Author: SETO Staff             6/30/2022        SETO

Solar Energy Technologies Office

 Funding Opportunities and Prizes

Solar Prize Round 6 Is Live 

Solar innovators, it’s time to throw your hats in the ring for Round 6 of the American-Made Solar Prize! U.S.-based entrepreneurs are invited to submit ideas for innovative hardware and software solar technologies for a chance to win cash prizes and technical assistance. Apply by Oct. 6 to compete and register for an informational webinar on July 13.

Solar District Cup Class of 2023 Launches

Summer may be just starting, but it’s back to school for the Solar District Cup. DOE’s collegiate competition brings multi-disciplinary student teams together to design solar and storage technologies that reimagine how energy is generated and consumed. Students in engineering, architecture, business, and related fields can apply on a rolling basis through Oct. 6 to compete in the Solar District Cup Class of 2022-2023 for a full academic year.

Perovskite Prize Deadline Approaching

There is still time to apply for the American-Made Perovskite Startup Prize to accelerate the development and manufacturing of perovskite solar cells. Competitors who advance to the next stage of the of the prize will receive $200,000. Assemble your team and apply by July 28.

Some Light 🌞 Reading

Peeking at Pollinators Under Solar Arrays

Did you know that pollinators are critical for producing many food crops? SETO is funding work to study the impacts of co-locating ground-mounted solar arrays and habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Solar Energy for the People

The People Power Solar Cooperative in Oakland, California is showing that community-owned solar can be financially beneficial for residents. Deviating from the traditional community solar model where members receive a credit on their electric utility bill, these member-owners invest directly in a solar project and earn money as it sells energy, allowing them to distribute wealth within the community.

Apply for a Fellowship with SETO

Do you want to work with SETO to advance solar technologies and deployment? Apply for a Science and Technology Policy Fellowship by July 15! Students, researchers, and professional scientists are eligible. Selected participants will play an integral role in designing and implementing new initiatives. They will support office-wide research, demonstration, and development efforts in photovoltaic, concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP), and grid integration technologies, as well as solar manufacturing, behavioral science, data analysis, environmental justice, and communications.

Request for Information: Transforming Mines into Clean Energy Hubs

DOE is seeking responses to inform a $500 million program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to place clean energy demonstration projects on current or former mine lands across America. Two of the selected projects must include solar energy. Submit your response by email to mineland@hq.doe.gov by Aug. 15 at 5 p.m. ET.

Solar Jobs Are on the Rise

Energy jobs grew faster than all U.S. employment in 2021, according to DOE’s annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report. Solar energy jobs increased by 5% to more than 330,000 jobs in 2021.

Upcoming Events

Webinar: American-Made Solar Prize Round 6

July 13 | 2 p.m. ET
Learn how to compete in Round 6 of the Solar Prize—a competition designed to energize U.S. solar innovation.

IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) General Meeting

July 17-21
Members of SETO’s systems integration team will speak at the IEEE PES General Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

SolarAPP+ Industry Roundtable for Local Authorities and Installers

July 21 | 1 p.m. ET
Join a roundtable of solar industry leaders and government officials to learn how SolarAPP+ can save your community time and money.

In Case You Missed It

USDA Pollinator Week

SETO joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture to celebrate the critical role pollinators play in agriculture and promote research into the benefits of growing pollinator-friendly plants under or near solar arrays.

Webinar: Energyshed: Exploring Place-Based Generation

Download the slides from informational webinar about the new $10 million funding opportunity for projects that will help local decision-makers assess the impacts of electricity generated and used within a discrete geographic area

Watch the recording of Sandia’s CSP program discussion on the challenges of working with fluid temperatures at 750° C or above.

Learn more about SETO or DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Author: US DOE Staff         Published: 6/29/2022      SETO

The U.S. Department of Energy announced the fourth round of the Solar District Cup—a collegiate competition designed to bring together multidisciplinary teams to design energy systems for a campus or urban district. Diverse students in engineering, urban planning, finance, and related majors will form teams to reimagine how energy is generated and used in a given district.

As students design their energy systems, they will present solutions to pressing solar deployment challenges while making professional contacts and gaining skills needed to enter the clean energy workforce.

Collegiate teams will compete in divisions and base their energy system designs around the needs of real-world district use cases. This year, students will have two options for their district use cases:

• Assignment to a district use case defined by competition organizers (as in previous rounds of the Solar District Cup).
• Self-selection of a district use case. All student teams choosing to bring their own district will compete in a division against other teams bringing their own districts.

