James E. Woolford Director Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

Transcription

1 Renewable Energy and Superfund s Green Remediation Strategy James E. Woolford Director Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

2 Overview I. Superfund s Green Remediation Strategy a) Principles for Greener Cleanups b) Executive Order c) Public comments II. Examples of renewable energy use at Superfund sites

3 What is Green Remediation and Why is It Important? Green Remediation is the practice of considering all environmental effects of remedy implementation and incorporating options to maximize the net environmental benefit of cleanup actions. It is estimated that powering the five most frequently used energy intensive treatment technologies at NPL sites between will: - consume 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity - release 9.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions - cost over $1.4 billion

4 Current Context for Superfund s Green Remediation Strategy OSWER s Principles for Greener Cleanups (August 2009) Executive Order (October 2009) Regional policies

5 Principles for Greener Cleanups Consistent with existing laws and regulations, it is EPA policy that all cleanups: Protect human health and the environment Comply with all applicable laws and regulations Consult with communities regarding response action impacts consistent with existing requirements Consider the anticipated future land use of the site

6 Executive Order Requires Federal agencies to measure, report and reduce their GHG emissions from direct and indirect activities EPA has set a goal of 25% reduction in GHG emissions tied directly to its activities DOE implementing guidance covers Government remediation of private sites

7 Regional Green Remediation Policies Most regions have adopted regional green remediation policies (see e.g., - Region 2 is requiring 100% use of electricity from renewable sources - many policies encourage using cleaner fuels and diesel emission reduction equipment - substituting recycled materials for virgin materials

8 Green Remediation Strategy Sets out the Superfund program s plans to promote green remediation practices during site cleanups without compromising cleanup goals Covers three areas: Policy and Guidance Resource Development and Program Implementation Evaluation Includes 10 Key Actions and 46 individual activities to implement the key actions EPA received extensive Superfund stakeholder comments on the Strategy Currently using the feedback to further focus the strategic areas and identify appropriate and relevant tools to implement GR practices EPA anticipates release of an updated Superfund Green Remediation Strategy by the end of May 2010

9 Case Studies Summitville Mine, CO

10 Summittville Mine Site, CO Small hydro power plant will provide clean energy for treatment of acid mine drainage Three-year project to construct, and expect to generate energy by summer 2010 Few, if any, ecological concerns associated with diverting water

11 Anaconda, MT Smelter Site Green Power Pilot Conducting an energy assessment with support from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Measuring wind speed on county-owned property to determine wind energy potential Will make data available to potential wind developers

12 Gilt Edge, MT Green Power Pilot Conducting energy assessment with support from NREL Goal is to power treatment plant, and use project to attract utility-scale development to sell energy to grid.

13 Lowry Landfill, CO Modified flaring remedy to allow for construction of landfill gas-to-energy project The facility began operations in July 2008 Although Lowry Landfill is closed, Denver Arapahoe Disposal Site, an adjacent landfill remains active. Both sites contribute gasses to the turbine system Turbine generators at the Lowry Landfill gas-to-energy facility

14 H.O.D. Landfill, IL Antioch School district paid for the methane co-generation plant, funded in part through an alternative energy grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. Waste Management donates the methane that powers the plant. Antioch School District also sells excess power generated by the plant back to the local power utility. Antioch school district gets a much-needed recreational facility, as well as cheap energy for its high school Microturbines in methane cogeneration plant Jack Dowden of Waste Management Inc., and Antioch s Mayor Taso Maravelas hold the H.O.D. Landfill s Ready for Reuse Determination

15 Aerojet Site, CA 3.5 megawat solar energy farm Construction began in June 2009, and completed in November 2009 Expects to meet 20% of remediation s energy needs

16 For More Information Contacts: Dan Powell, OSRTI, (703) Carlos Pachon, OSRTI, (703) Steven Chang, OSRTI, (703) Suzanne Wells, OSRTI (703)