USA building solar arrays on former nuclear sites

USA building solar arrays on former nuclear testing sites

USA

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 4, 2024 – The US Department of Energy is signing deals for the construction of solar arrays at former nuclear testing sites, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Under its Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, the DoE has recently entered into lease negotiations for two solar farms at a site in Idaho and struck a deal for an installation in Nevada.

At the Idaho National Laboratory site – a former testing ground for civic and military nuclear technologies – NorthRenew Energy Partners will build 300 MW while Spitfire will build 100 MW. Both companies will include battery storage in their projects.

At the Nevada National Security Site near Las Vegas, once home to nuclear weapons testing, NV Energy and Estuary Power have been selected by the DoE for a project on which the report did not offer details.

Further projects are targeted in Washington state, New Mexico and South Carolina, with requests for quotations already issued.

The DoE touts existing in-depth analysis of the sites, which will facilitate construction for developers.

Photo courtesy of the US Department of Energy.

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