09.20 Good Clean Energy News
Chula Vista Wins $10M for Efficiency
Chula Vista in San Diego County, California received $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to enhance building efficiency. This funding will help the city adopt energy-efficient building codes, saving residents and businesses money on utility bills. Part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the grant aims to reduce energy costs and improve community resilience.
Read more: Chula Vista Acwarded $10M to Update Building Efficiency, Increase Energy Savings
Ann Arbor Gets Federal Grant for EV Chargers
Ann Arbor, Michigan secured $2.8 million in federal funding to install 48 new public EV chargers across the city. This grant will help make electric vehicle use more accessible for all residents. The goal is to close gaps in low-income areas and multifamily housing, supporting the city's A2Zero plan to reduce carbon emissions.
Read more: Dozens more public EV chargers coming to Ann Arbor with $2.8M federal grant
Clean Energy Grants to 10 NY Towns
Ulster County, New York was awarded up to $100,000 each to 10 municipalities for solar and EV charging projects. These grants, part of the American Rescue Plan Act, aim to reduce fossil fuel use and combat climate change. Towns like New Paltz, Kingston, and Rosendale will use the funds to boost clean energy in their communities.
Read more: Ulster awards solar and EV charging grants to 10 municipalities
Loudoun County Funds $350K to Cut Energy Costs
Loudoun County, Virginia is receiving over $350,000 in federal funding to lower energy costs and reduce emissions. The grant supports energy audits, a zero-emission vehicle fleet, and efforts to reduce the energy burden on underserved populations. Part of Virginia’s clean energy transition, this project is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Read more: Loudoun receives $350K to lower energy costs, reduce emissions
Maine Celebrates First Floating Offshore Wind Lease
Maine received the nation’s first floating offshore wind research lease, covering 23 square miles of federal waters. The project will feature up to 12 turbines, generating up to 144 megawatts of clean energy. This research, led by the University of Maine, aims to advance floating wind technology, reduce fossil fuel reliance, and help the state meet its renewable energy goals by 2040.
Read more: Federal government grants first floating offshore wind power research lease to Maine | AP News
Clean Energy Surge in 2024
The U.S. is set to add 62.8 GW of new power capacity in 2024, led by solar and energy storage projects, the Energy Information Administration reports. Solar alone accounts for 12 GW of new capacity in the first half of the year. Battery storage and wind are also key contributors, with retirements slowing for gas and coal plants.
Read more: EIA expects 62.8 GW to come online in 2024, led by solar, energy storage | Utility Dive
Clean Energy Supports Texas Grid
Amid near-record power demand in Texas, ERCOT credited new solar, wind, and battery storage for keeping the grid stable. As temperatures soared, these clean energy sources helped meet demand, even during peak evening hours. Battery storage played a key role, storing energy to be used after sunset when solar power drops.
Read more: ERCOT, experts credit renewables, battery storage with meeting near-record power demand
Sources
Ireland, Elizabeth. "Chula Vista Awarded $10M to Update Building Efficiency, Increase Energy Savings." Times of San Diego, 27 Aug. 2024, https://timesofsandiego.com/tech/2024/08/27/chula-vista-awarded-10m-to-update-building-efficiency-increase-energy-savings/.
Stanton, Ryan. "Dozens More Public EV Chargers Coming to Ann Arbor with $2.8M Federal Grant." Michigan Live, 1 Sept. 2024, https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2024/09/dozens-more-public-ev-chargers-coming-to-ann-arbor-with-28m-federal-grant.html.
"Ulster Awards Solar and EV Charging Grants to 10 Municipalities." Mid Hudson News, 5 Sept. 2024, https://midhudsonnews.com/2024/09/05/ulster-awards-solar-and-ev-charging-grants-to-10-municipalities/.
"Loudoun Receives $350K to Lower Energy Costs, Reduce Emissions." Loudon-Times Mirror, 6 Sept. 2024, https://www.loudountimes.com/0local-or-not/1local/loudoun-receives-350k-to-lower-energy-costs-reduce-emissions/article_478f050c-6bb1-11ef-aae1-e7bcf309d7b8.html.
Sharp, David. "Federal Government Grants First Floating Offshore Wind Power Research Lease to Maine." AP News, 19 Aug. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/maine-offshore-wind-research-lease-819db6ab1dbd2fbcf9a542a0399d1ac0?utm_medium=email.
Howland, Ethan. "EIA Expects 62.8 GW to Come Online in 2024, Led by Solar, Energy Storage." Utility Dive, 19 Aug. 2024, https://www.utilitydive.com/news/eia-2024-solar-energy-storage-battery-storage-gas-coal-retirement/724548/?utm_medium=email.
Bennett, Adam. "ERCOT, Experts Credit Renewables, Battery Storage with Meeting Near-Record Power Demand." KVUE, 20 Aug. 2024, https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas-power-grid-holding-record-demand-thanks-to-renewables-and-battery-storage/269-278934aa-e7a8-4af1-bc6c-a319ec604139?utm_medium=email.
