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Solar
photovoltaics (PV) have the benefit of being easy to site, whether on
brownfields or not. PV is particularly well-suited as a renewable energy
option for urban areas that are highly developed and where other technologies
such as wind turbines or biomass meet with resistance. There are no urban
wind farms in the U.S.
Solar
photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly to electricity. PV
produces no air emissions, no noise, and requires no fuel input. Even a
large PV array will not exacerbate traffic as it does not require a
workforce to operate the facility, like a regular power plant.
The US Department
of Energy's promotional materials listed numerous benefits of redeveloping
brownfields to brightfields. Several benefits are paraphrased below:
•
Sustainable economic development
•
Transforms a brownfield into a “green venture” – can help attract
environmentally conscious businesses and improve public image.
• Air
quality benefits – zero emissions from solar, offset emissions during peak
usage times when utilities often activate older facilities with higher
emissions.
•
Compatible with diverse end uses – PV can be installed on a variety of
commercial, industrial, and residential properties. PV arrays can also be
installed directly on the ground on a brownfield without penetrating the
surface of the property in situations where the soil should not be
disturbed.
•
Adaptable to various site sizes – the size of the PV array and installation
method can be tailored to meet the site conditions. The rule of thumb was
that a solar array that covers three acres can generate approximately one
megawatt of power – enough for 200 homes.
•
Easy installation, minimal maintenance, relatively movable
• An attractive
interim use option – relatively easy to move and install. An otherwise
unused brownfield could host a PV array that could later be moved to
another location when the site is redeveloped.
•
Reliable in diverse locations – solar energy is a reliable power sources in
most parts of the US.
While certain locations such as Arizona
and New Mexico have the most favorable
conditions for solar energy, Chicago has
about 80% of the solar resource of Miami.
•
Advanced technology and design – solar panels employ advanced technology
and can be easily integrated into designs for new buildings, renovations of
existing structures, and contemporary landscapes.
•
Employment opportunities – a PV manufacturing facility that produces 10 MW
of PV modules annually employs approximately 80 skilled technical workers.
Source: US
Department of Energy, http://www.eere.energy.gov/wip/pdfs/brightfields.pdf
Benefits of Brightfields
U.S. Department of Energy Role
Brightfields Projects Nationwide
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Chicago
Center for Green Technology was built on a former brownfield, which had been
home to a construction and demolition debris company. The Chicago Dept. of Environment became owner
of the site and building, and renovated it to LEED Platinum certification.
To match the vision of the building, DOE selected tenants that are
environmentally focused. The three tenants are:
Greencorps
Chicago , the city's community landscaping and job training program
Spire Solar ,
a manufacturer of photovoltaic panels
WRD
Environmental , an urban landscape design/build firm.
Hanford Nuclear
Reservation
White Bluffs / Hanford
Solar Project.
"The reservation is considered one of the most
contaminated environmental sites in the United States. Many
organizations worked together to offset some of the negative impacts at the
site and to make this sunny and dry location home to the largest
grid-connected solar electric resource in the region. Located at the site
of the terminated WNP-1 nuclear power plant on the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation, White Bluffs Solar is currently one of the largest
grid-connected photovoltaic solar projects in the Pacific
Northwest."
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