Energy Management Articles
Solar at NASA WFF to power 80% of facility
Ground has been broken for a solar array project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s Wallops Flight Facility (NASA WFF) in Wallops Island, Virginia. The project will meet at least 80% of the site’s electrical consumption once complete.
Walmart adds 120+ charging stations nationwide
Walmart and Electrify America announced that more than 120 plus ultra-fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are now operational and open to the public at Walmart stores in 34 states across the U.S.
Crown signs wind VPPA, heads towards 100%RE
Crown Holdings, Inc. has signed a 15-year VPPA to utilize wind power in all of its U.S. and Canadian beverage can plants starting on July 1, 2020. The agreement is a step towards the company’s goal of running 100% renewable electricity by 2050,
It’s time for Virginia to power a clean energy future
Salesforce is calling on Virginia’s utilities, regulators, and lawmakers to prioritize clean energy in their policymaking and grid-planning activities. This column from Patrick Flynn, VP of sustainability at Salesforce, argues that with 70% of the world's internet traffic flowing through data centers in Virginia, the state needs to do better than generating only less than 6% of its power from renewable resources.
Starbucks closes innovative 3-project RE deal
Starbucks has purchased a three-project renewable energy portfolio comprising wind and solar farms in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas. The PPA portfolio will provide clean power to the electricity grids that serve more than 3,000 U.S. Starbucks stores and communities by 2021, when all three projects are online.
Bank of America aims for targets with solar at 60+ locations
Bank of America announced the expansion of its environmental operations efforts to include the installation of solar panels across multiple locations through its Onsite Solar Initiative. These actions will move the bank closer to meeting its targets of carbon neutrality and purchasing 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2020, as well as its goals to reduce location-based GHG emissions by 50% and energy use by 40% in the same timeframe.
First solar PPA for Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer, the Dallas-based Fortune 100 oil and gas pipeline company has signed its first-ever dedicated PPA for solar power.
Anheuser-Busch hits 100% RE goal with solar PPA
Anheuser-Busch has reached its 2025 goal to source 100% of their U.S. electricity needs from renewable sources ahead of schedule with the signing of a 15-year solar PPA.
The Blind Spot in Efficiency Management
To enjoy an energy efficient building, your overall strategy must address two different areas of energy efficiency: the regular routine (automation) and the irregular (anomalies). In this column, Sal Alhelo of JCPenney warns that addressing only one of these two areas - or worse, applying the same strategy to both - means you are likely wasting energy.
Union Pacific posts energy consumption decline
Union Pacific’s utility conservation projects reduced energy consumption by 3.1 million kWh in 2018, which is enough to annually power more than 280 U.S. homes. The company reported that many conservation projects were employee-driven solutions such as retrofitting lights with LED bulbs and upgrading air compressor systems.
Weekend reads: World's largest energy storage project; How much oil in an EV?
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read articles from around the web:
Activist CEOs: A new reality for corporate America
The days when business leaders could dodge social or political issues are coming to an end. In this column from EDF Climate Corp, Tom Murray says executives need to publicly and visibly put company values to work.
KLM invests in sustainable fuel
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has committed itself for a 10-year period to the development and purchase of 75,000 metric tons of sustainable aviation fuel a year, which is expected to deliver a CO2 reduction of at least 85%, compared to fossil fuel.
Costco denied aggregation in Virginia
Virginia regulators on May 30 denied Costco’s request to buy electricity generated by someone besides Dominion Energy, the state's largest electric monopoly.
Facebook’s first direct investment in RE; Shell to share RECs
Facebook will be the sole tax equity investor in the $416 million Prospero Solar project in Andrews County, Texas. While the company has been a leader in the procurement of clean energy, this represents their first direct investment in a renewable energy project.
GM and Bechtel join to build EV charging stations
General Motors and Bechtel are creating a separate company to build a network of electric vehicle fast-charging stations across the country.
Insights from SED's 2018 Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum
As we look forward to the 2019 edition of the Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum, set for September 16-18 in Ponte Vedra, Florida, take a look back at highlights from our 2018 RESF event.
Dallas to power city buildings with RE
The City of Dallas expects to save $80 million over 10 years via a new contract that calls for all city facilities to be powered with wind and solar energy.
Kimberly-Clark opens solar array in Singapore
Kimberly-Clark switched on one of Singapore’s largest solar energy installations at its manufacturing facility in Tuas, which produces Huggies diapers and Huggies baby wipes. The 7,730 photovoltaic panels mounted on its roof will generate 3.5-gigawatt hours of clean energy.
Starbucks issues $1 billion Sustainability Bond
Starbucks has issued a $1 billion, 30-year Sustainability Bond that will fund its ethical coffee sourcing and Greener Retail Initiative, the company announced. The sustainability bond is the largest of its kind that the coffee giant has issued to date.
Toyota to test blockchain, EV solar power trading
Toyota announced May 23 plans to use blockchain for a prosumer electricity trading test to explore electricity trading among individuals and business who store excess power from solar panels in batteries and electrified vehicles.
Weekend reads: Helsinki's solar powered airport; The Carlyle Group and Schneider Electric partner on infrastructure
It's the weekend! Kick back and catch up with these must-read stories from around the web:
Infographic: The Energy-Resilient City
Better Buildings' Efficiency-Resilience Nexus discusses resources for organizations across different sectors of a city - from offices and apartments to manufacturing facilities and stores - to build resilience and increase their ability to bounce ba
Microsoft to purchase 90MW from Dutch wind project
Microsoft Corp. will purchase 90 MW of energy for its data centers from a 731.5 MW offshore wind project in the Netherlands starting in 2022 through an agreement signed May 23.
Shell Group launches Ohio EV charging station project
A "new energy" subsidiary of the Shell Group announced an initiative to install public DC fast charging stations in Ohio at a local taxi depot facility and along heavily trafficked areas.
ExxonMobil invests in emissions reductions technologies
ExxonMobil will be investing up to $100 million for research into technologies involving carbon capture and storage, carbon dioxide utilization, enhanced oil recovery, and other methods through a partnership announced May 8.
United Airlines to purchase 10 million gallons of biofuel
United Airlines will purchase up to 10 million gallons of cost-competitive, commercial-scale, sustainable aviation biofuel over the next two years under a contract the airline signed May 22.
Is your business ready for energy market convergence?
Growing grid parity between traditional fuel sources and renewable energy is driving innovation and opportunity. The result? Increased choice - and complexity - for corporations. Choice is good for the market: it spurs solutions and competition. But not all programs or projects are the same and ease of transaction doesn't equal ease of risk
MTA issues RFP for RNG
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today issued a request for proposals to purchase ultra-low-carbon renewable natural gas (RNG) to fuel its fleet of about 800 New York City buses currently running on compressed natural gas (CNG). This represents the first step any heavy-duty vehicle fleet in New York City has taken towards adopting RNG.
LG commits to carbon neutrality by 2030
LG Electronics (LG) has launched its Zero Carbon 2030 initiative, committing to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its global operations within 12 years.
