For many, and certainly for any Oppenheimer movie fans out there, Hanford is synonymous with the World War II crash program to develop nuclear weapons. Hundreds of square miles of land are still owned by the federal government. Part historic monument, part active Nuclear Reservation and part open land, Hanford is soon to become a massive solar farm.
Assuming negotiations go well with the U.S. Department of Energy and Hecate Energy, some 8,000 acres of the reservation will be used to build the new solar farm. The completed farm would be able to generate a gigawatt of renewable energy and rank among the largest installations in the world. That’s enough energy to meet half of Seattle City Light’s customer demand during pick periods.
Of course, solar panels without any way to store the energy wouldn’t be much use, at least if you want a stable power source. To stabilize the supply of energy produced, the project includes battery storage facilities so that power can still be shared with utilities even when the sun doesn’t shine.
For those thinking that the new facility will need a lot of batteries because it’s cloudy all the time in Washington, the eastern part of the state enjoys 300 days of sun annually.
The ability to produce renewable, clean energy opens a new chapter for the area. The Hanford Reservation covers approximately 560 square miles. That’s nearly the size of Rhode Island. The vast majority of the land wasn’t used for the Manhattan Project. Rather, it provided a large buffer space to keep the program secret.
Putting the solar farm on federal land sidesteps some of the red tape that projects of similar size must go through.
If the facility comes to fruition, the timing couldn’t be better. Energy demand is expected to increase in Washington State by 20% by 2030 and double by 2050, even though the state has committed to using only renewable or non-emitting energy by 2045. Hydroelectric dams are no longer an option, so the state must look for innovative ways to meet future demand while reducing carbon emissions.
“There’s no doubt, this could be the start of something very exciting for Hanford, for Washington, and for all of us who are dedicated to a clean energy future,” said Gov. Jay Inslee in a statement. “I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration’s urgency and bold action to deliver on our climate ambitions and create new job opportunities.”