about 15 million acres of polluted land in the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency has identified 11,000 sites as ripe for renewables. These include brownfields, abandoned mines, federal facilities and Superfund sites, which are properties the government has designated as some of the most contaminated in the U.S.

The EPA has pegged the sites for potential uses like wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and landfill-produced methane, and is working with other agencies, local governments, developers and utilities to promote projects.

Among the advantages: Brownfield land is cheap, often abandoned, close to such necessary infrastructure as power lines, roads and water, and is often properly zoned. Population centers, and hence available labor, also tend to be nearby.

When zoning and infrastructure are already in place, it speeds up the permitting process, which is often the largest risk in project development. With renewables, it makes sense to avoid undeveloped land. Wind turbines, for example, which some consider eyesores, tend to meet less opposition when the proposed site has been polluted. The EPA also helps with cleanup costs.

While the overall cost of each cleanup depends on the site, the combination of EPA subsidies and discounted land prices often make it worthwhile for the projects to proceed. But there can still be drawbacks. Performing required assessments takes time. Renewable companies also need to be careful they don't penetrate the cap that often sits under 18 inches of soil and protects the outside world from the contamination underneath.

We have the Brownfields, so let's use them now!