The Solar District Cup Class of 2022-2023 will accept collegiate team registration on a rolling basis, which means students can begin work and access learning resources on a timeline that best aligns with their academic calendar.

Register to compete by Oct. 20, 2022. Registered student teams will receive their assigned district use case and access to modeling tools beginning Aug. 23.

In addition to rolling registration throughout the fall, the Solar District Cup Class of 2022-2023 will allow for one-semester or two-quarter participation in the winter/spring.

The competition is administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Learn more about previous rounds of the Solar District Cup.

Author: Tyler Hurlburt            Published: 6/29/20    ENERGEA

Tyler Hurlburt Director of Investor Relations 475-477-2404 Book a Meeting

Author: DOEE Staff      Published: 6/29/2022       DOEE

ABOUT

On Thursday, March 24th, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force, which will advise on priority projects to be funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The $1.2 trillion, five-year infrastructure bill was signed into law on November 15, 2021 and seeks to rebuild American competitiveness through infrastructure by reauthorizing and increasing funding for existing and new programs (over half of the new funding is transportation focused.) The District is expected to receive more than $3 billion over the next five years and will be eligible to apply for competitive grants.

The DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force will be responsible for making recommendations on how to maximize this once-in-a-generation funding opportunity to bolster DC’s competitiveness and resiliency in the region, nationally and globally. The Task Force will also make recommendations on how to prioritize projects that can be funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including formula and competitive grants and solicit feedback from the public and external stakeholders.

SUBCOMMITTEES

The Task Force is made up of members from District agencies and external partners chosen for their expertise in each one of the 5 subcommittees:

• Transportation Innovation
• Technology Innovation
• Workforce Capacity Building
• Environment and Resilience
• Administration, Compliance and Procurement

An executive committee will review initial committee findings and guide the overall process.

SETTING PRIORITIES: Tranformational, Equitable, Sustainable

When thinking about which projects should be prioritized, the Task Force will consider recommendations that will improve economic opportunities for underserved communities, create greater equity amongst DC neighborhoods and residents, withstand future shocks and stressors and accommodate growth throughout the District. Project recommendations must meet three core principles:

• Transformational – big, creative ideas that do away with historical barriers and ensure systems and resources are combined to build back better
• Equitable – cement racial equity into all stages of the projects
• Sustainable – address the climate crisis and build resiliency while also being able to continue when BIL funding is no longer available

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

While the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force meets and develops recommendations, we want to hear from residents across the District who want to have their say in how we prioritize funding projects. Please use the following form to share your thoughts with Task Force members. Remember to think big–this historic investment will be used to change the lives of District residents?

During the event, Mayor Bowser also highlighted how her Fiscal Year 2023 Fair Shot Budget invests in the District’s infrastructure, including $200 million for longer-term streetscape projects to redesign our most dangerous roads and intersections, $143 million to DC Water and the DC Department of Energy and Environment to support efforts to remove all lead pipes from DC, and $100 million to enable ubiquitous connectivity across the District.

To learn more about the Mayor’s FY23 budget highlights, please visit: https://mayor.dc.gov/release/mayor-bowser-presents-fiscal-year-2023-budget-proposal 

Structure

AABE Staff          Published: 6/24/2022          AABE

From: The Office of the AABE Board Chairman, Richard Thigpen To: Re: 2022-2024 Regional Director Appointments As the new Chairman of the AABE Board of Directors, I’m eager to build on our effective leadership framework to support chapter operations and leadership development. In accord with our National Bylaws, it is my distinguished honor to appoint the Regional Directors for May 2022 – May 2024 to align with my two-year term as Board Chair. The AABE Regional Directors serve as the interface to the Board of Directors, National Office Staff, and to the Chapter Presidents. Please join me in congratulating the following AABE leaders as they assume the role of AABE Regional Director. Their demonstrated commitment to AABE, leadership, and service at the chapter and regional level have rendered them “ready” to advise and support the chapter leaders. NORTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR: JAMAR TYNDALE Manager-Corporate Responsibility PSEG Corporate Citizenship 973-430-8699 (office) Jamar.Tyndale@pseg.com MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR: LISA WALLS Supervisor, IT Operations DOMINION ENERGY 804-339-7935 (mobile) Lisa.Walls@dominionenergy.com SOUTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR: CONITSHA B. BARNES Regulatory Affairs Duke Energy 704-382-2330 (office) Conitsha.Barnes@duke-energy.com MIDWEST REGIONAL DIRECTOR: LARON EVANS, PE*, P.Eng.** Business Diversity Director \ Transmission & Distribution Services Burns & McDonnell 816-654-6296 (office) \ 816-304-5826 (mobile) lmevans@burnsmcd.com WESTERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR: DAVID A. FORD Government Relations Manager SCE Local Public Affairs 310-608-5103 (office) \ 818-585-9149 (mobile) david.a.ford@sce.com SOUTHWEST REGIONAL DIRECTOR: MARIE KNOX MISO Technical Development 501-378-4111 (office) \ 501-517-8151 (mobile) mknox@misoenergy.org I would be remiss not to ask you to join me in thanking Amanda Downey, Laquisha Parks, Drexel Harris, and Siraj Mumin for their outstanding service as Regional Directors. While they have chosen to retire from their positions, they have all committed to continuing their support for AABE and our mission of representing the interests of African Americans. Sincerely, Rick Thigpen

