[Judy Pino] As rising energy costs continue to grab headlines,
[Judy Pino] As rising energy costs continue to grab headlines,

Americans are paying more attention to alternatives
Americans are paying more attention to alternatives

to fossil fuels.
to fossil fuels.

Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass power
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass power

hold great promise, but communities struggle
hold great promise, but communities struggle

with where to build these facilities.
with where to build these facilities.

Hello and welcome to Green Scene,
Hello and welcome to Green Scene,

EPA's environmental podcast series that you can take
EPA's environmental podcast series that you can take

with you.
with you.

I'm Judy Pino.
I'm Judy Pino.

EPA has recently developed a series of state maps that
EPA has recently developed a series of state maps that

show thousands of contaminated properties across the country
show thousands of contaminated properties across the country

that have potential to host renewable energy facilities.
that have potential to host renewable energy facilities.

And here to tell us more about this very interesting project
And here to tell us more about this very interesting project

is Penny McDaniel from EPA's Office of Solid Waste
is Penny McDaniel from EPA's Office of Solid Waste

and Emergency Response.
and Emergency Response.

Penny, welcome.
Penny, welcome.

[Penny McDaniel] Thank you.
[Penny McDaniel] Thank you.

[Judy Pino] Well, let's start with the basics, shall we?
[Judy Pino] Well, let's start with the basics, shall we?

Let's explain to the audience just what is renewable energy.
Let's explain to the audience just what is renewable energy.

[Penny McDaniel] Well, renewable energy comes from sources
[Penny McDaniel] Well, renewable energy comes from sources

that are readily replenished.
that are readily replenished.

They are continually replenished,
They are continually replenished,

and we are familiar with some of those,
and we are familiar with some of those,

such as wind and solar and some forms of biomass.
such as wind and solar and some forms of biomass.

[Judy Pino] That's right.
[Judy Pino] That's right.

You mentioned solar, wind, and biomass.
You mentioned solar, wind, and biomass.

Let's talk about how these work.
Let's talk about how these work.

[Penny McDaniel] Okay, well, the general concept is that we can take --
[Penny McDaniel] Okay, well, the general concept is that we can take --

using various technologies, we can take the energy
using various technologies, we can take the energy

that's stored in sun and in the wind and in various sources
that's stored in sun and in the wind and in various sources

of biomass and we can convert those into usable sources
of biomass and we can convert those into usable sources

of energy, like electricity and fuels.
of energy, like electricity and fuels.

[Judy Pino] And that works the same for wind and biomass?
[Judy Pino] And that works the same for wind and biomass?

[Penny McDaniel] Well, there are different technologies to harness
[Penny McDaniel] Well, there are different technologies to harness

that energy.
that energy.

So, for solar, for example, you can use photovoltaic
So, for solar, for example, you can use photovoltaic

panels to take the sun and convert that into electricity.
panels to take the sun and convert that into electricity.

For wind you can use wind turbines to capture the
For wind you can use wind turbines to capture the

wind, if you will, the motion of the wind,
wind, if you will, the motion of the wind,

and turn that into electricity as well.
and turn that into electricity as well.

And biomass comes from sources of biological material,
And biomass comes from sources of biological material,

organic material that can be harnessed in a variety
organic material that can be harnessed in a variety

of ways to produce electricity and fuels, alternative fuels.
of ways to produce electricity and fuels, alternative fuels.

[Judy Pino] Now, why is renewable energy important right now?
[Judy Pino] Now, why is renewable energy important right now?

We hear about it all the time, right?
We hear about it all the time, right?

[Penny McDaniel] Well, renewable energy is important right now
[Penny McDaniel] Well, renewable energy is important right now

because as traditional sources of energy are rising in costs,
because as traditional sources of energy are rising in costs,

as we've seen a lot in the news these days,
as we've seen a lot in the news these days,

it makes other non-traditional sources of energy such as
it makes other non-traditional sources of energy such as

renewable energy, solar, wind, biomass, more cost effective.
renewable energy, solar, wind, biomass, more cost effective.

In addition, we hear a lot in the news about energy
In addition, we hear a lot in the news about energy

independence and energy security,
independence and energy security,

and -- yeah, and these -- you know, development of
and -- yeah, and these -- you know, development of

renewable energy.
renewable energy.

