DTIC ADA554684: Solar Energy Development on Department of Defense Installations in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts

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by  Defense Technical Information Center

Solar Energy Development on
Department of Defense Installations in
the Mojave and Colorado Deserts

Robert Kwartin, Sarah Alexander, Martin Anderson, Donald
Clark, John Collins, Chris Lamson, Garrett Martin, Ryan
Mayfield, Lindsay McAlpine, Daniel Moreno, Jeffrey Patterson,
Craig Schultz, and Emily Stiever

ICF International
January 2012
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Solar Energy Development On Department Of Defense Installations In
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The Mojave And Colorado Deserts
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Solar Energy Development on
Department of Defense Installations in
the Mojave and Colorado Deserts

ICF International Study Team
Study Director Robert Kwartin
Deputy Director Garrett Martin

Geographic Setting of the Deserts Sarah Alexander
Mission Compatibility John Collins, Chris Lamson, Jeffrey Patterson
Solar Technology Characterization Emily Stiever, Garrett Martin
Solar Potential Assessment Craig Schultz, Donald Clark, Daniel Moreno, Ryan
Mayfield
Energy Security Implications Martin Anderson
Policy and Program Review Garrett Martin, Lindsay McAlpine, Emily Stiever

ESTCP Project Manager
James Galvin

HGL Incorporated Project Manager
Sam Figuli
Solar Energy Development on DoD Installations in the Mojave & Colorado Deserts January 2012
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Jeff Marqusee and Jim Galvin of the Environmental Security
Technology Certification Program and Sam Figuli of HydroGeoLogic, Inc. for their invaluable
support, review, and encouragement throughout the development of this report. The authors
would also like to thank Optony, Inc. and Power Ten, Inc. for their contributions to the research
and review of this report. In addition, the team wishes to thank all of the individuals from each of
the Services and from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for volunteering their time and
expertise to support this analysis.

