Energy Management Articles
Beyond the Meter - Episode 9: Resiliency and Technology in Cities
Most of us live day to day in our city of choice without giving much thought to the infrastructure and services that living in the city provides. But when a natural disaster or outage happens, we immediately recognize that vitally important things were going on behind the scenes that we benefit from directly. This episode of Beyond the Meter highlights the steps the city of Greensboro, NC has taken to begin its “Smart City” initiative, including several renewable energy approaches. You’ll enjoy hearing from three officials from the city of Greensboro and how their varied roles provide unique looks at the challenges of becoming a Smart City.
Weekend reads: The carbon footprint of Hollywood; Embracing solar in Japan
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
Being an Energy Superhero in Challenging Times: Maximizing Value through Active Retail Portfolio Management
With climate imperatives and corporate ambition growing, energy and sustainability leads have become key players in reducing their organization's carbon emissions and transitioning to decarbonized supply. In this white paper, CustomerFirst Renewables shows how these leads can achieve superhero status by maximizing value and savings that can support their organization and help fund sustainability and other critical initiatives.
D.C. United soccer field gets solar installation
D.C. United announced Sept. 9 that they completed the installation of a 627.8 kW solar array on the canopies and rooftop of their home field, Audi Field, in Washington, D.C.
Sony sets 2025 energy targets
Sony Corporation released Sept. 10 their Green Management 2025 plan, which includes medium-term targets to serve as milestones along their path toward a zero environmental footprint by 2050.
Boeing to cover 25% of Arizona site power with solar
Boeing announced Sept. 10 that they entered into an agreement with a 100 MW solar plant that will cover about 25% of the electricity needs of their Mesa, Ariz., site for the next 15 years.
Smart Energy Voices Podcast - Episode 6: Integrating an Offsite Renewable Purchase into Your Energy Risk Strategy with Gregory
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, two “dinosaurs in the industry” Peter Kelly-Detweiler and Greg Kosier — former colleagues at Constellation with nearly 50 years in the industry between them — talk about how buyers manage their energy risk in terms of legacy buying, the way it used to be done, and today’s renewable power purchase agreements. There’s a wealth of knowledge to be gained when you have the chance to listen in on a conversation between people who have been in the industry as long as these gentlemen have. Make sure you tune in and consume all the wisdom they have offered up.
Walmart launches supplier renewable energy program
Walmart announced Sept. 10 their newest project, the Gigaton PPA Program, which will provide the superstore giant’s U.S.-based suppliers with increased access to renewable energy opportunities.
Fort Bragg plans energy improvements, solar installation
The U.S. Army announced Sept. 3 that it will be implementing power generation and facility efficiency improvements at Fort Bragg through a utility energy service contract.
Lenovo targets 50% emissions cuts by 2030
Lenovo announced Sept. 2 their new target of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 after exceeding their previous emissions goal last year
December RE Sourcing Forum to expand Virtual Advantages
Smart Energy Decisions announces that the 6th Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum will shift into Virtual mode and take place December 7-11, 2020.
Uber plans transition to become zero-emission platform by 2040
Uber announced Sept. 8 their new sustainability initiatives, which include a commitment to becoming a fully zero-emission platform by 2040.
Empower your business with energy expertise
When making energy decisions, many Texas businesses think about competitive supply and distributed energy resources (DERs) separately. And until now, the approach made sense. But it may no longer be the most practical or cost-effective game plan. This white paper produced by NRG introduces a new approach, a cohesive and flexible energy strategy that bundles and coordinates your competitive supply and DERs. Managing these resources together achieves price benefits beyond their individual values.
Facebook inks PPA with Utah solar
Facebook completed Sept. 9 a PPA for two Utah solar projects totaling 155 MW that will support the company’s Eagle Mountain Data Center.
Maryland water utility to offset energy use 30% with wind farm
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) announced Sept. 8 that it has entered into an agreement that will offset their energy usage through 2030 with power and RECs from a 50 MW wind facility.
