Energy Management Articles
Better Plants Program Partners save $5.3B in energy costs
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program partners have posted savings of more than $5.3 billion in cumulative energy costs, which represents approximately 12% of the U.S manufacturing energy footprint.
RESF Fall Presentation: Starbucks' Portfolio Approach to RE Strategy & Execution
Starbucks' portfolio approach to RE strategy & execution is the latest in a series of presentations from the Smart Energy Decisions' Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum.
Cinemark signs nine-year wind VPPA
Cinemark USA, Inc. announced on October 29 it has signed a nine-year VPPA with AEP Energy Partners for up to 40 megawatts of renewable energy from AEP’s Trent Mesa wind energy center in Nolan County, Texas.
GM proposes national EV policy
General Motors proposes the establishment of a new National Zero Emissions Vehicle (NZEV) program that has the potential to place more than 7 million long-range EVs on the road by 2030—25% of all new cars— for a cumulative incremental reduction of 375 tons of CO2 emissions
Weekend reads: Arizona's battle for solar energy; Dyson joins the EV market
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read stories from around the web:
Ameren Missouri approved for largest wind facility in state's history
Ameren Missouri was approved to construct and operate a 400 MW wind farm, known as the High Prairie Wind Farm, which when completed will be the largest wind facility in the state's history.
San Diego offers alternative to traditional power utility
Residents of the city of San Diego may soon have an alternative option to their power utility, San Diego Gas & Electric, when it comes to sourcing their electricity.
Dominon Energy solicits bids for RE projects
A Virginia-based electric utility announced Oct. 25 that it is seeking bids for up to 500 MW of solar and onshore wind generation.
NYSERDA offers $1 million for net zero building design
Large real estate portfolio owners in the state of New York have $1 million available for support with developing energy performance standards and institutional mechanisms to enable the design, construction and operation of net-zero buildings through
Research: SED's 2018 State of Corporate Renewable Energy Sourcing
The second edition of Smart Energy Decisions' Renewable Energy Sourcing Survey, sponsored by ENGIE, is a definitive look at the state of corporate renewable energy sourcing.
Walmart plans 23 MW Illinois solar farm
Walmart plans to install a mix of rooftop and ground-mount solar panels at 19 of its stores and two distributions across Illinois, expected to total approximately 23 MW.
Volvo Cars invests in EV tech
Volvo Cars continued its commitment to the expansion of the electric vehicle market on Oct. 24 when it acquired a stake in a San Fransisco-based electric car charging company.
University of New Mexico engineering center wins efficiency award
The University of New Mexico's Farris Engineering Center won the New Mexico Association of Energy Engineers' Energy Project of the Year award following a $26 million renovation project focusing on sustainability and energy efficiency.
Self-storage facilities switch entire portfolio to LED
National Storage Affiliates Trust plans to convert its entire portfolio of self-storage facilities to LED lighting to cut down energy costs, one of its largest operating expenses, by reducing energy consumption.
RESF Fall Presentation: Shell's Sky Scenario
Smart Energy Decision's Fall Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum featured presentations addressing the theme of creating and executing RE strategies. Here is the first in a series of these presentations, "Shell's Sky Scenario: Meeting the Goals of the Paris Agreement"
Nestle Waters uses wind to power Texas facilities
Nestlé Waters North America will start to power over 50% of its manufacturing and distribution facilities in Texas with clean energy supplied by a local wind farm through a renewable energy agreement signed with ENGIE Resources on Oct. 22.
Amazon UK implements solar, battery storage projects
Amazon is continuing its 100% renewable energy goal by installing large-scale rooftop solar panels on 10 of its UK fulfillment centers alongside rolling out a battery storage installation, the company announced on Oct. 16.
Weekend reads: Google graphs data centers; EVs conquer Antarctica
It's the weekend! Kick back and relax with these must-read stories from around the web:
San Diego Zoo Global adds onsite battery storage
San Diego Zoo Global will add a new storage project featuring a 1 MW battery to mitigate spike in usage to lower demand charges. The system will also minimize energy costs by recharging the battery when energy is at its lowest available rates
City of Lincoln retrofits to LED
The City of Lincoln, Neb. will undertake a city-wide street lighting retrofit project that will improve the city’s safety and sustainability efforts while reducing its utility budget by 38%.
Reader study: Smart Energy Decisions is #1
Reader preference for Smart Energy Decisions is extraordinary. From most valuable to accuracy and reliability to first choice among industry media, Smart Energy Decisions is #1.
Walmart and Cargill join for wind VPPA
Cargill and Walmart are sharing the offtake of a new wind farm in South Dakota. Walmart first announced an agreement in April to purchase 150MW of wind power from Geronimo Energy’s 200MW Crocker Wind Farm. Cargil followed on October with the announcement of a 12-year VPPA for the remaining 50MW of the project.
Iron Mountain moves towards goal with wind PPA
Iron Mountain Inc., a storage and information management services company, announced on October 17 the signing of a 15-year PPA for 145 MW of new wind energy from the Pretty Prairie Wind Farm, located in Reno County, KS.
Climbing the Corporate (Renewable Procurement) Ladder
This white paper, presented by EDF Renewables, compares the process of procuring renewable energy to climbing a ladder. But how tall a ladder will you need? What steps do you need to take to get to the top?
Sony moves up RE goal
Sony Corporation has announced a new target for its commitment to using 100% renewable electricity. Just one month after announcing a 2040 target, the company moved the target to 2040.
GM is 100% clean in Arlington
General Motors announced that its Arlington Assembly plant will now run on 100% clean wind energy following the recent opening of the Cactus Flats Wind Farm. The company also announced that the facility earned a place on the EPA’s Top 100 List of the largest green power users.
Walmart announces trio of wind PPAs
Walmart has signed three PPAs for a total of 223 megawatts of wind power. These agreements will enable the construction of three new utility-scale wind farms in the states of Illinois and Indiana.
Royal Caribbean adds a gust of windpower
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced it has signed a PPA with Southern Power for its 200-megawatt Reading Wind Facility. This initiative will offset up to 12% of Royal Caribbean's emissions beginning in 2020.
Microsoft signs PPA for Big Level wind
Microsoft Corp. has signed a 15-year PPA for the 90-megawatt Big Level wind facility now under construction in Hector Township, Pennsylvania. The Big Level wind facility is Microsoft’s third PPA in the PJM Interconnection and will bring the com
2019 Innovation Awards open for nominations
The Smart Energy Decisions 2019 Innovation Awards program is now accepting nominations.