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Solar Energy Development on DoD Installations in the Mojave & Colorado Deserts January 2012
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... i
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. x
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiv
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... xviii
ES.1 Key Findings ....................................................................................................... xviii
ES.2 Report Purpose .................................................................................................... xviii
ES.3 Mission Compatibility ............................................................................................ xx
ES.4 Solar Potential Assessment .................................................................................. xxii
ES.5 Energy Security ................................................................................................... xxxi
ES.6 Solar Development Context ................................................................................ xxxi
ES.7 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................... xxxii
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1-1
2 Geographic Setting Characterization ..................................................................... 2-1
2.1 General Characteristics .......................................................................................... 2-1
2.1.1 Mojave Desert ........................................................................................................ 2-1
2.1.2 Colorado Desert ..................................................................................................... 2-2
2.1.3 Desert Habitats ....................................................................................................... 2-2
2.1.4 Prominent Ecological Features .............................................................................. 2-4
2.1.5 Cross-Cutting Ecological Issues ............................................................................ 2-5
2.1.6 Species ................................................................................................................... 2-6
2.2 Legal Regime governing Mojave and Colorado Deserts .................................... 2-13
2.2.1 California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) .................................................... 2-15
2.2.2 California Desert Protection Act (CDPA) of 1994 .............................................. 2-16
2.2.2.1 DoD Involvement with the CDPA of 2011 ............................................ 2-19
2.2.3 West Mojave Plan ................................................................................................ 2-19
2.2.3.1 DoD Involvement with the West Mojave Plan ...................................... 2-19
2.2.4 California Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP).................... 2-19
2.2.5 Desert Manager’s Group ...................................................................................... 2-20
2.2.6 Nevada Wildlife Action Plan ............................................................................... 2-21
2.2.7 Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) .................... 2-21
2.3 Land Use in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts ................................................... 2-21
2.3.1 Historic Land Use ................................................................................................ 2-22
2.3.2 Timeline of Land Use Developments in Mojave and Colorado Eco-region ....... 2-23
2.3.3 Current Land Uses and Impacts ........................................................................... 2-24
3 Mission Compatibility ........................................................................................... 3-1
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2 Overview of Mission Compatibility Issues ........................................................... 3-2
3.3 Mission Compatibility Challenges ........................................................................ 3-3
3.4 Sensitivity .............................................................................................................. 3-3
3.5 Activity .................................................................................................................. 3-3
3.5.1 Technical and Spectrum Mission Conflict ............................................................. 3-4
3.5.1.1 Solar Energy Systems and the EM Spectrum .......................................... 3-4
3.5.1.2 Military Uses of the EM spectrum ........................................................... 3-5
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3.5.1.3 Conflicts across the EM Spectrum ........................................................... 3-6
3.5.1.4 Conflicts in the Visible Spectrum ............................................................ 3-6
3.5.1.5 Conflicts in the IR Spectrum.................................................................... 3-9
3.5.1.6 Conflicts in the RF Spectrum ................................................................. 3-13
3.5.1.7 Hazards to Flight Operations ................................................................. 3-17
3.5.2 Range Utilization and Physical/Operational Mission Conflicts .......................... 3-18
3.5.2.1 Introduction: Installation and Range Activities ..................................... 3-18
3.5.2.2 Fort Irwin, National Training Center (NTC) ......................................... 3-20
3.5.2.3 Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake (NAWS China Lake) ............ 3-24
3.5.2.4 Naval Air Station, El Centro (NAF El Centro) ...................................... 3-41
3.5.2.5 Compatibility Issues............................................................................... 3-44
3.5.2.6 Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) Twentynine Palms
................................................................................................................ 3-44
3.5.2.7 Marine Corps Logistic Base Barstow (MCLB Barstow) ....................... 3-49
3.5.2.8 Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range (Chocolate Mtn. AGR).... 3-51
3.5.2.9 Edwards Air Force Base (Edwards AFB) .............................................. 3-54
3.5.2.10 Creech Air Force Base (Creech AFB) ................................................... 3-55
3.5.2.11 Nellis AFB and NTTR ........................................................................... 3-56
3.6 Access .................................................................................................................. 3-59
3.6.1 Fort Irwin and MCAGCC Twentynine Palms ..................................................... 3-59
3.6.2 NAWS China Lake, Edwards AFB, Nellis AFB, and Creech AFB .................... 3-59
3.6.3 NAF El Centro and Chocolate Mtn. AGR ........................................................... 3-60
3.6.4 MCLB Barstow .................................................................................................... 3-60
3.7 Environs and Shared-Use .................................................................................... 3-60
3.7.1 Explosive Ordnance (Munitions) Storage ............................................................ 3-61
3.7.2 Quantity Distance Determination and Restrictions.............................................. 3-61
3.7.2.1 Quantity Distance (QD) ......................................................................... 3-61
3.7.2.2 High Occupancy Facilities/Areas (HOFA) ............................................ 3-62
3.7.3 Waivers, Exemptions, and Secretarial Certifications/Exemptions ...................... 3-62
3.7.4 Service Issues ....................................................................................................... 3-63
3.7.4.1 Navy ....................................................................................................... 3-63
3.7.4.2 Army ...................................................................................................... 3-64
3.7.4.3 Air Force ................................................................................................ 3-64
3.7.4.4 Marine Corps ......................................................................................... 3-65
