Energy Management Articles
FERC eliminates barriers for energy storage
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted on Feb. 15 to remove barriers to the participation of electric storage resources in the capacity, energy, and ancillary services markets operated by Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs)
Sierra Nevada combines solar and natural gas to power brewery
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., based in Chico, Calif., was honored by Chico Electric for its sustainability efforts, centered on its $4 power plant, consisting of three units that supports its brewery with a combination of solar and natural gas
Trump 2019 budget slashes EPA, DOE funding
The newly-released 2019 budget proposal from the Trump Administration calls for spending cuts of 24% from the EPA and more than 65% from the DOE’s renewable energy office while boosting spending on fossil fuels and nuclear programs.
Maryland opens first energy storage tax credit program
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) announced on Feb. 13 that it is accepting applications for the 2018 Energy Storage Tax Credit Program. The program, the first of its kind launched in the U.S., is designed to encourage the deployment of energy
Nestlé reaches for 100% RE with wind PPA
Nestlé in the U.S. announced on Feb. 12 a 15-year PPA with EDP Renewables that will provide approximately 80 percent of the electricity load for five Nestlé facilities in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Con Edison adds HVAC upgrade incentives for C&I
Con Edison announced two new programs offering incentives for C&I customers that make HVAC upgrades. The Prescriptive Rebate Program offers cash incentives for the installation of standard energy-efficient equipment
SED expands renewable energy event schedule
Following the success of the 2017 Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum, Smart Energy Decisions is producing two editions of the Forum in 2018. The Spring edition will take place June 18-20 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego.
Heineken “drops the C”, increases RE
Heineken announced on Feb. 12 its "Drop the C" program, aimed at increasing its share of renewable energy from the current level of 14% to 70% by 2030. The company also reported reaching its 2020 emission targets in production in 2017
UMD gains $18.3M for energy conservation
The University of Maryland has secured $18.3 million from the Maryland Clean Energy Center (MCEC) for the development of a $21.5 million energy efficiency project. The project will impact eight on-campus buildings.
Weekend reads: The forgotten renewable; Olympics go green & more
Every Saturday, we'll bring you five of the most interesting — or quirky; it is the weekend after all — energy stories from around the web that you may have missed this week. This weekend's reads:
Case Study: Home Depot - Financing a Renewable and Alternative Energy Commitment
This case study from RILA tracks The Home Depot's path toward hitting their renewable energy and energy efficiency targets, established in 2015 to be met by 2020.
Harvard sets target to be fossil-fuel-free by 2050
Harvard has announced goals to be fossil-fuel-neutral by 2026 and fossil-fuel-free by 2050. Based on recommendations from the university’s Climate Change Task Force, these goals would be met through the expanded use of sustainable energy sources
Mandalay Bay CC premieres LED lighting system
The Mandalay Bay Convention Center (MBCC) in Las Vegas and UBM have partnered to co-develop a new LED lighting system, a multi-million-dollar investment that includes the replacement of more than 1,000 light fixtures with new LED lights.
AT&T purchases wind power from Texas and Oklahoma
AT&T announced on Feb. 8 that it will purchase 520MW of wind power through two agreements with wind farms operated by subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources.
Porsche and Mercedes move forward with EVs
Porsche announced that it is doubling the investment in its electric vehicle program to €6 billion, while Mercedes-Benz said it will have an all-electric version of its Sprinter delivery vans available in Europe by next year.
Switch announces Gigawatt 1, largest U.S. solar project
Switch and Capital Dynamics announced on Feb. 7 the construction of Gigawatt 1, the single largest solar project portfolio in the U.S. The project, to be built in northern and southern Nevada, is expected to produce the lowest priced solar power
Case study: Responding to shareholder pressure for more renewable energy
This case study, presented by Point 380, asks the following question: What should corporate sustainability and energy managers do when presented with requests from internal and external stakeholder to implement more renewable energy
Brown-Forman signs PPA for 30 MW annually
Brown-Forman Corporation announced on Feb. 6 an agreement to purchase 30 megawatts of electricity per year from Solomon Forks Wind Project in Kansas, becoming the first major U.S. spirits and wine producer to commit to a PPA in the U.S.
Kilroy Realty to deploy AI-powered storage
Kilroy Realty Corporation announced plans to deploy more than 7.5 MWh of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven energy storage across eight commercial buildings in California.
Annual investments of $100B for wind through 2025
The global wind power services market is expected to be worth $25 billion by 2025, an increase from $9 billion in 2016, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan. They estimate $100 billion of global investments for wind power per year
Webinar: Microgrid-as-a-Service: A New Approach to Solve Resiliency, Efficiency, Sustainability Challenges
This webinar, sponsored by Schneider Electric, discusses how large commercial, industrial, campus, municipal, district, and institutional players can benefit from a “Microgrid-as-a-Service” business model approach to stabilize
Column: Hulu Moves Data Centers to 100% RE Facility
This column from Rafael Soltanovich, Vice President, Software Development, discusses Hulu's partnership with Switch to migrate their existing data centers to a new renewable energy facility in Las Vegas
Insights from SED's 2017 Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum
The spirit of the inaugural Smart Energy Decisions Renewable Energy Sourcing Forum is captured in this Insights document, which features edited transcripts from the most memorable keynote presentations, panels, and conversations
100 most sustainable companies named
Cisco Sytems topped the list of 100 most sustainable companies, released by Barron’s on Feb 3. Salesforce.com ranked second, followed by Best Buy, Intuit and HP rounding out the top five. Texas Instruments, Microsoft, Oshkosh, Clorox, and Xylem
Grupo Bimbo goes solar
Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V. on Feb. 1 announced “Bimbo Solar,” an energy self-sufficiency initiative, which includes the consolidation of 33 systems that combined generate 3.7 megawatts of power.
Weekend reads: Who will win the (energy) super bowl; Jump-starting the dark grid & more
Every Saturday, we'll bring you five of the most interesting — or quirky; it is the weekend after all — energy stories from around the web that you may have missed this week. This weekend's reads:
Tesla plans first truck charging stations
Tesla is partnering with Anheuser-Busch, PepsiCo, and United Parcel Service Inc. to build on-site charging terminals at their facilities. These companies are among nine major corporations that have placed pre-orders for Tesla’s truck
Shipping company tests solar for cargo ships
The world’s first integrated rigid sail and solar power system for ships is being tested by a new partnership between Eco Marine Power and Japanese shipowner Hisafuku Kisen K.K. of Onomichi. The solution, called Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy
Vans HQ achieves LEED Platinum rating
Vans corporate headquarters has received LEED Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s, the highest standard for sustainable buildings in the world.
White House to ask for 72% cut in RE budget
The Trump administration is expected to cut 72% of the Energy Department’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in their budget request to Congress for fiscal 2019.