Smart Energy Voices Podcast: Episode 4 - The Purpose Driven Organization
It’s not uncommon these days to hear talk of businesses, large and small, developing a purpose statement that has to do with its societal responsibility. Why is that and how should business leaders think about it? But a more important question is this: How does the issue of organizational purpose magnify and support what is happening in the renewable energy movement? To answer that question, Smart Energy Decisions founder, John Failla invited author and consumer expert Jeff Fromm to discuss the issue, along with David Smart, Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing at BioStar Renewables, a company that’s taking this issue of “purpose” very seriously with Jeff’s help.
Bundling Competitive Supply and Distributed Energy Resources
When making energy decisions, many Texas businesses think about competitive supply and distributed energy resources (DERs) separately. And until now, the approach made sense. But it may no longer be the most practical or cost-effective game plan. This white paper produced by NRG introduces a new approach, a cohesive and flexible energy strategy that bundles and coordinates your competitive supply and DERs.
Walmart cut emissions 7.7% since 2015
Walmart saw a 3.8% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions last year, reflecting a 7.7% decrease since their baseline year of 2015.
Chicago seeks supplier for $200M renewable energy contract
Mayor Lori Lightfoot of Chicago announced Sept. 2 that the city issued a $200 million Request for Proposals to procure renewable energy that will power city-owned buildings, streetlights and other facilities beginning in 2022.
Tempur Sealy commits to 100% RE in operations
Tempur Sealy announced Sept. 8 their new commitments to sourcing 100% renewable electricity for their U.S. and European Tempur-Pedic and Sealy manufacturing operations this year and sourcing RECs from wind farms across the U.S.
Weekend reads: Tesla's pursuit of the European energy market; Running U.S. cars on wind and solar
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
Apple invests in Danish wind
Apple announced Sept. 3 that they are investing in two of the world's largest onshore wind turbines in Denmark that will power their data center in Viborg and provide surplus energy into the Danish grid.
Catch up with Smart Energy Voices
Take some time to catch up with Smart Energy Voices, a new podcast series from Smart Energy Decisions featuring conversations with leaders of the energy transition. The first five episodes feature interviews with executives from General Motors, Novartis, and Goldman Sachs and topics including Diversity in the Energy Space, and Purpose Driven Organizations. New episodes are available every Friday.
Renewables could make up more than half of installed capacity by 2030
An estimated $3.40 trillion will be invested in renewable energy during the next decade and 54.1% of installed capacity will be renewable, a new report predicts.
The RealReal joins UN Global Compact
The RealReal announced Sept. 2 that they joined the United Nations Global Compact alongside other fashion brands such as Burberry, Hermes, Kering and LVMH and pledged to be carbon neutral by 2021.
Timberland explores path to become net-positive by 2030
Timberland announced Sept. 1 their new goal to be net positive by 2030.
New York MTA contracts 25 million gallons of RNG
New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Sept. 2 that they contracted an order of renewable natural gas to power 800 natural gas transit buses in the city.
Unilever to invest in fossil fuel removal from cleaning product chemicals
Unilever announced Sept. 1 that they will be replacing 100% of the carbon derived from fossil fuels in their cleaning and laundry product formulations with renewable or recycled carbon by 2030 as part of their €1 billion Clean Future investment.
Today’s Leaders. Tomorrow’s Heroes.: Meet Sprint/T-Mobile’s Amy Bond
Amy Bond, Energy and Sustainability Program Manager for Sprint (now part of T-Mobile), starts every day committed to “doing the work that matters.” It’s that day-to-day work – meetings, nurturing relationships, etc. – that allows her to share the benefits of clean energy and inspire others. Watch Amy’s story, part of a video series from Duke Energy Renewables, to see how her tenacity and positive energy is helping Sprint achieve its sustainability goals.
DaVita and Zimmer Biomet ink PPA with Texas solar farm
DaVita and Zimmer Biomet Holdings signed PPAs with a 331 MW solar project in Andrews County, Texas, that is expected to come online in the second quarter of 2021.
