Energy Management Articles
IKEA powers largest rooftop solar project in Wisconsin
IKEA has installed a solar array on top its new 290,000-square-foot store in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The 1.6-megawatt array is expected to provide between 20% and 50% of the power needed for the store, producing more than 2 million kilowatts of electricity annually.
The Great REC Arbitrage
No longer reserved for the Fortune 500, financial instruments like Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) are gaining popularity among smaller companies and public-sector entities looking to cost-effectively meet clean energy goals. Google, Apple, Amazon, and Walmart have paved the way for other, more risk averse but environmentally-minded entities to power their operations with renewable energy.
Facebook plans six solar projects to power data centers in Oregon
Facebook has announced it will finance construction of six large solar projects that will generate 437 megawatts of power for its Prineville, Oregon campus, home of three existing and two more planned data centers.
Lockheed Martin reports progress on energy management goals
Lockheed Martin implemented more than 70 energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects in 2017 as the company heads towards a series of 2020 energy management goals. Progress was detailed in their recently released 2017 Sustainability Report
Gemini Solar Project to be largest in Nevada
The 690-megawatt Gemini Solar Project, expected to be one of the largest solar projects in Nevada’s history, has been proposed by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners. The project will be located on almost 44,000-acres of Bureau of Land Management supervised property approximately 25 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
NASA reaches for solar power in Alabama
Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama has completed the addition of a 120-kW rooftop solar array, featuring more than 370 solar panels on one of the center’s newer buildings.
Audi Field to add PACE-funded solar array
Audi Field hosted major league soccer franchise D.C. United’s first game July 14 as the stadium premiered a set of initiatives designed to create a more sustainable facility.
Kroger sets table with sustainability goals
With the release of its company’s 2018 Sustainability Report, The Kroger Co. shared progress on a variety of sustainability goals, including two climate-related goals for Kroger Retail.
Weekend reads: Energy efficiency of the future; Leading the EV charge
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read energy stories from around the web:
Corporations can generate one-third more impact with their renewables investment. Here’s how.
Recent weeks and months have seen a near-constant stream of headlines about the ongoing growth of corporate renewable energy procurement, including here in Smart Energy Decisions. It all boils down to a single, encouraging takeaway: corporate leaders and investment is a major influence driving renewable energy capacity additions.
Apple launches $300 million clean energy fund in China
Apple announced on July 12 the creation of a new investment fund in China to increase the use of renewable energy within its supply chain. The company will join 10 initial suppliers to invest nearly $300 million over the next four years into the China Clean Energy Fund, which will invest in and develop clean energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China.
Continental premieres largest rooftop community solar in NY
Continental Building Products will host the largest rooftop solar power system in New York State on its Buchanan manufacturing facility located along the Hudson River in Westchester County.
High Hotels Ltd premieres first 100% solar powered U.S. Marriott
High Hotels Ltd. announced the installation of a $1.5-million solar array at its Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Lancaster, Pa. Once completed, the installation will make the 133-room hotel Marriott’s first branded location in the U.S. to generate 100% of its electricity needs from solar power.
BYD and Buffet form e-bus venture
Facebook and Stanford University are among the first customers of a new venture created to lease electric buses to U.S. corporations, schools, and cities. The enterprise joins BYD Co., a Warren Buffet-backed manufacturer of electric vehicles in China
SED launches Supply Chain Initiative
Walmart has become the first member of the Smart Energy Decisions’ Supply Chain Initiative. Developed as an extension of SED’s Renewable Energy Sourcing Initiative, this new program is designed to help early adopters of renewable energy engage with their supply chains while helping their suppliers by delivering renewable energy sourcing education, peer-to-peer networking, and connections to renewable energy suppliers.
J. Kings premiers HQ rooftop solar
J. Kings, a Long-Island based food and beverage distributor, announced on July 10 the completion of a 771-kilowatt rooftop solar system at their Holtsville headquarters and distribution facility. The system was developed to both reduce the company’s carbon’s footprint and create significant financial benefit.
Hess reduces flares, GHG emissions
Hess Corporation announced a reduction in flaring and GHG emission intensities by 38% and 23%, respectively versus a 2014 baseline. The reductions were featured in Hess’ 2017 Sustainability Report, released on July 10.
Baxter hits 30% RE, 17% GHG reduction
Baxter International Inc., the global medical products company, announced that in 2017, 30% of the company’s energy use from its operations came from renewable resources. The company also reduced its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 17 percent
Resilience is becoming an absolute necessity
Resilience is often referred to as succeeding despite hardship. In human terms, it is the ability to shake off injury, persevere in the face of adversity, and generally recover from setbacks. In an energy context, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Comerica sets new GHG reduction goals
After achieving both first and second generation GHG reduction goals, of 15% and 20%, respectively, Comerica Inc. announced a new set of GHG reduction goals along with the release of their 2017 Corporate Responsibility Progress Report.
GM boosts Bolt EV by 20%
General Motors announced a 20% increase in production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car due to higher-than-expected demand from customers. GM reported a 40% jump in global sales for the EV model in the first half of 2018 year-over-year, driven by sales in the U.S., Canada, and South Korea.
Weekend reads: Energy efficiency as marketing tool; Google as pioneer
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these with these must-read stories from around the web:
RE Sourcing Forum: Looking ahead to Fall, looking back at Spring
Smart Energy Decisions heads toward the Fall edition of the Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum with a lineup of featured keynote speakers including executives from Starbucks, Intuit, and Kingspan. The event will take place on October 1-3, 2018 at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
VW to offer e-vehicle car sharing
Volkswagen announced plans to launch a carsharing program in 2019 using electric vehicles. The program will begin in Germany and expand to major cities in Europe, North America, and Asia in 2020 and will focus on core VW brand cars.
CBRE on track with energy goals
CBRE, the real estate and investment firm, is on track to meet a series of emissions- and energy-reduction goals.
IRS guidance lifts solar development
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance on a 2015 law establishing an investment tax credit (ITC), to clarify that solar developers who invest at least 5% of the total expected installation cost of a project by the end of 2019 will qualify for a 30% ITC.
Port of Los Angeles microgrid nears completion
The Green Omni Terminal Demonstration Project, a $27 million microgrid and distributed clean energy project at the Port of Los Angeles is now 60% complete. The project, the first of its type in Los Angeles to include solar and energy storage, is expected to be finished in the fall.
The Home Depot posts 20%+ decline in energy use
The Home Depot® announced that its stores have cut energy use 23.5 percent since 2010, exceeding the company's goal to reduce consumption by 20 percent by 2020, three years ahead of schedule.
Amazon buys e-vans from Mercedes-Benz
Amazon has purchased a fleet of 100 all-electric vans from Mercedes-Benz for use in Germany. The model chosen was the eVito, a mid-size van with a 41.4 kWh battery pack for a range of approximately 150 km or 93 miles.
Goldman Sachs buys 204 MW solar portfolio
Goldman Sachs Asset Management signed a PPA for a 204 MW-portfolio of solar energy projects from Marina Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of South Jersey Energy (SJI).
