This Week in Climate & Clean Energy Wins: Week of 11/6/23

Strata Clean Energy has closed a $300 million loan to expand its operational fleet and accelerate the commercialization of its 17+ GW solar development pipeline. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that two major solar energy projects are now fully operational in Southern California, among 15 onshore clean energy projects being rolled out by the Biden Administration that mark progress on their goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035. Finally, the Department of Energy released a new map showing that the private sector now accounts for 89% of announced America-made battery investments. 

This week, Silicon Ranch and Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative completed its battery storage project in McNeal, Arizona this week. This new project will provide power to about 3,000 households in southeastern Arizona. In Pennsylvania, a new report from Grid Strategies and the American Council for Renewable Energy found that increased coordination between regional electric grids could save people billions of dollars on energy bills. In Michigan, the House of Representatives passed legislation requiring utilities to draw power using only clean energy sources by 2040. 

According to a new report from Forbes, AI could play a pivotal role in advancing renewable energy development – facilitating energy trading, minimizing grid disruptions, and optimizing storage. A Center for American Progress (CAP) report showed the sweeping impacts of electric vehicle (EV) production on the U.S. economy, with 4.6 million EVs expected to be produced in the next three years. 

The Biden Administration advanced 15 new onshore renewable energy projects in the West. These projects are expected to produce up to 11,236 MW of electricity – enough to power over 3.5 million U.S. homes. The First Lady traveled to Georgia and Pennsylvania to meet with local leaders and highlight America’s workforce hubs. 

Private Sector

• Linde PLC and NextEra Energy are partnering to develop a $1 billion hydrogen facility in Phoenix, Arizona. [ABC 15, 11/3/2023] 
  • The new facility is expected to produce up to 120 metric tons of liquid hydrogen daily and could power up to 3,000 trucks, helping to eliminate reliance on diesel. 
• Strata Clean Energy has closed a $300 million loan to expand its operational fleet and accelerate the commercialization of its 17+ GW solar development pipeline. [Solar Industry Magazine, 11/6/2023] 
  • The proceeds of the loan will support the development, construction and operation of Strata’s upcoming renewable energy, energy storage and power-to-X projects. 

• U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that two major solar energy projects are now fully operational in Southern California. [The Desert Sun, 11/6/23] 
  • Two of 15 onshore clean energy projects, The Oberon Solar Project and the Arlington Solar Energy Center mark progress on the Biden Administration’s goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035. 
  • Other projects highlighted by the Secretary included progress on permits for transmission lines across Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, an upcoming geothermal lease sale in Nevada, and progress on environmental reviews for seven solar projects across Arizona and Nevada.

• The U.S. Department of Energy released a map that shows the private sector now accounts for 89% of announced American-made battery investments. [Clean Technica, 11/6/23] 
  • Since September 2023, there have been 208 announcements of private sector investments in American-made battery technologies and counting, in addition to 27 federal announcements. 

New Reports

• According  to the renewables company, BrightNight, AI offers new opportunities for innovating clean energy technologies. [Forbes, 11/7/23] 
  • AI and AI powered tools have energy forecasting and smart grid management capabilities that could increase the generation and reliability of energy across the country.
• Consumer demand for EVs has surged, with the market reaching 1 million annual sales this year. [Center for American Progress, 11/7/23]
  • More than half of EV investments since 2015 occurred after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, a testament to the Biden Administration’s clean energy plan. 
  • In the next three years, the U.S. is expected to be able to manufacture over 4.6 million EVs. 

Biden Administration

• First Lady Dr. Jill Biden traveled to Georgia to speak with local leaders about workforce development programs outlined in Biden’s economic policies and clean energy plan. [The Augusta Chronicle, 11/8/23]
  • Later, Dr. Biden stopped in Pennsylvania to talk about similar workforce initiatives in the state. [WTAE, 11/8/23]
• The U.S. Department of the Interior announced 15 onshore clean energy projects across the western U.S., in line with President Biden’s goal to permit 25 GW of renewables on public lands by 2025. [DOI, 11/6/23] 
  • The projects to enhance solar energy, transmission lines, and geothermal leasing span across California, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.

State-Level  

• Silicon Ranch and Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative completed its battery storage project in McNeal, Arizona this week. The solar power farm has a capacity of 20 MW, and the battery electricity storage system capacity is 20 MW/80 MWh. [Clean Technica, 11/6/23]
  • The new project will provide power to about 3,000 households in southeastern Arizona.
• A new report from Grid Strategies and the American Council for Renewable Energy found that increased coordination between regional electric grids could save people billions of dollars on energy bills. [The Allegheny Front, 11/6/23]
• Last week, the Michigan House of Representatives passed legislation requiring utilities to draw power using only clean energy sources by 2040. [WDET, 11/7/23]
  • According to the legislation, renewable energy sources like wind or solar must make up 60% of a utility’s energy portfolio, and the rest can consist of clean energy systems, including nuclear energy and natural gas using 90% carbon capture and storage technology.