Energy
PR Newswire | October 04, 2023
Cordia, a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions, today announced that it has signed a binding agreement to acquire three microgrids and district energy systems in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, from Essential Utilities, Inc. The acquisition is valued at $165 million.
The three energy systems included in the agreement are
The Pittsburgh International Airport Microgrid, the first of its kind, which allows the airport to operate independent of the electric grid thanks to a 21.25 MW natural gas power plant, making PIT one of the most resilient airports.
The district energy system at Allegheny Health Network (AHN) – Wexford Hospital, which provides the 160-bed hospital with all heating, cooling, and primary power needs via steam boilers, hot water boilers, chillers, and a 2.0 MW natural gas generator, along with emergency backup power. The Allegheny County District Energy System, which provides efficient and resilient steam and hot water services to six government buildings including the
Allegheny County Courthouse and City-County Building, using seven state-of-the-art steam boilers and one domestic water heater.
"We are excited to acquire these three energy systems,"
said Cordia CEO Earl Collins.
They are a perfect fit for our portfolio and will help us to further our mission of providing safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to our customers. We look forward to working with the Pittsburgh International Airport, Allegheny Health Network, and Allegheny County teams to ensure a smooth transition and continue providing excellent service to their customers.
[Source: PR Newswire]
The acquisition is a strategic move for Cordia. The acquisition expands the firm's presence in the Pittsburgh region where it currently operates energy systems in Pittsburgh's Uptown and North Shore neighborhoods, and the on-campus energy system for Duquesne University. Cordia's assets have been operating in the region since 1964, and its existing investments in the area allow Cordia to deliver the most efficient solutions to its customers. This acquisition is a testament to Cordia's commitment to growing its regional presence and building on its existing customer base.
The three energy systems were developed by Essential subsidiary Peoples, leveraging Southwestern Pennsylvania's abundance of natural gas to deliver safer, more reliable and more resilient energy to some of the region's most critical institutions. All three began operating in 2021.
"Our teams at Peoples and Essential should be proud knowing their work to develop these innovative energy systems has made this region better," said Essential Utilities CEO & Chairman Chris Franklin. "Selling these unregulated assets to a skilled operator in Cordia allows us to focus more fully on our core business as a regulated utility."
"We are confident our customers will be in good hands with Cordia operating these energy systems," said Peoples President Mike Huwar. "Our team looks forward to providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to all three projects for years to come."
"This acquisition is a demonstration to Cordia's commitment to providing innovative energy solutions to our customers and growth in the Pittsburgh area," said Collins. "We are proud to be a part of this community and continue to work with our partners to build a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Pittsburgh."
The transaction is subject to various closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in late 2023 or early 2024.
About Cordia
Cordia is a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions. Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, Cordia serves over 700 customers with heating, cooling, and electricity throughout the U.S. Cordia is committed to driving change toward a more resilient, sustainable energy future and empowering people and communities to reach their full potential. Learn more at www.cordiaenergy.com.
About Essential
Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.
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Solar+Storage
Leeward Renewable Energy | October 13, 2023
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) has achieved key milestones in its Big Plain Solar, GSG Wind, and White Wing Ranch Solar projects, marked by the signing of Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements (REPAs) with Verizon Communications Inc. These developments comprise the completion of the 196 MW Big Plain Solar facility in Madison County, Ohio, the repowering of the GSG Wind project in Lee and Lasalle Counties, Illinois, and the commencement of construction at the White Wing Ranch Solar facility in Yuma County, Arizona, anticipated to become operational in the second half of 2024. The GSG Wind project is set to create approximately 180 construction jobs and aims for a December 2023 operational date.
Jason Allen, LRE’s Chief Executive Officer, said,
LRE is thrilled to reach these significant project milestones with Verizon as we continue to develop innovative renewable energy solutions to meet their needs and sustainability goals.
[Source – Business Wire]
Today’s announcement underscores LRE’s unwavering commitment to advancing the energy transition in the U.S. and making a substantial, positive impact in the communities where the company operates, added Jason.
These three renewable energy projects - Big Plain Solar, GSG Wind, and White Wing Ranch Solar - will have a combined capacity of nearly 450 MW, contributing significantly to Verizon's sustainability objectives. Additionally, this aligns with Leeward Renewable Energy, LLC's overarching growth strategy, designed to solidify the company's status as a leading renewable energy provider in the United States. With aspirations to reach approximately 10 gigawatts (GW) of operating and contracted capacity by 2026, this strategic expansion underscores LRE's commitment to environmental sustainability and clean energy solutions.
