DOE Issues Request for Qualifications for Generating Clean Energy at Savannah River Site

Department advances Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative with request for qualifications on potential use of federal land for utility-scale energy

AIKEN, S.C. - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a request for qualifications (RFQ) related to the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative for utility-scale energy projects within the 310-square-mile Savannah River Site (SRS). Today's announcement reinforces the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government approach to leveraging federal properties to increase the deployment of clean power through the buildout of utility-scale clean energy projects.

The purpose of the RFQ is to receive proposals from parties interested in utilizing DOE-owned land at SRS in Aiken to develop carbon-pollution-free electricity (CFE) projects with a focus on generating opportunities for projects of 200 megawatts or larger, benefiting the broader region. In addition to this RFQ being open to all CFE technologies, including nuclear, the federal government is also open to considering proposals that include development of colocated loads, such as data centers, that would directly off-take the CFE generated on DOE property. Comments and questions on the RFQ are due by Aug. 30 and proposals are due by Oct. 4.

President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14057 in December 2021, which calls on agencies to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030 and directs them to authorize use of their real property assets, including land for the development of new clean electricity generation and storage through leases, grants, permits or other mechanisms. Cleanup to Clean Energy will help achieve Biden's ambitious climate goals and the executive order directive for agencies to use their properties for the development of new clean electricity generation. As the leading federal agency on clean energy research and development, DOE has both a unique opportunity and a clear responsibility to lead by example and identify creative solutions to achieve the president's goal.

Since announcing the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative in July last year, DOE has issued six requests for qualifications to lease land at the SRS; Hanford Site in Washington; Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico; Nevada National Security Site; and Idaho National Laboratory.

On June 20, DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) announced the selection of Stellar Renewable Power LLC to begin realty agreement negotiations for commercial clean energy solar projects at SRS. On July 18, EM announced Ameresco Inc. as the second developer selected for a solar project. On Aug. 20, Stellar Renewable Power signed the first realty agreement for a CFE project as part of the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative at SRS.

DOE will continue to engage and partner with industry, tribal nations, communities, stakeholders, regulators and others to implement a process for further development of clean energy projects on DOE-owned land.

More information on Cleanup to Clean Energy can be found here.

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