And adding that to our portfolio of energy
And adding that to our portfolio of energy

in this country really lends itself to getting us to that
in this country really lends itself to getting us to that

point of energy independence and security.
point of energy independence and security.

[Judy Pino] And of course, the concern of greenhouse gas emissions.
[Judy Pino] And of course, the concern of greenhouse gas emissions.

[Penny McDaniel] Of course.
[Penny McDaniel] Of course.

So, using renewable energy is a much cleaner way
So, using renewable energy is a much cleaner way

of providing energy to homes and to our businesses.
of providing energy to homes and to our businesses.

They have fewer greenhouse gases,
They have fewer greenhouse gases,

and in a time of concern about the effects of climate change,
and in a time of concern about the effects of climate change,

it's ever more important to explore those options.
it's ever more important to explore those options.

[Judy Pino] And we all know that renewable energy technologies
[Judy Pino] And we all know that renewable energy technologies

are becoming more and more efficient.
are becoming more and more efficient.

[Penny McDaniel] They are.
[Penny McDaniel] They are.

The technologies are improving all the time and they
The technologies are improving all the time and they

are becoming more efficient and therefore more cost effective.
are becoming more efficient and therefore more cost effective.

[Judy Pino] Now, your office has been looking at contaminated
[Judy Pino] Now, your office has been looking at contaminated

lands as sites for renewable energy.
lands as sites for renewable energy.

What is the connection between contaminated lands
What is the connection between contaminated lands

and renewable energy?
and renewable energy?

[Penny McDaniel] Well, to site a renewable energy production facility,
[Penny McDaniel] Well, to site a renewable energy production facility,

say, for example, a solar field or a wind farm,
say, for example, a solar field or a wind farm,

you need land.
you need land.

And many of these EPA-tracked sites or contaminated lands
And many of these EPA-tracked sites or contaminated lands

offer a lot of the amenities, if you will,
offer a lot of the amenities, if you will,

that are necessary for citing these types of energy
that are necessary for citing these types of energy

production -- renewable energy production facilities.
production -- renewable energy production facilities.

[Judy Pino] Now, Penny, let's define "contaminated lands."
[Judy Pino] Now, Penny, let's define "contaminated lands."

If they're contaminated, are they safe?
If they're contaminated, are they safe?

[Penny McDaniel] So, contaminated lands are lands that have been used
[Penny McDaniel] So, contaminated lands are lands that have been used

in the past by industry and mining operations that have
in the past by industry and mining operations that have

led to releases of hazardous substances into the environment
led to releases of hazardous substances into the environment

that pose a risk to human health or the environment and require
that pose a risk to human health or the environment and require

that EPA get involved and clean them up.
that EPA get involved and clean them up.

So, what we have done is in many of these --
So, what we have done is in many of these --

in many of these sites we have cleaned them up and gotten
in many of these sites we have cleaned them up and gotten

them to a point for reuse so that they are ready for
them to a point for reuse so that they are ready for

reuse and redevelopment with facilities such as renewable
reuse and redevelopment with facilities such as renewable

energy production facilities.
energy production facilities.

[Judy Pino] And what makes these lands better than any other type
[Judy Pino] And what makes these lands better than any other type

of land to be used for renewable energy?
of land to be used for renewable energy?

[Penny McDaniel] Well, they're a great opportunity for
[Penny McDaniel] Well, they're a great opportunity for

developing renewableenergies.
developing renewableenergies.

As I mentioned a little bit earlier, they provide a lot
As I mentioned a little bit earlier, they provide a lot

of the infrastructure that is needed for siting renewable
of the infrastructure that is needed for siting renewable

energy facilities, such as transmission lines and roads
energy facilities, such as transmission lines and roads

for access and railways for access.
for access and railways for access.

And many of these lands have been zoned properly
And many of these lands have been zoned properly

for siting these types of facilities,
for siting these types of facilities,

so they're zoned for industrial and commercial use so that you
so they're zoned for industrial and commercial use so that you

don't need to go through that process of rezoning.
don't need to go through that process of rezoning.

[Judy Pino] Not to mention a source of employment.
[Judy Pino] Not to mention a source of employment.

