Topic outline

  • Renewable Energy for Critical Infrastructure

    Credits: 2 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    The Environmental Protection Agency has established a program called the RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative, that encourages renewable energy development on current and formerly contaminated lands, landfills, and mine sites (RE-Powering sites). RE-Powering can provide cleaner energy sources in areas of high demand, while returning land to productive use. RE-Powering sites also may have attributes (for example, proximity to infrastructure) that can lower renewable energy development costs and shorten development timeframes.

    In this online engineering PDH course, a methodology is presented for determining if it is possible—in areas with high vulnerability to natural disasters—to match the need to maintain critical wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) with potential RE-Powering sites in ways that are economically beneficial. Although demonstrated in the course by application to WWTPs, the methodology was intentionally designed to be general enough to apply to other types of critical infrastructure—such as drinking water treatment plants, hospitals, schools, emergency centers, cell towers, fire stations, and natural gas distribution centers.

    Topics:

    This course teaches the course participant how to apply:
    • vulnerability screening to identify RE-Powering sites located in areas that are likely to experience power outages.
    • proximity screening to identify RE-Powering sites near a WWTP.
    • economic screening to identify RE-Powering sites that are economically suited for siting renewable energy.
    • needs screening to identify RE-Powering sites most likely to meet the needs of the facility being supported.
    • the screening methodology to critical infrastructure other than WWTPS.

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience:

    This course is intended for civil, environmental, electrical and other engineers concerned with renewable energy applications.

    Publication Source: US EPA ( This course is based on the Environmental Protection Agency document, “RE-Powering Critical Infrastructure,” February 2019, as part of EPA’s RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative.)

    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)