Renewable Energy Focus
Renewable Energy World - Jun 10 Apple Inc. plans to sell excess electricity generated by solar panels on the roof of its new headquarters in Cupertino, joining Google parent Alphabet Inc. in efforts to trade on the energy market. A subsidiary named Apple Energy LLC has applied to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sell power from the site’s solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as from solar farms, hydroelectric plants, and biogas facilities in Oregon, North Carolina, California, Nevada, and Arizona, according to a June 6 application submitted by Apple to the agency.
Greentech Media - Jun 15 The U.S. energy storage sector kicked off 2016 with a marked increase in corporate investments, according to GTM Research and the Energy Storage Association’s latest U.S. Energy Storage Monitor. First-quarter investments of $79 million marked an increase of more than double compared to the same period last year. Of that money, $20 million came as project financing.
Utility Dive - Jun 15 California regulators last week approved a decision that allows Southern California Edison (SCE) to spend an additional $8.7 million on demand response programs this summer to mitigate for potential natural gas shortages stemming from the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak. In the same decision, regulators also approved 2017 demand response programs for the state's IOUs, authorizing $56.28 million in spending for SCE, $59.9 million for Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and $23.8 million for SDG&E. The additional demand response funding comes as part of a broader push to open up alternative resources and enhance efficiency in the wake of the nation's worst-ever gas leak.
Los Angeles Times - Jun 15 Energy-efficient measures may be added to the Oak View neighborhood in 2018, but residents are voicing concerns about the proposed pilot program. The Advanced Power and Energy Program at UC Irvine has partnered with the city of Huntington Beach, environmental technology developer Altura Associates, and utility companies to study adding solar panels, natural gas infrastructure, renewable gas sources, and zero-emissions backup generators to the neighborhood. The proposed project, if approved, would cost about $3.2 million, with grant funding from the California Energy Commission, Southern California Edison, and other entities.
Solar Industry Magazine - Jun 16 San Diego-based OneRoof Energy Inc., a residential solar services provider and wholly owned subsidiary of OneRoof Energy Group Inc., says certain of its affiliates have signed a $50 million construction loan facility with Black Coral Capital LLC, a current investor in the company. In addition, Black Coral has funded $9.05 million of working capital to the company, in the form of secured non-convertible notes.
reNEWS - Jun 16 DE Shaw Renewable Investments and Bright Plain Renewable Energy have acquired the 31-megawatt Portal Ridge solar project in Lancaster, California from First Solar. The facility has 20-year power purchase agreements with Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Southern California Edison.
North Bay Business Journal - Jun 15 Come August, SOMO Village will be generating 3.1 megawatts in solar energy, enough power to supply 50 percent of the development’s energy use, or enough power to supply energy to about 900 homes. The billion-dollar mixed-use southeast Rohnert Park development is a diverse mix of tenants and properties that consumes about 6 megawatts of energy annually. The installation is projected to save $680,000 per year in energy costs and close to $2.5 million over 30 years.
SFGate - Jun 14 The U.S. Department of Energy is considering a site in Oregon's Deschutes County for a national geothermal research lab. The land near Newberry Volcano is leased by Seattle-based geothermal firm AltaRock Energy Inc., which performs testing there. It's one of several locations under consideration for the proposed Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy.
