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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze and describe the potential environmental impacts associated with the: Commercial Scale Integrated Demonstration BioEnergy Center Vero Beach, Florida
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to provide an alternative route, other than the public highway, to transport several thousand shipments of materials and wastes expected over the next 10 years (Engineering Design File [EDF] -9513) between the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) and other Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site facilities. The proposed action is needed to reduce shipment costs, improve operational efficiency, improve highway safety, and reduce impacts to the public by minimizing road closures. Currently, shipments are via public U.S. Highway 20, requiring that the public be restricted from access to the highway during shipping periods. An internal road would allow shipments between facilities without impacting public access to the public highway. The cost and time required for notifications, road closures, and shipping container certification is considerable when using the public highway, decreasing operational efficiency.
LM prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) (DOE/EA-1770) that evaluated two vaction alternatives related to the installation, operation, and removal of a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system on the Durango, Colorado, Disposal Site and the No Action Alternative. Alternative 1 evaluated the use of the 18-acre (ac) vegetated surface of the disposal cell for the installation of a PV system. The second action alternative (Alternative 2, the Preferred Action) considered the use of the surface of the disposal cell but also the use of approximately 3.5 ac of previously disturbed areas adjacent to the disposal cell. Under this alternative, which is the maximum solar development scenario, approximately 21 ac of the disposal site will contain solar panels. Based on preliminary estimates, it could support a potential to generate 4.5 megawatts or more of energy.
The proposed action is for DOE to provide $1.94 million in cost-shared funding to the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) for the Battleground Energy Recovery Project. The proposed project was selected by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to advance research and demonstration of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The proposed project would produce 8 megawatts (MW) of electricity from high pressure steam generated by capturing heat that is currently lost at the Clean Harbors Deer Park (CHDP) facility. The proposed project is consistent with DOE’s goal of increased use of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects. The proposed project involves installation of a specifically designed waste heat recovery boiler on the existing kiln afterburner of an incineration unit at the CHDP facility. This boiler would use heat from the incinerator flue gases to generate high pressure superheated steam. The adjacent Dow Chemical plant would periodically consume part of the steam for process needs, replacing natural gas firing of existing boilers. The majority of the steam, however, would be piped to a new steam turbine-generator (STG). The STG would be installed in a new building adjacent to the existing CHDP facility. Additional waste heat steam from the neighboring Dow Chemical plant would be routed to the STG when available. A cooling tower would be installed adjacent to the new building in the northwest corner of the facility. The 8 MW of electricity generated by the STG would be used by the CHDP facility to offset purchased power; any excess power generated would be transmitted to the electrical grid.
Cephas Industries (Cephas) is proposing to construct an open-loop biomass manufacturing facility in Richmond, Virginia. The demand for recycling construction and demolition (C&D) debris has rapidly increased in recent years prompting the construction of approximately 200 biomass manufacturing facilities nationwide, with more expected to be developed. Of particular value is the recycling of wood and woody material into biomass commodities that can be sold to end-users as an alternative fuel source. Studies have shown that the recycling of C&D debris serves to: produce energy, conserve landfill space, reduce the environmental impact of producing new materials, and reduce overall construction project expenses by lessening disposal costs.
Cephas applied for funding assistance from Virginia’s State Energy Program (SEP) through the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy (DMME). DMME selected this project to receive a grant from the SEP. States can apply their SEP funds to a variety of activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Recently, much of states’ SEP funding came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009 (Public Law 111-5, 123 Stature 115; Recovery Act), in which Congress appropriated $3.1 billion to the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) for SEP grants and from which Virginia received $70 million pursuant to a statutory formula for financial distribution.
Cephas applied for funding assistance from Virginia’s State Energy Program (SEP) through the Virginia Department of Mines Minerals and Energy (DMME). DMME selected this project to receive a grant from the SEP. States can apply their SEP funds to a variety of activities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy. Recently, much of states’ SEP funding came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009 (Public Law 111-5, 123 Stature 115; Recovery Act), in which Congress appropriated $3.1 billion to the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) for SEP grants and from which Virginia received $70 million pursuant to a statutory formula for financial distribution.
DOE and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) propose to collaborate in research on the response and effects of elevated temperature and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on a black spruce-Sphagnum (peatmoss) ecosystem located in the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF), which is located approximately 25 miles north of Grand Rapids, in Itasca County, Minnesota. The purpose of the proposed research is to obtain information on how this ecosystem would respond to a range of higher temperatures and increased atmospheric CO2 that may occur in the future. Because this ecosystem plays an important role in carbon storage, its responses to these changes are likely to have important feedbacks on the atmosphere and climate through the global carbon cycle.
