DOE Selects Stellar Renewable Power for a Clean Energy Project at Savannah River Site

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected Stellar Renewable Power, LLC, to enter lease negotiations for a carbon-pollution-free electricity generation project within the 310-square-mile Savannah River Site (SRS) as part of the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative.

• Stellar Renewable Power will have the opportunity to negotiate a land lease to deploy 75 megawatts of carbon-pollution-free electricity to the grid with the potential for a battery-energy storage system on at least 500 acres of land at SRS.

President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14057 in December 2021, which calls on agencies to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030 and directs them to authorize use of their real property assets, including land for the development of new clean electricity generation and storage through leases, grants, permits or other mechanisms. As the leading federal agency on clean energy research and development, DOE has both a unique opportunity and a clear responsibility to lead by example and identify creative solutions to achieve the president’s goal.

Since announcing the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative in July last year, DOE has issued five requests for qualifications to lease land at the SRS in South Carolina; Hanford Site in Washington; Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico; Nevada National Security Site; and Idaho National Laboratory.

On June 4 and June 12, respectively, DOE announced the selection of developers for carbon-pollution-free electricity projects in Idaho and Nevada.

“President Biden directed the federal government to use its scale and procurement power, as the nation’s largest energy consumer and land manager, to support the growth of America’s clean energy industry and clean energy jobs and do so in ways that are good for our taxpayers and our communities,” said Andrew Mayock, federal chief sustainability officer in the White House Council on Environmental Quality. “Through DOE’s Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, we will spur new clean electricity production, which is good for our climate, our economy and our national security.”  

The DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) is committed to reaching the nation’s climate goals and combating climate change through clean energy production on its sites, according to EM Senior Advisor Candice Robertson.

“We are excited about this solar-powered commercial project utilizing SRS land to produce clean energy, achieving site sustainability goals and bringing jobs and innovation to the state of South Carolina,” Robertson said.

DOE is currently finalizing its analysis for additional solar capacity at SRS, with an expected completion date next month. The selected developer will enter lease negotiations with DOE for the development of the proposed photovoltaic project. Before leases are issued, DOE and the applicant will undergo a negotiation process.

DOE will continue to engage and partner with industry, tribal nations, communities, stakeholders, regulators and others to implement a process for further development of clean energy projects on DOE-owned land.

More information on Cleanup to Clean Energy can be found here.