3.7.5 Explosive Ordnance (Munitions) Storage Facilities by Installation .................... 3-65
3.7.6 The Business Case for Siting Solar Adjacent to Explosive Ordnance Storage ... 3-66
3.7.7 Surface Danger Zones .......................................................................................... 3-69
3.8 Summary ............................................................................................................. 3-69
3.8.1 Mission Compatibility Screening ........................................................................ 3-69
3.8.2 Observations and Conclusions ............................................................................. 3-69
4 Technology Characterization ................................................................................ 4-1
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 4-1
4.2 Concentrating Solar Power Technologies ............................................................. 4-2
4.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 4-2
4.2.2 Parabolic Trough .................................................................................................... 4-2
4.2.2.1 Description ............................................................................................... 4-2
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Solar Energy Development on DoD Installations in the Mojave & Colorado Deserts January 2012
4.2.2.2 System Components................................................................................. 4-2
4.2.2.3 Applications ............................................................................................. 4-4
4.2.2.4 Existing and Future Projects and Trends ................................................. 4-4
4.2.3 Solar Power Towers ............................................................................................... 4-5
4.2.3.1 Description ............................................................................................... 4-5
4.2.3.2 System Components................................................................................. 4-5
4.2.3.3 Applications ............................................................................................. 4-7
4.2.3.4 Existing and Future Projects and Trends ................................................. 4-8
4.2.4 Dish/Engine Systems ............................................................................................. 4-8
4.2.4.1 Description ............................................................................................... 4-8
4.2.4.2 System Components................................................................................. 4-8
4.2.4.3 Applications ............................................................................................. 4-9
4.2.4.4 Existing and Future Projects and Trends ................................................. 4-9
4.3 Solar PV Systems ................................................................................................ 4-10
4.3.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 4-10
4.3.2 Applications ......................................................................................................... 4-11
4.3.3 Existing Projects .................................................................................................. 4-13
4.3.4 Future Trends ....................................................................................................... 4-14
5 Solar Potential Assessment ................................................................................... 5-1
5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 5-1
5.2 Geographic Analysis ............................................................................................. 5-4
5.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 5-4
5.3 Geospatial Database and Analysis Methodology .................................................. 5-6
5.3.1 Data Collection and Compilation........................................................................... 5-6
5.3.2 Requirements Assessment ..................................................................................... 5-7
5.3.3 Public Agency Data Sources .................................................................................. 5-7
5.3.4 DoD Data Sources.................................................................................................. 5-8
5.3.5 Geospatial Analyses ............................................................................................. 5-10
5.3.6 Suitability Rating Scale........................................................................................ 5-16
5.3.7 Composite Map Overlay ...................................................................................... 5-20
5.3.8 Suitable Areas ...................................................................................................... 5-21
5.4 Results ................................................................................................................. 5-24
5.4.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5-24
5.4.2 Overall Results Across Seven California Installations ........................................ 5-24
5.4.3 Individual Military Installation Geographic Analysis Results............................. 5-28
5.5 Implications of Results ........................................................................................ 5-64
5.6 Solar Technology Analysis ................................................................................. 5-66
5.6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5-66
5.6.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5-67
5.6.2.1 Solar Technologies Applied in Study .................................................... 5-67
5.6.2.2 Solar PV ................................................................................................. 5-68
5.6.2.3 Concentrating Solar Power .................................................................... 5-68
5.6.3 Configuration of Solar Installations ..................................................................... 5-69
5.6.4 Solar Electricity Output Calculations for PV Systems ........................................ 5-73
5.6.5 Array Size based on Given Area and Assumed Array Layout ............................ 5-74
5.6.6 Array Tilt and Orientation ................................................................................... 5-74
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Solar Energy Development on DoD Installations in the Mojave & Colorado Deserts January 2012
5.6.7 Input Derates ........................................................................................................ 5-74
5.6.8 Shading ................................................................................................................ 5-75
5.6.9 Weather Data ....................................................................................................... 5-76
5.6.10 Solar Electricity Output Calculations for Dish/Stirling Systems ......................... 5-76
5.6.11 Solar Electricity Output Calculations for Parabolic Trough Systems ................. 5-76
5.7 Summary of Results: Technical Potential for Solar on Military Installations .... 5-77
5.8 Implications of Technical Potential Results ........................................................ 5-87
5.9 Economic Analysis .............................................................................................. 5-89
5.9.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 5-89
5.9.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 5-90
5.9.3 Solar Technology Costs ....................................................................................... 5-90
5.9.4 Electricity Prices .................................................................................................. 5-95
5.9.5 REC Prices ......................................................................................................... 5-101
5.9.6 Other Federal, State, and Utility Incentives ....................................................... 5-103
5.9.7 Land Lease Rates ............................................................................................... 5-104
5.9.8 Transmission Costs ............................................................................................ 5-106
5.9.9 Economic and Project Finance Rates ................................................................. 5-108