Through Congressional action in 2009 and 2010, grants were awarded to the City of Boise (City) for extension of the City's geothermal system to Boise State UNiversity (BSU). One grant, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), was designated as "Boise City Geothermal System Expansion, Carbon Disclosure Project 31.09." It was funded as a part of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 ($1.4 million) and the Energy and Water Development Act, 2010 ($1.0 million).
Clemson University is proposing to construct and operate a Wind Turbine Drivetrain Test Facility (DTTF) at the Clemson University Research Institute in North Charleston, South Carolina. This project would promote industry/government/university collaboration in research and workforce education and would be manned with a dedicated workforce to service industry needs with additional services offered by established local industries as needed by customers.
The proposed wind turbine test facility would be built on the Charleston Naval Complex (CNC), on a brownfield site formerly owned by the U.S. Navy. The facility would consist of two test rigs equipped with independent drive systems. Each test rig would be capable of testing a range of wind turbine drivetrains, up to a 15-megawatt (MW) unit on Rig #1 and up a 7.5-MW unit on Rig #2. Rig #1 would have the capability to apply loads to the main shaft of the specimen drive-train, replicating forces and moments along three axes thereby simulating actual blade forces experienced in the field
The proposed wind turbine test facility would be built on the Charleston Naval Complex (CNC), on a brownfield site formerly owned by the U.S. Navy. The facility would consist of two test rigs equipped with independent drive systems. Each test rig would be capable of testing a range of wind turbine drivetrains, up to a 15-megawatt (MW) unit on Rig #1 and up a 7.5-MW unit on Rig #2. Rig #1 would have the capability to apply loads to the main shaft of the specimen drive-train, replicating forces and moments along three axes thereby simulating actual blade forces experienced in the field
DOE prepared this Environmental Assessment (EA) to assess the potential for impacts to the human and natural environment of its Proposed Action-providing financial assistance to FutureFuel under a cooperative agreement. DOE’s objective is to support the development of the EDV industry in an effort to substantially reduce the United States’ consumption of petroleum, in addition to stimulating the United States’ economy. More specifically, DOE’s objective is to accelerate the development and production of various EDV systems by building or increasing domestic manufacturing capacity for advanced automotive batteries, their components, recycling facilities, and EDV components. This work will enable market introduction of various electric vehicle technologies by lowering the cost of battery packs, batteries, and electric propulsion systems for EDVs through high-volume manufacturing.
Under the terms of the cooperative agreement, DOE would provide approximately 50 percent of the funding to FutureFuel to partially fund the retrofitting of an existing manufacturing building to a commercial-scale plant to produce intermediate anode material for high-performance Li-ion batteries (referred to as the “Proposed Project” within this EA). An existing FutureFuel manufacturing building (48,000 square feet, 5 stories) would be retrofitted to accommodate the proposed plant. The existing building that would be reconfigured currently
includes over half of the major process equipment and pumps required to produce intermediate anode material. The goal would be to increase the product supply from the current 1,000,000 pounds per year at an off-site plant to 10,000,000 pounds per year, which would be sufficient for supplying over 2,000,000 HEVs. Additionally, the project would create approximately 33 permanent jobs.
Under the terms of the cooperative agreement, DOE would provide approximately 50 percent of the funding to FutureFuel to partially fund the retrofitting of an existing manufacturing building to a commercial-scale plant to produce intermediate anode material for high-performance Li-ion batteries (referred to as the “Proposed Project” within this EA). An existing FutureFuel manufacturing building (48,000 square feet, 5 stories) would be retrofitted to accommodate the proposed plant. The existing building that would be reconfigured currently
includes over half of the major process equipment and pumps required to produce intermediate anode material. The goal would be to increase the product supply from the current 1,000,000 pounds per year at an off-site plant to 10,000,000 pounds per year, which would be sufficient for supplying over 2,000,000 HEVs. Additionally, the project would create approximately 33 permanent jobs.
The purpose of this report is to identify and describe wetlands at a location approximately 5 miles northeast of King Salmon, Alaska. The general location of the site is in southwestern Alaska, near the northeastern end of Bristol Bay on the north side of the Naknek River, between King Salmon and Naknek Lake. Approximately 154 acres of Naknek Electrical Association (NEA) property is proposed for geothermal exploration. The site includes a proposed 100-foot-wide road corridor beginning at approximately 3 miles west along an unimproved road from Naknek II Recreation Camp (also known as Lake Camp) on Naknek Lake. The road corridor extends north and northeast approximately to the NEA property. Both the NEA property and the proposed road corridor are within the following land survey sections: Sections 14, 26, and 23 of Township 17S, Range 44W, Seward Meridian.