Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)’s Post

We're celebrating #BlackHistoryMonth by recognizing the trailblazers who paved the way for progress in all industries, including solar, throughout the month. To close out the month, we'd like to spotlight Lonnie Johnson. Sure, he invented the Super Soaker, but did you know Lonnie Johnson is also a force in renewable energy? After a distinguished career at NASA and the Air Force, Johnson founded his energy research companies. Here's what he's known for: The Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Converter (JTEC): This system aimed to revolutionize heat-to-electricity conversion, supporting solar and other renewable sources. Innovative Battery Technology: Johnson's companies focused on developing new, powerful batteries essential for storing solar energy. Let's celebrate Black innovators like Lonnie Johnson, whose determination and brilliance are shaping the future of renewable energy! #SolarIndustry #DiversityInSolar #CleanEnergy #AEESolar #BlackExcellence #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability

☀ Let's have a solar energy discussion during Black History Month - and continue that discussion into every other month. With Black communities, especially in urban areas, hit the hardest by the climate crisis compared to every other group, it's unjust that only 7% of Black households have access to one Smart Surface Strategy that can reduce those dangerous impacts in big ways. Read Solar Power World's article to get more insight on the slow shift to solar adaptation in Black communities: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d7HYVA9R

In celebration of Black History Month, follow and applaud the efforts of Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Marquise Stillwell, co-founders of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank dedicated to the solutions that could save coastal cities. Listen to these statistics and tell me you don't want to be a part of their work: * 65 million people live in US coastal cities * Nearly 60% of the people living in coastal cities are people of color * There are 58.3 million jobs in the coastal economy, which brings in $9.5 trillion to our total GDP * The ocean could potentially supply 35% of our necessary climate solutions Their work includes a framework with more than 70 solutions and recommendations for coastal cities. Be a part of these equitable solutions to protect communities!

During #BlackHistoryMonth, as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of Black Americans and their contributions in the ongoing fight for environmental justice, we are also reflecting on the road ahead to ensure an equitable and just energy future for all. The reality is 25% of American households are energy-burdened, which disproportionately hurts Black communities. Read more in The Washington Informer from our Co-Chairs, Congressman Kendrick Meek and Mayor Michael A. Nutter, on how natural gas and renewables, working together, can help solve today’s energy inequities:

Here is the latest Virginia Solar Land Use Newsletter, brought to you by Jared Burden and Alexis Laundry.

Swordfish-Energy Incorporated has had a different reception from Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada in the Pacific Region than experience in the Maritimes. Leadership and management have coached us along the way to completing our TRL9 process. Very helpful and supportive of our efforts. Our environmentally friendly design has sensors that will count every fish that goes by. I guess it's a difference in approach and the state of cultures inside Canada. Developers must have positive socio-economic impacts for communities like remote First Nations on diesel, and fisheries in our major rivers and provide energy as a service. I can't believe that someone complained like this quote from the article: "He said DFO seemed to want companies to "take the name and address of each fish and get them to log in as they [swam] by the turbine." More likely their turbine is a propeller type that makes sushi of species at risk. It is too easy to blame civil servants in the public sector for your device's inadequacies. Gone are the days when engineers and academics could throw devices into the ocean without taking regulatory considerations into account. If you can meet and exceed requirements in Canada, you can deploy anywhere.

As part of the ongoing efforts to explore the potential of tidal energy development in the Severn Estuary, the Severn Estuary Commission have appointed two expert consortia to lead its critical environment and socio-economic work packages. 💡 These consortia will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of this vital natural resource, ensuring that environmental protection and socio-economic benefits are at the forefront of any consideration of the Severn Estuary. WSP, APEM and Tresor Consulting have been selected to deliver the Environment Work Package, which focusses on understanding the Severn Estuary's current and future environmental condition to guide responsible tidal energy development 🌊 Hardisty Jones Associates, Oxford Economics and Arcadis have been selected to lead on the Socio-Economic Work Package, which focusses on evaluating the potential impact of tidal energy on the regional economy and communities 💷 Click here to read more: https://lnkd.in/eY-hxEtX

