rPlus Energies’ Post

This is a good article. It captures the breadth of information one can expect to be exposed to studying renewable energy at Illinois State University. Reflecting on my journey since graduation and entry into the industry, I've often found myself appreciating the education, opportunities, and preparedness provided to me by Dr. Loomis, Dr. Aldeman, and Dr. Jo. Worth the read!

West Islip Public Schools, New York // Energy Performance Contract // NORESCO Annual Electricity Production: 3,801,761 kWh Project Cost: $8.97 million Annual Cost Savings: $497,811 (guaranteed for 18-year term of contract) By working with NORESCO and its local subcontractors to install solar capacity totaling 2.9MW DC, school leaders were able to offset more than 85% of electrical usage at seven schools while funding more than 70% of the project through New York State Building Aid. The project, completed in 2022, was accomplished through an energy performance contract. Relying on renewable energy reduces the schools’ emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents by more 2,300 metric tons each year. For more information about the project, https://lnkd.in/gjc5KKXu Photo credit: SUNation Energy #ESCOWeek #energyefficiency #resiliency #solar

We’re excited to share that Mississippi Energy Developers, Inc., is a Community Power Accelerator Prize Round 2 Phase 1 winner!  This innovative prize fast-tracks the efforts of solar developers to learn and grow their operations to support multiple, successful #communitysolar projects.   As a Phase 1 winner, our team was awarded $50,000 for our submission and proposed project portfolio. Now in Phase 2, our team will dive deeper into our ambition plans with instructor-led courses and hands-on technical assistance. Read more about this @U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) prize and our team’s goals: https://lnkd.in/gGMkxmZu #mississippi #businessdevelopment #communitysolar #distribution #energy #electrical #engineeringdesign #electricaldesign #electricalengineering #electricalmaintenance #ElectricalInfrastructure #electricutilities #engineeringservices #electricalgrid #gridmodernization  #infrastructure #infrastructureprojects #innovate #powerindustry #PowerDelivery #powergeneration #powertransmission #powergrid #powersystems #powerdistribution #powermarkets #reliability #renewables #renewableenergy #ruraldevelopment #solar #solarenergy #solarenergysolutions #solarindustry #solarinnovation #SolarTrends #substations #SubstationEngineering #sustainability #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainableconstruction #transmission #transmissionlines #utilities #utilityindustry #Castle #BBElectrical U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory Mississippi Development Authority Mississippi Economic Council Innovate Mississippi MISSISSIPPI SCIENCE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION Mississippi Power Erthos Entergy Eden Sustainability Fund, LLC Planet Hyve Carbon HYVE Bowersox Innovation Group Bowersox Construction Inc. Laurel Housing Authority

💬 Discover how a significant investment from the U.S. Department of Energy and MSI Stem R&D Consortium is leading a brighter future for the solar industry, especially for minority students pursuing careers in clean energy. ✅ Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy and MSI Stem R&D Consortium have committed an investment of $5 million to support education and training in clean energy, especially focusing on the solar industry. ✅ Their support is directed towards minority-serving universities, with an aim to impart the crucial skills required to excel in solar and clean energy professions. ✅ Tennessee State University and The University of Texas at El Paso are poised to receive funding for their distinctive workforce development projects, bolstering not just knowledge and skills, but also entrepreneurial spirit in the clean energy sector. The U.S. Department of Energy and MSI Stem R&D Consortium announced their joint commitment of $5 million to propel education and training for minority students targeting a future in the solar industry. Their support will significantly bolster programs at minority-serving universities, equipping the learners with the requisite skills to flourish in solar-related and other clean energy jobs. There's an alarming difficulty in finding the right candidates for solar-focused roles, a challenge that this initiative seeks to bridge. The current projections suggest an explosive growth in solar jobs, and this funding can play a pivotal role in preparing a skilled and diverse workforce. Highlighted in the funding are courses at Tennessee State University and The University of Texas at El Paso. These programs not only impart baseline skills for entry-level jobs in the clean energy sector but also encourage entrepreneurial motivations sparking the growth of more minority-owned clean energy businesses. This funding, therefore, acts as a significant milestone in promoting a diverse and qualified solar sector workforce, also contributing to a cleaner future. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com.

Rhode Island’s offshore wind leader Ørsted announced higher education grant commitments totaling $5.5 million as part of its proposed Starboard Wind project, including a proposed $2 million to the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). If Starboard Wind is selected to move forward, Ørsted will provide grants to CCRI, University of Rhode Island, and Roger Williams University. Ørsted’s proposed 1,184-megawatt (MW) Starboard Wind project would deliver clean and reliable offshore wind energy at stable and affordable pricing for Rhode Island homeowners and businesses for decades. If selected, Starboard Wind would result in more than $1.1 billion of direct, private investment and expenditure in Rhode Island, which would come on top of Ørsted’s existing investments and commitments in the state.

💬 Discover how a significant investment from the U.S. Department of Energy and MSI Stem R&D Consortium is leading a brighter future for the solar industry, especially for minority students pursuing careers in clean energy. ✅ Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy and MSI Stem R&D Consortium have committed an investment of $5 million to support education and training in clean energy, especially focusing on the solar industry. ✅ Their support is directed towards minority-serving universities, with an aim to impart the crucial skills required to excel in solar and clean energy professions. ✅ Tennessee State University and The University of Texas at El Paso are poised to receive funding for their distinctive workforce development projects, bolstering not just knowledge and skills, but also entrepreneurial spirit in the clean energy sector. The U.S. Department of Energy and MSI Stem R&D Consortium announced their joint commitment of $5 million to propel education and training for minority students targeting a future in the solar industry. Their support will significantly bolster programs at minority-serving universities, equipping the learners with the requisite skills to flourish in solar-related and other clean energy jobs. There's an alarming difficulty in finding the right candidates for solar-focused roles, a challenge that this initiative seeks to bridge. The current projections suggest an explosive growth in solar jobs, and this funding can play a pivotal role in preparing a skilled and diverse workforce. Highlighted in the funding are courses at Tennessee State University and The University of Texas at El Paso. These programs not only impart baseline skills for entry-level jobs in the clean energy sector but also encourage entrepreneurial motivations sparking the growth of more minority-owned clean energy businesses. This funding, therefore, acts as a significant milestone in promoting a diverse and qualified solar sector workforce, also contributing to a cleaner future. For more information on selling solar virtually across the USA visit www.tstpros.com.

