The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) to identify and evaluate qualified clean energy developers interested in leasing DOE-owned land for commercial clean energy projects within the 890-square-mile Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site. This RFQ marks the next phase of DOE’s Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative to increase clean energy production by making DOE land available for potential carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) projects. DOE’s Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative aims to achieve President Biden’s goal for agencies to use their properties for the development of new clean electricity generation in support of the Administration’s clean energy and climate goals.

Through this RFQ, DOE is soliciting proposals from private developers interested in entering into a long-term lease agreement for CFE generation on the INL site. Potential projects could include nuclear energy, wind, solar, geothermal, net-zero microgrids, energy storage, and other clean energy technologies. Proposals must be submitted to DOE no later than 5:00 pm ET on April 1, 2024.

DOE plans to select one or more qualified applicants to enter into a long-term lease agreement. DOE also hopes to open this RFQ annually to solicit CFE projects that become generation ready.

This announcement follows a request for information (RFI), which closed in December 2023. The RFI invited industry, government, Tribes, and community members to comment on the potential use of INL land for CFE projects. DOE also held a Cleanup to Clean Energy Information Day at INL, which invited interested parties, Tribes, and community members to learn more about the initiative, RFI, and INL site.

See the following RFQ files in Attachments:

RFQ - Idaho National Laboratory

Appendix A Depiction of the Property and Existing Encumbrances

Appendix B Proposed Lessee’s Cover Page