1. Introduction to the RE-Powering Mapper
The RE-Powering Mapper (Mapper) provides federal and state data for over 190,000 brownfields, landfills, mine sites and other contaminated lands (collectively referred to as “RE-Powering sites” in this document) to help users identify sites for renewable energy development. Sites have been prescreened for renewable energy potential using criteria from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). Please note: the sites were not evaluated for land use constraints or current conditions. Additional research and site-specific analyses are needed to verify viability for renewable energy project development at a given site.[2]
This user guide and data documentation accompanies the EPA RE-Powering America’s Land Mapper 3.0 tool. The RE-Powering Mapper is a Web-based application that provides location data for RE-Powering sites that were collected from state and federal sources and pre-screened for renewable energy potential. A data layer (points) is provided with this renewable energy screened data. In addition to the point layer, the Mapper has additional supporting layers including Superfund site polygons, tribal boundaries, demographic information, roads, transmission lines, substations, solar radiance, wind speed, biomass feedstock and others.
Users can filter on multiple attributes to focus on the desired geographic scale, project size and/or distance to substations, among other details. A list of all attributes associated with the data layers can be found in Appendix A: Re-Powering Screened Sites Attribute Table Details. The Mapper application includes several functional tools/widgets that are explained in Section 4: Using the Mapper Functions.
The data points for RE-Powering sites are accessible through the Mapper and available for download from the Mapper landing page.
For more information about data sources and the screening process, please see Section 5: Data Documentation for Mapping and Screening Criteria for Renewable Energy Generation Potential on EPA- And State-Tracked Sites.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction to the RE-Powering Mapper
- 2. Quick Start
- 3. Mapper Elements
- 4. Using the Mapper Functions
- 4.1 Opening the Mapper
- 4.2 Getting Around the Mapper
- 4.3 Selecting Sites
- 4.4 Adding Data to the Mapper
- 4.5 Printing and Exporting Data
- 4.6 Measuring Features
- 4.7 Bookmarking
- 4.8 Read Pop-up Box for Site Information Summary
- 4.9 Data Layers Included
- 5.0 Data Documentation for Mapping and Screening Criteria for Renewable Energy Generation Potential on EPA- And State-Tracked Sites
- Appendix A: Re-Powering Screened Sites Attribute Table Details
- Appendix B: Renewable Energy Technology Basics
Footnotes
2 The RE-Powering Mapper and associated documents are provided solely as general information on screening potentially or formerly contaminated lands, landfills and mine sites for renewable energy potential. It does not address all information, factors or considerations that may be relevant in a particular situation. Results do not reflect an endorsement or recommendation for development potential by EPA. References to third-party publications, websites, commercial products, process or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, are for informational purposes only. No endorsement or recommendation should be inferred and is not implied. EPA, NREL and the United States Government do not endorse any non-federal product service or enterprise.
Jump back to content.