Nuclear waste site near Carlsbad used to generate renewable energy via federal plan

About 70,000 acres used to development nuclear weapons by the U.S. Department of Energy was being set aside for renewable energy development, including at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant about 30 miles east of Carlsbad.

WIPP was one of five facilities included in the program the DOE announced July 28, along with the Hanford Site in Washington, Idaho National Laboratory, Nevada National Security Site and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

The program will see DOE-owned lands repurposed to build utility-scale “clean energy” projects, intended to reduce pollution from traditional energy sources like fossil fuels.

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The energy generated could support local energy grids, along with the DOE facilities themselves, as part of the administration of President Joe Biden’s stated goals of decarbonizing the U.S. power supply.

Manager of the DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office Mark Bollinger said the WIPP site would likely be best used for generating solar power, as it is situated in the desert region of southeast New Mexico.

New Mexico was ranked second in the U.S. for solar energy potential, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and recently adopted a statewide community solar program to allow lower income or home renters to tap into shared installations, a means of expanding access to the power source.

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"The Office of Environmental Management’s Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) is excited to be included in the 'Cleanup to Clean Energy' initiative, which has the potential to help achieve broad clean energy, climate and sustainability goals for the nation,” Bollinger said in a statement.

Bollinger said the office was also working to increase the number of electrical vehicles in WIPP’s fleet, targeting a goal set by the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) to electrify operations at the site.

“Although solar is likely the best technology for the WIPP site, CBFO will evaluate several options to contribute to federal decarbonization goals,” he said. “In parallel, CBFO continues to take actions to achieve EM sustainability goals, including converting much of the vehicle fleet to electric and building the charging infrastructure to support this conversion.”

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It will take engagement with the local communities surrounding WIPP, along with the State of New Mexico and nearby utility providers, Bollinger said, to ensure the project is compliant with federal and state laws.

“As part of the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, CBFO will engage with the community, regulators, regional and local electrical organizations, and stakeholders before any final decision is made,” Bollinger said. “DOE will ensure compliance with the original Land Withdrawal Act that created WIPP and all other applicable Federal regulations.”

In announcing the initiative, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was intended to meet an executive order issued by Biden in December 2021, calling on federal agencies to transition to 100 percent non-carbon energy by 2030 and authorizing agency land to do so.

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“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,” she said in a news release.

“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 day before the program was announced, the DOE on July 27 said New Mexico was included in a community solar pilot program, intended to connect solar power resources to households using government assistance.

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The initial pilot was supported by New Mexico along with Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Colorado and Washington, D.C.

The DOE estimated the project would save 20 percent on electric bills in New Mexico, Illinois, New York and New Jersey and 50 percent in Washington, D.C. and Colorado.

Total electric savings in New Mexico could total up to $30 million.

Upon the announcement, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the project would augment the State’s ongoing efforts to increase renewable energy use and availability.

“New Mexico is excited to participate in this pilot program, which builds on my administration’s efforts to make solar available to everyone,” she said.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Nuclear waste site near Carlsbad used to generate renewable energy