Renewable Energy Opportunities on Tribal Lands EPA Reuse Assessments and Renewable Energy Evaluations Andria Benner Environmental Scientist / Remedial Project Manager U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
Overview 1. Renewable Energy (RE) Opportunities 2. Getting Started Establish Relationships Evaluate the Resource Potential Evaluate Financial Incentives/Options 3. Site-Specific Analysis Assess Site Suitability Identify RE Technology Options Evaluate Market Opportunities & Incentives 4. Lessons Learned/Recommendations
1. Renewable Energy (RE) Opportunities Solar Wind Biomass Geothermal Alternative Energy Landfill Gas (Methane)
Renewable Energy Websites and Other Resources http://www.epa.gov/oswercpa http://www.eere.energy.gov http://www.nrel.gov http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/atlas_index.html http://www.nrel.gov/gis/solar.html http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov
2. Getting Started Establishing Relationships Initial Scoping of Renewable Energy Resource Site-Specific Evaluation Evaluating Financial Incentives/Options
Building and Maintaining Relationships EPA (HQ and Regional Offices) Tribal Coordinators RE-Power America Team Regional Energy Advisors Superfund Reuse/Revitalization Coordinators Brownfields Coordinators Superfund Remedial Project Manager (RPMs) Smart-Growth Office DOE/NREL Your Local Utility
Evaluating the Renewable Energy Resource The Memorandum provided: An overview of renewable energy industry in Arizona An overview of relevant State and federal standards A summary of site history and operations, status of the site clean-up, and facility physical assets Apache Powder Superfund Site - St. David, AZ 2008 Solar Energy Information Memorandum
Evaluating State/Federal/Utility RE Policies Memorandum also provided: An overview of U.S. renewable energy standards ( RES ) Summary of federal and state tax incentives Local utility incentives While tribes may not be able to take the credits, subsidiary companies created by developers may be able to take credits Apache Powder Superfund Site - St, David, AZ 2008 Solar Energy Information Memorandum
3. Site-Specific Analysis Assessing Site Suitability Identifying appropriate RE technology options Reviewing energy markets and incentives
Evaluating the Renewable Energy Resource Evaluate the quality of renewable energy resources Consider the quality of the resource at or near a site as a the first step in determining the potential for using a renewable energy technology. Undertake initial screening on site potential for: Wind Solar (PV and Thermal) Geothermal Biomass Average Peak Sun Hours (NREL)
Renewable Energy Technology Options Solar Solar thermal Photovoltaic (PV) Biomass Energy Biofuels Biopower Wind Geothermal Direct-use Utility Scale Source: PacificCorp Source: NREL
Utility PV: Installed Cost Estimates Solar Photovoltaic Technology Type Acres per MW Estimate d Facility Size (MW) Estimated Land Area Needed (acres) Estimated Capital Cost ($ 1000) Estimated Annual O&M Cost ($ 1000) Thin Film (fixed axis) 6-8 5 30-40 $25,000 30,000 $400 600 Crystalline Silicon (fixed axis) 4-5 5 20-25 $30,000 36,000 $450 600 PV Tracking 8-10 5 40-50 $35,000 40,000 $900 1,100 Tracking PV panels follow the sun to allow for increased solar capture Fixed axis PV panels aligned to be south facing Source: SunCarrier Source: EPA
Mapping Site Suitability for Solar CSP Potential: 130 Total Acres Zone A = 70 acres Zone B = 25 acres Zone C = 35 acres PV Potential: 185 Total Acres Zones A+B+C = 130 acres Zone D = 15 acres Zone E = 20 acres Zone F = 20 acres Net PV and CSP Potential 185 acres
Renewable Energy Technology Options Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Versus Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Technology Type Acres per MW Minimum Practical Acreage Site Needs Storage Capacity Estimated* Annual Water Usage CSP PV 3 8 acres / MW 4 10 acres / MW 40 50 acres Large, contiguous, level area Yes Significant N/A Flexible No Negligible *Estimates can vary based on specific technology Apache Powder Superfund Site St. David, AZ Solar Technology Options
Technology Specific Analysis PV Solar System Output By Season 5 MW PV Array 3 MW Array Apache Powder Superfund Site St. David, AZ PV Output - Sizing to On-site Demand
Assessing Site Suitability Mine Area Overview 31,000 acres of total land 11,290 acres are on Navajo land 1,800 acres Navajo fee land 9,500 acres privately held 7,430 acres Indian Allotment lands McKinley Mine Site Gallup, NM Navajo Nation
Assessing Site Suitability Preliminary Screening Criteria Included: Areas with 5% or less slope (slope % tied to PV tracking technology) Proximity to infrastructure (on-site substations and wells) Site accessibility (roads, rail) McKinley Mine Site Gallup, NM Geospatial Analysis
Assessing Site Suitability Site Infrastructure 21 miles of railroad line on mine lands 8,500 feet of 115 kv power lines exist within mine area Three substations and one switching station are on site 5 water wells on site that provided water to the mining operation Some haul roads converted to 2-track roads after reclamation is completed McKinley Mine Site - Gallup, NM Infrastructure Assessment
Market Opportunities and Incentives Solar Incentives / Market Drivers Federal Incentives Business Energy Tax Credits (aka Investment Tax Credits (ITCs)) Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) State Incentives Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) Commercial/Industrial Solar Energy Tax Credit Program Utility Incentives Up front incentives (Rebates) Performance-based incentives Feed-in Tariffs
Market Opportunities and Incentives State Solar Deployment Trends Assess growth of PV system installations from year to year Evaluating total PV capacity installed in a state relative to neighboring states or previous years In 2009, CA and NJ led the nation in installed PV capacity State 2009 Installed Capacity (MW) 2008 Installed Capacity (MW) 2007 Installed Capacity (MW) California 220 178.7 91.8 New Jersey 257 22.5 20.4 Colorado 23 21.7 11.5 Arizona 23 6.4 2.8 Hawaii 14 8.6 2.9 New York 12 7.0 3.8 Nevada 7 14.9 15.9
4. Lessons Learned/Recommendations Evaluate Renewable Energy (RE) Opportunities Establish and Maintain Relationships (Agencies/Utilities) Assess Site Suitability Identify Appropriate Renewable Energy Technologies Evaluate Financial Incentives/Options
Renewable Energy Opportunities on Tribal Lands EPA Reuse Assessments and Renewable Energy Evaluations Presenter Contact Information: Andria Benner, U.S. EPA, Region 9 (415) 972-3189 benner.andria@epa.gov