American Association of Blacks in Energy | 1625 K St. NW, Suite 405, Washington, DC 20006

Author:  MCGB Staff      Published: 6/16/2022     MCGB

The Green Bank Partners with Sunnova to Make Solar More Accessible    The Montgomery County Green Bank is proud to announce a new partnership with Sunnova Energy International Inc. to offer low- to moderate-income homeowners in Montgomery County access to exclusive solar financing. This program is available to Montgomery County households that earn up to $97,500 per year and want to enjoy the benefits of going solar without any upfront costs. Through an innovative structure of Green Bank resources in partnership with Sunnova, more options are being made available to qualifying households to either lock in a predictable solar energy rate for 25 years or select Sunnova’s new offering that allows customers to lock in a set discount from the utility.

Solar Installer Selected for 2022 Capital Area Co-Op Access Solar Program Available for Low- and Moderate-Income Households  Congratulations to Sustainable Energy Systems to be the 2022 Capital Area Co-Op solar installer as selected by the 2022 Co-Op members! The Green Bank’s Access Solar program launched with the 2022 Capital Area Solar Co-Op for households earning up to $97,500 in Montgomery County who are participating in the 2022 Capital Area Co-Op and for homeowners not using the co-op when using an Access Solar participating installer.   Access Solar offers two easy ways to finance energy projects – an ownership option and a rental option: Ownership Option: SREC pre-purchase – upfront funding to offset the purchase price by paying for 5 years of SRECs Loan – credit score as low as 600 and 50 bps rate reduction Rental Option: Power Purchase Agreement with several pricing options  View the session recording of an information webinar for more information.

In-Person Contractor Breakfast on Montgomery County BEPS  The Green Bank and Department of Environmental Protection hosted the first post-pandemic, in-person contractor breakfast discussion on Tuesday, June 7 at 8:30 AM at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. We discussed the newly passed Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) in Montgomery County, MD and potential opportunities for contractors through the new BEPS legislation. We will also reviewed case studies from Washington D.C., where the BEPS law has already been in effect for several months. Nearly 50 participants attended this event.

Author: DC DOEE Staff      Published: 6/16/2022     DC  DOEE

June 2022

Photo Credit: Capitol Waterfront BID

Summer is finally here! Everything is all bright colors and intense sunshine. Sunshine sointense, you can see the humid haze in the air and the heat radiating from the sidewalks. A sure sign that the summer heat waves are here as well.

Extreme heat, often referred to as a “heat wave,” is an extended period of high temperature usually accompanied by high humidity. This past month DC saw one of the most extreme May temperatures in the last decade. Temperatures rose to the high 90s (highly unusual that early in the year) and we are set to experience even higher temperatures before the season ends.

Extreme heat can be, well, extremely dangerous. Temperatures in this range can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat can also decrease water and air quality, cause blackouts, and affect overall city infrastructure. In the District, the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency’s (HSEMA) Heat Emergency Plan is available to address times of extreme heat. It is initiated whenever the heat index reaches 95 degrees, with “cooling centers” being activated across the city.

Cooling centers are places where residents can gain some relief during extreme heat periods. They range from air-conditioned facilities such as libraries and recreation centers to outdoor spaces such as swimming pools and spray parks. Once activated, these cooling centers are fully open to the public and available across all Wards.

Click here to access the District’s interactive 2022 Cooling Center Map and find your local cooling center.

