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What can we do with an enormous outdated plot of land that’s been bombed to smithereens with nuclear bombs? Construct a faculty there? Plop a brand new luxurious residence improvement with a flowery pool and spa on it? In all probability not. In truth, it’s fairly exhausting to determine what to do with a plot of land contaminated by nuclear bombs.
Nonetheless, because the title implies, solar energy can save the day once more. The US Division of Vitality (DOE) and Nationwide Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) need business photo voltaic builders to construct nuclear farms on land the place nuclear bombs had been examined from the Fifties to the Nineties. Who would take the DOE up on that supply, although? Apparently, six corporations would, as they turned in proposals.
Following the discharge of a Request for Data (RFI) in December 2023, six responses from builders got here in by January 12. Now, the US authorities is on the subsequent step and has put out a Request for {Qualifications} (RFQ). And to be clear, it’s not assured this can end in a photo voltaic farm on a nuclear check web site. “NNSA is contemplating leasing land on the Nevada Nationwide Safety Web site (NNSS),” an announcement notes.
“Suggestions from the January 16 Group Engagement Spherical Desk, RFI, and the February 13 Data Day will likely be thought-about in creating the RFQ that NNSA tentatively will launch in March 2024.”
This isn’t the federal government’s first foray down this type of highway. “DOE has beforehand launched a Draft RFQ pertaining to a Realty Settlement (lease or probably an easement) for carbon pollution-free electrical energy initiatives on the Hanford web site,” the DOE states. “DOE additionally has issued a RFI targeted on producing clear power on the Savannah River Web site (SRS) in South Carolina and a RFI for clear power manufacturing on the Idaho Nationwide Laboratory (INL).”
Progress.
“This photo voltaic venture makes good use of NNSS land, generates clear power, and brings jobs and innovation to the state of Nevada,” mentioned Beneath Secretary for Nuclear Safety and NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby. “DOE and NNSA are dedicated to combatting local weather change not solely via our R&D efforts but additionally via clear power manufacturing on our websites.”
Total, the DOE is working exhausting to utilize practically ineffective land that has been contaminated in varied methods. The excellent news is that photo voltaic farms and wind farms are nice methods to make the most of such land, with correct precautious after all. Solely minimal human labor is required for wind and solar energy plant operations. “Extra data on Cleanup to Clear Vitality will be discovered at Cleanup to Clear Vitality — Increasing Clear Vitality Era on DOE Lands,” the DOE provides.
Learn extra tales on photo voltaic brownfields for extra healthful enjoyable about turning contaminated websites into clear power farms.
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