Energy Management Articles
Shell and RE survey complete final program for RESF Fall event
Shell Energy North America has been announced as the presenting sponsor for the Fall edition of the Smart Energy Decisions Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum. This marks the first appearance of a major oil company to address corporate buyers about their renewable energy plans.
UC aims for 100% RE
The University of California (UC) announced it will aim for 100% reliance on clean electricity supplies across its campuses and medical centers by 2025. UC had previously pledged to become operationally carbon neutral by that same year.
Kimberly-Clark invests $150 million for energy efficiency
Kimberly-Clark Corp. will invest $150 million on infrastructure upgrades including the installation of a natural gas-fired plant that will replace a coal-fired co-generation power plant at its Chester, Pa. facility. The new plant is expected to be more energy efficient and will reduce emissions.
GM racing toward faster EV charging
General Motors is developing an extreme fast charger that can deliver up to 180 miles of range to an electric car, such as the Chevy Bolt EV, in 10 minutes. A prototype is expected to be ready by 2020.
Weekend reads: DOE pushes wind - does Trump know?; From AK-47s to EVs
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
Toyota targets zero carbon by 2050
Adding more than 16 megawatts in just over 15 years, Toyota has achieved very aggressive sustainability goals and continues to head for an even bigger one: zero carbon by 2050.
Ohio businesses back 2.2 GW of solar
Large corporations with operations in Ohio—including JPMorgan Chase, Owens Corning, Walmart, and Whirlpool—announced their support for a 2.2-gigawatt solar goal for Ohio by 2030. The companies will offer their corporate logos for use in promoting this goal.
Amazon adds solar and Tesla storage in UK
Amazon will add 4.074 megawatts of rooftop solar to boost an existing system at its fulfillment center in Tilbury, England, The installation will also include a 3.77 megawatt Tesla battery.
Saleforce signs its largest PPA
Salesforce has signed a 15-year PPA for 80 megawatts produced from the Bright Stalk Wind Farm in McLean County, Ill. This PPA is Salesforce’s largest to date as it works towards a goal of 100% renewable energy.
Pittsburgh adds smart plugs for energy savings
The city of Pittsburgh is piloting a program for an integrated energy savings-as-a-service (iESaaS) initiative with the goal of bringing energy savings to city facilities.
Case Study: Apple, Akamai, Etsy, and Swiss Re partner on largest RE aggregation to date
How did four companies with different energy needs and similar goals come together on the largest aggregated corporate renewable energy transaction to date? This case study, presented by 3Degrees, details how Apple, Akamai, Etsy, and Swiss Re partnered on six PPAs
Facebook sets 100% RE goal for 2020
Facebook has committed to a 2020 deadline for reducing its GHG emissions by 75% and powering its global operation with 100% renewable energy. The company’s earlier goal of supporting 50% of its facilities with RE by 2018, set in 2015, was achieved one year early at 51% in 2017.
Solar added to DEA site in Texas
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) at the El Paso Intelligence Center has completed a solar installation, representing a first for a DEA site.
University of Richmond spins Spider Solar
The University of Richmond (UR) announced on August 27 that it will become the first institution of higher learning in the southeast to match 100% of its electricity needs with solar energy thanks to a PPA for a 20-megawatt solar energy facility known as Spider Solar, named for the school’s mascot.
19 Mayors sign Net Zero Carbon pledge
Mayors from 19 cities around the world signed a pledge to enact regulations and/or planning policy to ensure new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030 and all buildings by 2050. The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration is an initiative of C40 Cities.
Is Exxon turning to RE in Texas?
Exxon Mobil Corp. intends to purchase renewable energy for delivery in Texas. The company issued a request for proposals asking solar and wind suppliers to submit proposals by June 8 for long-term deals. The largest U.S. oil company asked for at least 100 megawatts and could go higher than 250 megawatts.
Beer distributor plans $2 million savings with solar
Brown Distributing Co. will install a 481-kW rooftop solar project at the company’s beverage distribution facility in Austin. The array is expected to save the company nearly $2 million over the next 25 years, paying for itself in less than five years
Weekend reads: Sustainability's silent hero; Hoover Dam as giant battery
Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
Infographic: Harnessing that Hawaiian sunshine
Kona Brewing Co. is combining solar power and battery storage at its new brewery in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.
IKEA adds solar to Alberta stores
IKEA Canada announced on August 23 that as part of its long-standing commitment to renewable energy, solar panels are being installed on its stores in Edmonton and Calgary. Both systems are expected to be operational by the end of the year.
U.S. wind capacity nears 89 GW
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on August 23 that the U.S. wind industry installed 7,017 megawatts (MW) of capacity last year, bringing total utility-scale wind capacity to nearly 89 GW.
Pizza Hut serves energy efficiency with IoT
Pizza Hut franchisee The American West Restaurant Group (AWRG) has employed the IoT (Internet of Things) to save $2 million a year via energy efficiency at 250 restaurants in the next five years.
Stewart County reports energy efficiency success
Stewart County, a rural municipality located in central Tennessee, has successfully reduce utility and operation costs year-over-year since the implementation of a municipal energy efficiency plan in 2016.
Kingspan joins supply chain initiative; Cities and Utilities join RE Sourcing Forum
Kingspan North America has joined Walmart as a member of the Smart Energy Decisions’ Supply Chain Initiative, a program designed to help early adopters of renewable energy engage with their supply chains by delivering renewable energy sourcing education, peer-to-peer networking, and connections to renewable energy suppliers in association with Smart Energy Decisions.
Lockheed Martin joins Army for battery storage system
The U.S. Army will host BESS—Battery Energy Storage System—at its Fort Carson, Colorado base. Construction has begun on the system by AECOM, a global infrastructure firm, using Lockheed Martin's GridStar® Lithium energy storage system.
Philly Flyers arena catches the wind
The Wells Fargo Center arena, home to the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, will be powered by 100% renewable energy, thanks to a long-term PPA for wind power between Comcast Spectacor, the arena’s owner, and Constellation.
Maryland mall adds 2 MW solar rooftop
The Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, Maryland announced on August 20 that its new 2,056-kilowatt solar rooftop system is operational. The mall features more than 70 retailers and it owned by PREIT, a real estate investment trust.
LA Lakers open solar-powered training facility
The Los Angeles Lakers premiered a solar-powered, state-of-the-art headquarters, the UCLA Health Training Center. The solar installation features 456 panels to generate an estimated 245,000 kWh annually for a projected savings of about $38,000 per year.
EVRAZ signs long-term solar PPA
EVRAZ Pueblo finalized a long-term electricity agreement with Xcel Energy on Aug. 16 that will pave the way for Xcel to build a 240 MW solar facility on EVRAZ's property and allow for an upgrade and expansion of its Colorado mill.
Google implements AI to handle cooling of data centers
New artificial intelligence software being implemented at Google data centers is expected to not only reduce the need for human monitoring of its cooling systems but also to increase the energy efficiency of these sites.