You can start preparing for the heat ahead by staying informed through District social media and communication channels, downloading the free HSEMA app, signing up for AlertDC, creating a Family Emergency Plan, or building and re-stocking your Emergency Kit. For more information on where to go and what to do, call 311 or text 32311.

DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Panel Highlights Flood Resilience On June 2, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities held a virtual discussion focused on photographers, filmmakers, and planners who address flood resilience in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and other locales with threatened shorelines. This was all to celebrate the Fragile Beauty exhibition that opened in May. Featured speakers were artists Alexandra Silverthorne and Bahar Yürükoğlu, New Orleans architectural designer and planner Jaime Ramiro (Rami) Diaz, and the Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE’s) Allyson Criner Brown. To view a recording of the discussion, visit this webpage.

Anacostia Environmental Youth Summit Draws Local Students to Learn About Their Environment

DOEE’s Watershed Protection Division welcomed 350 3^rd through 8^th graders from DC Public Schools at Anacostia Park for the 2022 Anacostia Environmental Youth Summit on May 20. DOEE partnered with the Friends of Anacostia Park for this fun day of learning about the ecological and human history of the Anacostia River. Students went on boat tours of the river with the Anacostia Watershed Society, Earth Conservation Corps, and Anacostia Riverkeeper. They enjoyed music and roller skating in the National Park Service’s Anacostia Skating Pavilion. And they participated in engaging activities with 15 education partners. The summit also included a zero-waste lunch, with compost and recycling as a central focus. Ultimately, it was great educational day out at Anacostia Park.

10th Annual DC Electric Vehicle Grand Prix Showcases Student Knowledge On April 30, DOEE, along with partners Global Energy Education Environment (Global EEE), Pepco, and the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), hosted the 10th annual DC Electric Vehicle (EV) Grand Prix at the Bertie Backus-UDC Campus. The DC EV Grand Prix is a mini EV energy efficiency race amongst high school students. DOEE partners with Global EEE to teach high school students about energy efficiency concepts, the role EVs play in our environment, and how to construct vehicles to compete in the DC EV Grand Prix. During the Grand Prix, over 20 teams participated, including teams from as far as Baltimore County. It was a very competitive race as all the teams put on display the concepts they learned during the education sessions. After three long heats, Perry Hall School from Maryland emerged as the 1st place winners, and Jackson-Reed High School (formerly known as Wilson High School), came in 2nd place. The event drew a crowd of over 100 people and was a huge draw for the community! For more information, visit this webpage.

GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Request for Applicants for the Chesapeake Bay Program Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Coordination Grant

DOEE seeks eligible entities to field a person(s) who will facilitate and coordinate the implementation of key elements of the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Implementation Plan. The DOEE-CBP partnership seeks to advance a vision of clean water, abundant life, conserved lands, public access to water, a vibrant cultural heritage, and a diversity of engaged citizens and stakeholders. The deadline to apply is July 22 at 11:59 p.m.For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.

Request for Applicants for the Enhancing Green Infrastructure Community Benefits Grants

DOEE seeks eligible entities to increase the benefits that District Stormwater Retention Credit – generating green infrastructure provides to property owners, nearby residents, and other stakeholders, with a focus on historically marginalized communities and communities that face historical or current environmental injustices. These grants will fund projects that implement a participatory planning and design process to identify community-identified green infrastructure benefits, in addition to stormwater runoff reduction, and develop best practices for future engagement with communities towards identifying their desired green infrastructure benefits. The deadline to apply is August 5 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.

The 2022-23 DC Futures Program

The DC Futures Program aims to help District college students complete their first associate or bachelor’s degree. The program offers last-dollar scholarships (tuition, fees, and cost of attendance) at three local universities in addition to college coaching, as well as personal and financial support services for all participants. One of the eligible majors is a B.A. in Urban Sustainability from the University of the District of Columbia. The application for the 2022-23 school year closes on August 19. Interested individuals are invited to review the student information and submit a DC Futures Program Application.

Request for Proposals for The Environmental Justice Data Fund

The Environmental Justice Data Fund aims to help frontline communities that have been historically underserved and disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental injustice. The Fund will enable frontline communities in the United States to use data to unlock resources, increase their access to Justice40 benefits and federal infrastructure funding, and advocate for new policies that empower communities to address past environmental harm and pave the way to a more sustainable, climate-resilient future. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and will close on September 16. For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.

