Steel Markets
Green Energy Transforms Bethlehem Steel Site
Written by Sandy Williams
July 15, 2014
The old Bethlehem Steel site in Lackawanna, NY, is getting repurposed to produce green energy. The site, considered a “brownfield” due to its former use for industrial purposes and its contaminated ground, will become one of the largest solar farms in New York State.
The “Steel Sun” project will add 13,000 solar panels to the area that is already home to 14 wind turbines at the Steel Winds wind farm. The 3 x 5 foot solar panels will cover the equivalent area of 69 tennis courts. The combined panels will have a capacity of 4 megawatts per year (equivalent to the energy production of two wind turbines) and produce enough solar energy to power around 650 homes.
The combination of wind farm and solar energy creates a more reliable energy grid according to Lynda Schneekloth, University of Buffalo professor emeritus in Architecture and Planning.
“The wind is active late at night and, of course, the sun is active mostly during the day, so you are starting to get a 24-hour cycle of energy available, which makes it more reliable,” said Schneekloth in a Buffalo News article. “That’s a big concern for people, to make sure the energy grid is reliable. That’s a great advantage in producing wind and solar energy at the same site.”
Bethlehem Steel was closed in 1983 and has been mostly cleared since then. Slag, leftover from the steelmaking process, has been recycled to use for soil remediation. One foot of cover by soil, vegetative soil or slag is required by the Department of Environmental Conservation. The solar panels will be anchored in concrete on the slag bed which provides drainage and low maintenance for the solar panel field.
The 1100 acres of the former Bethlehem Steel plant is owned by Tecumseh Redevelopment, Inc. The Steel Sun project will be managed by BQ Energy which was also a partner in the Steel Winds project.
(Source: Buffalo News)
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Markets
Tampa Steel Conference: Two weeks to go!
With just two weeks to go, we have over 400 registered so far for the 36th annual Tampa Steel Conference. Join us and hundreds of industry executives at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street from Sunday, February 2, through Tuesday, February 4.
Galvanized buyers see glimmers of optimism amidst the chaos
Reflecting on 2024 and looking ahead to the new year, galvanized steel buyers on this month’s HARDI call expressed a mix of cautious optimism with lingering uncertainties.
Construction spending steady in November
Construction spending inched higher in November for a second straight month.
Steady architecture billings signal improving conditions
The November ABI decreased month over month but was still the third-highest reading of the past two years.
Fitch warns more tariffs will pressure global commodity markets
“New commodity-specific tariffs, mainly on steel and aluminum products, could widen price differentials and divert trade flows,” the credit agency forewarned.