• September 05, 2024

Advanced green technology has completed two large solar powered parking garages at Raymond James Financial headquarters in St. Petersburg, Florida. The characteristic of this renewable energy project is the distribution of 170 kilowatts of solar power generation capacity on two car parking lots in the existing parking lot. The first phase of construction covered the P4 parking lot, adding 1 MW of solar power generation capacity, and the second phase included the P3 parking lot, adding 700 kW. The solar structure provides approximately 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, meeting about 60% of the energy needs of Raymond James' two main office buildings. Compensating for nearly 60% of the energy load in multi story Grade A office buildings is a significant achievement, "said Clint Sockman, Executive Vice President of AGT. Raymond James has demonstrated leadership in the ESG field by investing in projects that his clients believe in, which is truly remarkable. The design of a solar powered parking shed can withstand winds of up to 150 miles per hour, which is essential for Florida's tropical climate. These parking sheds are equipped with Trina Solar's 450 watt solar panels and Jinlang's 100 kilowatt series inverters, reaching up to 60 feet in windy coastal areas. AGT's innovative serrated roof design is made of powder coated steel from the United States, which reduces wind pressure and enhances the streamlined appearance of the parking shed.

• September 04, 2024

Atos Solar has just announced that it has established a partnership with SolarCycle to provide recycling services to its American customers, which may be the first of its kind for a silicon solar panel manufacturer operating in the United States. SolarCycle will become Canadian Solar's preferred recycling partner, and Canadian Solar will provide pre recycling services upon purchase. Canadian Solar customers can now receive recycling services when purchasing solar panels. Suvi Sharma, CEO and co-founder of SolarCycle, said, "By offering upfront recycling services as an additional service to the price of solar modules, Atos Solar is helping drive the entire industry forward to ensure we truly achieve sustainable development from cradle to cradle. We will review their leadership at this moment, which is one of the key strategies for the solar industry to integrate our core values into core operations At present, it is unclear how much the additional recycling fee will be and when the agreement will officially come into effect.

• September 03, 2024

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today its proposed roadmap for developing solar energy on public lands, aimed at expanding permits for efficient and environmentally friendly solar energy projects on public lands in the western region. The final utility scale solar plan environmental impact statement and proposed resource management plan amendment (also known as the proposed updated Western Solar Plan) released today coincides with the Biden Harris administration releasing new data on improving the federal licensing process to help more projects be carried out more efficiently across the United States. The updated Western Solar Plan will help build a modern and resilient energy infrastructure, creating a strong clean energy economy and protecting our communities from the worsening effects of climate change, "said Steve Feldgus, Chief Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Mineral Management. Through extensive planning and collaboration, we not only protect our public lands, but also ensure faster and more efficient licensing of solar projects, avoid conflicts, and achieve an appropriate balance while advancing clean energy and protecting the environment The proposed updated Western Solar Plan was developed based on public feedback and will guide BLM's management of solar proposals and projects on public land. This plan will make over 31 million acres of public land in 11 western states available for potential solar development, with development sites located near power lines or previously damaged land, and avoiding protected land, sensitive cultural resources, and wildlife habitats. This plan updates and expands the original 2012 Western Solar Plan to reflect technological changes and meet higher demand for solar energy development. In addition to the six states originally planned for analysis, the plan also analyzed five other western states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming). The updated Western Solar Plan is a responsible and pragmatic strategy aimed at developing solar energy on public land in China, supporting national clean energy goals and long-term national energy security, "said Tracy Stone Manning, Director of the Land Management Bureau. It will promote responsible development of solar energy in areas with less potential conflict, while helping the country transition to a clean energy economy, further fulfilling the mission of the Land Management Bureau to maintain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for use and enjoyment by present and future generations The proposed solar energy project will still undergo location specific environmental review and public opinion solicitation. This final statement follows the draft for public consultation released in January 2024, with stakeholder feedback helping BLM make additional updates that will help protect wildlife habitats and migration corridors, as well as other key resources, while clarifying low conflict areas and project design methods to t...

