07.05 Good Clean Energy News

Solar Panel Order Doubles for Georgia Plant
Summit Ridge Energy has doubled its order from Qcells' Georgia solar panel plant, increasing it from 1.2 GW to 2 GW. This expansion supports over 100 new community solar projects, powering 200,000 homes and businesses. Community solar allows renters and those without suitable rooftops to benefit from clean energy. Qcells' Georgia plants are the largest solar manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere, contributing to the state's green jobs boom.
Read more: Energy giant doubles order from Qcells' Georgia solar panel plant

Massachusetts Expands Electric Vehicle Program
Massachusetts is tripling its Fleet Advisor program with $5 million in federal funding. This initiative helps small businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities switch to electric vehicles. The new funds will support up to 200 organizations, offering no-cost assessments and procurement assistance. The program aims to reduce emissions and improve air quality, especially in underserved communities.
Read more: Massachusetts expanding its vehicle fleet electrification program | Energy News Network

Successful VPP Programs Use Multiple Technologies
A new RMI flipbook highlights the success of virtual power plant (VPP) programs in the U.S., which serve nearly 4 million customers and provide 1.5 GW of capacity. Key features of successful VPPs include integrating various energy technologies, streamlining customer experiences, operating for at least five years, and incentivizing distributed energy resource adoption.
Read more: Successful VPP programs have long-term outlook, multiple energy technologies: RMI flipbook | Utility Dive

Mapping Abandoned Farmland for Clean Energy
A UW-Madison study mapped millions of acres of abandoned U.S. farmland, offering potential sites for clean energy projects. The research identified these lands using satellite images from 1986 to 2018. Less than 20% of these lands are in conservation programs, leaving most available for alternative uses like solar panels, carbon storage, and bioenergy crops. This could help reduce reliance on fossil fuels without using productive farmland or natural resource areas.
Read more: A UW-Madison study mapped millions of acres of abandoned US farmland. Here's why it matters.

UK Tire Startup ENSO Plans $500M US Factory
British tire startup ENSO plans to build a $500 million factory in the U.S. to produce tires for electric vehicles (EVs). The plant, expected to be fully operational by 2027, aims to produce 20 million tires annually and employ 600 people. Potential locations include Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and Georgia. ENSO's EV-specific tires can increase range by 10% and reduce particulate emissions by 35%. 
Read more: UK tyre startup ENSO plans $500 mln US factory | Reuters

Sources

Lutz, M. (2024, June 21). Energy giant doubles order from Qcells' Georgia solar panel plant. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. https://www.ajc.com/news/business/a-huge-order-from-a-georgia-solar-panel-maker-just-got-a-lot-bigger/ECONK6RZQVHWNJYMN4G4IY6RQM/

Shemkus, S. (2024, June 20). Massachusetts expanding its vehicle fleet electrification program. Energy News Network. https://energynews.us/2024/06/20/massachusetts-is-expanding-its-pathbreaking-vehicle-fleet-electrification-program/?utm_medium=email

Meyer, R. (2024, June 18). The Long, Strange Success Story of America's Biggest Clean Energy Project. Heatmap News. https://heatmap.news/economy/sunzia?utm_medium=email

Martucci, B. (2024, June 20). Successful VPP programs have long-term outlook, multiple energy technologies: RMI flipbook. Utility Dive. https://www.utilitydive.com/news/RMI-successful-vpp-programs-have-long-term-outlook/719383/?utm_medium=email

Heim, M. (2024, June 21). A UW-Madison study mapped millions of acres of abandoned US farmland. Here's why it matters. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2024/06/21/uw-study-mapped-abandoned-farmland-it-could-hold-clean-energy-answer/73958272007/?utm_medium=email

St. John, J. (2024, June 24). How heat pumps can turn wasted energy into low-carbon whisky. Canary Media. https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-industry/how-heat-pumps-can-turn-wasted-energy-into-low-carbon-whisky?utm_medium=email

Carey, N. (2024, June 24). UK tyre startup ENSO plans $500 mln US factory. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/uk-tyre-startup-enso-plans-500-mln-us-factory-2024-06-24/