A water-heater-based virtual power plant and Nissan EV rebates in Hawaii: pvMB 10/4/19

A water-heater-based virtual power plant in Hawaii – “Shifted Energy has signed an agreement to incorporate its grid-interactive water heaters (GIWH) into Hawaiian Electric Company’s emerging grid services market as part of a Grid Services Purchase Agreement. The release is appended below and linked here. Shifted Energy will install up to 2,400 GIWH systems across Oahu and Maui, with a specific focus on hard-to-reach customers including low- and moderate-income, apartment dwellers, and renter communities. Under the contract, the combined GIWH systems will function as a 2.5-megawatt virtual power plant (VPP), making it one of the largest competitively procured GIWH deployments in the world. Networks of GIWH devices can help utilities overcome the challenge of balancing generation with customer demand, as well as support renewable energy integration.” Source: Shifted Energy 

KIUC memebers get Nissan Leaf rebates extended – Nissan North America will continue to offer KIUC members access to rebates off the all-electric 2019 Nissan LEAF sedan and the 2019 Nissan LEAF-Plus, through January 2, 2020. In order to receive the rebate, KIUC members must present proof of residency, their electric bill and the Nissan flyer, which is available for download and printing from the KIUC website, www.kiuc.coop. The rebate comes out to $3,500 for a LEAF and $2,500 for a LEAF-Plus and can be combined with  $7,500 in federal tax incentives. Source: KIUC

CleanSpark to conduct feasibility study of off-grid power solution for cannabis growers – “CleanSpark today announced it has been selected to conduct a project feasibility study to Good Energy Solar for the creation of an independent and comprehensive power system for TMP Unlimited, Inc., a fully licensed, vertically integrated, cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and retail dispensary company located in California City, CA. Under the terms of the agreement, CleanSpark will produce a project feasibility analysis for the first phase of the customer’s project. The analysis will include the appropriate energy storage, solar PV system sizes, projected utility savings, capital costs, operations and maintenance costs and a 20-year economic financial model depicting the projects return on investment, cash flows and tax effects.” Source: CleanSpark

Virginia’s first EVgo station opens – Virginia now has EVgo rapid EV charging, as the state’s first station opened in Ashburn Restaurant Park. This is EVgo’s first public fast charging station to begin operation under the Statewide Appendix D Volkswagen settlement program.  The EVgo fast charging station at Ashburn Restaurant Park includes two (2) EVgo 50 kW DC fast chargers capable of delivering up to 90 miles in about 30 minutes. When EVgo’s statewide network is complete, approximately 95% of Virginians will be within 30 miles of an EV charger. Source: EVgo

Ben & Jerry’s and Sierra Club partner on renewable energy initiative – “Ben & Jerry’s and Sierra Club are partnering to advance a shared goal of powering the US with 100% clean and renewable energy.  October’s partnership will consist of a joint social media initiative and hosted events at 12 Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops across the country. People will be asked to share their thoughts with Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign on the importance of protecting the health of communities and advancing local clean energy solutions in response to the climate crisis. Through this campaign, community members will have a chance to talk about why they care about having a healthy, sustainable planet powered by clean energy. Ben & Jerry’s will offer a free kid’s size scoop of ice cream to participants at these events. The partnership kicked off earlier this summer in Burlington, Vermont, which is Ben & Jerry’s hometown and one of six cities already powered by 100% renewable energy. Cities across the US are leading an equitable and just transition off fossil fuels; today, more than 130 cities and 7 states have committed to power themselves with 100% clean energy.” Source: Ben and Jerry’s