Gas crowding renewables in Puerto Rico, EDF acquires PowerFlex, pvMB 9/4/19

Unapproved gas projects in Puerto Rico could crowd out renewables – While Puerto Rico’s energy law calls for 20% renewable electricity within three years (up from 2% as of 2017), and the island’s utility is operating without an approved resource plan, “hundreds of millions of dollars in natural gas infrastructure contracts continue to move forward unchallenged,” writes IEEFA Director of Finance Tom Sanzillo in a post.  Citing three natural gas projects under way, he calls on Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez to “scrutinize” the contracts, noting that “new investments in natural gas are likely either to be underutilized, or – more likely – to crowd out future investment in renewable energy.”  Regulators in Puerto Rico rejected the utility’s resource plan submitted in February, and are now evaluating a plan submitted in June.

EDF Renewables North America acquires PowerFlex Systems – “EDF Renewables North America today announced it has acquired Los Altos, California-based PowerFlex Systems (PowerFlex). The investment is part of EDF Renewables’ continued strategic growth in the distributed energy market, as reflected by their acquisition of groSolar in 2016 and their partnership with EnterSolar last year… PowerFlex has deployed some of the largest single-site EV charging deployments in the world thanks to their Adaptive Charging Network (ACN) technology. This system enables site hosts to maximize delivery of electricity to EVs while reducing or eliminating the need for costly utility upgrades by managing charging depending on driver’s demand, building load, onsite generation, and other variables.” Source: EDF Renewables North America

Ribbon cutting for 1 MW Baker University installation – Update the solar colleges and universities log! It’s time to include Baker University, which will be celebrating the opening of the Baldwin City Solar Field Project today at 5 p.m. at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Baldwin City. During this collaborative project, students had the opportunity to participate in field study experiences planning and implementing the project. Baker University is the Alma Mater of former Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy, by the way. Source: Baker University

Three 10 MW installations coming to Missouri – “Today, Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, filed plans with the Missouri Public Service Commission to build three Solar + Storage facilities across Missouri… Each location will connect a large solar energy generation facility to battery storage. The installations will be the first-of-their-kind facilities in the state and among only a handful of Solar + Storage facilities in the Midwest… The proposed Solar + Storage facilities will be located in the communities of Green City, Richwoods and Utica and are expected to bring increased reliability to customers… Each location is expected to have a 10 megawatt (MW) solar facility, making them the three largest investor-owned utility solar installations in the state. During sunny days, customers near the proposed facilities will receive their energy primarily from the solar facility. The solar energy will also charge the battery. In the case of a service interruption, each battery will be able to power connected homes for several hours, giving Ameren Missouri repair crews time to fix the service issue without causing an extended outage.” Source: Ameren Missouri

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