[Penny McDaniel] There are -- some of these sites have in the past
[Penny McDaniel] There are -- some of these sites have in the past

provided jobs to the local communities,
provided jobs to the local communities,

such as large industrial facilities and mining sites,
such as large industrial facilities and mining sites,

but when those closed up and left,
but when those closed up and left,

many of the jobswent with them.
many of the jobswent with them.

So we see this as an opportunity to provide,
So we see this as an opportunity to provide,

if you will, green collar jobs for the operation
if you will, green collar jobs for the operation

and maintenance of the renewable energy facilities as well as,
and maintenance of the renewable energy facilities as well as,

you know, even manufacturing components for the
you know, even manufacturing components for the

wind turbines and the solar panels.
wind turbines and the solar panels.

[Judy Pino] Okay, so let's talk about EPA's new resource for information
[Judy Pino] Okay, so let's talk about EPA's new resource for information

specifically on this subject.
specifically on this subject.

[Penny McDaniel] Okay, well, what we've done is we worked with
[Penny McDaniel] Okay, well, what we've done is we worked with

the National Renewable Energy Lab, and we have combined
the National Renewable Energy Lab, and we have combined

their data on renewable energy sources with our data
their data on renewable energy sources with our data

on available lands for redevelopment,
on available lands for redevelopment,

and we together have come up with criteria to screen out
and we together have come up with criteria to screen out

these sites, so we ended up with a nice, robust list of
these sites, so we ended up with a nice, robust list of

EPA-tracked sites or contaminated lands
EPA-tracked sites or contaminated lands

that qualify, if you will, for renewable energy development.
that qualify, if you will, for renewable energy development.

[Judy Pino] In all 50 states, and you guys have
[Judy Pino] In all 50 states, and you guys have

a lot of cool stuff on this site: virtual map,
a lot of cool stuff on this site: virtual map,

also fact sheets and everything else,
also fact sheets and everything else,

information incentives, and Google Earth so you
information incentives, and Google Earth so you

can see the actual land space available.
can see the actual land space available.

[Penny McDaniel] That's right.
[Penny McDaniel] That's right.

We've developed maps, as you've mentioned,
We've developed maps, as you've mentioned,

for all states, so you can see, and anybody who's interested
for all states, so you can see, and anybody who's interested

can see the renewable energy potential on EPA-tracked
can see the renewable energy potential on EPA-tracked

sites in their state for wind, solar, and biomass.
sites in their state for wind, solar, and biomass.

We've also developed incentive sheets that outline the
We've also developed incentive sheets that outline the

financial incentives for developing renewable energy
financial incentives for developing renewable energy

as well as incentives for developing contaminated lands.
as well as incentives for developing contaminated lands.

[Judy Pino] Now, of course you can find that at
[Judy Pino] Now, of course you can find that at

epa.gov/renewableenergyland.
epa.gov/renewableenergyland.

Who can usethese tools?
Who can usethese tools?

[Penny McDaniel] Well, anybody who's interested in developing renewable energy,
[Penny McDaniel] Well, anybody who's interested in developing renewable energy,

such as developers, renewable energy developers, communities,
such as developers, renewable energy developers, communities,

municipalities, states.
municipalities, states.

States are -- many states have renewable portfolio standards
States are -- many states have renewable portfolio standards

and they are looking for ways of meeting those
and they are looking for ways of meeting those

renewable portfolio standards that require a certain
renewable portfolio standards that require a certain

percentage of renewable energy production in their state.
percentage of renewable energy production in their state.

[Judy Pino] And what a great way to revitalize impaired lands
[Judy Pino] And what a great way to revitalize impaired lands

while putting them back to productive use.
while putting them back to productive use.

Well, thanks, Penny McDaniel with EPA's Office of Solid
Well, thanks, Penny McDaniel with EPA's Office of Solid

Waste and Emergency Response, for being with us.
Waste and Emergency Response, for being with us.

And to learn more about renewable energy development
And to learn more about renewable energy development

potential on contaminated lands, please visit
potential on contaminated lands, please visit

www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland. 00:07:55.017,00:00:00.000 See you next time on Green Scene.
www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland. 00:07:55.017,00:00:00.000 See you next time on Green Scene.