The innovative development of renewable energy on brownfields and other contaminated properties is bringing a host of benefits to communities around the country, including new jobs, new sources of energy and income, and the beneficial reuse of otherwise idle properties. Because local governments are uniquely situated to encourage the growth of these projects, the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP) has released a primer entitled Cultivating Green Energy on Brownfields: A Nuts and Bolts Primer for Local Governments to aid local governments in investigating whether renewable energy development may be the right choice for brownfields in their communities. 

This primer offers local governments a starting point for considering whether (and what) renewable energy facilities may be appropriate for local brownfield sites. It includes an overview of renewable energy options, tools for navigating the economic issues that determine project feasibility, information on the permitting, zoning, liability and other regulatory issues that affect the development of renewable energy projects on these sites, and suggestions for ways to promote the development of renewable energy on brownfield sites. Case examples, presented throughout the primer, demonstrate the success of existing policies and renewable energy projects operating on brownfields. The primer's appendix provides a list of resources for more information on developing a renewable energy project on a brownfield.