Transportation
PR Newswire | October 23, 2023
Fort Moore and Georgia Power, a Southern Company subsidiary, recently entered into a contract to install 63 electric vehicle chargers at 23 locations across the base, allowing up to 126 vehicles to be plugged in on the base simultaneously. The project is underway and expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2024.
Georgia Power was awarded a task order to provide a turnkey electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) solution using the General Services Administration Areawide Contract (AWC). The AWC task order will be used to provide a holistic and scalable EVSE solution to support electrification requirements.
The AWC provides a useful contracting vehicle with regulated servicing utility companies. Under this arrangement, federal agencies may order utilities and other services from that supplier. The electric distribution system at Fort Moore is owned and managed by Flint Energies. Georgia Power, in partnership with Flint Energies, will extend the distribution system and add the charging stations necessary to charge the expanded electric vehicle fleet.
stated Col. Colin Mahle, Fort Moore Garrison commander.
Fort Moore leads the Army in our development and adoption of large-scale EV projects. The Army's goal is for all of our non-tactical vehicles to be EV by 2035. That will take more than just adding electric vehicles to our fleet, it will take additional infrastructure. We intend to achieve our goal of 100 percent EV vehicles early.
[Source:PR Newswire]
The EV charging project at Fort Moore is an example of better energy use and overall modernization. It also demonstrates Southern Company's commitment to supporting the resiliency, net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and decarbonization efforts of the Department of Defense installations and their efforts to meet the requirements of the Biden Administration Executive Order 14057.
"In addition to being essential for national defense, our nation's military bases are powerful economic engines for surrounding communities providing jobs and driving thriving local economies," said Chris Cummiskey, executive vice president, chief customer solutions and chief commercial officer for Southern Company. "We're appreciative of this partnership with Fort Moore, further exhibiting our mutual commitment to energy innovation and decarbonization. As the new EV charging stations become electrified across the installation this year, we're certain the investment that is being made today will benefit the base for years to come."
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Solar+Storage
ComEd | October 13, 2023
ComEd and SunVest Solar completed four new community solar projects in northern Illinois.
Community solar allows ComEd customers to access clean energy without installing solar panels.
Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) aims to increase renewable energy support.
ComEd and SunVest Solar have recently announced the successful completion of four new community solar projects located in northern Illinois, with two projects in Dekalb and another two in Freeport. This development marks a significant milestone as it brings the total number of community solar projects within the ComEd service territory to 88. This initiative empowers ComEd customers to enjoy reduced electricity costs and contributes to the broader objectives of expanding renewable energy and advancing Illinois' clean energy goals.
The two community solar farms established by SunVest in Dekalb span an impressive 24 acres along Gurler Road and are adorned with more than 9,400 solar panels. Similarly, the two innovative solar farms located in Freeport extend to 23 acres on South Cranes Grove Road, housing more than 11,650 solar panels. Together, these four solar installations possess a combined generation capacity of 12 megawatts (MW) of clean energy, which equates to providing electricity for nearly 1,700 typical Illinois households.
Community solar offers a unique opportunity for all ComEd customers to reap the benefits of clean solar energy, all without the need to invest in solar panels for their own. Participants subscribe to a solar energy farm owned by an independent developer and, in return, receive credits on their monthly ComEd bills corresponding to the energy generated by their share of the project. This generated energy flows into ComEd's grid, contributing to the overall energy supply. Typically, customers subscribe to an amount of electricity that offsets their annual consumption. In most cases, ComEd customers can subscribe to a community solar project within the ComEd region, provided it is not already fully subscribed.
Additionally, ComEd has recently launched a user-friendly community solar calculator. This tool assists customers in determining the most suitable subscription size, providing estimates of costs and potential savings.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of Illinois, enacted in 2021, increases support for renewable energy to achieve 40 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. It creates approximately 9,800 megawatts of new solar capacity and a substantial increase in funding for the Illinois Solar for All program. This program, which extends access to solar power for lower-income customers, has seen its annual funding rise from $30 million to $70 million.
ComEd presented multi-year grid and rate plans to the Illinois Commerce Commission earlier this year in line with this legislation. These plans are instrumental in accelerating the expansion of renewable energy and ensuring that all communities have equitable access to the benefits of clean energy as per the stipulations of CEJA. These plans are aligned with ComEd 2030, the company's recently announced vision for a carbon-free energy future. This vision promises to cater to the evolving needs of customers and deliver benefits to all communities for the remainder of this decade and beyond.
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Industry Updates
Business Wire | October 20, 2023
Ameresco, Inc. a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, announced that it achieved commercial operation at its landfill gas to renewable natural gas plant at Republic Services’ Benson Valley Landfill in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Benson Valley facility has a gross nameplate in excess of 483,552 Dekatherms per year and is capable of processing 2,000 scfm of raw landfill gas.
Ameresco broke ground on the project in June 2022 and reached commercial operation in August 2023. As a result of this collaborative, long-term partnership, Benson Valley Landfill will reduce 27,440 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, a figure that is roughly equivalent to the carbon sequestered by planting 325,899 acres of forests or 31 million gallons of gasoline not being combusted.
said Republic Services Area President Larson Richardson.
At Republic Services, our vision is to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world now and for future generations. Our long-standing partnership with Ameresco enables us to capture naturally occurring gas created by decomposing waste in our landfill and convert that gas into a low-carbon fuel source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The Benson Valley RNG facility is just another example of us living our values; we are Sustainability in Action.
[Source – Business Wire]
Among the many benefits of this project, the completion of this work ensures that clean energy resources are available for the regional economy and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions within the environment. These benefits directly contribute to Republic Services’ long-term sustainability goal to beneficially reuse 50% more of their biogas by 2030. This is Ameresco’s eighth renewable energy project with Republic with another ten projects in various stages of development, permitting or construction.
"Achieving nationwide carbon neutrality necessitates the collective contributions of a diversified portfolio of technologies; there is no singular solution. It will also require a voluntary commitment to such cause from across all sectors,” said Michael Bakas, Executive Vice President of Ameresco, “Republic Services has made such a commitment, and we at Ameresco are profoundly fortunate to embark on this sustainability journey alongside them. Our collaboration harnesses advanced technologies to convert a byproduct of human activity into dependable and dispatchable renewable energy."
About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. is a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator. Our comprehensive portfolio includes solutions that help customers decarbonize to net zero and build energy resiliency while leveraging smart, connected technologies. From implementing energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades to developing, constructing, and operating distributed energy resources – we are a trusted sustainability partner. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,300 employees providing local expertise in North America and Europe.
About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is a leader in the environmental services industry. Through its subsidiaries, the Company provides customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, solid waste, special waste, hazardous waste, container rental and field services. Republic's industry-leading commitments to advance circularity, reduce emissions and decarbonize operations are helping deliver on its vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.
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