The 3 SoCal counties have more than 4,800 acres of suitable space to develop solar power alongside highways, which could potentially accommodate up to 960MW of renewable energy capacity.

SoCal could power 270,000 homes by installing solar along highways

The Southern California counties of Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego could collectively power more than 270,000 homes annually by lining their highways with solar energy infrastructure, according to analysis released Thursday.

The three counties have more than 4,800 acres of suitable space to develop solar power alongside highways, which could potentially accommodate up to 960 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, according to the report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center.

“This summer’s barrage of record-breaking temperatures is an urgent reminder that we must accelerate our transition to clean energy, including solar power,” Steven King, Environment California Research & Policy Center’s clean energy advocate, said in a statement.

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Source: The Hill

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On August 21, the City of Santa Barbara began construction on a 425 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system and BESS at the Granada Garage.

Construction begins on solar photovoltaic and BESS installation at the Granada Garage

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On August 21, the City of Santa Barbara began construction on a 425 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system and battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Granada Garage. This project will generate, store, and supply electricity to the Granada Garage, Granada Offices, and the 911 Call Center while also reducing electricity costs at the Central Library across the street.

The project will produce approximately 700,000 kWh per year of clean renewable electricity, equivalent to powering over 150 Santa Barbara homes. In addition to increasing local renewable electricity capacity, project benefits include improved regional air quality and energy reliability, and supporting the local green energy industry.

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Source: Independent

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Unite to Light partnered with Direct Relief to send 600 solar Chandler Chargers and 150 solar-powered Luke Lights to Lahaina within days.

Unite to Light sends solar lamps and chargers to Lahaina

The smoke. The soot. The devastation. No one understands what it’s like to survive a wildfire … except another survivor of wildfire. So when Lahaina called for aid in the wake of the disastrous fires in West Maui earlier this month, a couple of Santa Barbara-based organizations were quick to answer.

Upon hearing last week of the need for electricity, lighting and communication to help the local population to recover, Santa Barbara-based nonprofit Unite to Light, co-founded by UC Santa Barbara professor John Bowers, partnered with Direct Relief to send 600 solar Chandler Chargers and 150 solar-powered Luke Lights to Lahaina within days.

“We stand ready to help recovery efforts in Lahaina and around the world by providing efficient and clean sources of light and electricity to those who need them the most,” said Bowers, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and of materials, who is also the organization’s board chair.

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Source: UC Santa Barbara

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As part of Pasadena’s commitment to clean energy, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) is expanding its energy portfolio with more solar power.

Pasadena Water and Power furthers clean energy goals with more solar power

As part of Pasadena’s commitment to clean energy, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) is expanding its energy portfolio with more solar power. PWP is one of three community-owned utilities participating in a 20-year contract with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) for the purchase of solar energy from EDF Renewable North America (EDF). The agreement is for 117 megawatts (MW) of solar energy generated by the Sapphire Solar project, which will be located in Riverside County. One third of the capacity generated by the project will be received by Pasadena beginning December 31, 2026. In addition to the solar production, SCPPA reserves the option to procure a 59 MW battery energy storage system on the project site.

“PWP takes pride in providing safe, reliable, environmentally responsible water and power service at competitive rates. This solar agreement is another important step in continuing to expand PWP’s clean power portfolio and is one of many long-term arrangements currently in development to help achieve our sustainability goals,” said Sidney Jackson, General Manager of PWP.

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Source: PASADENA

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Combining both agriculture and solar power generation can also help optimize the productivity and efficiency of land use.

How solar energy can help boost biodiversity and farming

The farming industry has always been associated with the good stewardship of natural resources, but it is branching out into new areas of sustainability, including renewable energy.

Using cleaner and greener forms has many obvious benefits, including reducing carbon emissions and other types of pollution, but in the case of farming it can also have additional benefits.

In particular, combining both agriculture and solar power generation — often called agrivoltaics — can also help optimize the productivity and efficiency of land use.

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Source: Forbes

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USC marked a major milestone in its sustainability efforts by adorning the rooftops of graduate student housing locations around the University Park Campus with state-of-the-art solar panels.