JOBS

Department of Energy and Environment – Environmental Protection Specialist

This position is in the Watershed Protection Division (WPD) of the Natural Resources Administration of DOEE and will fill the role of Tree Planting and Policy Coordinator. The mission of the WPD is to conserve the soil and water resources of the District of Columbia and protect its watersheds from nonpoint source pollution. The incumbent will serve as the agency’s point person on tree planting and policy and will manage the District’s Urban Forestry Advisory Council. The deadline to apply is June 28. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the role using this Job ID: 17536.

Department of Energy and Environment – Climate Program Analyst

This position in the Urban Sustainability Administration will coordinate the implementation of plans to achieve the District’s ambitious goals to cut carbon pollution and prepare for climate change within the agency, across related District agencies (including HSEMA, The Office of Planning, DC Health, The District Department of Transportation), and with community partners. Responsibilities include developing new strategies to reduce carbon pollution and advance climate resilience, coordinating annual progress reports, developing and strengthening community partnerships, and engaging with residents on climate change (with a focus on black, indigenous, and people of color who are overburdened by climate change impacts). Strong facilitation, communications, project management, and analytical skills are required in addition to experience in, and knowledge of climate policy. The deadline to apply is June 30. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the role using this Job ID: 17670.

Department of Energy and Environment – Green Food Program Analyst

This position with the Urban Sustainability Administration will help launch the District’s new Green Food Purchasing Program, a next step in advancing the District’s commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. In supporting the District’s first assessment of greenhouse gas emissions associated with food procurement, and recommendations for reducing that impact, this individual will work closely with a diverse set of partners and stakeholders. This will include collaborating with a network of cities and institutions with shared goals, including signatories to the Cool Food Pledge, as well as with non-governmental organizations and District government agencies. Specific duties include establishing a methodology and collecting data in order to estimate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food purchases, identifying and supporting strategies to reduce emissions from food and other government purchases, and reporting progress. This individual will support the broader work of the Urban Sustainability Administration to advance climate action and institutionalize environmentally preferable purchasing. The deadline to apply is June 30. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the role using this Job ID: 17671.

DC Greens – Produce Prescription (Rx) Coordinator

DC Greens is a nonprofit organization that advances health equity by building a just and resilient food system in the nation’s capital. It is currently seeking a Produce Rx Coordinator who will support the implementation of the DC Greens Produce Prescription (Produce Rx) program and coordination of a “Food as Medicine” campaign. The successful candidate will have an interest in community health and nutrition as well as building a just food system with the people of DC. This position involves communications with a diverse group of stakeholders and community members, event and meeting planning, as well as program coordination and data management. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.

The Anacostia Watershed Society – Manager of Education 

The Anacostia Watershed Society seeks a Manager of Education to engage watershed communities (youth and adults) in learning about, experiencing, and restoring the Anacostia River and its watershed through environmental education programs. This full-time, exempt position will teach watershed education in area classrooms, lead field studies on the Anacostia River, conduct teacher trainings, and engage students as well as other volunteers in service projects. For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Apply to Join the Green Building Advisory Council as a Private Sector Representative

The Green Building Advisory Council (GBAC) is a volunteer commission that makes recommendations on green building policies and monitors the District’s compliance with green building requirements. Made up of representatives from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, the GBAC continues to support the District as a leader in green building innovation. To view agendas for upcoming meetings and minutes from past meetings, visit the GBAC webpage. The next GBAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and is open to the public. The meeting agenda, including a link to join the virtual meeting, will be posted to the GBAC webpage at least 48 hours before the meeting. The GBAC is seeking applicants who live or work in the District to fill one vacancy for a private sector representative. For more information or to apply, visit the Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments website.

EVENTS

Urban Farm Tours with DC Greens Join DC Greens as they give tours of the newly opened Well at Oxon Run throughout June. This urban farm is a community and wellness space dedicated to serving the residents of Ward 8. Grab the chance to get down and dirty and find out more about urban farms in the District. Tours will take place in Oxon Run Park at 300 Valley Ave SE on the following dates: June 23, 2:00–4:00 p.m. June 30, 2:00–4:00 p.m. For more information, visit this webpage.

2022 Flood Awareness Week  During the third week of each June, DOEE (in conjunction with HSEMA; The Department of Insurance, Savings, and Banking; and the DC Silver Jackets) hosts the annual Flood Awareness Week to raise public knowledge of flood risk in the District, encourage the public to take actions to reduce their flood risk, and provide information on available resources. This year’s flood week programming, occurring from June 21 to June 24, will present flood related topics aligned with the needs of DC residents. Programs will allow residents to work with elected officials to create a more cohesive program that will leave a major impact on the community.

