Current:Home > reviewsUS nuclear repository is among the federally owned spots identified for renewable energy projects -WealthEngine
US nuclear repository is among the federally owned spots identified for renewable energy projects
View
Date:2025-04-13 07:36:03
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy announced Tuesday that it is teaming up with yet another energy company as part of a mission to transform portions of government-owned property once used for the nation’s nuclear weapons program into prime real estate for renewable energy endeavors.
The federal agency will be negotiating a lease agreement with Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources Development for nearly 3 square miles (7.77 square kilometers) of land surrounding the nation’s only underground repository for nuclear waste.
The project at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southern New Mexico is the latest to be announced by the Energy Department, which has identified more than 50 square miles (129.50 square kilometers) of government land that can be used for constructing solar arrays and battery storage systems that can supply utilities with emissions-free electricity.
Other lease agreements already are being negotiated for projects stretching from the Hanford Site in Washington state, where the U.S. produced plutonium, to national laboratories and other sites in Idaho, Nevada and South Carolina.
Andrew Mayock with the White House Council on Environmental Quality on Tuesday echoed a statement made earlier this year when the first negotiations were announced. He said federal agencies are using their scale and purchasing power to support the growth of the clean energy industry.
“We will spur new clean electricity production, which is good for our climate, our economy, and our national security,” he said.
At the nuclear repository in New Mexico, federal officials say there is potential to install at least 150 megawatts of solar and another 100 megawatts of storage.
While the amount of energy generated by NextEra at the WIPP site would be more than enough to meet the needs of the repository, none would feed directly into government operations there. Officials said the energy from the solar array would be sold to Xcel Energy by NextEra and put into the utility’s distribution system.
Xcel serves customers in parts of New Mexico and Texas, as well as other states.
Officials said there is no estimate of when ground could be broken, saying engineering and planning work would be needed once a lease is signed and regulatory approvals would be required.
The largest of the so called cleanup-to-clean-energy projects is slated for the Hanford Site, where Hecate Energy LLC has plans to deliver a gigawatt-scale system that would span thousands of acres on the southeastern edge of the property. It could be several years before that project comes online.
veryGood! (63)
Related
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul referee handled one of YouTuber's biggest fights
- 13 Skincare Gifts Under $50 That Are Actually Worth It
- NCT DREAM enters the 'DREAMSCAPE': Members on new album, its concept and songwriting
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight odds will shift the longer the heavyweight bout goes
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul referee handled one of YouTuber's biggest fights
- The Daily Money: Mattel's 'Wicked' mistake
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- DWTS' Gleb Savchenko Shares Why He Ended Brooks Nader Romance Through Text Message
Ranking
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Arkansas governor unveils $102 million plan to update state employee pay plan
- Ben Foster Files for Divorce From Laura Prepon After 6 Years of Marriage
- Louisiana House greenlights Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax cuts
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- Deommodore Lenoir contract details: 49ers ink DB to $92 million extension
- The Daily Money: Mattel's 'Wicked' mistake
- Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
Ex-Duke star Kyle Singler draws concern from basketball world over cryptic Instagram post
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones responds to CeeDee Lamb's excuse about curtains at AT&T Stadium
College Football Playoff snubs: Georgia among teams with beef after second rankings
Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
Five best fits for Alex Bregman: Will Astros homegrown star leave as free agent?
Why Outer Banks Fans Think Costars Rudy Pankow and Madison Bailey Used Stunt Doubles Amid Rumored Rift
Shawn Mendes quest for self-discovery is a quiet triumph: Best songs on 'Shawn' album