REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - DOE CLEANUP TO CLEAN ENERGY POWER GENERATION AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAVANNAH RIVER SITE

DOE | 10/17/2023

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI).  This RFI is issued solely for information and planning 
purposes and does not constitute a solicitation.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is working toward the goal of using 100% carbon-free energy (CFE) at 
all DOE sites by the year 2030.  The Savannah River Site (SRS) is one of the largest consumers of 
electricity within the DOE complex.  The Site is located on 310 square miles (approximately 200,000 
acres) of DOE owned and largely forested land in eastern South Carolina along the Savannah River 
near the town of Jackson, SC.

SRS will focus on offsetting the annual electricity consumption by generating an equivalent amount 
of electricity using any CFE technology, e.g., solar, small modular reactors, geothermal, and wind, 
that can deliver carbon-free energy in the form of electricity to the electric grid.  To fully 
offset the typical amount of electricity consumed, it is estimated that SRS would need to offset 
approximately 180,000 MWh annually by 2030 and 360,000 MWh annually by 2032.

Savannah River Site would also like to consider opportunities for energy storage in addition to CFE 
generation.  Ultimately, SRS would like to generate as much of carbon-free energy as SRS resources 
can support without impacting the site’s primary mission. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 
and Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) will be used for this acquisition along with 
NAICS code 221114 Solar Electric Power Generation.

Due Date for Responses:  12:00pm on Friday, November 17, 2023

Point of Contact: Jeff Hynds (jeff.hynds@srs.gov)

Project Description:

Four tracts of land have been initially identified as potential locations for CFE power generation. 
These four tracts are indicated on the included map.  Each tract is 2000+ acres of reasonably flat 
ground.  Each tract could be developed with access to the site from a public road.  The four tracts 
that have been identified may not necessarily be the optimum locations for some CFE technologies.  
Other tracts of land more suitable to different CFE technologies can be considered as required.  
DOE may decide to lease part or all the available land, or award leases to one or multiple entities.

In exchange for favorable lease terms and a waiver of property taxes, the selected firm would 
provide SRS with the number of Environmental Attribute Certificates (EACs) commonly referred to as 
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) required to fully offset the typical annual power consumption of 
approximately 360,000 MWh.  Disposition of any additional Renewable energy credits created by CFE 
generation at SRS beyond the number required to offset SRS consumption would be solely at the 
discretion of the CFE installation owner.

A long-term lease agreement is anticipated.  The Department of Energy is anticipating a turnkey 
agreement with the selected firm managing and financing all tasks related siting, designing, 
environmental permitting, including NEPA, construction, interconnection, licensing, operation, and 
maintenance of the CFE facility or facilities on land leased from DOE.  At the end of its useful 
life, the selected firm shall be responsible for removal and proper dispositioning of all equipment 
and restoration of the site.  The selected firm will be required to set aside funding during the 
period of the lease, such that there are sufficient funds available to restore the land at the end 
of the lease period.

It is anticipated that the selected firm will own and operate the finished CFE facility upon 
completion of construction. The selected firm will produce EACs by operating the CFE facility and 
will provide the required number of EACs to SRS each year of the lease agreement between SRS and 
the firm.

It is the responsibility of the selected firm to negotiate and establish agreements with the off- 
taking utility.  Interconnection to the off-taking utility’s power grid and any associated costs 
are the responsibility of the selected firm.  The CFE facility will not supply power directly to 
the SRS onsite grid.  If the CFE facility power generation is not isolated from the SRS onsite 
power grid, then the selected firm may be responsible for the additional maintenance and operations 
to ensure the CFE facility does not interfere with the SRS mission.

All the currently identified tracts of land can be accessed directly from an existing State or 
Federal highway without passing through an SRS barricade.  The selected firm will construct a fence 
around the entire CFE facility and maintain controlled access to the facility.

The facility will be located within the state of South Carolina and must meet all applicable state 
and federal regulations.  It is anticipated that the selected firm will have experience in 
compliance with state and federal regulatory reviews and permitting projects on federal land, the 
National Environmental Policy Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and Endangered Species Act.

The electricity market in South Carolina is a “regulated monopoly” managed by the South Carolina 
Public Service Commission (https://www.psc.sc.gov).  The region where SRS is located is assigned to 
Dominion Energy South Carolina (https://www.dominionenergy.com/south-carolina), formerly South 
Carolina Electric and Gas Company. The Southeast Energy Exchange Market (https://southeastenergymarket.com) provides opportunities for 15-minute energy trading in this area.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a 
solicitation. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to 
form a binding contract.  SRS is not seeking proposals through this RFI and will not accept 
unsolicited proposals. Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with 
responding to this RFI.  Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future 
procurement, if conducted.  No proprietary information should be included in any submittal.

To read this full RFI use this link. Responses for this RFI are due November 17, 2023. 