Commission of Arts and Humanities’ Exhibition on Fragile Beauty With the Fragile Beauty exhibit, 33 DC artists seek to bring a sense of balance to an array of environmental injustices. Their art and their vision advocate awareness, mindfulness, consciousness, and stewardship, offering pathways towards personal partnership with our planet. They tell their stories with painting, sculpture, prints, photography, and installations. They inform us of both the joyful and the sorrowful, the woeful and the hopeful. Featured artists include Tammy Barnes, Jeffrey Berg, Monica Jahan Bose, Elizabeth Casqueiro, Gloria Chapa, and more. The exhibit is being held at 200 I Street SE from Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The exhibit is open until July 1. For more information, visit this webpage.

Come to the Next Fix-It DC Event Let’s celebrate repair! Come and learn to disassemble and troubleshoot all your broken objects at the next Fix-It DC event. Fix-It DC is a program which includes all-ages community events where people bring their broken household items and learn how to assess, disassemble, and repair them instead of sending them to the landfill. Attend the upcoming Fix-It events at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Labs on: Wednesday, June 22, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2:30 p.m.  If you would like to learn more about Fix-It DC program, visit the Fix-It DC website.

The Department of Energy and Environment’s Pollinator Week Event on Kingman Island DOEE will be holding an event for Pollinator Week on June 25 on Kingman Island from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. DOEE and partners will have information about pollinators and how residents can support them in the District. There will be activities for kids, a nature walk with a botanist, and a seed giveaway at the end of the day. Attendees are encouraged to take public transportation to the event. The nearest streetcar stop is Benning Road and Oklahoma Avenue NE on the H/Benning line and the nearest bus stop is Benning Road and Anacostia Avenue NE. For more information, visit this webpage.

eCYCLE Collection Events By recycling used electronics, individuals can help recover valuable resources and properly manage potentially hazardous materials. eCYCLE DC, through manufacturers’ collection and recycling plans, is bringing District residents more options for recycling their electronics. The following items are banned from the trash and are collected at the eCYCLE DC collection events: computers and monitors, tablet, e-readers, mice, keyboards, DVD or VCR players, printers, televisions, game consoles, and portable music players. For more information, check out this fact sheet.

• Saturday, June 18, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 1400 41^st St SE (Ward 7, near Fort Davis Recreation Center)
• Saturday, June 25, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 1230 Sumner Rd SE (Ward 8, near Barry Farm Recreation Center)
• Saturday, July 9, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near corner of Champlain St NW & Columbia Rd NW (Ward 1, near Unity Park)
• Saturday, July 9, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 1350 49th St NE (Ward 7, near Deanwood Library)
• Saturday, July 16, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near 403 7th St SE (Ward 6, near Southeast Library)
• Saturday, July 16, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. 1555 34th St NW (Ward 2, Near Volta Park Recreation Center)

Please visit the eCYCLE DC website to check for any updates closer to the event date.

The Capital Pride Guide: Here’s your guide to celebrating Pride Month all over the District. Check out the many events planned for June and go out and show your pride!

Summer Road Trip to Assateague & Shenandoah: Have nothing planned for the summer? Take on the Assateague & Shenandoah Road Trip! Leave from Washington DC and drive through the Assateague Island National Seashore, Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway and more. Click here to find the nearest EV charging stations on the route.

The Surprising History of Electric Cars: Did you know electric cars were on the roads as far back as the 19th century? Watch this video and find out the surprisingly long history of electric cars.

LET’S GET CONNECTED!

SUSTAINABLE DC: DOEE:

Author: US DOE SETO Staff    Published: 6/15/2022           SETO

Author: Antoine Thompson             6/14/2022           GWRCCC

Author:  Black Enterprise Staff       6/14/2022           Southern

Author: US DOE Staff:      Published: 6/12/2022       SETO

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected 19 projects, with a total funding of $6 million, that will pursue innovative, targeted, early-stage ideas in solar energy research and development. These projects, representing 13 different U.S. states, will support President Biden’s goal of addressing the climate crisis by driving innovation and speeding clean energy deployment to achieve a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions energy sector by 2050.

The projects were selected through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS) 2022 Funding Program. SIPS projects focus on novel, high-risk, or high-impact ideas that can produce significant results within the first year of performance, quickly validating new concepts and laying the foundation for continued research. SIPS is an ongoing SETO program that has funded more than 100 projects since it began in 2015.

