Developing Renewable Energy on Contaminated Land: Regulatory Challenges and Protecting Against Liability Exposure

Description

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulatory agencies promote the reuse of potentially contaminated sites for renewable generation projects, including solar and wind energy. Developing renewable energy on contaminated land is cost-effective for utility and energy companies, but requires strict compliance with federal and state regulations.

The demand for sustainable energy continues to grow in the U.S. and abroad, with multiple states and countries developing programs to incentivize the development of renewable energy. Focusing renewable energy development on brownfields, Superfund sites, retired power plants, and landfills gives developers access to infrastructure that is already in place and is likely to be properly zoned and permitted.

The benefits of reusing potentially contaminated lands come with a series of complex rules and procedures such as the assessment of potential sites, the extent of any possible contamination, remedial measures for prevention of any negative impact to surrounding areas, and federal and state requirements for cleanup and waste disposal.

Listen as our panel discusses the necessary and most practical processes for the reuse of contaminated lands for solar and wind projects, protecting against liability exposure, leasing and retasking retired power plants and landfills, and available EPA protections.