Energy Management Articles
Firestone Walker Brewing completes large on-site solar array
Firestone Walker Brewing Company announced on Jan. 13 that it has completed one of the largest on-site solar installations in craft beer: a 2.1-MW array and 281-kW solar carport on 9.7 acres near its main brewery in Paso Robles, California.
Green Data Center Real Estate signs letter of intent for 56-MW solar project
Green Data Center Real Estate has signed a letter of intent for a 56-MW solar project to power a data center in Illinois. The project will include battery storage capabilities and generator-based backup power.
Amgen to achieve carbon neutrality by 2027
Amgen, a manufacturer of human therapeutics, announced on Jan. 11 the launch of a new seven-year environmental sustainability plan, which includes a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality while also reducing water use by 40% and waste disposed of by 75%
EagleClaw Midstream achieves ESG milestones
EagleClaw Midstream announced on Jan. 13 that it has achieved several milestone ESG goals including sourcing 100% of its required electricity from renewable energy sources beginning April 1, 2021.
GM launches BrightDrop business to electrify delivery and services
General Motors announced on Jan. 12 its new business, BrightDrop, which will offer an integrated ecosystem of electric first-to-last-mile products, software, and services to empower delivery and logistics companies to move goods more efficiently.
Lowe’s makes 12-year commitment to purchase solar power
Lowe’s announced that it will purchase 250 MW of clean electricity per year from Swift Current Energy’s Black Diamond Solar Project in Illinois. The commitment will last 12 years.
Curtis Institute of Music commences energy-efficient facilities improvements
The Curtis Institute of Music is kicking off a three-year project to make energy-efficiency investments in its Philadelphia facilities through an agreement with The Efficiency Network (TEN).
Total corporate solar funding increased 24% in 2020
Mercom Capital Group announced on Jan. 11 that total corporate funding into the solar sector globally, including venture capital, private equity (VC), debt financing and public market financing, came to $14.5 billion in 2020, a 24% increase compared to 2019.
Vermont’s State House is the first in the nation to have battery backup
Vermont’s State House is the first in the nation to have clean backup power stored in batteries, according to an article Vermont Business Magazine shared on Jan. 5.
VRESF Video: Collaborating for Customer-Centricity in Achieving Sustainability Objectives
Our series of presentations from the 2020 Virtual Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum continues with "Collaborating for Customer-Centricity in Achieving Sustainability Objectives." Andre Canguçú, Chief Commercial, Industries, and M&A Officer at ENGIE North America discusses the need to simplify procurement contracts in order to make them universal and accessible to players of all sizes in order to meet their sustainability goals.
Comcast Spectacor commits training facility to renewable energy
Comcast Spectacor, owner of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, announced on Jan. 8 that it added a 1.06-MW onsite solar system and an electric Zamboni ice resurfacer to its Virtua Center Flyers Skate Zone in New Jersey, a training facility for the Flyers.
BloombergNEF reports sustainability and green bonds grew in 2020
BloombergNEF announced Jan. 11 that sustainable debt (sustainability bonds) grew 81% in 2020 to $68.7 billion, while the longest-established theme, green bonds, saw volumes rise 13% to a new record of $305.3 billion.
Joliet Junior College flips the switch on new campus solar system
Chicago’s Joliet Junior College (JJC) announced on Jan. 11 that its 1.3-MW onsite solar system is online at its main campus. The solar array consists of 3,542 solar panels and will save the college more than $1.6 million in electricity expenses over 25 years.
Weekend reads: Sustainability resolutions for 2021; Hydrogen trends to watch this year
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
NRDC's 8th Annual Energy Report: Slow and Steady Will Not Win the Climate Race
NRDC presents its 2020 Annual Energy Report, for 2019 and part of 2020, highlighting both the progress made and challenges to face in transitioning to a carbon-free economy.