OAK RIDGE NEWSCAST TURNS FOCUS TO NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP

Oak Ridge Office of EM | 10/16/2023

The Oak RIdge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) traveled to this year's National Cleanup Workshop in Arlington, Virginia, to provide comprehensive coverage for its monthly newscast. The team spoke with elected officials and government and business leaders supporting EM’s cleanup to learn more about the most important issues facing cleanup across the DOE complex. Watch to learn more about EM’s priorities, key regulatory partnerships, efforts to attract top talent, new energy opportunities and an inside look at the federal budget process.

CLEANUP COST FOR NUCLEAR CONTAMINATION SITES HAS RISEN NEARLY $1 BILLION SINCE 2016, REPORT SAYS

Associated Press| 10/17/2023

The estimated future cost to clean up 19 sites contaminated by nuclear waste from the Cold War era has risen by nearly $1 billion in the past seven years, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

The GAO report urges the Army Corps of Engineers to improve management practices for cleaning up contaminated sites under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, or FUSRAP. The recommendations include improved planning so resources can be better shared among sites and developing more comprehensive cost estimates.

Officials say inflation is partly to blame for the cost increase, along with uncertainties about the cleanup. The report found that four sites with “complicated cleanup remedies or large amounts of contamination” are responsible for about three-fourths of the cost increase. Two of those sites are in New York state — one near Niagara Falls and one in Lockport. The others are in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, and in the St. Louis area.

All told, the 19 FUSRAP sites are in eight states, all in the East or Midwest.

The Department of Defense said they would work to implement the GAO's recommendations, the report stated.

"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers remains committed to cleaning up and completing projects being executed under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP) to protect the health and well-being of communities and the environment,” a statement from the agency said. “We have received the Government Accountability Office’s report and we are currently working to address their recommendations.”

U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, noted that more than two-fifths of the sites are near low-income and minority communities.

“Decades after the federal government generated large amounts of toxic nuclear waste as a result of nuclear weapons production, America’s most underserved communities still bear the brunt of deadly contamination from one of the most significant environmental disasters in our nation’s history,” Raskin said in a statement.

The Corps of Engineers reported about $2.6 billion in future costs associated with FUSRAP, according to its fiscal year 2022 financial statement — nearly $1 billion higher than 2016 estimates. The report said yearly inflation adjustments contributed to about half of the increased cost.

For the GAO report, use this link. 

Continue Reading >>

UPCOMING EVENTS

ECA WEBINAR: Cleanup to Clean Energy: How to Develop a Project on Federal Land

Join ECA on Tuesday, October 31 at 2pm for an engaging discussion on DOE's Cleanup to Clean Energy Initiative "Cleanup to Clean Energy: How to Develop a Project on Federal Land". Register to learn more from experts, Candice Robertson, Senior Policy Advisor, DOE-EM, Seth Kirshenberg, ECA Executive Director, and Peter Flynn, Bostonia Partners. 

• Hanford Site, Richland, WA
• Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
• Nevada National Security Site, Nye County, NV
• Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC
• Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Carlsbad, NM

Reach out to Faith Sanchez, ECA Program Manager (faiths@energyca.org) with any questions. 

Adding Nuclear to the Mix: NEI, EPRI, NETL, WVU, AND GAIN

This event serves as a platform to bring together diverse stakeholders including local communities, policymakers, utility companies, and energy innovators to delve into the dynamic landscape of enhancing energy portfolios. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the evolving energy industry, focusing on the integration of innovative value-added energy solutions. By participating, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the current developments and opportunities in the nuclear and sustainable energy generation space. Whether you're seeking to better understand the future of energy, explore ways to support local economies, or foster resilient energy practices, this conference offers a unique chance to connect, learn, and contribute to the ongoing transformation of our energy systems.

The conference registration is live: https://gain.inl.gov/SitePages/2023.11.1415_AddingNuclearToTheMix.aspx

Check out ECA's latest report! 

DISPOSAL DRIVES CLEANUP: RE-ENERGIZING MOMENTUM FOR DISPOSAL SOLUTIONS FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE

This report calls on the Department of Energy to launch the initiative to develop the actual waste disposition approaches. The Department could potentially save hundreds of billions of dollars in cleanup costs by using its available tools and implementing the report’s recommendations.

NEW MEDIA

NucleCast: Admiral Hyman Rickover: Establishment of the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Submarine Program

Marc Wortman, PhD, is an independent historian and freelance journalist. He is the author of four books on American military and social history, most recently Admiral Hyman Rickover: Engineer of Power (Yale University Press, 2022), which was named a National Review Book of the Year and received an honorable mention for the John Lyman Award in biography from the North American Society for Oceanic History. His other books are 1941: Fighting the Shadow War, A Divided America in a World at War (Atlantic Monthly, 2016); The Bonfire: The Siege and Burning of Atlanta (PublicAffairs, 2009), and The Millionaires’ Unit: The Aristocratic Flyboys Who Fought the Great War and Invented American Air Power (PublicAffairs, 2006). A multi-prize-winning feature-length documentary based on The Millionaires’ Unit is available on streaming services.