• September 02, 2024

Dynamic Energy has partnered with Cooper Bottom Wholesale Co. to complete a 907 kW commercial rooftop solar project. Cooper Bottom Wholesale Co. is a full-service distributor of convenience store products in the mid Atlantic. The project is located on a 61000 square foot industrial roof at the company's warehouse and headquarters in Muntville, Pennsylvania, and will offset Cooper Booth's rising energy costs while driving the company's green energy plan. Barry Margolis, President of Cooper Tooth Wholesale Company, said, "Working with Dynamic Energy was a great experience. Considering the significant energy-saving effects and positive impact on our sustainable development goals, choosing to use solar energy was an easy decision. This project is in line with our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and is also a reasonable financial investment Dynamic Energy is headquartered in Pennsylvania and has extensive experience in developing and building clean energy solutions in the Mid Atlantic region and across the United States. Dynamic developed, designed, and built the Cooper Booth project to maximize the use of state and federal solar energy incentives. As a developer partner, Dynamic collaborates with local utility companies and jurisdictional agencies (AHJ) to manage complex interconnections, licensing, and installations. Oliver Davis, President of Dynamic Energy, said, "Dynamic is honored to collaborate with Cooper Tooth to support its energy needs and sustainable development goals. In addition to being a wise capital investment, the project will also reduce grid congestion and provide an economically effective way to reduce corporate emissions. Finally, the partnership with Cooper Tooth highlights Dynamic's mission to allocate energy and create change

• August 30, 2024

Encore Renewable Energy has partnered with EPC GreenSpark Solar to develop a 3.6 MW agricultural photovoltaic solar project in Constable, New York. Constable Solar is Encore's first solar project in New York, currently under development with a capacity of 90 megawatts. Encore Renewable Energy founder and co CEO Chad Farrell said, "With ambitious clean energy targets set in New York and the energy supply market constantly evolving, renewable energy is becoming an increasingly cost-effective way of energy production, and the demand for solar energy has never been higher. In terms of wider adoption of clean energy, utilities are at the forefront, and collaborating with the NYSE on such projects is crucial to meeting the growing energy demand at a cost that taxpayers can afford The J&R Pierce family farm located in West Chazi will provide sheep rotation grazing to meet the vegetation management standards required for solar energy production. This agricultural photovoltaic solution avoids the need for using fossil fuel lawn mowers, while improving soil quality and promoting the health of local pollinating insects. We look forward to collaborating with Encore on this agricultural energy project, "said Rebekah Pierce of J&R Pierce Family Farm. As a small family farm, collaborating with local solar companies is crucial to supporting our business and maintaining land for agricultural production. We not only help harvest solar energy, but also support the feasibility of the local food system by producing local, healthy, and affordable meat for the community The land used for this project was used to produce hay, which was owned by brother and sister Michelle, Danielle and Steve Sirois. They have maintained this land for 29 years They said, "This project provides an exciting opportunity for us to protect our father's land by supporting clean energy in the community and fully utilizing it GreenSpark Solar has started construction and is currently conducting surveys and civil engineering activities. We are pleased to welcome Encore as a new portfolio partner and launch our first collaboration in Vermont, while also launching another project in our hometown of New York State, "said Scott Abbett, co owner of GreenSpark Solar. Our value aligned partnership is highlighted by the fact that both teams have been designated as certified owners of Company B and members of the national Amicus Solar Cooperative. Working with Encore's development expert team allows GreenSpark to easily focus on building high-quality solar solutions for our shared projects

• August 29, 2024

The California Public Defender's Office (PAO) released a report on net metering at the end of August, claiming that the state's rooftop solar incentives will cost users without solar energy approximately $8.5 billion by the end of the year. PAO is a state agency tasked with advocating for California regulated utility customers to minimize billing costs as much as possible. PAO stated that although the new NEM 3.0 net billing tariff (NBT) is an improvement over the previous net metering plan, it does not address the ongoing "cost transfer" issue from traditional NEM 1.0 and 2.0 customers to non solar taxpayers. PAO suggests that the state government take one of the following two measures: providing compensation to NEM 2.0 customers based on the effective electricity prices at the time of adopting incentive measures, or converting NEM 1.0 and 2.0 accounts to NBT when selling homes or after 10 years of interconnection. Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director of the California Solar and Energy Storage Association (CALSSA), told Solar World that she is not concerned about the impact of the report on California's solar policies, but she is uneasy about PAO's stance on solar energy issues. The California Public Defender's Office (PAO) recently released a fact sheet that repeats key points of discussion from utility companies regarding rooftop solar energy and the serious inaccurate costs of rooftop solar energy, advocating for changes to contract terms for 2 million solar consumers. PAO's unprecedented anti solar action is misleading and erroneous, "the PAO said in a press statement.