REpowering Schools & KidWind Project, Inc. Present the Renewable Energy Education Awards - Nominations are now open for the 2024 Renewable Energy Education Awards, honoring students, educators, and institutions impacting the future energy workforce. Students, educators, and institution and industry leaders are asked to nominate themselves or others by April 5, 2024 The awards recognize the outstanding work that educators and industry leaders are doing to support renewable energy education at all levels to ensure a diverse and qualified workforce. REpS and KidWind will recognize individuals or organizations that don't readily fall into the education or industry categories (i.e., non-profits, legislators, state energy offices, etc.) for their contributions supporting renewable energy education and workforce development. Award categories include: Outstanding Educator, Industry Champion, Student Excellence, REpowered Schools/RE-Energized Schools, and Special Recognition. All nominees are invited to a networking event at the American Clean Power Association (ACP) CLEANPOWER Conference being held May 6-9, 2024 in Minneapolis. To learn more about REpowering Schools’ and KidWind’s programs and to nominate someone for the awards, please visit https://lnkd.in/gK3n8gri

We’re proud to announce that we're helping fund an Australian-first solar panel recycling program led by the Smart Energy Council. This funding is part of almost $3 million in Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Association Grants encouraging communities to diversify, innovate, and build on the state’s renewable energy boom. The Smart Energy Council pilot program will investigate the collection and disposal of unwanted residential, commercial, and large-scale solar panels, and provide information on reprocessing and recovery costs. It's hoped the pilot will also provide information on the recycling of end-of-life wind turbines. Grants have also been awarded to the Queensland Renewable Energy Council (QREC) and the Clean Energy Council to support the coordinated growth of large-scale renewable energy industry in Queensland. From a landholder support project to regional careers fairs, the funds will be used in a variety of ways to help Queensland reach its renewable energy target of 80% by 2035, while reducing emissions. There are likely to be more advances in recovery, recycling, and re-processing technologies and facilities for next generation solar panels, battery storage systems, and wind and hydrogen equipment—this is just the beginning to a more sustainable, renewable future. #RenewableEnergy #Grant #Community

We know that solar energy is a key component of a clean energy future, but what does a solar array do to the land and soils on which it sits? That’s the question that Hannah Winn, a student in the Master of Environmental Studies Program, has been investigating over the last year under the mentorship of Professor Alain Plante of the Department of Earth and Environmental Science. Starting last spring, Winn has made multiple trips to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to study and take soil samples on the Great Cove 2 solar project, a facility developed by energy company AES that, together with the co-located Great Cove 1 solar project, will provide roughly 70 percent of Penn’s electricity needs beginning this year. The project takes the University a solid step closer to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2042. “It’s been super eye-opening to go to the solar farms,” Winn says. “In school everything is pretty theoretical, so to actually stand there in the solar facility and learn about the logistics involved, see how many people are involved in a long-term project like this, has been personally very impactful.” In a partnership between AES, Penn’s Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services, and the Environmental Innovations Initiative, AES is providing financial support for Winn’s research and other renewable energy scholarship at Penn. Winn’s analysis of the biological, chemical, and physical properties of the soil on the solar fields will help her and other scientists understand how solar field construction and operation impact soil health. As she writes her master’s capstone this spring, she’ll be outlining best management practices for solar arrays that could boost the carbon retained in soil, an outcome that could not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with solar facilities, but may also better preserve the underlying land for future agricultural use. “Soil is important for everything: for agriculture, for building, for food,” says Winn. “with this research project we’re looking at not only what happens when we put solar projects on soil, but also considering what happens when we leave.” Learn more: https://bit.ly/3HPaLAH

Grinnell College in Iowa has taken a significant step in reaching its net zero greenhouse gas emissions goals with the completed installation of its new 4 MW solar array. The 9,000-panel solar array is the largest private solar installation in the State and is now responsible for powering one-third of the entire college campus with renewable energy. According to the college, a single megawatt is enough to power nearly 750 homes at once, meaning this solar array will produce four times that amount, providing power to nearly every building on campus and significantly reducing the college’s reliance on fossil fuels. All of the solar panels, provided by Sunlight General Capital, are double-sided, allowing them to collect reflected light—such as from snow or water—and follow the sun’s path from east to west for more efficient power absorption. Although Sunlight General Capital owns the arrays, Grinnell College has purchased 100% of the array’s generated energy for the next 20 years with the possibility of a 10-year extension. Grinnell College is also currently planning to install another solar array project, spearheaded by Alliant Energy, to provide the college with an additional 2 MW of solar energy. This would allow the campus to utilize renewable energy to cover more than half of the campus’ power requirements. In addition to these two projects, the college also features six other smaller solar power stations, which provide energy to buildings located off of the main meter, including the facilities building and the environmental education center. To save energy & cost for your business, contact me at https://buff.ly/2EjAMbu. #Reliability #EnergyStorage #EnergyEfficiency #Renewables #EnergyAudit #Procurement #Resilience https://buff.ly/4cggrB2