WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued the first Request for Information (RFI) related to the Department’s Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative focused on generating clean energy on DOE owned lands.
The RFI will help the Department identify organizations interested in leasing land at the Hanford Site in Washington State from the federal government to develop utility scale carbon pollution free electricity projects (CFE).
America’s energy security, economic resilience, and climate leadership require the nation to dramatically increase clean energy production over the next several decades. DOE is playing a critical leadership role in achieving this goal, not only through policy implementation but also the strategic use of DOE federal facilities and lands.
Working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including industry, federal entities, tribes, state, and local officials, DOE will explore opportunities to lease federal land for the buildout of large-scale clean energy projects. Cleanup to Clean Energy will help achieve President Biden’s ambitious climate goals and the directive in for agencies to use their properties for the development of new clean electricity generation.
“As the leading federal agency on clean energy research, development, deployment, and demonstration, DOE has both a unique opportunity and a clear responsibility to lead by example and identify creative solutions to achieve the President’s mandate," said Ike White, Senior Advisor for Environmental Management.
On July 28, 2023, the Secretary of Energy announced the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative at the Department’s first industry day under this initiative. The Hanford Site, which is one of several DOE Environmental Management sites engaged in environmental cleanup across the United States, is supporting efforts to reach the CFE goals as well as supporting the local community’s vision of becoming a center of excellence in clean-energy generation and storage. DOE recognizes the local Tri-Cities community is well suited and prepared to support these critical issues.
At Hanford, DOE has identified approximately 19,000 acres of contiguous land that could potentially be used for industrial activities including CFE generation and storage. DOE may decide to lease part or all the available land for CFE, or award leases to one or multiple entities for CFE. Potential CFE projects include solar, wind, and nuclear projects.
DOE will continue to communicate and partner with industry, Tribal nations, communities, stakeholders, regulators, and others as a process to potentially develop clean energy projects on DOE land is developed and implemented.
The Hanford Site will hold a Cleanup to Clean Energy Information Day on Sept. 22, 2023, in Richland, Washington. The Department will provide information specific to Hanford, and the community will hold a session to provide perspectives and discuss opportunities for partnership.
Additional information about the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative can be found here.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management