(C) Daily Yonder - Keep it Rural This story was originally published by Daily Yonder - Keep it Rural and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Making Mountaintop Removal Renewable [1] ['Kim Kobersmith', 'The Daily Yonder'] Date: 2024-01-12 The dirt road to Starfire Mine is rough, bumpy, and rutted, with a view of undulating terrain covered and scrubby vegetation rolling out into the distance. This is one of the largest mountaintop removal mine sites in Appalachia – at 27,000-acres, it’s as large as Disney World – and the site of one of the most significant renewable energy projects in development in the eastern U.S. In continuous operation since 1975, Eastern Kentucky’s Starfire Mine has long been an economic foundation and cultural touchpoint for the region. Yet this type of coal mining makes a significant impact, leaving behind relatively flat but barren, unstable land that is often considered undevelopable. The success of the pilot project happening on the Starfire Mine site could change possibilities for these sorts of mines moving forward. The Plan BrightNight is a global integrated power company that designs, develops, owns, and operates large-scale renewable power projects. Its ambitious plan to create an 800-megawatt solar energy project, enough to power 170,000 homes annually, on a 7,000-acre brownfield could tip the scales toward future similar projects. A construction simulation shows how BrightNight plans to transform Starfire Mine into a renewable power project. (BrightNight via YouTube) “It can demonstrate a replicable process for developing environmentally sensitive sites not ideal for traditional infrastructure,” said Maribeth Sawchuk, Vice President of Communication for BrightNight, during an interview with the Daily Yonder. “Sites like this are critical to the clean power transition.” In addition, several factors are making the time right for this kind of project: Recent federal infrastructure legislation is funding renewable projects on formerly mined lands; environmentally responsible corporations are working towards a carbon neutral energy footprint; and geographically, Kentucky is uniquely positioned to develop power close to much of the nation’s population. The Process There is a certain symmetry in converting a former fossil fuel site to a renewable energy site – taking it from extraction to generation. The process of mining coal leaves behind the kind of large, open landscape with potential for large scale solar installations, and some power lines built to bring electricity to fuel mining can be converted to transmit renewable power away to communities and people. But realistically, BrightNight has to clear some significant hurdles before construction begins in 2026. The challenges are three-fold: the physical characteristics of the site itself, the number of partners involved, and the complexity of the engineering. As evidenced by the rough road to get there, Starfire is remote, and parts of it are still actively mined or require current remediation work. Starfire also spans three counties – Perry, Breathitt, and Knott – and as such, has a diverse pool of stakeholders involved. Its gently sloping grade and often unstable soil requires advanced geotechnical analysis to determine optimal, and feasible, infrastructure. In addition to county buy-in, BrightNight needed willing partners to make this project a reality, and two significant power-purchasing entities have joined them. The first, Rivian designs, develops and manufactures electric vehicles and is working towards a net zero operation by 2040. The second, The Nature Conservancy, is a nonprofit dedicated to conserving land, water, and biodiversity. Both Rivian and The Nature Conservancy chose this project for its potential positive impact on what is termed the 3Cs: climate, conservation, and community. “Significant investments in infrastructure will be critical to solving the climate crisis, but how we invest is just as important as how much we invest: We need to ensure both people and the planet are central to these decisions, especially in communities like the Appalachians that have powered America for centuries and have tremendous natural resources,” stated Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy. “We are proud to collaborate with Rivian and BrightNight on this important project.” Including the Community Especially in a region with a history of extraction, making sure that some of the wealth generated in the area benefits local people is a crucial element of development. In this vein, BrightNight is exploring avenues for community engagement. While nothing is solidified, the company is hoping to partner with area educational centers like Hazard Community and Technical College to provide training for the 250 construction jobs that will be created by the project. In addition, they hope to support electricity, road construction, and engineering needs for the Olive Branch Community, a state-supported flood recovery housing development slated to be built on the mine, adjacent to the renewable energy project. Adam Wells is Regional Director of Community and Economic Development for Appalachian Voices, a grassroots environmental organization. The group advocates for early and deeply meaningful local engagement. Increasingly, U.S. Department of Energy funding for these types of projects requires a community benefits agreement, he said. If done well, these agreements outline direct benefits for the community, selected by the community. In addition to hiring and infrastructure improvements, they can also include direct cash payments, community grants to fund local infrastructure like playgrounds and libraries, and operational practices that will increase ecosystem health. One example is Savion, the developer of another mine-to-solar project in Martin County, Kentucky. Savion worked with community leaders to determine an appropriate way to benefit the county, and in October, they donated $100,000 to install a solar array at the local high school. The 100-panel system is expected to save the school system $12,500 annually, and the district is exploring ways to add solar-related programming for students in the on-site technology center. In the case of Starfire Mine, the BrightNight Starfire Renewable Energy Center will create a taxable asset where there would not otherwise be one, generating an estimated $150 million tax revenue over the life of the project. Developing energy production can attract new industries and generate new resources, but in Appalachia, renewable energy infrastructure like this can also offer something less tangible. “The narrative of renewable energy is powerful in an energy producing region,” said Wells. “It sends a positive message of people not grasping at the past but looking to the future.” Related Republish This Story Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license. [END] --- [1] Url: https://dailyyonder.com/starfire-mine-renewable-solar-project/2024/01/12/ Published and (C) by Daily Yonder - Keep it Rural Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0 International. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailyyonder/