Ameresco, an energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced the completion of a 5.3-MWdcground-mount solar energy system at San Joaquin County’s Foothill Landfill during During San Joaquin County Board of Supervisor’s meeting Tuesday. This is Ameresco’s second renewable energy project with the county that will help reduce its utility costs through California’s Renewable Energy Self-Generation Bill Credit Transfer (RES-BCT) program.

The U.S. has lagged behind its peers in Europe and Asia with respect to hydrogen research and deployment, said Dajani, who is spearheading her firm's hydrogen practice in New York and London.

DOE's new report "is definitely something that is welcomed," Dajani said. "It's a step in the right direction, and I think we will see more of these initiatives" when Biden assumes the presidency.

Dajani said she was surprised by the timing of the report, which was released despite the expected transition in presidential authority. Biden may choose to make some changes, but the fact that the Trump administration endorsed a federal strategy on hydrogen research, suggests hydrogen technology enjoys broad support, she said.

The town of Cape Elizabeth is moving ahead with a solar project on its capped landfill that will generate $2.1 million in electricity savings and income over the next 20 years, said Town Manager Matt Sturgis.

The Town Council has authorized Sturgis to sign a lease option and energy credit agreements with Encore Renewable Energy of Burlington, Vermont, one of seven firms that submitted competitive bids for the project.

The 7-acre solar farm is being reviewed by the Planning Board and is on track to be installed next summer on the former landfill near the town’s recycling center, Sturgis said.

Cape Elizabeth is one of a fast-growing number of Maine municipalities that have developed similar solar farms, including Portland, South Portland, Belfast, Tremont, Waldoboro and Waterville.

Thanks to incentives, sustainability missions, and resiliency goals, California schools are leading by their example as customers for integrated solar and storage systems. Campuses nationwide can look to their California counterparts for ways to incorporate renewable energy into their school systems.

California school districts will typically install systems on canopies in parking lots and play areas, which provides the added benefit of shade while preserving precious space. Where space is not a concern and/or roofs are suitable, arrays can be found in fields or on rooftops. Increasingly, batteries are paired with solar to shape building loads, further lowering electric bills. Higher sustainability goals are driving recent trends, such as the electrification of school bus fleets, and solar-plus-storage projects to power schools during grid outages. As new goals are defined and technology evolves, it’s increasingly important to have independent engineers guiding your project from concept to completion.

Mitsubishi Power Americas is positioning itself as a decarbonization company based initially on hydrogen and lithium-ion battery storage technologies, with longer-term plans for hydrogen to be used in other applications like power generation, according to President and CEO Paul Browning.

"Four and a half years ago when we put together our five-year strategic plan, we were very clear headed about the US power sector and power around the world and in the Americas decarbonizing," Browning said in a webcast Nov. 12 interview with Mona Dajani, global head of the energy & infrastructure finance group at law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

America has lowered carbon emissions by 40% over the last 20 years, and Mr. Browning believes that achievement had very little to do with who is in the White House. Technology and markets, primarily replacing coal with natural gas, have driven the dramatic drop in emissions. They started dropping with President Bush, and they have continued through to President Trump. And, as long as technology is allowed to develop and markets are allowed to run naturally, emissions will continue to go down until we reach that elusive net-zero goal.

But how do we reach that goal? Is it even attainable? According to Mitsubishi Powers’ message, it is most likely not completely attainable, but we can get close with their help. Their message states: Creating a future that works for people and the planet by developing innovative power generation technology and solutions.

All three projects are on the agenda for discussion at the Rutland Regional Planning Commission’s Nov. 17 meeting. The RRPC doesn’t approve or deny projects, but does offer its opinion of whether or not a project conforms to regional plans.

ER Kendall Hill SolarER Kendall Hill Solar LLC, backed by Encore Renewable Energy, saw its 45-day notice filed with the PUC on Nov. 9. As proposed, it will occupy 10 acres of a 139-acre parcel. Kendall Hill Road is 130 feet to the south of the project and, while visible from the road, will be largely screened from view by the planting of trees. It will require the 200-foot extension of a 3-phase power line. A temporary staging area will be cleared for delivery of construction material, but nothing will be over-sized or larger than what the local roads already handle, according to the filing.

Ameresco worked with Sage Energy Consulting to build a solar project in the San Joaquin Valley.

Mona Dajani of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP's project finance practice helped close a $230 million hotel loan deal in a month during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped CMS Enterprises purchase…

Sage Energy Consulting continues work with the Temecula Valley Unified School District on sustainability initiatives and resiliency with the issuance of a request for proposals for two new solar and storage microgrids. The request for proposals includes two schools in the District that will host these innovative projects, including the new K8 STEAM Academy in Winchester, California, and the Rancho Elementary School in Temecula, California.

“The Temecula School District has already seen the benefits of solar firsthand,” said Brent Johnson, Principal at Sage. “In 2016, our team oversaw the development of solar and energy storage systems across 20 District sites, which are projected to save the school over $10 million over the lifetime of the project.”

Sage Energy Consulting has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for two new solar and storage microgrids for the Temecula Valley Unified School District, specifically the K8 Steam Academy in Winchester, California, and the Rancho Elementary School in Temecula, California.

Sage Energy Consulting issued a request for proposals for two new solar and storage microgrids for the Temecula Valley Unified School District. The microgrids are designed for three hours or more of backup to the schools, providing power to critical loads at each campus during a grid outage and avoiding the need for diesel generators.

Sage Energy Consulting continues work with the Temecula Valley Unified School District on sustainability initiatives and resiliency with the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for two new solar and storage microgrids.

Sage Energy Consulting continues to work with the Temecula Valley Unified School District on sustainability initiatives and resiliency with the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for two new solar and storage microgrids. The RFP includes two schools in the district that will host these innovative projects, including the new K8 STEAM Academy in Winchester, California and the Rancho Elementary School in Temecula.

Temecula Valley Unified School District is moving forward on sustainability and resiliency with the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for two new solar and storage microgrids that will be managed by Sage Energy Consulting. The RFP includes two schools in the District that will host these innovative projects, including the new K8 STEAM Academy in Winchester, California, and the Rancho Elementary School in Temecula, California.

The microgrids are designed for three hours or more of backup to the schools, providing power to critical loads at each campus during a grid outage and avoiding the need for diesel generators. The RFP solicits bidders to construct the solar photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage microgrids at both schools, with the option of operating and maintaining the systems.

Sage Energy Consulting continues work with the Temecula Valley Unified School District on sustainability initiatives and resiliency with the issuance of a request for proposals (RFP) for two new solar and storage microgrids.

Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) announced today (Oct 8) that Becky Diffen, Lan Adair Sasa, Daniela Toleva and Yoomin Hong have joined the organization's board of directors. These new board members represent the renewable industry at-large and bring new perspectives and expertise to support the growing programs now offered across the full spectrum of renewable energy.