US Department of Energy Announces $475 Million Funding for Clean Energy Projects on Mine Sites

Credit: Pixabay

The US Department of Energy (DoE) revealed on Thursday a funding allocation of up to $475 million (EUR 439 million) for five clean energy projects, including coal-to-solar initiatives, on current and former mine sites across five states.

Made possible by the , the funding will support projects in , Kentucky, Nevada, , and West Virginia, encompassing various clean energy technologies such as solar, , battery energy storage, and pumped storage hydro.

To provide clarity on the scale of the projects, the DoE outlined descriptions for each, including their power generation and storage capacities where applicable.

In Kentucky, a coal-to-pumped storage hydro project aims to convert a former coal mine into a closed-loop, 287-MW pumped-storage hydroelectric (PSH) plant capable of producing 671,700 MWh of clean annually.

In Nevada, plans include developing a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a battery energy storage system at three active gold mines, though specific capacities were not disclosed.

Pennsylvania's project focuses on former coal mining land, where a developer intends to build a 402-MW solar project, serving as a demonstration for future mine land-to-solar projects in the Appalachian region. The developer, Swift Current, aims to develop approximately 1,000 MW over the next five years.

In West Virginia, the proposal involves constructing a 250-MW solar PV plant at two former coal mines.

Lastly, the Arizona project aims to utilize clean geothermal heat for copper production, including the addition of a microgrid and battery energy storage system to reduce reliance on onsite thermal backup generators.

“This funding represents a significant step towards our goal of repurposing and revitalizing former mine sites for clean energy production,” stated a spokesperson from the DoE.

Add a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

By pressing the Subscribe button, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Support Renewable Energy News!

At EnergyMagz, we believe that reliable, up-to-date news on renewable energy is vital for driving the world toward a sustainable future. By contributing, you’re not only supporting quality journalism, but also helping to shape the world’s transition to greener solutions.
DONATE  NOW
Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference.
close-link