The SIPS program is also designed to increase the diversity of clean energy researchers by streamlining the application process and encouraging applications from researchers who have never applied or been selected for a SETO award. Of the 19 recipients, 15 are first-time lead researchers on a SETO-funded project.

“Bringing new researchers into the DOE ecosystem with their bold, innovative ideas is an incredibly fruitful way to advance our work in clean energy, and break through incremental improvements,” said Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “I can’t wait to see the knowledge and technological advances that will grow out of these new solar projects.”

Applicants also submitted plans to support team members from groups traditionally underrepresented in engineering and science as part of their projects. Four lead or partner members on the selected projects come from minority-serving institutions.

Projects were awarded in two solar energy research areas: photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar-thermal power (CSP). CSP projects innovate across all aspects of CSP plants, including thermal energy storage, solar-thermal fuel systems, and solar-thermal process heat for industrial decarbonization. The following organizations were selected to receive CSP SIPS awards:

• Advanced Materials Scientia (Bothell, WA)
• Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
• Flowserve (Irving, TX)
• Heliogen (Pasadena, CA)
• Sandia National Laboratories (Albuquerque, NM)
• University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
• University of Maine (Orono, ME)
• University of Tulsa (Tulsa, OK)

PV projects will improve power conversion efficiency, energy output, reuse and recycling processes, service lifetime, and manufacturability of PV technologies. The following organizations were selected to receive PV SIPS awards:

• Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
• Argonne National Laboratory (Lemont, IL)
• Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
• University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
• University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)
• University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT)
• University of Delaware (Newark, DE)
• University of Hawaii at Manoa (Honolulu, HI)
• University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)
• Uriel Solar (Westlake Village, CA)

Learn more about the 2022 SIPS projects and explore SETO’s PV research and CSP research.

Author: Eric Singular, Director          Published: 6/12/2022         Hemp Business Journal

The U.S. hemp industry is in a period of correction after initially overheated production since passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. Over the past three years, there has been a significant decline in U.S. hemp acreage, but rather than perceived as a negative with fear that the crop has fizzled, it should be welcomed as a much-needed reset for an imperative balance between supply and market demand.

In 2019, the U.S. saw 511,442 acres registered for hemp production. That moon shot in acreage was driven by the CBD boom, and proved to be massively out of balance with the cannabinoid’s true market size. For instance, PanXchange’s Julie Lerner demonstrated how top brand Charlotte’s Web could have achieved its $95 million in 2019 production revenue from the biomass of 57 acres; that year, the manufacturer grew a reported 862 acres, more than 15x the demand.

Correcting the Hype

Rumors of hemp farmers making between $10,000-$50,000 per acre of cannabinoid-rich hemp for extraction fueled overproduction. At the time, the U.S. was still recovering from a trade war with China, and passage of the 2018 Farm Bill stirred a perfect storm as American farmers were dizzied by the promise of a new cash crop. In the four years since, commodity prices for staple crops like corn, wheat, and soy headed toward historic lows. Meanwhile, the per-bushel price of corn has increased 101% (from $3.70 to $7.43), 82% for soybeans (from $9.35 to $16.98), and 109% for wheat (from $4.98 to $10.41).

New Frontier Data documented the following hemp production licensing and acreage data for 2022 with 62% of State Departments of Agriculture reporting (84% of the top-25 producing states):

• 5,381 licenses issued (down 35% from 8,298 in 2021), and
• 51,016 acres licensed (down 53% from 107,702 in 2021).

Over the past three years, the average decrease in licensed versus planted acreage is 63%, with a 41% decrease from planted versus harvested acreage. While 51,016 acres is a conservative estimate (with all states reporting, it may be closer to 75,000 acres), U.S. hemp acreage has declined for the third-straight year.

By example, Colorado saw a 75% reduction in acreage from 2021 (from 18,715 acres), down to 4,727 in 2022. Minnesota meanwhile decreased its acreage by more than two-thirds, from 6,191 in 2021 to 2,005 this year.

PanXchange, a marketplace for ESG-Inclusive commodities, estimates the following breakdown by type:

• Floral: 26,266 acres
• Fiber: 15,000 acres
• Grain: 7,000 acres
• Seed: 2,750 acres

For the past two years, the acreage dedicated to cannabinoid extraction — what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) classifies as “floral” — has decreased dramatically. When tens of thousands of farmers jumped into hemp production in 2019, they produced a glut of biomass that was tenuously compliant with federal THC standards and often failed to meet the specifications of CBD product manufacturers. We can say with confidence that a balance has finally been struck between supply and demand for hemp-derived cannabinoids.

