New Google Map Shows Renewable Energy Hotspots

The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has unveiled a new application for the virtual mapping system Google Earth. Its Renewable Energy Interactive Map highlights approximately 10,000 contaminated areas that, with development, could be a source of renewable energy.

The standard Google Earth software is, in this instance, augmented by the addition of a dotted layer which, through the application of colour, indicates areas where the construction of solar or wind power energy harnessing sites could take place.

A person using the Renewable Energy Interactive Map is able to take a closer look at one of these dots by clicking on it. This allows more in-depth information – such as the site’s current environmental standing and its size – to be seen.

Contaminated Land Sites

The EPA’s hope is that – by pointing out these areas - its map will energise the current levels of contaminated land sites that are being used for renewable energy.

Sites of this kind, it said, are potentially “exceptional locations for clean and renewable energy development.”

The EPA has drawn attention to a number of advantages linked to the use of contaminated land sites. These include:

• How a large number of contaminated sites are in locations less likely to spark controversy from protestors when wind turbines or photovoltaic technology is put in place.
• How new employment opportunities could arise where, previously, the closure of plants and other manufacturing facilities caused job losses.
• How greenfield sites would benefit from the greater use of brownfield sites
• How potentially high start-up costs would be massively reduced, since much of the relevant critical infrastructure is in situ already.

The Renewable Energy Interactive Map was created after the EPA had collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in locating the sites it wanted included.

Renewable Energy Demand Growth

According to the US government, renewable energy demand growth over the next quarter-of-a-century could hit around 33%. The use of contaminated land to construct facilities dealing with renewable energy could, therefore, go a long way towards addressing this demand, whilst simultaneously ensuring that valuable greenfield and farm areas are not used for the same purpose.

“The EPA looks for opportunities to encourage the cleanup of contaminated sites, recognizing that some contaminated properties have attributes that could make them attractive candidates for the siting of renewable energy production facilities”, Latisha Petteway, a spokeswoman for the agency, stated.

An administrator at the agency, Stephen L Johnson, commented: “EPA is putting renewable energy production on the virtual map”.
“Our new interactive website encourages states and energy companies to put previously contaminated properties back to work”, he added.