By Peter Maloney, American Public Power Association
Independent power producer Broad Reach Power plans to build 15 utility-scale battery storage plants totaling 150 megawatts (MW) in areas near Houston and Odessa, Texas. The Houston-based company is building the storage plants on a merchant basis “on our balance sheet” and aims to sell the output into the wholesale power market run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), Steve Vavrik, managing partner and CEO, said.
Texas leads the nation in wind power with over 29,000 MW of installed wind turbines. Solar power is also gaining ground in Texas with ERCOT reporting 1,500 MW of installed utility scale solar projects and 4,300 MW of solar projects, out of 40,000 MW under study, that have already signed interconnection agreements and could be in service by year end. Read more here.
AWEA Free Use Wind Energy Image Gallery: Suzion Wind Farm in Texas
NEWS FROM OTHER STATES
- Michigan: Plans progress for solar farm in northeastern Montcalm County, Greenville Daily News. Ranger Power, a utility-scale solar developer based in Brooklyn, New York, remains in the development phase of the “Freshwater Solar” project — 1,200 acres (1.875 square miles) of farmland shared between Day and Ferris townships. The solar farm is anticipated to generate approximately 200 megawatts of energy with an investment of $200 million and is expected to create 300 construction jobs in the Montcalm County area.
- In Nebraska – Previously Posted: Ranger Power looks for buyer after getting solar energy site approved, KOLN. Ranger Power will search for a buyer of its 230 million dollar solar site in eastern Lincoln.
- Michigan green tariff expansion could define future of renewable procurement, Energy News Network article contributed by Laura Sherman / Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council.
- Missouri S&T Researchers Study How Energy Customers Decide To Use Solar, St. Louis Public Radio
- Minnesota Power to reach 50% renewables in 2021 with Canadian hydropower, Utility Dive. Minnesota’s second largest investor-owned utility on Thursday energized its 224-mile transmission line that will bring the utility to 50% renewable energy in 2021.
- It’s time for a green stimulus: Here’s how a small Vermont utility can show the way, Utility Dive article contributed by Darren Springer, general manager at the Burlington Electric Department.
21 CAMPUSES’ AGGREGATED RENEWABLE ENERGY RFP
Higher-ed consortium partners on renewable energy, Cornell Chronicle
Cornell is among 21 higher-education institutions in New York submitting a collaborative request for proposals to purchase renewable electric energy from sources built over the next 2 ½ years in New York state. Technologies such as solar, wind and hydroelectric could be considered as part of the solicited requests for proposals (RFP). The RFP, which launched June 11, aggregates the campuses’ renewable electricity needs in an effort to lower financial barriers and reduce risk.
CAMPUS MICROGRIDS
Campus Microgrids Emerge as Solution to Energy Challenges in Higher Education, Microgrid Knowledge.
This special report series on campus microgrids and reliable, renewable energy in higher education begins with an entry that explores the energy goals of today’s colleges and universities — and how to reach them. Download the full report, The Genius of Microgrids in Higher Education, courtesy of Siemens, to further explore the potential of microgrids on college and university campuses.
PAYING IOWA FARMERS TO SEQUESTER CARBON
Inside Cargill’s experiment to pay farmers for carbon sequestration, by Heather Clancy, GreenBiz. While Cargill is the only named company participating in the new fund, Mark Lambert, director of Quantified Ventures, said it is in discussion with other large companies.
SOLAR & WIND AS FARM PRODUCTS
Deborah J. Comstock: Solar and wind should be considered farm products as well, Monroe Evening News
In an age where we are redefining much of our infrastructure and industries, farming should be no different. Deborah J. Comstock is an Adrian farm owner and board member of Lenawee Indivisible.
NEW COALITION
Land & Liberty Coalition launches Iowa chapter, Business Record
The Iowa Land & Liberty Coalition is a project of the Iowa Conservative Energy Forum, a clean-energy organization focused on state-level policy, according to the release announcing its formation. “Iowa farmers and landowners are the bedrock of our state and by partnering with them to engage in utility-scale siting efforts we hope to advance energy policies that make way for clean energy while respecting property rights,” Jake Ketzner, ICEF executive director, said in the release.
HAPPY GLOBAL WIND DAY!
Know The History And Objective of the Day That Highlights the Power of Wind Energy, Reve
The World Wind Day event is celebrated worldwide in more than 80 countries annually.