• December 20, 2024

The five Maine community solar sites managed by Ampere Renewable Energy entered commercial operation in November and began producing clean energy. These community solar sites are located in the Versant Power and Central Maine Power utility areas, adding nearly 25 megawatts of clean energy to the grid. These solar projects are located in Franklin, Arustuk, Penobscot, and Washington counties, saving local users up to 15% of electricity costs while enabling them to support Maine's new clean energy production. Ampion has recruited 1700 residential customers and 70 commercial customers to join these community solar sites. Ampion will also manage the ongoing billing and customer service for these clients throughout the entire 20-year lifecycle of the project.

• December 19, 2024

Primergy Solar announced that its 100 MW AC solar project located in Ashley County, Arkansas has been fully operational. The project is called Amazon Solar Farm Arkansas Prairie Mist and is currently delivering solar energy to the grid. It is the second project in Primergy's portfolio to go online in 2024. Primergy CEO Ty Daul said, "Prairie Mist represents a step forward in our mission to develop impactful projects that benefit local communities and meet the diverse needs of our clients Realizing commercial operations is a milestone for our team, and we appreciate the support of our partners and their dedication to bringing clean energy to the Arkansas region Prairie Mist connects the Entergy transmission system located within the operating range of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). It will provide solar energy under a power purchase agreement with Amazon and sell its capacity attributes to North Little Rock under a 20-year contract. This solar project can generate enough energy annually to power approximately 22000 households and enhance Arkansas' power generation structure and energy independence by reducing reliance on carbon emitting resources. Primergy has hired Primoris Renewable Energy, a top utility scale solar contractor, as the engineering, procurement, and construction partner for the project. Prairie Mist has created approximately 200 construction jobs and is expected to bring about $10 million in tax benefits to Ashley County during its operation. In addition to building and tax incentives, Primergy also supports the community by constructing an ADA compliant amusement park and shading structure at the local Hamburg High School. During the project development process, Primergy completed $300 million in debt and tax equity financing for construction and development in 2023. The debt financing was led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) as the transaction agent, Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentral, Societe Generale, and Cr é dit Agricole Corporate and Investment Banks. The tax equity investment is led by PNC Bank.

• December 18, 2024

EBOS solution provider Premier PV will use Affordable Wire Management's advanced connector caps in Premier PV wiring harness solutions. AWM's Solar LOTO can improve the reliability of connectors during installation and protect construction teams and maintenance workers during the power on and maintenance periods of solar projects. Solar construction teams typically use basic dust caps, party balloons, or plastic bags to cover disconnected wires during construction and maintenance to protect them from environmental conditions. These existing solutions have an inherent flaw - they often detach, allowing dust to seep into the connectors. When the wires are connected later, any foreign objects can cause reliability issues and ongoing electrical challenges. In addition, these dust caps cannot prevent the risk of electric shock during power on. At Premier PV, we place great emphasis on the reliability and electrical safety of connectors. AWM's Solar LOTO is our preferred connector cover for various reasons Premier PV Vice President Ryan Schofield stated. The Solar LOTO locking device of AWM is easy to install and remains open during construction. It requires the use of tools to disconnect, ensuring worker safety and reducing the risk of lid detachment According to HelioVolta's 2024 SolarGrade PV Health Report, wiring and connector issues were found in 83% of PV projects inspected, causing more problems than any other component. Solar LOTO can prevent these complications. It has passed IP67D certification and requires specialized disconnect tools to prevent accidental disassembly. This compliant locking device is easy to install and compatible with almost all solar connectors. The design of the dust cap may seem simple, but if you look at the on-site accident rate, you will understand this. Solar LOTO was designed by engineers with practical solar energy experience based on the problems we encountered in solar projects across the country, "commented Scott Rand, CEO and co-founder of AWM. Our solar LOTO is intelligently designed to prevent dust from entering and improve the safety of on-site teams during power on and maintenance periods.

• December 17, 2024

Nexamp announced that it has cooperated with Wal Mart to develop 31 community solar projects in the United States. These projects are expected to generate over 120 megawatts of DC renewable energy for the power grid, create over 1500 job opportunities, and save millions of dollars for local businesses and approximately 8000 residential users. Wal Mart and Nexamp had previously collaborated on a series of community solar projects in New York in 2021. These 31 community solar projects will be committed to providing affordable renewable energy to users in five states. Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp, said: "The cooperation with Wal Mart to expand the use of affordable clean energy is an exciting opportunity for Nexamp and the communities we serve. We work together to bring benefits to thousands of families across the country. This cooperation shows the power of partnership in promoting the transformation of clean energy." These solar power plants will be located in Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota. Frank Palladino, vice president of Wal Mart's renewable energy strategy, said, "Wal Mart's energy strategy aims to provide affordable and reliable solutions to bring positive results to our community. Our cooperation with Nexamp aims to help communities save energy costs, strengthen local grid infrastructure and promote local job creation."