• August 28, 2024

The National Storage Alliance Trust (NSA) is a real estate group that invests in self storage properties and plans to collaborate with Solar Landscape to install solar projects on NSA properties nationwide. The group plans to develop at least 100 megawatts of solar capacity. The NSA has granted exclusive rights to Solar Landscape to evaluate approximately 1000 properties in 42 states and Puerto Rico to determine their potential for use in building community solar projects. We look forward to collaborating with NSA to install community solar projects on their self storage facilities, "said Shaun Keegan, CEO and co-founder of Solar Landscape." Community solar is a win-win situation: it reduces the community's carbon footprint, provides discounted clean energy for residents, and creates income for homeowners The development work of the first batch of venues for cooperation has begun. These projects do not require NSA capital expenditures. Solar Landscape will develop, own, and operate these projects, and pay monthly rent to NSA. NSA President and CEO David Cramer said, "This is an exciting step towards our corporate responsibility goals and demonstrates our commitment to building a more sustainable future. NSA has long been customer-centric and community focused. This collaboration will enable us to produce clean energy for households around the facility at discounted prices, thereby increasing this value and creating value for NSA shareholders

• August 27, 2024

Clearway Energy Group has begun construction of its Rosamond South I solar and energy storage project in Kern County, California. The Rosamond South 1 solar power plant has a capacity of 140 megawatts and an energy storage power plant capacity of 118 megawatts. Its purchaser refers to it as Golden Fields Solar IV LLC. The project has signed long-term contracts with multiple power service companies in California, including a 15 year agreement with MCE, the University of California, the Rancho Cucamong Municipal Utility Company, the Eastern District Electricity Authority, and the City of Moreno Valley. Brooks Friedeman, Vice President of Clearway Capital Markets, said, "Kern County has long been an important supplier of energy in our country. We are pleased to invest in and help Kern County maintain its energy leadership position through our Rosamond South solar and energy storage project, which will provide reliable and low-cost electricity when it is most needed In order to fund a $550 million construction loan for solar and energy storage projects, Clearway has formed a banking consortium that includes Societe Generale, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, Siemens Financial Services, Deutsche Bank, CoBank, DNB Bank ASA, and Nord/LB. During the construction period, more than 400 union labor positions will be created, led by EPC contractor McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Labor partners include Labor Union 220, Southwest Regional Carpenter Council, Operating Engineers Local Union 12, IBEW Local Union 428, Steelworkers Local Union 416, and Local Union 433. The project is expected to enter commercial operation in 2025.

• August 26, 2024

Nexamp and TurningDoint Energy recently celebrated the completion of their partnership to build a 9.4MW solar power plant in Warren, Rhode Island. The solar power plant includes two co located solar cell arrays, which are a unique reuse of land previously developed as a golf course. TPE developed the project, while Nexamp is responsible for its construction, ownership, and operation. The project started construction at the end of 2022 and delivered electricity to the grid for the first time last month. The project is located in the Rhode Island Energy Service Area and is part of the Rhode Island Virtual Net Metering Program, specifically designed to serve schools, non-profit organizations, and municipal authorities. This is our largest solar project in Rhode Island to date, adding new content to our rapidly growing national solar investment portfolio and expanding our long-term partnership with TPE as an important development partner, "said Jenn DeLaney, Vice President of Channel Operations at Nexamp. Every project we build, whether we develop it ourselves or collaborate with partners, represents a long-term commitment to the community and an opportunity to make renewable energy more widely accessible to everyone. We are pleased to bring the benefits of solar energy to important local organizations through Warren's latest project TurningDoint Energy President Salar Naini said, "We are delighted to work with a trusted partner like Nexamp on this unique project. Transforming an old golf course into a solar power plant not only revitalizes unused land, but also creates a greener future for Rhode Island This solar project has saved energy for 15 regional non-profit organizations, schools, cities, and towns that have signed energy sales agreements with Nexamp and obtained electricity from Rhode Island Energy Company. The project is expected to generate approximately 11.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually throughout its entire lifecycle, contributing to Rhode Island's goal of achieving 100% renewable electricity throughout the state. Chris Kearns, Acting Commissioner of the Rhode Island State Office of Energy Resources, said, "Congratulations to the town of Warren and all parties involved in advancing this solar project. The system has made a significant contribution to Rhode Island's climate goals and supports us in achieving 100% renewable energy standards by 2033 One of the local groups benefiting from solar energy projects is Hope&Main located in Warren, a non-profit cooking incubator dedicated to empowering an inclusive entrepreneurial community to launch and nurture thriving food businesses, laying the foundation for a more just, sustainable, and resilient local food economy.