This paper provides information related to a new inner city redevelopment initiativethat offers to merge clean, on-site energy resources called "power parks", such as combinedheat and power (CHP) and district energy systems, and brownfield redevelopment planning.One goal of this initiative is to improve the marketability of brownfield sites across the USby utilizing on-site energy for improved power reliability and reduced energy cost. Theconcept is supported by the National Energy Policy Plan published in May, 2001, by theBush administration.The National Energy Policy Report gave a very specific recommendation that "...?thePresident direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to workwith local and state governments to promote the use of well-designed combined heat andpower (CHP) and other clean power generation at brownfield sites, consistent with the localcommunities' interests." It was a timely recommendation in that the Northeast-MidwestInstitute (NEMW) with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge NationalLaboratory was already engaged in a feasibility study on a Chicago brownfield site for thepurpose of determining the value on-site power might add to the redevelopment opportunitieson a brownfield site. The lessons learned from that project are the foundation for theinformation detailed. Additional multi-year funding from the EPA's Clean Energy Programhas allowed this work to continue and to mature to a point where on-site energy generationand brownfield redevelopment can better begin to merge their efforts.The opportunity to merge brownfield redevelopment with clean, on-site energysystems, like CHP, is an opportunity with clear benefit to all parties. Brownfields are oftenfound in power constrained locations where access to a reliable energy source can be anadded limitation to development. Clean, on-site energy production can produce significantenvironmental gains while further encouraging economic growth on industrial sites in ourcities and states.
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