Tyson Foods partners to convert methane into renewable natural gas
Tyson Foods announced on Jan. 7 that it partnered with natural gas service provider NW Natural to convert methane from its facilities into renewable natural gas (RNG) to heat homes and businesses in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Hunt Military Communities adds rooftop solar to Illinois air force base
Hunt Military Communities (HMC), the largest U.S. military housing owner, announced on Jan. 4 that it will integrate rooftop solar PV systems across its facility at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. This community includes more than 1,500 homes serving 3,000 residents.
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority enters into new renewable energy contracts
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) announced on Jan. 4 that it has entered into two new 100% renewable energy contracts with BP Energy Company to reduce its carbon footprint and save more than $3 million per year.
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty signs pgPPA for 153 MW of solar power
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), a global corporate insurance carrier, announced on Jan. 7 that it signed an agreement to source 153 MW of solar power from developer Lightsource bp’s Briar Creek solar farm in Navarro County, Texas.
CentraState Medical adds 1.6-MW solar power carport system
New Jersey hospital CentraState Medical announced on Dec. 31, 2020, that it has commenced commercial operations of its additional 1.6-MW solar carport system. The installation will generate approximately 2.1 million kWh of solar electricity per year.
City of Madison adopts new EV requirements
The City of Madison, Wisconsin, announced on Jan. 5 that it adopted new requirements to advance EV charging. The new ordinance requires at least 10% of newly-constructed parking for multifamily residential, and some commercial uses to be “EV ready,” meaning having infrastructure in place to easily add EV chargers in the future.
Dane County, Wis., to generate 40% of county energy needs with airport solar installation
Dane County Regional Airport in Wisconsin completed a 9 MW solar installation onsite that will generate enough power to cover 40% of the entire county's energy needs.
Top Energy Policy Trends from 2020–and How They Can Inform your 2021 Energy Plans
The year 2020 was certainly one for the history books, and for many of us, the cycle of bad news throwing wrenches into our lives and our livelihoods could not have ended soon enough. In terms of energy policy, however, the year brought some good along with the bad. In this column, Caitlin Marquis of AEE reflects on the trends that dominated energy policy in 2020 and will be shaping the debate for the year ahead.
Volkswagen plans 750 EV charger installations in Germany for 2021
Volkswagen announced Dec. 29 that it plans to install nearly 750 new electric vehicle charging stations in 2021 as part of a planned expansion of its charging infrastructure in Germany.
Agilent Technology meets emissions targets through onsite solar
Agilent Technologies recently announced that it added three new solar sites that will offset 277 metric tons of carbon in 2019 and made progress toward its energy targets.
Denver event and coworking space explores Vehicle-to-Building energy tech
The Alliance Center, an event and collaborative working space in downtown Denver, Colo., announced Jan. 5 that it will be installing a Vehicle-to-Building energy system onsite to provide power to the building through electric vehicles at the location.
California, Massachusetts rank at top of efficiency scorecard, despite Covid setbacks
California was named the top state for energy efficiency targets and initiatives in a study that found that more U.S. states have adopted or advanced new energy-saving targets and vehicle and appliance rules, while Covid-19 has slowed other efficiency efforts.
AMPED sports arena receives zero-carbon building certification
AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex, a hockey facility and physiotherapy clinic in Ottawa, announced Jan. 4 that it has become the first Zero Carbon Building – Performance Standard arena certified through the Canada Green Building Council's (CaGBC) Zero Carbon Building Program.
Monolith signs letter-of-intent to procure renewable energy for production facility
Monolith Materials, a chemical and hydrogen company, announced Jan. 4 that it signed a letter-of-intent to procure enough renewable energy resources from Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) to generate two million MWh annually, keeping its Olive Creek production facility emissions-free.
Kilroy Realty achieves carbon-neutral operations
Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC), a West Coast landlord and developer, announced Jan. 4 that it achieved carbon-neutral operations at the end of 2020. In 2018, the company was the first North American real estate investment trust to make a commitment to achieve carbon-neutral operations and it accomplished its goal.
