Energy Management Articles
SED’s RE Sourcing Forum program expanded
Smart Energy Decisions has announced the addition of several special sessions to their upcoming Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum, set for September 16-18 at the Ponte Vedra Beach Club & Inn, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Buyer registration closes Wednesday, August 28.
Walmart working with Tesla to fix faulty solar panels
Walmart and Tesla are working to resolve a dispute over faulty rooftop solar panels that caught fire at seven retail locations even as the lawsuit, filed August 20 in New York State Supreme Court, continues.
Weekend reads: Walmart sues Tesla; the Greenest colleges
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:
Here’s What Big EVs Can Do For You
While electric vehicle aficionados swoon over the latest addition to Tesla’s passenger vehicle line, companies, cities, and school districts are quietly taking advantage of new model offerings in the medium- and heavy-duty segment. This column from Advanced Energy Economy explores why fleet owners are making the switch to electric and considers the lessons learned by early adapters.
Arizona U expands use of renewables
The University of Arizona (UA) is partnering with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) on a 20-year green energy plan for the purchase of solar and wind power that begins with an initiative to offset all of its Scope 2 GHG emissions by December 2020.
Dominion ordered to let customers purchase from CSPs
The State Corporation Commission (SCC) of Virginia issued an order on August 21 that Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion) must immediately resume processing enrollment requests for customers who wish to purchase energy from Direct Energy Business or Calpine.
Michigan school district completes solar system
The Flushing Community Schools district in Flushing, Mich., has completed construction on a seven-site solar array that will generate 956.8 KW from five roof- and two ground-mounted systems. The energy produced by these solar systems will offset approximately 84% of the district’s current electric loads.
Detroit Zoo to power up with 100% RE
The Detroit Zoo will use only Michigan-made renewable energy by late 2020. The energy, purchased through DTE Energy's MIGreenPower program via three new wind parks coming online next year, will reduce carbon dioxide by 7,425 metric tons.
Pathways to a Successful Renewable Energy Aggregation: Incorporating Diversity into Renewable Energy Procurement
In the third and final installment of the 3Degrees blog series on aggregated renewable energy purchases, Erin Craig, VP, Energy, and Climate Practice, discusses the role that diversity can play in a renewable energy procurement once you have your team of buyers in place.
C&Is set new record for renewables purchases
Solar and wind purchases by some of the nation’s largest commercial and industrial (C&I) entities set a new record in 2018 and the activity is continuing to advance.
Notre Dame breaks ground on hydro
By summer 2021, the University of Notre Dame is expected to generate about seven percent of the University’s electrical needs and offset nearly 9,700 tons of carbon dioxide annually from the 2.5 megawatt (MW) hydroelectric facility that broke ground this week.
Ardent Mills signs 25-year subscription for solar
Denver-based Ardent Mills, a flour-milling and ingredient company, has finalized a 25-year agreement with US Solar to purchase an expected 1.8 million kWh annually. This energy partnership is a subscription plan that will reduce energy costs at the company’s Hastings Mill, the first operating mill in Minnesota.
Stony Brook U gets $79M for energy efficiency upgrades
The State of New York has committed $79 million in energy efficiency-saving upgrades for Stony Brook University, located on Long Island, that will reduce campus greenhouse gas emissions by 28,000 tons a year and save nearly $6 million in energy and maintenance costs annually.
Microgrids Are Surging in 2019. Here’s Why.
Today, microgrids are hitting the mainstream. Hospitals, data centers, high tech manufacturers, retailers, universities, corporate campuses, and even entire communities are deploying microgrids in the pursuit of power security. Navigant says there are now 4,475 microgrid projects around the world with a generating capacity of 26,769 megawatts of power.
Iron Mountain opens 100% RE data center
Iron Mountain Incorporated, the storage and information management company, has expanded its Phoenix data center campus with a second enterprise-class data center facility, AZP-2, powered entirely with renewable energy (RE).
Williams College opens 1st energy-efficient dorm
Williams College, in Williamstown, Mass., will open its first energy-efficient residence hall on campus when the fall semester begins. Garfield House, a 16,570 square-foot, $9.8 million solar-powered building will house as many as 40 students in a combination of single and double rooms.
Weekend reads: Sneak attack on natural gas; 80% RE is cake
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:
Best energy practices to edge out your competition
Are you using everything in your power to stay competitive in your market? This column from FSC Lighting shows that improving your company’s energy efficiency doesn’t just reduce overall energy costs—it can also help you edge out the competition, keeping you ahead of rapidly evolving technologies and saving money that you can allocate to various growth initiatives.
DOE gives $59M for vehicle tech research
The U.S. Department of Energy announced $59 million for 43 projects for new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies research. Funded through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, these projects address priorities in advanced batteries, alternative fuels and new energy-efficient mobility systems.
Wells Fargo exceeds GHG emissions goal
Wells Fargo & Company announced a 48% reduction in GHG emissions since 2008, exceeding its goal to reach 45% by 2020. The company has reduced energy consumption by 36% during the same timeframe, on the way to its goal of 40% by 2020.
National parks roll with buses to cut emissions
Acadia National Park's Island Explorer bus system is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer with the integration of 21 new propane-powered buses into the fleet. Since 1999 the bus system has prevented the emission of an estimated 27,000 tons of greenhouse gases.
Wynn Resorts celebrates energy independence
Wynn Resorts’ 160-acre solar facility now offsets 75% of Wynn Las Vegas’ peak demand during the summer months, and an even greater percentage during off-peak months.
Webinar replay: Integration Innovation - The benefits of DERs for your business
This webinar, sponsored by NRG Energy, explores how distributed energy has evolved — no longer restricted to on-site solar panels or backup generators, it has been elevated by software intelligence, multi-faceted systems, and expanded capabilities.
Kroger surpasses 2020 electricity savings goal
Kroger’s retail group surpassed its goal to achieve 40% electricity savings ahead of schedule, reaching a 44.9% savings in 2018 and saving more than 2 billion kWh in its stores since 2000.
Maple Leaf Foods aiming for energy intensity goals
Reporting progress towards their goal of a 50% reduction in energy intensity by 2025, Maple Leaf Foods announced a 23.9% reduction in electricity intensity and a 14.2% drop in GHG emissions in 2018 against a 2014 baseline.
Owens Corning Issues $450M Green Bond
Owens Corning has completed the issuance of its inaugural green bond, This $450 million bond is payable over 10 years at a coupon rate of 3.95%. In conjunction with the bond, the company has committed to spend $445 million on eligible sustainability projects.
Calif. school district completes energy efficiency effort
The Lynwood Unified School District in Lynwood, Calif. has completed an energy efficiency project expected to save $4.3M in utility costs over the next 15 years.
White paper: Demand-Side Energy Management in the U.S. Manufacturing Industrial Sector
2019 marks the 10th straight year of economic growth in the U.S. and the country’s industrial manufacturing sector continues to put up hefty performance numbers. This white paper from CPower warns that despite the boom, there is cause for the sector to be concerned about the future.
Ralphs adds solar to 555,000-sq.ft. distribution center
Ralphs, a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., announced the installation of a photovoltaic solar power array at its automated distribution center in Paramount, Calif., a 555,000-square-foot building that provides products to 190 Ralphs stores and 95 Food 4 Less stores throughout Southern California.
Corporates on track for biggest year in global PPAs
Corporations signed contracts to purchase 8.6GW of clean energy in 2019 through July. This is up from 7.2GW at the same time last year. Overall, 2019 is on pace to be bigger than 2018 for corporate PPAs globally. The U.S. made up 69% of this activity, making it by far the biggest market globally.
