1. Michigan Energy Forum:
Renewable Energy on
Brownfields + Landfills
June 6, 2013

2. 2
Michigan Energy Forum
Alternative Energy On Brownfields + Landfills

3. 3
Overview
 Brownfield: real property, the
expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may
be complicated by the presence or potential
presence of hazardous substance, pollutant, or
contaminant.

4. 4
Today’s Focus
 Alternative energy development on contaminated
sites……taking underutilized land or buildings and
creating a more productive use.

5. 5
altenerg.com
Steel winds, Lake Erie
thegreeneconomy.com

6. 6
Why?
 Liabilities into Assets
 Higher + better use of land
 Economic development
 Existing infrastructure
 Tackles three challenges:
 Urban revitalization
 Toxic waste cleanup
 Climate change

7. 7

8. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. WNJ.com
June 6, 2013
John Byl
Re-Powering America’s Land:
Highlights of the EPA Initiative to Develop
Renewable Energy on Contaminated Sites

9. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 9
Energy Demand
• By 2030 electricity production will need to increase by
nearly 30% in the U.S.
• To meet this demand, The U.S. will need the
equivalent of 320 mid-sized, coal-fired plants
• Currently, renewable energy makes up only 2.3% of
U.S. supply
 There will be a substantial increase in renewable energy
 Because of this increase, land located in areas with high quality
renewable energy resources is essential

10. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 10
Contaminated Sites with Renewable
Energy Potential
• There are nearly 490,000 sites making up 15 million
acres of potentially contaminated
property, abandoned mines Brownfield
Sites, RCRA Sites, Superfund Sites and landfills
• Only 917,000 acres of contaminated land have
achieved clean- up goals
• Many sites have renewable energy potential

11. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 11
Using Contaminated Sites for Renewable
Energy Production: Benefits
• Leverage Existing Infrastructure
 Transmission lines: Previous industrial use at many sites provides access
with no new construction costs
 Electrical Substations: This important feature of renewable energy may
already be in place at some sites, saving up to $2.5 million in construction
costs
 Water: More likely than open space to have access to water infrastructure
and water rights
 Rail: Many sites are connected to rail systems allowing for efficient delivery
of materials
 Roads: Sites are usually served by roads capable of meeting the needs of
renewable energy projects
 River or Ocean Ports: Some sites are located on sites with ports equipped
with docks and access to ships
 Buildings: Many sites offer existing structures that can be used for
operations

12. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 12
Benefits (continued)
• Reduce project times through
streamlined permitting and zoning
 Properties often have zoning compatible
with renewable energy facility needs
• Gain Community Support
 Renewable energy creates a win-win for
the community
› Reduces Blight
› Increases property values and tax
revenue
› Provides job opportunities
• Protect Open Space
 By using sites already in place, less
pressure will be put on undeveloped open
space, wetlands, and forests
› Some sites offer hundreds or thousands
of acres owned by a single party
Wind turbines constructed on the Texaco RCRA site in
Wyoming. Source: EPA

13. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 13
Challenges
• Recalcitrant or
uninterested PRP’s
• In some areas, renewable
energy may not be the
best use of the site
• Complex Superfund
cleanups may have
schedules that are too
prolonged to interest a
developer in investment

14. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 14
Highlights of EPA’S Strategy to Expand
the Initiative
• Working with the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab to
identify Brownfields, RCRA, Superfund and Abandoned mine lands with
renewable energy potential
• Outlining state and Federal Incentives for developing renewable energy facilities
and utilizing contaminated land
• Supporting pilot projects that assess potential wind and solar generation potential
at EPA tracked contaminated lands
• Promoting Success stories where renewable energy production facilities have
been sited on contaminated land and mine sites
• Seeking input from stakeholders to determine the need for site redevelopment
and reuse tools
• Conducting outreach to highlight how the EPA can support renewable energy
development

15. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 15
Financing and Incentives
• Federal Financing and Incentives
 EPA Assessment and Cleanup Grants
 EPA Revolving Loan Funds
 HUD Funding
 Economic Development Administration Investments
 USDA Financing Options
 SBA Loan Guarantees
 Renewable Energy Bonus Depreciation (26 U.S.C. § 168)
 New Markets Tax Credits (26 U.S.C. § 45D)
 Production and Investment Tax Credits

16. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 16
Financing and Incentives
• State Incentives (Michigan)
 No Cleanup Liability for Purchaser because of BEA
Process
 Brownfield TIF for Certain Expenses, such as Due
Care, Demolition, and (if in Core Community) Infrastructure
and Site Preparation Expenses
 Renaissance Zones, although there are very limited
opportunities
 DEQ Grants and Loan for Environmental Expenses
 100% Abatement of Personal Property Taxes in ―Distressed
Communities‖

17. ©2013 Warner Norcross & Judd LLP. All rights reserved. Page 17
Questions & Answers
Thank you!
John Byl
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
900 Fifth Third Center, 111 Lyon Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
jbyl@wnj.com
These materials are for educational use only. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

18. Michigan Energy Forum
June 6, 2013
Landfill Gas Utilization
Presenter: Margie Ring, DEQ

19. Landfill Gas Usage in Michigan
• Currently 37 of 48 active Municipal Solid
Waste Landfills have active gas collection
systems
• Three closed landfills also utilize gas
• 24 sites generate a total of 156.7 megawatts
of electricity
• 9 provide methane directly to off-site users
• 3 use gas to power leachate evaporators
• 6 collect and flare methane