Latest solar venture powers USC toward a greener future

This summer, USC marked a major milestone in its sustainability efforts by adorning the rooftops of graduate student housing locations around the University Park Campus with state-of-the-art solar panels. 

This investment reduces the university’s dependency on the electrical grid and also propels it closer to achieving carbon neutrality by 2025, a key goal of the Assignment: Earth sustainability initiative. 

The project kicked off in July, as cranes hoisted the giant panels atop the Windsor, Vista, Stardust and Seven Gables apartment complexes. Zelinda Welch, associate director of sustainability with USC Facilities Planning and Management, watched the project unfold from its inception. 

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Source: USC News

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Allume Energy announced a $1.5M bridge investment from Elemental Excelerator and the Schmidt Family Foundation to bring Allume’s SolShare technology to more multi-unit residences and expand clean, affordable energy access.

Allume Energy receives $1.5M to address energy inequity

Allume Energy today announced a $1.5 million bridge investment from Elemental Excelerator and the Schmidt Family Foundation to bring Allume’s SolShare technology to more multi-unit residences and expand clean, affordable energy access where it has the greatest potential to benefit the lives of low-income residents. Allume will use the convertible note funding to bring rooftop solar to more than 4,000 residents across the Southeastern U.S., starting with shared solar projects in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

On average, beneficiaries of the SolShare technology can save up to 40% off their electricity bills. The first U.S. pilot project in Orlando has indicated an average annual savings of $1166 per apartment in the first year of operation, including net metering credit savings. Allume expects its new projects across the Sun Belt over the next year will prevent over 10,000 tons of CO2 emissions (equivalent to taking over 2,000 cars off the road for a year) that would have otherwise been created from conventional energy consumption. Allume will soon begin installation of its second project in Orlando, bringing the number of U.S. installations to three (the other site is in Jackson, MI).

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Source: Kalkine Media

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For the six-month period, solar was 5.77% of total U.S. electrical generation. A year earlier, solar’s share was 4.95%.

Solar continues march to top renewable electricity source in the United States

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Renewable energy sources provided 25.11% of the nation’s electrical generation in the first half of 2023, according to a SUN DAY Campaign review of data from the U.S. EIA. The latest issue of EIA’s “Electric Power Monthly” report shows that electricity from renewables is up slightly from the 25.06% reported for the first half of 2022.

Solar grew by 12.44%, compared to the same period in 2022. This was driven in large part by growth in “estimated” residential solar PV whose output increased by 25.59% — more than any other energy source — and accounted for nearly one-third (31.42%) of total solar production. For the six-month period, solar was 5.77% of total U.S. electrical generation. A year earlier, solar’s share was 4.95%.

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Source: Solar Power World

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Domain Capital Group and its subsidiary Domain Timber have announced the sale of almost 1,300 acres of timberland to a utility in Richmond, VA, to develop a solar project on the land.

Domain Timber sells 1,300 acres of timberland for solar project

Domain Capital Group and its subsidiary Domain Timber have announced the sale of almost 1,300 acres of timberland to a utility in Richmond, Virginia, to develop a solar project on the land, a move that is said to help reduce carbon emissions in the area in addition to adding renewable energy.

Domain maintains a portfolio of more than 23,000 acres of timberland designated for renewable energy projects, mostly for solar and wind. Closing of this transaction keeps the company on track towards their projected 75 sales in 2023, which amounts to over 17,500 acres from their total inventory of 254,000 acres.

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Source: Environmental Leader

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By the end of 2032, buying & installing solar energy system at your home makes you eligible for a federal tax credit for 30% of the cost.

At 30%, solar panel tax credits are at a high point for now

Americans are increasingly turning to rooftop solar panels to save money on their energy bills, and over the next decade, federal tax credits can help reduce the cost of installing them.

Tax breaks for solar panels aren’t new, but the Inflation Reduction Act, passed last year, expanded and extended them as part of the government’s effort to reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

If you buy and install a solar energy system at your home by the end of 2032, you are eligible for a federal tax credit for 30 percent of the cost, including the panels, related equipment, wiring, installation, permits and fees. The credit shrinks to 26 percent in 2033 and 22 percent in 2034. (The solar credit is one of several residential clean energy credits included in the 2022 law.)

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Source: The New York Times

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