$10 billion renewable energy project paused due to concerns over Native American historic sites

PBS – November 13

Work on a $10 billion project that will funnel renewable energy across the West has come to a halt in southwestern Arizona, with Native American tribes saying the federal government has ignored concerns about effects that the SunZia transmission line will have on religious and cultural sites. Federal land managers temporarily suspended work on the SunZia transmission project along a 50-mile segment last week after the Tohono O’odham Nation asked for immediate intervention. The tribe was joined in their plea by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and archaeologists. Renewable energy advocates have said the SunZia project will be a key artery in the Biden administration’s plan for boosting renewables and improving reliability among the nation’s power grids.

News

Clean energy manufacturing is on the rise in New York

Utility Dive – November 14

New York’s manufacturing sector is seeing a rise in clean energy projects after the passage of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act spurred approximately $240 billion in clean energy manufacturing investments across the country. In the first year of the IRA, companies invested $783 million from 10 projects in New York, creating 2,739 jobs. In addition, in November 2022, the state set aside $3.7 million in funding for climate technology manufacturing in the region. The funding is part of New York’s $5.3 billion Clean Energy Fund launched in 2016, part of the state’s years-long sustainability investments.

Projects

Huge Oberon solar + storage project completed in California desert

Solar Power World – November 14

Intersect Power has reached commercial operation of its Oberon solar + storage project located in Riverside County. The Oberon project generates 679 MW/500 MW of solar and features 250 MW/1 GWh of co-located storage. The Oberon project is the first to achieve operation through the streamlined approach under the Bureau of Land Management’s Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

B2U turns on 3 MW/12 MWh second life BESS project using Honda EV batteries in California

Energy Storage News – November 14

Second life energy storage firm B2U has put its second major project into commercial operation, a 3 MW/12 MWh system made up of used electric vehicle (EV) batteries from Honda’s Clarity model. The Cuyama battery energy storage system (BESS) is located near the community of New Cuyama.

Gila River Indian Community moves forward with solar canal project, first in country

AZ Mirror – November 10

In an effort to address the ongoing drought affecting the Southwest, the Gila River Indian Community is building the country’s first solar-over-canal project. The Gila River Indian Community and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed an agreement last Thursday, kicking off construction on the first phase of the Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project Renewal Energy Pilot Project, which is expected to be completed in 2025.

EDF inaugurates 275 MW solar + storage project in Nevada

Power Technology – November 10

EDF Renewables North America has inaugurated the Arrow Canyon solar + storage project in Clark County, Nevada. The project, located on the Moapa Indian Reservation, 20 miles from Las Vegas, features 275 MW of bifacial solar and a 75 MW five-hour battery energy storage system.

Swift Current energizes 198 MW Texas wind farm to serve Target

Renewables Now – November 14

Swift Current Energy’s 197 MW Castle Gap wind farm in Texas is fully operational. The plant’s entire generation is contracted under a long-term virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) with Target Corp.