Brownfields to brightfields: state policy models to facilitate the reuse of degraded lands for renewable energy

Abstract

This report examines strategies to promote siting renewable energy projects on degraded lands. As states seek to deploy renewable energy, the issue of siting has become increasingly contentious. Clean power projects located on undeveloped "greenfields" can encounter opposition. Steering these projects towards contaminated, underutilized, and degraded lands provides an alternative with many advantages. Converting degraded "brownfield" properties into clean energy installations is commonly known as "brightfield" development. Unfortunately, several obstacles hinder such development. Although brightfields have been successfully developed in 46 states, states with multiple policies to encourage this approach have the most projects by a serious margin. This report first discusses the advantages and obstacles to siting renewable energy on degraded lands. We then provide a toolkit of programs, with existing state policy examples, that states can employ to facilitate brightfield development.