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Join AC Power's Chief Strategy Officer Kyle Miller next Wednesday for a webinar on the success of state programs enabling development on contaminated sites! 🌞 Hosted by US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s RE-Powering America's Land Initiative, this program will focus on renewable energy policies in states like New Jersey and how these efforts can be replicated around the country. Here's what's in store: 🌱 Unpack the success stories of states leading in renewable development on RE-Powering sites. 👷♂️ Learn from a panel of developers on how state programs have streamlined project development, reducing risks and costs. 💡 Get insights into financial incentives, streamlined permitting, and how these initiatives contribute to environmental restoration and energy sustainability. Register to learn how state policies are instrumental in driving a greener future! https://lnkd.in/gEyx75fp #BrownfieldSolar #EnergyTransition #WomenInEnergy #ACPowerToThePeople

Virginia Tech has been granted $3.4 million by the Department of Environmental Quality to study the environmental impacts of utility-scale solar farms in Virginia. 💰 Over six years, this project, led by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, will assess how these solar installations affect stormwater runoff, soil, and water quality. This research comes as Virginia increasingly embraces solar energy, aiming to fully transition to renewable energy by 2050. ☀️ The study will monitor sites across the state, analyzing stormwater for contaminants and examining the interaction between vegetation and solar panels. The study's results will offer important insights for regulations and environmental planning, supporting Virginia Tech's work in sustainability and improving its global sustainability ranking. ❗Read more about it here: https://hubs.ly/Q02jpjPN0 #SolarEnergy #UtilityScaleSolar #RenewableEnergy #Virginia #CommunitySolar

Federal approval has been granted for the $880 million Goulburn River solar farm (450 MW), which includes an eight-hour battery system. Developed by Lightsource bp, this project is surrounded by the Goulburn River National Park and has been greenlit with environmental conditions to protect endangered species like the Regent and Painted Honeyeaters. Lightsource will also offset biodiversity loss by converting 1,200 hectares into a conservation area. Construction is set to begin this year, with operations expected by 2027. Meanwhile, the 192 MW Thunderbolt wind farm, developed by Neoen, is awaiting federal approval after strong opposition from the local community over visual and environmental concerns. Despite gaining state planning approval, the project is under review by the Independent Planning Commission, which has imposed conditions, including limits on turbine height and vegetation screening to reduce impact on the surrounding area. Both projects highlight the balance between advancing renewable energy and safeguarding the environment. According to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek, the EPBC process has approved 63 renewable energy projects in the past two years—enough to power homes across NSW, Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Tasmania. #renewableenergy #solarpower #windenergy #sustainability #cleanenergy #batterystorage #energytransition #australia #nsw #evoegy

FERC Grants Waiver for Solar Project Amidst Local Resistance Read how policy shifts ignited local land concerns >> https://lnkd.in/gvrTAWxX Concerns over land use changes, particularly the conversion of farmland to solar farms, have led to resistance from residents. #carboncredits #carbonmarkets #carbonnews #carbonprices #climatechange #cleanenergy #decarbonization #energytransition #esg #netzero 

Balancing energy needs with conservation, agricultural production, and community identity is a daunting (but not impossible) taskl. Lightstar Renewables, LLC seem to have taken this in perspective with their approach to AgPV. #Agrivoltaics #CleanEnergy #AgPV #RenewableEnergy #Conservation #CommunitySolar

The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has granted approval for Oak Run Solar, marking it as the largest #solarpower generation facility authorized in #Ohio to date. With plans for 800 megawatts of solar generation and a 300 megawatt #batteryenergystorage system, the project signifies a significant stride towards reducing #greenhousegasemissions in the state. The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC), an intervening party in the case, played a crucial role in advocating for Oak Run Solar’s approval. Expert testimony from Dr. Jeffrey Reutter, retired director of The Ohio State University’s Ohio Sea Grant College Program and Stone Lab, emphasized the project’s benefits in mitigating #climatechange and addressing harmful stormwater runoff. Dr. Reutter estimated that nutrient and soil runoff would be reduced by 50% due to planned vegetation management practices at the project site. #SolarEnergy #RenewableEnergy #Ohio #CleanEnergy #ClimateAction #GreenhouseGasEmissions #EnergyStorage #EnvironmentalProtection #OakRunSolar #OhioPowerSitingBoard #USA #NorthAmerica Read more: https://lnkd.in/dj4nJ3MK

🌞 All States in the NECEC Region Selected as Solar for All Grantees🌞 As we continue Earth Day celebrations this week, we're thrilled to share some exciting news! The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced 60 selectees for the Solar for All grant competition, receiving a total of $7 billion in grant awards. This initiative, funded by Executive Office of the President’s Investing in America agenda, aims to deliver residential solar projects to over 900,000 households nationwide. We're particularly proud to note that all states in the northeast region, which NECEC serves, were selected for funding. As part of our commitment to advancing clean energy initiatives, NECEC submitted letters of support for Massachusetts and Maine, contributing to this significant achievement. One of our affiliate partners, Renewable Energy Vermont, has emphasized the impact of these grants on Vermonters. The $62,450,000 Solar for All award to the Vermont Public Service Department will help thousands of low-income Vermonters access the benefits of solar power and energy storage. This investment underscores President Biden’s commitment to environmental justice, job creation, and combating climate change. It's a crucial step towards creating cleaner air, lowering energy costs for families, and advancing our collective goal of a renewable energy future. We applaud the EPA's initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact of these solar projects on communities across the nation. https://lnkd.in/gFAqcxYP #EarthDay #SolarForAll #CleanEnergy #EnvironmentalJustice #NECEC #RenewableEnergy 🌎✨

Are you a business owner or entrepreneur aiming to make a positive impact with renewable energy projects? If so, it's crucial you're aware of potential land scarcity challenges. Renewable energy projects require significant acreage, often triggering land rushes at desirable locations like desert areas perfect for solar and wind power.⛅ Need to map out your next move? Consider strategic approaches such as leasing public lands, collaborating with farmers to use low-value agricultural lands, or re-purposing brownfields or landfills. 🌾♻️ But let's not forget the importance of local communities. Resistance can emerge due to concerns about biodiversity, cultural heritage, and environmental impacts. Acknowledging these concerns and working with the community not only solidifies project success but also contributes to economic diversification and resilience in rural communities. Getting lost in the land rush? A Business Consulting Professional specializing in strategic project planning and community engagement can guide you through. Let's team up and navigate these challenges together, ensuring your renewable energy venture is both sustainable and grounded on cooperation and resilience. #RenewableEnergy #BusinessConsulting #SustainableDevelopment

With debate continuing about the use of land for large scale solar projects, it's worth considering that utilising just 2.2% of total available land for solar and onshore wind projects, Europe could meet net-zero targets by 2040 Connection and collaboration would be needed to safeguard and plan appropriately. https://lnkd.in/gsNB9WuE *research by the European Joint Research Committee (JRC)

Explore the latest PV Magazine article about IEA PVPS's Task 12 Fact Sheet on "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of PV Systems." This updated Fact Sheet provides a comprehensive assessment of the environmental impacts associated with PV systems, highlighting significant advancements in PV technology, including improved efficiencies and reduced environmental footprints. Read the full article here 👉 https://buff.ly/3zv9gGF #PVMagazine #RenewableEnergy #IEAPVPS