The USA Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a program to repurpose federal lands, including sites used for the country’s nuclear weapons program, into leaseholds for clean energy production.
The Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative is an “innovative effort to repurpose parts of DOE-owned lands—portions of which were previously used in the nation’s nuclear weapons program—into the sites of clean-energy generation”, the department said in a press release.
About 70,000 acres have been identified in five nuclear development-related sites for potential use under the initiative: the Hanford Site in Washington, the Idaho National Laboratory, the Nevada National Security Site, the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.
“We are going to transform the lands we have used over decades for nuclear security and environmental remediation by working closely with tribes and local communities together with partners in the private sector to build some of the largest clean energy projects in the world”, Energy Secretary Jennifer M Granholm said in a statement.
“Through the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, DOE will leverage areas that were previously used to protect our national security and will repurpose them to the same end—this time, generating clean energy that will help save the planet and protect our energy independence.”
The DOE said the program would “help achieve President Biden’s ambitious climate goals and the directive in Executive Order 14057 for agencies to use their properties for the development of new clean electricity generation”.
The executive order, signed December 8, 2021 by President Joe Biden, has set a target of 100 percent carbon-free electricity on a net yearly basis by 2030.
“Each agency shall increase its percentage use of carbon pollution-free electricity, so that it constitutes 100 percent of facility electrical energy use on an annual basis, and seek to match use on an hourly basis to achieve 50 percent 24/7 carbon pollution-free electricity, by fiscal year 2030”, the directive states.
“In addition, agencies shall facilitate new carbon pollution-free electricity generation and energy storage capacity by authorizing use of their real property assets, such as rooftops, parking structures, and adjoining land, for the development of new carbon pollution-free electricity generation and energy storage through leases, grants, permits, or other mechanisms, to the extent permitted by law.”
Nuclear Solutions for Clean Energy
Earlier, projects to develop nuclear solutions were among those selected by the DOE for grants to advance the commercial-scale deployment of clean energy.
The Argonne National Laboratory has been listed for the funding for a project to “provide a basis for the implementation of a robust process for recycling used nuclear fuel and managing nuclear waste”, as well as to “improve the modeling capabilities, fidelity, and maturity of the System Analysis Module for advanced non-light water reactor safety analysis”, the DOE said in a press release June 22.
Another project by the Idaho National Laboratory seeks to commercialize a liquid level sensor that is highly tolerant to radiation.
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory meanwhile is seeking “unique solutions for heat exchangers, pump impellers, and other components”.
The Sandia National Laboratories has also been chosen for the nuclear funding for its work on improving the safety of reactors through new software.
The grants, which also include hydro, solar and wind solutions, are under the Technology Commercialization Fund established 2005.
“This funding will address core commercialization challenges, while improving laboratory processes, creating accessibility to clean energy resources, and enhancing connections to underserved communities”, the DOE said.
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