• December 16, 2024

The first conference of the International Solar Cleanliness Academy was recently held in Las Vegas. The organization's first meeting brought together industry leaders, solar cleaning professionals, and safety advocates to discuss innovation, share knowledge, and celebrate outstanding achievements in the field of solar panel cleaning. The two-day event in November includes keynote speeches, group discussions, practical demonstrations, and training on solar panel cleaning, health, and safety. At the end of the event, a grand award ceremony was held to recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the solar cleaning industry. The winners include: Annual Utility Scale Solar Panel Cleaning Award: UV Protek, headquartered in Puerto Rico, received this award for its outstanding work in maintaining utility scale solar installations, demonstrating its precision and efficiency. Annual Global Solar Cleanup Contractor: This award was also presented to UV Protek in recognition of its rapid development, unparalleled excellence, and leadership position on the global stage. Young Solar Cleaner of the Year: This award is presented to Josh Laine from Solar Shine LLC in California, in recognition of his entrepreneurial spirit, willingness to learn, and ability to implement safety and innovation in his thriving solar panel cleaning business. With the continuous development of the solar energy industry, the ISCA conference plans to hold more conferences in the future. The next conference will be held from November 13th to 14th, 2025, and the plan is currently underway.

• December 13, 2024

Verogy has completed two solar installations on the roofs of FedEx facilities in Stratford, Connecticut (866 kW) and Middleton (2075 kW). We are honored to collaborate with FedEx on these far-reaching solar projects, "said William Herschel, CEO of Verogy. By adopting renewable energy, FedEx has not only made significant progress in reducing its carbon footprint, but has also set a strong example for other businesses on how to mitigate the impact of climate change. We are proud to develop FedEx's first solar installations in Connecticut and look forward to seeing the long-term positive impact these projects have on our environment Lonnie Mattison, Sustainability and Global Vehicle Manager at FedEx, said, "These two rooftop solar facilities are part of FedEx's efforts to generate more electricity from renewable energy sources. Through our partnership with Verogy, we have put our first solar project into operation in Connecticut, and our facilities in Stratford and Middleton are helping us achieve our goal of carbon neutral operations by 2040

• December 12, 2024

Axis Solar is a commercial solar contractor serving the Austin area of Texas. It completed the installation of a 114 kW rooftop solar cell array for measurement equipment supplier AllTerra Central. For AllTerra, solar energy is the answer to rising utility costs and the demand for sustainable energy strategies. Axis Solar installed 114 kW rooftop solar panels at Allterra Central in Austin, Texas. Axis Solar Bobby Hempfling, President of AllTerra, said, "Switching to solar energy seems to be the right move - not only for our profits, but also to reduce our impact on the environment. The savings we have seen are transformative, and knowing that we are taking meaningful steps towards energy independence is reassuring After only three months of operation, AllTerra's energy costs have decreased by $8600 compared to the same period last year. The AllTerra project is another example of how local companies can utilize solar energy to achieve financial and sustainable development goals, while contributing to cleaner and more environmentally friendly operations. Axis Solar CEO Graeme Walker said, "We are always committed to creating value for businesses by providing customized solar solutions that can bring both short-term and long-term returns. Projects such as AllTerra demonstrate how solar energy can change the way Austin businesses use energy while supporting broader sustainability efforts

• December 11, 2024

Arevon Energy announced the start of operations for its Eland 1 solar+energy storage project located in Cohen County, California. Eland 1 Solar+Storage is located in the city of Mohave and is a 384 MW/h solar project with 150 MW/600 MWh of energy storage. The second phase of the Eland solar+energy storage project is currently under construction and is expected to be put into operation in the first quarter of 2025. When both stages are completed, the total capacity of these projects will reach 758 MWDC of solar energy and 300 MW/1200 MWh of energy storage. Eland's solar and energy storage configurations enable it to provide reliable and predictable energy production during peak electricity demand periods in Southern California. The combination of solar panels and battery energy storage systems plays a crucial role in maintaining stable supply of renewable energy, enhancing grid resilience, and addressing critical demand challenges. Eland 1 has signed a long-term power purchase agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority, which will manage the contracts of its two members: the Los Angeles Water and Electricity Authority (LADWP) and the Glendale Water and Electricity Authority. SOLV Energy, headquartered in San Diego, led the engineering, procurement, and construction activities for the project.

• December 10, 2024

Solar project developer Avantus has signed a power purchase agreement with Arizona Public Service Company (APS) for the Kitt solar project, which is a 100 megawatt AC array paired with a 400 megawatt hour energy storage system. The Kitt solar project is located in Pinar County, Arizona, and is expected to complete development and begin construction by 2025, with operations expected to begin in 2026. Avantus' agreement with APS will expand the supply of clean and reliable energy in Arizona and demonstrate our leadership in developing high-quality renewable energy projects, "said Cliff Graham, CEO of Avantus." The Jeter Solar project will not only provide clean solar energy and offset carbon emissions, but also provide much-needed energy storage capacity to meet growing demand and create a more resilient grid in Arizona Kitt is expected to create up to 400 construction jobs throughout its operational period and generate local tax revenue for local services such as schools, public safety, and infrastructure. This project can provide services to up to 32000 households in Arizona. The solar energy+storage project will help address Arizona's energy resilience issues, as peak energy demand surges under extreme heat conditions. In 2024, Arizona experienced 113 consecutive days with temperatures reaching or exceeding 100 ° F, breaking records for electricity demand, and this trend is likely to continue in the foreseeable future. Derek Seaman, APS Resource Procurement Director, said, "Peak energy demand from customers in Arizona is expected to increase significantly in the coming years." "The Jeter Solar project will add to our growing portfolio of solar and energy storage products and provide our customers with additional reliable, cost competitive clean electricity