21. Direct Use
• Direct uses of landfill gas include piping gas
directly to off-site users for power generation.
Users include auto manufacturing plants,
foundries and municipal governments
• Three landfills operate High BTU Plants, which
treat landfill gas and sell directly to gas
suppliers

22. Landfill Gas Plant Owners and
Operators in Michigan
• Granger Energy
• North American Natural Resources
• Fortistar Methane Group
• DTE Biomass Energy
• WM Renewable Energy
• EQ Energy Recovery
• Landfill Energy Systems

23. Landfill Gas Plant Owners and
Operators (cont.)
• Ameresco
• Shaw Environmental
• Horizon LFG
• City of Midland
• Muskegon County

24. Brownfield Projects
• DEQ is not aware of any active brownfield
redevelopment projects with a renewable
energy component.
• However, three projects have been proposed
at closed landfills – two solar arrays and one
wind turbine

26. About Granger
• Waste Services
– Hauling—Est. 1966
– Landfills (two)—Est. 1973 & 1984
– Recycle—Est. 1989
– Compost—Est. 1992
• Energy Services
– Electric—Est. 1990
– Energy—Est. 1996
• 220 Associates
– Headquarters and main operations
located in Lansing, Michigan

27. Granger collects tomorrow’s
energy. We provide waste hauling,
disposal and recycling services
and produce renewable energy
from landfill gas.

28. MICHIGAN LANDFILL GAS PROJECTS

29. Landfill gas has ½ the
Btu value of natural gas.
It is a worthy
energy RESOURCE.

30. About Landfill Gas
• Landfill gas is created from the
decomposition of material in landfills
• The quantity and quality is influenced
by; types and age of waste, the
amount and types of organic
waste, and moisture content
• Comprised of about 50% methane
(CH4) and 50% carbon dioxide (CO2)
and small amount of non-methane
organic compounds (NMOC)

31. Production Benefits
• 24/7/365 base load capacity
• Reliable and available
• Immediate source with no reserve
capacity requirements
• Long-term source – landfills
produce gas at least 20-30 years
post-closure

32. Community Benefits
• Landfill gas use can create jobs associated
with the design, construction and operation of
energy recovery systems.
– 70 FTE jobs created per each 3 megawatt
project
• Landfill gas projects involve
engineers, construction firms, equipment
vendors and utilities or end-users of the power
produced.
• Businesses are also realizing the cost savings
associated with using landfill gas as a
replacement for fossil fuels, such as natural
gas.
• Economic development opportunities and
investment in community.
– $1.7 million per megawatt to develop
Source: EPA

33. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Renewable Energy: Brownfield Sites
Regional Director
Jeremy McCallion

34. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Re-Powering America Results
• Since 2008, a compound annual growth of 40%
• Portion of RE is small, shows mark growth
Source: EPA

35. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Re-Powering America Results
• Majority of installations PV
• Variety of ownership types
• No installations in MI
Source: EPA

36. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Local Examples
• Match RE-Powering America’s findings
• Building specific Renewable Energy
• Buildings also include variety of energy
efficiency and sustainability features
• Maximize federal and local tools

37. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Piquette Square, Detroit, MI
• 2011 Phoenix Award for National
Community Impact
• 4 Story, 150 unit apartment complex in
New Center
• Provide homeless veterans with
permanent housing
• Previous Studebaker Plant with over 80
year of manufacturing and industrial use
• Developed and managed by Southwest
Solutions. Built by O’Brien Construction
• Variety of partners
• Grants, loans, tax credits, bond funding .
.

38. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Piquette Square, Detroit, MI
• Energy Efficiency
• Windows with insulated glass
• PVC membrane roofing
• Super insulated walls and ceilings
• Electrical fixtures and lighting
control system
• Geothermal System
• ―Hybrid‖ system
• 4 pipe distribution system
• Provide simultaneous heating and
cooling water giving each resident
ability to control apartment settings
• Other Features
• Low VOC paints and products
• Recycled content carpet
• Within walking distance to public
amenities

39. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Founders Landing, Marquette, MI
• 29 acres with 3,600 linear feet of Lake
Superior Shoreline in downtown
Marquette
• Heavy industrial use for over 150 years
• Mixed-Use Development
• 2 to 3 story condos up to 5 stories
• Suite Hotel
• Commercial office and retail
• Waterfront boardwalk
• Walking/biking trails
• Variety of partners
• Local bonds, general fund and
support, state and federal grants and tax
increment financing

40. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
• Energy Efficiency
• Windows with insulated glass
• Natural lighting
• Natural ventilation
• Hot air rise and exhausted and cool air
redistributed
• Super insulated walls and ceilings
• Electrical fixtures and lighting
control system
• Storm water infiltration and grey
water reuse
• Renewable Energy
• Utilize natural ventilation from Lake
Superior
• Passive Solar for pool
• Passive solar collection / winter
reflectance
• PV on roof
Founders Landing, Marquette, MI

41. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Summary
• New construction energy efficiency and
renewable energy is a viable option on
brownfield sites
• Enables access to a variety of redevelopment
and energy incentives
• Increases Return on Investment over life cycle
of building ownership
• Local support critically important

42. Jeremy McCallion Regional Director
Questions and Answers
Jeremy McCallion, Regional Director
AKT Peerless
157 E. Hoover
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
248-302-3038
mccallionj@aktpeerless.com

43. Next Michigan Energy Forum
Event:
September 12, 2013
Energy Management Technologies