Each Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) initiative is thoughtfully tailored to cater to local communities' unique requirements while fostering economic growth and environmental benefits. The commitment to sustainable practices extends beyond power generation. At Big Plain Solar, LRE's collaboration with Clark State College reflects a dedication to preparing the next generation of leaders for careers in the renewable energy industry. At GSG Wind, LRE's environmental commitment is evident in its pledge to recycle or repurpose 100 percent of the decommissioned wind turbine blades. In the case of White Wing Ranch Solar, innovative land management strategies are being pursued to support the renewal of native desert ecosystems, underscoring LRE's dedication to environmental stewardship and community engagement.
About Leeward Renewable Energy
Leeward Renewable Energy is a forward-thinking renewable energy enterprise committed to shaping a sustainable future. With ownership and operation of a diversified portfolio of 26 wind, solar, and energy storage facilities spanning the United States, totaling approximately 2,700 megawatts of generating capacity, LRE is at the forefront of advancing clean energy solutions. Their active engagement in developing and contracting new renewable energy projects underscores their dedication to growth and innovation in the sector. The company embraces a holistic, full-lifecycle approach to project management underpinned by a long-term ownership model and an unwavering culture driven by purpose. This culture is centered on creating value for community partners while safeguarding and enhancing the environment. As a portfolio company of OMERS Infrastructure, an investment arm of OMERS, one of Canada's most extensive defined pension plans with C$127.4 billion in net assets as of June 30, 2023, LRE combines financial strength with a vision for a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape.
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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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Energy
Powur PBC | September 11, 2023
Powur PBC, a pioneering platform-based company dedicated to simplifying the journey toward clean energy adoption, has unveiled significant enhancements to its sales enablement and project fulfillment platforms just ahead of its grand annual event for solar sales professionals, Powur World. The company is poised to elevate its sales enablement and project fulfillment platforms, primarily catering to the requirements of solar sales professionals and enterprises. This enhancement encompasses the launch of its integrated Powur Vision proposal system and incorporating advanced enterprise features, along with expanded lead nurturing capabilities, into its platform functionalities.
In pursuit of delivering a fully integrated sales experience for solar professionals and businesses, Powur is launching its proprietary proposal system, Vision, seamlessly integrated into the Powur platform. Previously available in a beta versionin select markets, Vision is now accessible in over 20 states where Powur operates.
As the energy market evolves and solar sales become more intricate, companies aiming to incorporate solar solutions into their offerings or enhance existing solar sales capabilities are increasingly searching for cost-effective, user-friendly sales enablement and fulfillment platforms that enable them to focus on sales instead of back-office tasks and logistics. Powur is responding to this demand by enhancing its enterprise product suite with customizable compensation and margin controls, boosting project profitability.
The team assignment and staff override functionalities help facilitate smoother project management and incentivize team members. Furthermore, recent updates to the enterprise product suite, such as co-branding and an open API, empower companies to establish their own brand identity while leveraging Powur's administrative prowess, procurement power, and top-tier training and enablement resources.
Powur, already equipped with crucial sales enablement features, is fortifying its platform with enhanced lead acquisition, communication, nurturing, and tracking capabilities to boost closing rates. These newly introduced features empower solar organizations and sales professionals to consolidate their pre-and post-sales activities within a single, cost-effective platform, all the while elevating project visibility and control.
At Powur World, an impressive assembly of nearly 1,000 dedicated and skilled solar sales professionals gathered from September 6th to 9th, 2023, to fortify their sales acumen and deepen their understanding of the industry, market dynamics, and product and financing intricacies. Leaders in the solar energy sector, including Enphase, SPAN, Sunnova, SolarEdge, Sungage, Unirac, and Qcells, actively participated in this event. The event's keynote speaker was Robert Richman, co-creator of Zappos, renowned for crafting an unparalleled employee and customer service experience under the Zappos brand.
Earning a consistent place on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies for four consecutive years, Powur remains committed to expanding its platform by continually introducing new features, technologies, services, installers, and sales professionals. Powur's platform-centric business model allows for the swift integration of cutting-edge technologies while mitigating risks and costs. By offering premium, cutting-edge clean energy solutions, Powur empowers individuals to gain greater control over their energy consumption through fully customized clean energy solutions for their homes.
About Powur PBC
Powur PBC, founded in 2014 and headquartered in California, is a leading platform-based company dedicated to accelerating the widespread adoption of solar energy. It stands as the world's first 100% virtual residential solar company in the cloud. Leveraging its innovative platform model, the company possesses the agility required to swiftly respond to the dynamic demands of an ever-evolving solar landscape. At the heart of Powur's mission lies a commitment to making solar energy accessible and affordable to homeowners. The company's unique model ensures cost-effective and tailored solar solutions for homeowners and empowers its extensive network, which comprises thousands of independent sales professionals and regionally specialized installation partners, fostering collaboration and driving progress toward a sustainable energy future.
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