Energy Management Articles
Darigold commits to carbon neutrality in farming
Darigold and the Northwest Dairy Association announced June 30 that they plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 through investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Vail Resorts to cover 90% of electricity with new wind farm
Vail Resorts announced July 1 that they will be covering 90% of the electricity use at their 34 North American resorts with energy from an 82-turbine wind project that went online this week.
House Democrats release climate plan for net-zero by 2050
Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives released a proposal on June 30 that would get the U.S. to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 by emphasizing the electrification of the transportation sector and deployment of clean energy technologies.
Cox Communications installs solar + battery system
Cox Communications announced June 29 that they are building an integrated 360 kW solar and 560 kW onsite behind-the-meter battery storage project at their primary corporate office in San Diego.
Stronger Together: Optimizing Renewable Energy
The momentum behind the renewable energy transition is unstoppable. To date, 162 local governments, 13 states and the District of Columbia, and 229 global companies have committed to 100% renewable energy. In this column from IMT's "Stronger Together" series, Jake Duncan explores how efficiency and demand management can smooth over some of the challenges of the renewable energy transition so that we can power an electrified society quickly and cost-effectively.
McDonald's plans EV charging installations at UK Drive-Thrus
McDonald's announced June 29 that they will be installing electric vehicle charging stations across new and existing Drive-Thru restaurants in the United Kingdom.
Verizon, Saint-Gobain ink agreements with 250 MW wind farm
Verizon and Saint-Gobain North America both signed VPPAs for a 250 MW wind farm in McLean County, Ill.
Milliken cuts emissions 12.4% in one year
Milliken announced in their new sustainability report on June 25 that they reduced their greenhouse gas emissions 12.4% between 2018 and 2019 in pursuit of their target to reduce emissions by 25% before 2025.
L’Oréal targets carbon neutrality, 100% RE by 2025
L'Oreal announced June 25 their "L'Oreal for the future" sustainability plan, which includes targets to achieve carbon neutrality and 100% renewable energy at all their sites before 2025 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions per finished product 50% from 2016 levels before 2030.
New Bulleit distillery to be 100% carbon neutral
The global alcohol producer Diageo announced June 29 that their new Kentucky distillery for Bulleit whiskey is expected to be carbon neutral and powered by 100% renewable energy in an effort to achieve net-zero emissions and 100% renewable energy in all their operations by 2030.
Bank of America completes long-term agreements for 10 solar projects
Bank of America announced June 29 a sweeping package of 10 new solar agreements totaling 200 MW that will provide over 340,000 MWh of clean energy annually and cover 100% of the electricity requirements in the Carolinas and Texas, which accounts for nearly 21% of the bank’s U.S. electricity use.
What COVID Means for Energy Goals and Sustainability Efforts, Today and Tomorrow
As companies adjust to a new normal during COVID-19, sustainability teams face their own challenge: assessing whether and how the coronavirus pandemic and its economic fallout will affect progress toward their company’s renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. In this column, Caitlin Marquis of Advance Energy Economy outlines how conditions are affecting the energy industry, how regulators and lawmakers are responding, and what to watch for in the months ahead.
New York plans 500,000 streetlight LED overhaul
New York State will be replacing at least 500,000 streetlights with LED by 2025 under a new partnership between the New York Power Authority and Signify.
California dairy farms to receive new biogas system
A multi-location dairy farm cluster in California is receiving a biogas upgrading system as part of a $20.6 million agreement.
Agility contracts 1,000 electric powertrain trucks
Agility has secured a pre-order of up to 1,000 long-haul, fully electric powertrain trucks to lower the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their trucking activities.
Weekend reads: Tesla's game-changer for renewables; Building a West Coast electric highway
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
Case Study: Innovative rooftop solar + LED lighting installation debuts in Chicago
For commercial real estate property owners and developers, solar energy is a viable solution to help meet economic and environmental sustainability goals. This case study from Edison Energy explores the approach taken by Chicago's Corner Office LLC, which incorporated a new concept in solar + LED to optimize efficiency, cut costs, and operate as close to off-grid as possible.
U.S. Congress deliberates GREEN Act addition to infrastructure package
Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives inserted the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act, which was first drafted in November, into the infrastructure package currently under congressional debate.
Univ. of Notre Dame to upgrade energy management system
The University of Notre Dame announced June 24 that they are in the process of implementing a building management system for over 95 buildings across campus that will allow them to have increased levels of operational data visibility and control to better manage building performance, occupant comfort and energy efficiency.
Cisco enters into first long-term wind PPA
Cisco announced June 24 that they signed their first PPA with a wind farm and was one of several companies to contract a long-term PPA with the 419 MW Mesquite Star wind farm in Texas.
Univ. of Pittsburgh to cover 13% of electricity from 20 MW solar farm
The University of Pittsburgh entered into a 20-year agreement that will allow them to source around 13% of its campus' annual electricity usage from a 20 MW solar farm on the border of Allegheny and Beaver counties.
NYC contracts 435 electric systems for city buses
New York Transit Authority has contracted a supply of 435 electric hybrid power and propulsion systems for its new fleet on transit buses in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption.
Ford Motors sets target for carbon neutrality by 2050
Ford Motor Company announced June 24 that they are ramping up their climate change goals and intend to be carbon neutral globally by 2050 and power all manufacturing plants with 100% locally sourced renewable energy by 2035.
SED’s Distributed Energy Forum goes Virtual
Smart Energy Decisions announces that the 2nd Distributed Energy Forum will shift into Virtual mode and take place on September 21-25, 2020.
Giant Food plans EV charging installations across Mid-Atlantic
Giant Food announced June 23 that they are installing electric vehicle charging stations that will be free use at select stores across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.
Wells Fargo and Shell Energy team up on multi-project RE agreement
Wells Fargo announced June 24 a collection of renewable energy agreements with Shell Energy North America and MP2 Energy for a total of 150,000 MWh of annual electricity that will cover 100% of the energy use at 1,200 Wells Fargo locations.
Simon & Schuster completes 2 MW rooftop solar installation
Simon & Schuster announced June 16 that they completed a 2 MW rooftop solar installation at their Riverside Distribution facility in Delran, N.J.
Amazon to invest $2 billion into Climate Pledge Fund
Amazon announced June 23 that they are introducing a $2 billion investment into The Climate Pledge Fund, which will advance the development of sustainability solutions to accomplish the goals of The Climate Pledge's target for net-zero carbon before 2040.
St. Paul zoo to host community solar project
The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul, Minn., is in line to receive a solar project that will be part of three community solar gardens that total just over 4 MW and will reduce the zoo's operational electricity costs.
Volvo's largest Chinese plant now uses 100% clean energy
Volvo Cars announced June 5 that their largest plant in China is now powered by 100% renewable electricity, bringing their global manufacturing electricity use to 80% renewable energy.