Lightsource bp’s Post

How can federal, state, and local policy help deploy solar power to meet clean energy needs while protecting the land? Dual-use solar – the co-location of solar with another land use such as interspersing panels with crop production or installing systems on water bodies – provides an opportunity to build renewable energy infrastructure in a way that integrates local benefits into the design.  But building dual-use solar is challenging under existing state and local land-use policies due to the complexity of it being a mixed land use. Most local governments have yet to incorporate any form of solar development into their existing land-use regulations or comprehensive land-use plans. CATF’s Natalie Manitius and Nelson Falkenburg explore how land-use policies can enable the deployment of dual-use solar and highlight the need for continued federal support for research and demonstration projects with clear guidance on standards and definitions. https://lnkd.in/g8vMgAeJ #solarpower #renewableenergy #cleanenergy #landuse #landuseplanning #dualusesolar #solarenergy #climatepolicy #climateaction #energyinfrastructure

MCE and Renewable America have joined forces to launch a new #solarproject adding 1MW of #cleanenergy to Marin County. The Fallon Two Rock #solarfarm spans 4.5 acres and is set to generate 2,300 MW hours annually, powering 400 homes and reducing 19,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions yearly. To mark this achievement, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Petaluma on April 15th. President & CEO of RNA, Ardi Arian, expressed enthusiasm for local impact, stating, "Think Local. Act Local" as a driving force behind such projects. Built with prevailing wage labor and supporting local companies like Sunstall Inc. and Sierra Tree Company, Fallon Two Rock exemplifies MCE and RNA's commitment to sustainable development. This milestone underscores our dedication to advancing clean energy solutions and bolstering the local economy. Let's celebrate progress towards a greener, more sustainable future! #renewableenergy #solarpowered #sustainability #cleanenergy #california #solarinstallation #solar

On Farmworker Appreciation Day, we here in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy celebrated the expanding collaboration between two key sectors of the economy: agriculture and solar power.  Whether or not you’re involved in one of these fields, it should come as no surprise that farmers and solar developers are interested in the same flat, sunny land. Naturally, this can create conflicts in the siting process for new solar energy deployments, but that doesn’t need to be the case. In fact, increasing numbers of farmers and solar developers are discovering the benefits of co-locating solar panels with productive farmland—a practice called agrivoltaics.  As of this writing, there are 566 agrivoltaic projects in the United States. Collectively, they generate over 10 gigawatts of renewable power—an astonishing figure made even more impressive by the efficient land-use that sustains this infrastructure. Throughout the country, millions of solar panels are mounted above crops, grazing pastures, and pollinator habitats, generating clean power while enhancing the productivity of America’s farmland.  If you’d like to see a case in point, I encourage you to read this blog: https://lnkd.in/e9UexsNT If you’re new to agrivoltaics, and think it could benefit your farm or business, you can learn the basics by visiting our landing page: https://lnkd.in/eXFfR3is And if you have an idea for a co-location project involving cattle grazing, the upcoming Large Animal and Solar System Operations (LASSO) Prize could be a prime opportunity to see it through: https://lnkd.in/e-HyT_aB We’ve been lucky to partner with American farmers on many EERE-funded projects and look forward to many more!

In Wyoming, Sheep May Safely Graze Under Solar Panels in One of the State’s First “Agrivoltaic” Projects The elevated photovoltaic panels can actually improve grazing conditions, a novelty that could help make solar projects more land-efficient and accepted in the ranching-heavy state. #AgriSolar #agrivoltaics https://lnkd.in/gBiXpQYa

🌿 Exciting News from Grand Rapids! 🌿 The Fiscal Committee has greenlit contracts and payments totaling $250,000 to 3Degrees Group, Inc. and Sol Systems for the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) for 2024 and 2025 with the help of our consultant Foresight Management. This investment means Grand Rapids is set to achieve 100% renewable energy for all municipal operations during these years, making us the first city in Michigan—and one of the few in the U.S.—to hit this milestone! Our journey to 100% renewable includes: 🌿 Developing a one-megawatt solar array at the Lake Michigan Filtration Plant 🌿 Reducing overall electricity use 🌿 Converting to LED street lighting 🌿 Using our biodigester 🌿 Pursuing solar development at the Butterworth Landfill But what are RECs? The U.S. EPA defines a REC as a market-based instrument that represents the property rights to the environmental, social, and other non-power attributes of renewable electricity generation. RECs are issued when one megawatt of electricity is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. Together, we're making Grand Rapids greener and setting a benchmark for cities nationwide! 💚✨ #SustainableGR #RenewableEnergy #GreenCity #GrandRapids #CleanEnergyFuture GR Office of Sustainability: https://lnkd.in/gwaYeyuA

Dual-use #solar – the co-location of solar with another land use, such as interspersing panels with crop production – has the potential to provide added environmental, social, and economic benefits compared to traditional solar development. But building dual-use solar is challenging under existing state and local land-use policies due to the complexity of it being a mixed land use. In a new blog, CATF’s Natalie Manitius looks at the opportunity for dual-use solar in #California's San Joaquin Valley – and how innovative policy and planning solutions could enable dual-use solar in the Valley. https://lnkd.in/ebUnGrRm

Did you know that around 1 in 8 energy-efficiency equipment projects we've funded at Smart Ease is in the dairy industry? Keeping cows cool and happy for optimum dairy production is energy-consuming work, so offsetting costs with solar can be hugely beneficial. Rob and Stefanie from our team joined our friends from Eagle Direct and Solar Australia - solar you'll love. at this year's International Dairy Week to learn more about industry and chat to farmers and suppliers about the benefits of installing solar together with key productivity equipment. 🐮+☀️=😊 Want to learn more about solar for #agribusiness? Reach out to our expert team. #commercialsolar #paymentplans #solarforbusiness #SmartEase

As the transition to renewable energy accelerates, the approval of large-scale solar projects, such as the 282-acre solar farm in Hett, highlights key challenges we must address. Balancing energy security with local environmental and agricultural concerns is crucial. While projects like Lightsource bp’s solar farm will help the UK meet its renewable energy targets, community voices raise valid concerns about land use and long-term impact. #RenewableEnergy #SolarFarms #Sustainability #EnergySecurity #Consulting #UKEnergy #ClimateAction #SolarPower https://lnkd.in/eqx6YFBY

"What happens to solar panels when they no longer work?" is a common question as larger solar arrays begin to pop up. WGME CBS13 investigated solar panel recycling in Maine and reached out to ReVision for input. "ReVision Energy, one of the leading solar installers in Maine, tells the I-Team that for the miniscule amount of panels at the end of their life already, ReVision Energy will remove and repurpose them for another project. And if the panels really can't be salvaged... they send them to a recycling plant in New Hampshire." #SolarPanelRecycling #SolarArrays #SolarForME https://lnkd.in/daQ4xM_2

One of the inaugural projects of the Center for Rural Affairs was the Small Farm Energy Project, which sought to demonstrate that the adoption of alternative energy technologies by small family farms can make positive contributions to their incomes. It worked. The Center understood then—in 1979—that renewable energy offered both environmental and economic benefits for independent operators. In the following decades, the Center continued to promote clean energy, including through local, state, and federal policy change. Hear more from  our executive director as he discusses how, today, three federal programs are helping us develop programs, assistance, and resources to help rural people understand, access, and leverage the array of new opportunities. #renewableenergy #policychange