In response to Michigan’s 2023 legislation mandating a 50% renewable energy portfolio by 2030 and 60% by 2035, this project explores how brownfield sites—properties with known or suspected contamination—can support the state's clean energy transition. While public support favors siting renewable energy on such disturbed lands over farmland or forests, brownfield redevelopment faces significant barriers, including cost, grid interconnection, uncertainty in securing an energy buyer, and site selection complexity. To support the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) in launching a $10 million Brownfield Renewable Energy Pilot Program under the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant, our team conducted research and analysis across four primary objectives: geospatial site suitability mapping, understanding the costs associated with brownfield renewable energy development, interconnection and off-taking power challenges, and pilot program design. Key deliverables include a summary report, a proof-of-concept geospatial mapping tool, a program design framework, and a compilation of recommendations for supplementary resources. This work aims not only to inform the development of the Brownfield Renewable Energy Pilot Program, but also to generate scalable models of brownfield renewable energy developments that could be replicated on other brownfields statewide, while also creating tools and identifying resources that can be used to advance brownfield renewable energy development in Michigan beyond the projects that participate in the Pilot Program.
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