  We study the optimization of a green-field, two-baseline reactor experiment
with respect to the sensitivity for electron antineutrino disappearance in
search of a light sterile neutrino. We consider both commercial and research
reactors and identify as key factors the distance of closest approach and
detector energy resolution. We find that a total of 5 tons of detectors
deployed at a commercial reactor with a closest approach of 25 m can probe the
mixing angle $\sin^22\theta$ down to $\sim5\times10^{-3}$ around $\Delta
m^2\sim 1$ eV$^2$. The same detector mass deployed at a research reactor can be
sensitive up to $\Delta m^2\sim20-30$ eV$^2$ assuming a closest approach of 3 m
and excellent energy resolution, such as that projected for the Taishan
Antineutrino Observatory. We also find that lithium doping of the reactor could
be effective in increasing the sensitivity for higher $\Delta m^2$ values.