5.9.10 Project Ownership .............................................................................................. 5-109
5.9.11 20-Year Investment Return Calculation ............................................................ 5-110
5.10 Economic Analysis Results ............................................................................... 5-111
5.10.1 Overall Economic Results.................................................................................. 5-111
5.10.2 Economic Results by Military Installation ........................................................ 5-119
5.11 Implications of Economic Analysis Results ...................................................... 5-133
5.11.1 Environmental Impacts of Solar Development on Military Installations .......... 5-138
5.11.2 Renewable Energy Impacts................................................................................ 5-138
5.11.3 Air Impacts......................................................................................................... 5-139
5.11.4 Water Impacts .................................................................................................... 5-140
5.11.5 Habitat Impacts .................................................................................................. 5-142
5.12 Planned and Existing On-Installation Solar Energy Facilities .......................... 5-143
5.13 Economic Analysis Reference Tables ............................................................... 5-145
6 Energy Security ..................................................................................................... 6-1
6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 6-1
6.2 Energy Service Disruption Scenarios .................................................................... 6-1
6.3 Energy Security Requirements During Grid System Failure ................................ 6-2
6.3.1 Outage Duration ..................................................................................................... 6-2
6.3.2 Critical Point Load, Critical Microgrid, or Complete Distribution System Backup ..
............................................................................................................................... 6-3
6.3.3 Island Mode Operation .......................................................................................... 6-3
6.3.4 Black-Start Capability ............................................................................................ 6-4
6.4 Alternative Solar Energy Solutions ....................................................................... 6-4
6.4.1 PV Solar ................................................................................................................. 6-4
6.4.2 Concentrating Solar Power .................................................................................... 6-4
6.5 Storing Energy from Solar Plants for 24/7 Operations ......................................... 6-5
6.5.1 Alternative Energy Storage Technologies ............................................................. 6-5
6.5.1.1 Battery Energy Storage ............................................................................ 6-5
6.5.1.2 Thermal Energy Storage .......................................................................... 6-7
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Solar Energy Development on DoD Installations in the Mojave & Colorado Deserts January 2012
6.5.1.3 Pumped Energy Storage ........................................................................... 6-8
6.5.1.4 Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) ................................................ 6-8
6.5.1.5 Superconducting Magnet Energy Storage (SMES) ................................. 6-8
6.5.1.6 Ultracapacitor Energy Storage ................................................................. 6-9
6.5.1.7 Flywheel Energy Storage ......................................................................... 6-9
6.5.2 Costs of Energy Storage......................................................................................... 6-9
6.5.3 Cut-Over Speed .................................................................................................... 6-10
6.5.4 Black-Start Capability .......................................................................................... 6-11
6.6 Traditional Emergency Generation Technology ................................................. 6-11
6.7 Potential Role of Solar Energy for Emergency Backup Supply ......................... 6-12
6.8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 6-13
7 The Solar Development Context ........................................................................... 7-1
7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 7-1
7.2 Mandates and Goals .............................................................................................. 7-1
7.2.1 Federal Government............................................................................................... 7-2
7.2.1.1 Mandate and Goal Compliance – Renewable Energy Goals ................... 7-4
7.2.1.2 Mandate and Goal Compliance – GHG Goals ......................................... 7-5
7.2.2 State Renewable Portfolio Standards ..................................................................... 7-7
7.2.2.1 California ................................................................................................. 7-7
7.2.2.2 Nevada ................................................................................................... 7-10
7.3 Withdrawn Lands ................................................................................................ 7-12
7.4 Utility Policy and Planning ................................................................................. 7-14
7.4.1 Transmission ........................................................................................................ 7-14
7.4.1.1 Regional Transmission Overview .......................................................... 7-16
7.4.1.2 Transmission Planning ........................................................................... 7-18
7.4.1.3 Transmission Management .................................................................... 7-27
7.4.1.4 Transmission Expansion Constraints ..................................................... 7-29
7.4.2 Interconnection .................................................................................................... 7-30
7.4.2.1 Nevada ................................................................................................... 7-31
7.4.2.2 California ............................................................................................... 7-32
7.4.3 Net Metering ........................................................................................................ 7-34
7.4.3.1 California ............................................................................................... 7-36
7.4.3.2 Nevada ................................................................................................... 7-37
7.4.4 Renewable Energy Sales ...................................................................................... 7-38
7.4.4.1 California ............................................................................................... 7-38
7.4.4.2 Nevada ................................................................................................... 7-39
7.5 Federal Planning .................................................................................................. 7-39
7.5.1 DOI/DOE Solar PEIS .......................................................................................... 7-41
7.6 Development Limitations .................................................................................... 7-43
7.6.1 Water Scarcity ...................................................................................................... 7-43
7.6.2 Environmental Resources .................................................................................... 7-44
7.6.2.1 Habitat Disturbance ............................................................................... 7-44
7.6.2.2 Regulatory Framework and DoD Policies ............................................. 7-45
7.6.2.3 Vegetation Communities ....................................................................... 7-46
7.6.2.4 Jurisdictional Waters/Wetlands ............................................................. 7-48
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