It's Friday! It was a beautiful day in Melbourne with many from the energy community getting together for the Tour de France lunch FACCI - French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Here is our 5 Minutes of Energy, capturing this week's key energy highlights. 🔋 The Clean Energy Council has launched the Future of Long Duration Energy Storage Report at the recent Australian Large-Scale Solar and Storage Summitt held in Brisbane. This report outlines the emerging role that Alternative Long Duration Energy Storage technologies will have as an effective and complementary technology reinforcing other established types of energy storage. The report outlines the specific roles these technologies will play in delivery a secure and reliable supply of electricity and explore the various public policy reform areas that can be pursued to accelerate the market uptake of these technologies. More here: https://lnkd.in/g4nwEh6g ⚡ The Victorian Government has introduced the Victorian Access Regime which will apply to new renewable energy generation and battery energy storage system projects seeking to connect to Victoria’s Declared Shared Network. This will override the current open access arrangements embedded in the National Electricity Rules. The objectives of this new Regime are to support new investment, improve coordination, promote community acceptance and be compatible with national reforms. Legislation to enact the Regime is expected to be introduced into Parliament in early-2025. Consultation is to occur throughout 2024. More here: https://lnkd.in/gCC792hi. 🔗 The combined documentation for the draft Commonwealth Environmental Impact Statement and the Victorian Environment Effects Statement and draft Planning Scheme Amendment for Marinus are now on public exhibition until 12 July 2024. More here: https://lnkd.in/geYTMXkD 🏄♀️ The Coordinator of Energy in WA will be conducting a review of the Essential System Services Framework to assess whether the Frequency Co-optimised Essential System Services framework within the Wholesale Electricity Market Rules is operating efficiently. More here: https://lnkd.in/g83Wt7rv 💡 The remote Northern Territory community of Marlinja has announced the first First Nations community-owned and grid connected renewable energy project in Australia, a grid-connected 100kw solar farm and a 136kw battery, delivered with non-profit energy developer Original Power and supported by NT government retailer Jacana Energy.

So many in NA are gearing for the solar eclipse tomorrow. I have been collecting some resources and tips in the lead up and wanted to share them here as well  🌕 Glasses: Get approved eclipse glasses or make a pinhole device to view the eclipse safely.  🌔 Photography: During the eclipse, the temptation to photograph with your phone may arise. Be cautious with eclipse photography; plan ahead for safety before snapping photos.  🌓 If you are on the path of totality, during the moment of totality, remove your eclipse glasses to see the solar corona. Eclipse glasses MUST be worn again before totality ends, which typically lasts 1 minute 45 seconds to 3 minutes 20 seconds depending on location.  🌒 There is a lot to enjoy during the solar eclipse apart from the brief moment of totality. Check out these two videos by Samantha Z. Yammine, PhD:  https://lnkd.in/gAV7NfVC, https://lnkd.in/gRpSe8P5 ⚫ Getting there: Arrive at your viewing spot 3-4 hours early and stay a few hours after the eclipse. Use public transport and avoid driving on Monday, especially between 1pm-4pm. 🌘 Layer-up: Expect to be outdoors for a while during the eclipse, and prepare for dropping temperatures by keeping extra warm layers handy. 🌗 Snack-up: Maybe it is just me but crowds and waiting can make me hangry- I like to keep some granola bars/ nuts/bananas and water on hand. 🌖 Charge-up: It might be a long day out in chilly weather, conserve your phone battery. 🌖 Expect crowds: Just as you are excited for the eclipse, so are so many others. Prepare for crowds at the eclipse. Tell a friend your plans, especially if going alone. Be kind and considerate to fellow viewers, lend a helping hand. 🌕 Hope for good weather and most importantly have fun! Here are some additional pointers if you are planning to view the eclipse at Hamilton: 📍 Confederate park was recommended as a viewing spot 📍https://lnkd.in/g5-cYAkN #solareclipse2024 #Toronto #Hamilton

Earlier this week at the 2024 Coastal Bend State of Energy Luncheon, I had the pleasure of participating on a CCS panel moderated by Jeffrey Pollack with Robert Hatter, Scot McClure, and Carrie Lalou. I enjoyed hearing the perspectives of various organizations and their roles in the CCS value chain and how we are working to ensure projects benefit the local communities, including GLO's role in funding K-12 education. 🏭 The Texas Gulf Coast plays a significant role in making the products and fuels that society needs, which in addition to emissions also gives us access to a world-class workforce, and the region has hit the jackpot with amazing pore space to sequester CO2. 🎰 💡 All of these factors have made Texas the ideal location for "bigger and better" CCS projects that can help decarbonize multiple sectors, like refining, chemicals, LNG, power, steel, cement, etc. However, when you capture CO2 off of a variety of sources, the CO2 is not all the same. Contaminants can have a significant impact on the system's design, which presents unique challenges - so how do you ensure that your project becomes successful? If you're interested in learning more, be sure to join Wood’s CCS specialists on August 28th to hear about common design risks and how to navigate them, with lessons learned from our experience implementing CCS solutions around the world. ➡ Register now:  https://lnkd.in/gzn5fw-G Thanks to my co-panelists, Kym Bolado, Omar Garcia, Amanda Jenkins-Villarreal, and the attendees for a great conversation! I look forward to continuing the discussion and moving CCS forward in Texas. ⭐️