Americas

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Progress On Groundbreaking Energy Bill: Creating Jobs And Advancing Clean Energy

United States: Exelon Generation and ComEd have commended the House Energy Committee’s passage of a streamlined version of the Future Energy Jobs Bill that will maintain Illinois’ competitive electric rates, whilst preserving and creating thousands of jobs and expanding clean energy. The 10 to 1 vote from the Committee approves the measure. The legislation jumpstarts clean energy development by expanding aid and job training to low-income residents and supporting high-paying jobs. The bill has broad support from more than 200 business, labour, environmental and other groups.

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NextEra Energy And TVA Commission 75MW Solar Energy Project. Largest In Alabama

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and NextEra Energy Resources have joined local leaders to celebrate the commissioning of Alabama’s largest solar energy project. The River Bend Solar Energy Center features more than 300,000 solar panels with trackers that follow the sun from east to west each day to maximise energy production. Together, they generate 75MW, or enough to power more than 15,000 homes. The energy will serve TVA consumers starting this year, under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

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NREL Scientists Discover How Bacterium Uses CO2 And Cellulose To Make Biofuels

Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) made the surprise discovery that a metabolic pathway to take up CO2 exists and functions in a microorganism capable of breaking down and fermenting cellulosic biomass to produce biofuels including hydrogen and hydrocarbons. “Our findings pave the way for future engineering of the bacterium as a way to improve carbon efficiency and to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the environment,” said Katherine Chou, staff scientist at the NREL.

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Canadian Solar Supplies 18,500 Panels For Large US Agricultural Installations

Canadian Solar has announced that it has supplied 5.74 MW of its MaxPower CS6X310P modules to two projects located in Fowler, California. The first installation; the 2.49 MW Bee Sweet Citrus Farm, consists of 8,034 panels. The second installation; the 3.25 MW National Raisin Company Farm, consists of approximately 10,509 panels, making this array one of the largest agricultural solar systems in the USA. In total, the cumulative amount of electricity produced from these two installations is equivalent to powering 564 homes for one year.

Wind Turbines And Asset Sales Increase, As Clean Energy’s Momentum Accelerates

Wind industry giant Vestas, one of the world’s leading manufacturers, instructed the SIA Group to manage the sales and disposal of excess wind turbine parts and accessories. Large quantities of spare parts and components are available due to the rationalisation of the warehouse inventory. The sale will take place through an online auction, with key locations also in Denmark, Germany, USA and Canada

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German-Led B20 Clean Energy Taskforce Boosted By Addition Of Chinese Co-Chair

JinkoSolar has announced that it was appointed as one of the six co-chairs for the Business 20 (B20) ECRE Taskforce, under the leadership of the German G20 Presidency. This is the second consecutive year that JinkoSolar, the only Chinese enterprise, and solar PV Company, participated in the B20 process. It is also the first time the Energy, Climate & Resource Efficiency (ECRE) Taskforce accepted JinkoSolar’s recommendation to include solar PV renewable energy as a key topic of discussion at B20 in Germany next year.

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Dominion Acquires 60MW Solar Farm And Announces Multiple Solar Electric PPAs

As part of its long-term plan to bring online at least 500MW of solar electric generating capacity in North Carolina (N.C.) and Virginia, Dominion has announced it has acquired the development rights for the 60MW (AC) Summit Farms Solar facility in Currituck County, N.C. The solar facility is expected to enter service in December 2016. It has also signed 25-year power purchase agreements with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston Medical Center and Post Office Square Redevelopment Corporation.

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Credit Suisse And SolarCity Create New Fund To Finance $300m In Solar Projects

SolarCity Corp. has announced that it has created a new fund to finance more than $300 million in solar projects with Credit Suisse. The fourth such collaboration between SolarCity and Credit Suisse will allow thousands of homeowners in the U.S. to pay less for solar electricity than they pay for utility bills. The fund represents another new financing for SolarCity, following a $305 million cash equity financing and a fund to finance $347 million in projects with Citi that closed last month.

200 MW Tranquillity Solar Power Project Commences Operations In California

The huge 200 MW Tranquillity solar power plant has commenced operation in California, the US State that’s leading the way in PV deployment. Built on a huge 1,900 acres expanse of retired agricultural land in Fresno County; the project is a rare development of such size, as the market shifts towards smaller-scale solar PV plant developments. Canadian Solar’s subsidiary Recurrent Energy developed the project from start to finish, with construction beginning in July 2015 and taking only just over a year to complete.

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US, Canada Boost MIT Research On Clean Energy Sources Of Electricity

Hydro-Québec has announced it will provide a total of CA$100,000 over a 2-year period to research spearheaded by the MIT climate change think tank, Ouranos, located in Montréal, and the business school HEC Montréal, also in Montreal. The agreement provides for the development and implementation of a vital modeling tool that will be available for climate change researchers. The tool focuses on Québec and New England and will seek to identify opportunities for optimal expansion of renewable energy sources in the two regions, including expanded trade in electricity.

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General Motors Commits to 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2050

General Motors plans to generate or source all electrical power for its 350 operations in 59 countries with 100 percent renewable energy — such as wind, sun, and landfill gas — by 2050. “Establishing a 100 percent renewable energy goal helps us better serve society by reducing environmental impact,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “This pursuit of renewable energy benefits our customers and communities through cleaner air while strengthening our business through lower and more stable energy costs.”