Energy Management Articles
Capturing the Full Value of Renewable Energy for Businesses in ERCOT
As companies explore renewable options, they often find themselves stymied by product complexity and market uncertainty. This paper, presented by NRG Energy, Inc., examines why these challenges exist within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) - even as low wind and solar energy prices serve as a strong motivator for companies to sign large offtake agreements.
Toyota joins 100MW solar project in Kentucky
Toyota is now a partner on a 100 MW solar farm project occupying 700 acres in Eastern Kentucky, the largest of its kind in the state.
Under Armour agrees to develop sustainability plan
Under Armour announced March 12 new energy efficiency and renewable energy goals in response to questions raised by investors in a New York pension fund.
Turkey Hill achieves 100% RE with hydroelectric power
Turkey Hill Dairy announced March 8 that it officially powers 100% of its operations with clean and sustainable energy sources.
Missouri city plans large-scale efficiency upgrades
A city in Missouri will begin construction on an energy efficiency and infrastructure modernization project through a new partnership with Schneider Electric.
Florida A&M approves 75MW solar project
Florida A&M University approved a 25-year lease agreement that could add 74.9 MW of renewable power to the grid at the university's Brooksville Agricultural and Environmental Research Station.
General Motors receives $2.8 million for energy efficiency upgrades
General Motors received funding March 11 from a Michigan utility for energy-saving updates to be made at the company's Flint facilities.
Weekend reads: Biomass battle; Light bulb revolution
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these can't-miss energy articles from around the web.
The secret behind Iron Mountain’s long-term strategy for setting a Science-Based Target? A phase-based approach.
Recently, Iron Mountain publicly shared its approved Science-Based Target (SBT). This column from EDF Climate Corps explores the strategy Iron Mountain put in place to both determine and meet these targets.
Cornell breaks ground on new community solar farm
Cornell University broke ground March 1 on a new 18-MW community solar farm, the school's sixth large-scale solar project.
Microsoft signs PPA for 125 MW Ohio wind farm
Microsoft Corp. signed two 15-year power purchase agreements that will bring a 125 MW wind farm to Paulding County, Ohio.
Healthcare network plans for 4.1 MW fuel cell installation
A New England medical network set in motion plans to install 4.1 MW of fuel cells in the next year across its facilities.
Nevada GreenEnergy Rider to benefit large power users
Large commercial customers, such as casinos and government entities, in Nevada may soon be able to take advantage of additional renewable energy resources and reduce the cost of their electric service under a new program in development with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.
Are You Still Manually Collecting Energy Data? Three Ways it Will Cost You
Despite the global explosion of cloud-based solutions and digital transformations across industries, many companies still rely on manual data entry to power their energy data collection programs. This column from Urjanet examines the costs of poor data quality, delayed information, and misused resources—and discusses steps towards a solution.
Apple reports supply chain milestones
Apple reported it has secured 3.9 gigawatts in clean energy through its own investments and commitments from suppliers, on the way to a goal of 4 gigawatts – one-third of the energy needed to make Apple products – by 2020.
Microsoft adds 74 MW of solar in NC
Microsoft Corp. will become the sole offtaker of the Wilkinson Solar Energy Center, a 74-megawatt solar project in North Carolina. The company signed a 15-year PPA with Invenergy, which will construct, own, and operate the Center. This represents Microsoft's fourth PPA in the PJM Interconnection and will bring Microsoft's total renewable energy portfolio to more than 1.3 gigawatts.
Boston food bank installs thermal energy storage
The Greater Boston Food Bank has posted a 75% reduction in energy use during targeted peak hours and substantial cost savings since the beginning of the year after installing a new thermal energy storage (TES) system for the refrigeration units at its 117,000 square-foot, high-efficiency Yawkey Distribution Center in South Boston.
Energy efficiency spending to top $11 billion by 2028
Annual energy efficiency spending in North America is expected to reach nearly $11.3 billion in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% over the forecast period (2019-2028) as electric energy efficiency is moving to integrate other distributed energy resources (DER) to help ensure grid reliability, meet state and provincial efficiency requirements, and help some localities meet their emissions reduction targets or other energy goals.
Benchmarking and Transparency: Resources for State and Local Leaders
Buildings account for about 40% of the energy consumed in the U.S. and therefore offer a great opportunity for energy and cost savings. This resource guide from Better Buildings shows how benchmarking and transparency can provide the foundation for improved energy performance.
Lafayette College plans carbon neutrality
Lafayette College, located in Easton, Penn., has approved Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP), a major sustainability initiative developed to guide the college towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.
Weekend reads: Amazon's electric megafleet; CHP wakes up
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these can't-miss energy articles from around the web:
Virginia denies Walmart aggregation petition
The State Corporation Commission of Virginia has denied a petition by Walmart to aggregate 164 store locations in the state in order to purchase renewable energy from third-party suppliers because it would shift a financial burden to remaining customers.
3M flips the switch to 100% RE
3M announced its commitment to move to 100% renewable electricity in all its facilities around the work, beginning with its St. Paul headquarters, a 409-acre campus with some 12,000 employees across 30 buildings and research labs.
Barrette Outdoor Living takes first solar step
Barrette Outdoor Living (BOL) has completed the installation of a rooftop solar array on their 400,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Galloway, N.J., making it one of the area's largest solar projects. This is the company’s first plant to undergo the transition; plans call for this program to be extended throughout BOL’s eight other North American manufacturing plants in North America
Solarize Philly hits Phase 3
The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) has reached Phase 3 of Solarize Philly, a group-buying program to promote residential solar. The PEA has issued an RFP to solicit business information and pricing proposals from solar PV installers that are interested in delivering cost-competitive rooftop solar installations to Philadelphia homeowners in 2019, on the basis of which it expects to select multiple installers.
Google uses AI to predict wind output
Google has partnered with DeepMind to apply machine learning algorithms to 700 megawatts of wind power capacity in the central U.S. that are part of Google’s global fleet of renewable energy projects, with the goal of strengthening the business case for wind power and driving further adoption of carbon-free energy on electric grids worldwide.
GM partners for wind energy in Michigan
General Motors announced an agreement to purchase 300,000 megawatt hours of wind energy through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program. The energy sourced will be enough to power 100% of GM’s global technical center in Warren and their Detroit-based operations at the Renaissance Center.
Bonduelle Fresh Americas to add cogeneration system
Bonduelle Fresh Americas, formerly Ready Pac Foods, today announced investment in and installation of an energy-efficient cogeneration system at the company's Irwindale, Calif. production plant. This integrated system, which will be completed by the end of this year, will simultaneously supply the plant with electricity while using the waste heat to provide chilled water to the facility through an absorption chiller.
Can We Talk? Changing the Sustainability Conversation Between Investors and Companies
Many companies portray sustainability issues as good public relations — even as evidence is growing that they are material to strong financial performance. This column from Ceres shows that these failures to communicate the financial value of sustainability have real costs.
Iron Mountain targets 20% GHG cut
Iron Mountain Incorporated announced its intention to reduce absolute GHG emissions 20% by 2025 from a 2016 baseline, including Score 1, 2, and 3. Including the effects of expected business growth, achieving this goal will require a reduction of more than 50% of normal, "business as usual" carbon usage by the target year.
