Energy Management Articles
SED Profiles in Partnership: McDonald's Super-Sizes a Commitment to Sustainability
McDonald's recently signed a VPPA for 220 MW from Aviator Wind West - the country's largest single-phase, single-site wind project - developed by Apex Clean Energy in Texas. Read this case study to learn how this super-size deal began at the Smart Energy Decisions Innovation Summit.
Gillette Stadium receives 2 MW fuel cell servers
The Kraft Group announced July 27 that they are implementing fuel cell technology at Gillette Stadium that will supply nearly 50% of its energy needs and reduce nearly 1,500 metric tons of CO2 per year.
ComEd agrees to $200M fine in Illinois bribery charge
ComEd agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement for a bribery charge related to their agreement with federal prosecutors to arrange jobs, monetary payments and subcontracted work for "various associates of a high-level elected official in the state of Illinois" from 2011 to 2019.
Weekend reads: Cleaning up Big Tech; Walmart takes on Florida's electric regulatory process
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
How your conservation efforts help everyone around you
We often think of energy conservation as a way for businesses to address environmental and budget concerns. While that’s true, its impact reaches much further. This latest blog from NRG shows how conserving energy can not only help the environment but also help your business save money while benefiting the electric grid.
Pittsburgh International Airport starts construction on microgrid
Pittsburgh International Airport broke ground this week on a first-of-its-kind microgrid that will provide all of the airport's power by summer 2021.
Bayer to reward farmers for carbon sequestration practices
Bayer announced July 21 their new initiative to begin rewarding farmers in Brazil and the U.S. for generating carbon credits by adopting practices that help agriculture reduce its carbon footprint.
Microsoft invests in environmental justice
Microsoft announced this week an initiative in partnership with Sol Systems to develop 500 MW of solar energy with investments in minority communities disproportionately affected by climate change.
Applied Materials inks PPA for 10% of wind farm, commits to 100% RE
Applied Materials announced July 21 their new commitment to source 100% renewable energy by 2030.
The Home Depot targets 335 MW of RE by 2025
The Home Depot announced July 23 their new goal to produce and procure energy from 335 MW of renewable and alternative energy sources by 2025 in addition to eliminating expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film from its private brand packaging by 2023.
Gov. Cuomo releases nation's largest solicitation for wind energy in the U.S.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced July 21 a solicitation for 2,500 MW of offshore wind energy, the largest combined clean energy solicitation in the U.S., in addition to the one announced last year for nearly 1,700 MW of clean energy.
10 Rules for Renewable Energy Purchases
Few businesses understand the full range of factors involved in power purchase agreements (PPAs) or virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs). In this white paper from Enel X, find out more about the legal, environmental, financial, timing, and risk considerations that must be weighed in evaluating these projects.
Switch breaks ground on massive Nevada solar+battery project
Switch broke ground this week on three solar energy and battery projects in Nevada in the next phase of their Gigawatt 1 project, the first phase of which will generate a total of 555 MW of solar power and 800 MW of battery storage.
Microsoft releases new climate initiatives with partner companies
Microsoft announced July 21 new steps in their goal to be carbon negative by 2030, including their newest climate initiative, Transform to Net Zero, in which members not only commit to getting their own companies to net-zero but pursuing technology that allows all businesses to achieve net-zero.
Ohio lawmaker charged with bribery in nuclear power plant bailout scheme
Speaker of the Ohio House Larry Householder was arrested and charged with bribery in federal court for a $61 million racketeering scheme that led to the passage of House Bill 6 in 2019 that would essentially bail out two northern Ohio nuclear power plants.
Apple to be carbon neutral throughout supply chain by 2030
Apple announced July 21 their plan to be carbon neutral across their entire business, manufacturing supply chain and product life cycle before 2030 that every product sold has a net-zero climate impact.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District commits to carbon-neutral electricity
Sacramento Municipal Utility District adopted a climate emergency declaration July 17 that committed them to a goal of carbon-neutral electricity by 2030.
P&G commits to being carbon neutral for the entire decade
The Procter & Gamble Company committed July 16 to be carbon neutral for the decade by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and purchasing 100% renewable electricity for all manufacturing sites by 2030.
Pennsylvania plans first C-PACE deal with multi-use facility
Pennsylvania will see its first-ever C-PACE deal in the form of $1.5 million in energy and water investments in Philadelphia through an agreement between the Philadelphia Energy Authority, Twain Financial Partners and SHIFT Capital.
Hess Corp. cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions 60%
Hess Corporation announced July 16 that they reduced their Scope 1 and 2 equity greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 60% over the past 12 years.
University of Hawai'i makes first step toward being net-zero system-wide
Leeward Community College became the University of Hawai'i's first virtually net-zero campus and is now generating 97% of its energy use through on-site solar.
Weekend reads: Tesla's solar-powered Cybertruck; Using hydrogen may be the key to microgrids
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web.
Now Is the Time for Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Data Centers
As we begin to look back on the historic acceleration of telework, distance learning, and the digitalization of business and government caused by COVID-19, it’s clear that we have been afforded a glimpse into the future. In this column, Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned, a data center solutions company, explains that there has never been a stronger case, nor a more urgent time, for designing and building energy-efficient and sustainable data center infrastructure.
GM ramps up electric vehicle production, targeting sustainability goals
General Motors is on track to allocate more than $20 billion to electric and autonomous vehicle programs between 2020 and 2025 and is continuing their campaign to increase their electric vehicle models available to match any auto shopper need.
McDonald's launches net-zero restaurant at Disney World
McDonald’s released July 10 the details of their newly remodeled location at Disney World Resort that features on-site renewable energy generation to cover 100% of the building’s net annual energy needs.
LA Community College District plans to cut use of carbon-based energy
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) adopted last week the Clean Energy and Sustainability resolution, calling for the elimination of carbon-based electricity consumption by 2030 and the elimination of all other carbon-based energy use by 2040.
NY, DC and 13 other states join diesel vehicle electrification initiative
Fourteen states and the District of Columbia signed a joint memorandum of understating committing to accelerating the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to ensure that all these vehicles be zero-emission by 2050.
The RMR Group saw $771K in energy savings last year
The RMR Group saw energy savings of $771,000 from a real-time energy monitoring program in 2019 and $1.76 million in savings since the launch of the program.
Kroger subsidiaries install 3,000-panel rooftop solar project
The Kroger Co. announced July 13 that two of their subsidiaries, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, installed a 1 MW solar array at their 300,000-square-foot bakery facility in La Habra, Calif.
2020 Innovation Awards Insights Report
Smart Energy Decisions is proud to present a special Insights report celebrating the winners of our third annual 2020 Innovation Awards. These awards recognize the exemplary use and implementation of innovative technologies and progressive practices among large electric power users (customers), their suppliers, and utilities that reflect new approaches to energy procurement and management.
