By Billy Ludt The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) was awarded a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to improve emergency electric grid resilience. The work will investigate how to systematically and effectively manage grid-connected distributed energy resources (DER) to support critical loads during a crisis. EPRI will lead the research…
By Kelly Pickerel The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) shared data showing Illinois will not be able to meet its renewable energy goals and, that without legislative change, the state’s rapid growth in wind and solar energy will effectively cease until 2025. (see slides 12 and 21) The IPA is the state agency responsible for managing…
By Kelly Pickerel Sandia National Laboratories has developed a new software that can run a detailed, second-by-second simulation, known as quasi-static time series analysis, that shows utility companies how rooftop solar panels at a specific house or business would interact with a local electrical grid throughout the year. This will help utility companies deliver electricity…
By Kelly Pickerel Panasonic Corp. of North America has signed on as a kilowatt-level industry sponsor through Solar Energy International’s Industry Sponsorship Program. SEI is a nonprofit training organization which offers solar and renewable energy training to industry leadership and workforce. With over 70,000 alumni worldwide, nearly 30 years of experience and 100+ course sessions…
By Kelly Pickerel The Chattanooga Airport in Tennessee celebrated the completion of the final phase of its 2.64-MW solar farm. The power generated is equal to the airport’s total energy needs. The Chattanooga Airport is the only airport in the nation to now run on 100% renewable energy. “This is a momentous day for the…
By Kelsey Misbrener Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) received approval from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to expand its popular Shared Solar program with a second, large-scale solar installation in the City of Middleton. “An expansion of Shared Solar is another step toward meeting our goal of net-zero carbon electricity by the year 2050,”…
By Billy Ludt EDP Renewables (EDPR) and East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) have reached an agreement on a 20-year PPA totaling 100 megawatts (MW) of solar and 30 MW of storage that will bring the Sonrisa Solar Park to California’s Fresno County. The Sonrisa Solar Park is expected to be operational in 2022 and will…
By Billy Ludt Energy efficiency and renewable energy company Ameresco announced the completion of a comprehensive energy resiliency and energy infrastructure project at the United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island (MCRD PI), South Carolina. The $91 million project, which required no upfront capital from MCRD PI, features resilient distributed energy systems designed…
By Kelsey Misbrener 174 Power Global Corporation broke ground on the 150-MW Oberon Solar Power Facility in Ector County, Texas. The company also announced the launch of a new retail affiliate, Chariot Energy, to facilitate the delivery of affordable, clean energy to customers across Texas. The project will use Hanwha Q CELL modules and be…
By Kelly Pickerel Sunlight Financial and PetersenDean Roofing & Solar have entered into a joint initiative to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Sunlight and PetersenDean will together donate and install a residential solar system on the first net-zero St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway house in Clovis, California. “Our Sunlight Financial teammates value giving back…
By Kelsey Misbrener A survey conducted by CITE Research on behalf of Vivint Solar found 70% of Americans would support a nationwide mandate requiring solar panels to be installed on all newly built homes. CITE Research conducted a nationally representative online survey of 2,000 U.S. adults age 25 and up from June 13 to 16,…
By Kelly Pickerel NextEra Energy Resources, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and PSEG Long Island celebrated the commissioning of the Kings Park Solar Project on the site of a former landfill in New York that officially began operations in December 2018. “We are pleased to bring new life to this site, which once collected…
By Billy Ludt Quick Mount PV, an American manufacturer of watertight solar roof mounting and racking systems, is doubling its manufacturing production. The company is adding a second shift for the first time at its Walnut Creek, California manufacturing facility — increasing the company’s annual production capacity to 1.2 GW, based on the average number…
By Kelsey Misbrener Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, announced that its 150-MW North Rosamond solar project in Kern County, California, has begun commercial operation. It is the largest solar project in Duke Energy Renewables’ fleet. The company purchased it from Clearway Energy Group in April 2019. “North Rosamond is a great addition…
By Kelly Pickerel Since her home’s inception in 2004, California homeowner and landlord, Judy Fusco, has nurtured a space for transformation, first by housing her property with three young entrepreneurs who launched the world’s most famous social network, Facebook. Now, she continues this tradition herself by making the switch to solar power for the property…