Demand and Court Decision Drive Delta-8… for Now

While the hype around CBD has cooled, the market for delta-8 THC has exploded. In fact, the delta-8 THC market provided an outlet for the glut of speculative, low-quality, CBD-rich biomass that had sat unsold on farms since 2019 (partially due to the presence of contaminants like pesticides or heavy materials). This is because delta-8 THC is commonly synthesized from CBD isolate.

Last month, the U.S. Ninth Circuit ruled that delta-8 THC and other cannabinoids derived from hemp are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, regardless whether the substances have psychoactive properties. The legal decision will only continue to spur growth in that market, raising the possibility for an undersupply of hemp biomass for extraction come this fall.

PanXchange estimates that the demand for Delta-8 THC alone may require 25,000 acres of production. This may swing the pendulum of CBD pricing back in an upward direction, after faltering sharply over the last few years.

While the acreage dedicated to floral hemp has declined sharply since 2019, fiber and grain acreage has steadily increased. In the past 12 months, regional processors nationwide have become operational. While 2021 was a key year for processors in trialing varieties, undertaking research and development, and optimizing machinery and processing capabilities, 2022 marked a significant shift toward a larger scale. That is a critical progression as processors have invested millions of dollars to get operational, and their financial projections depend on being able to secure a certain amount of acreage to keep processing lines and shifts running year-round.

However, 2022 has proved challenging to get acreage contracted for U.S. fiber and grain processors. Amid volatility and global food supply fears, the price of staple agricultural commodities has skyrocketed. This is being driven by a confluence of the war in Ukraine, persistent drought, and insatiable demand.

Later this summer, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will release its 2022 acreage report, which will provide a gauge of attrition from licensed to planted hemp acres. Farmers are required to self-report all crop acreage to FSA annually, so that the agency may determine payment eligibility and its calculations for various disaster programs. Yet, hemp producers face additional regulatory hurdles, including background checks, obtaining their state hemp licenses, coordinating with state agriculture regulators for THC testing of their crops, and timing their harvests to respectively remain within a 30-day period of a state regulatory official’s collecting a pre-harvest sample.

Currently, 44 states, and most tribes, manage their own USDA-approved hemp programs, and thus issue state-level production licenses. However, farmers in each Hawaii, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Utah file production applications directly from the USDA.

Regulatory Respites Available

With agriculture policy reform on the table given the upcoming Farm Bill, there are two industry-led initiatives seeking to mitigate the regulatory burdens on hemp producers. One is a blanket fiber and grain exemption to regulate a hemp crop by end-use; the other is a Certified Seed exemption similar to the regulatory scheme for Canada’s hemp production.

Author: US DOE Staff       Published: 6/8/2022          SETO

Author: Maria McCoy          Published: 5/31/2022    ILSR

The U.S. electricity sector is evolving toward a clean, decentralized system at an ever-accelerating pace. In 2021, developers installed a record 18.2 gigawatts of solar generation capacity. Out of that total, 5.4 gigawatts came from distributed solar, including a record 500,000 homeowners who installed residential solar systems. Distributed solar, which can be owned by individuals, businesses, and public entities, is turning the electricity industry upside down as individuals choose to generate their own solar power.

Many who could not go solar in 2021 subscribed to a community solar garden. These gardens offer the same electric bill stability and savings as rooftop solar, but operate remotely under a subscription model. The state of New Mexico set up its community solar program last year, joining the 19 states (and the District of Columbia) that offer community solar. Delaware, Oregon, and Virginia all set or improved their rules for community solar in 2021.

See our infographic on how Tweaking a Tax Credit Would Help More Americans Go Solar.

The map below illustrates the saturation of each state’s distributed (non-utility-scale) solar market, relative to population, at the end of 2021. For the purposes of the map, community solar in Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York is included as distributed solar. We added our own figures on state community solar capacity to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s figures on small-scale photovoltaic capacity by state. This sum was divided by state population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, resulting in a figure for distributed solar per capita (watts per person). The U.S. EIA does not collect data for Alabama or Georgia.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have a distributed solar saturation of more than 100 watts per capita.

When solar-enabling policies are in place, how well do utilities follow the rules? Read our report on How Electric Utilities and Policymakers Are Holding Back Local Solar.

20 watts per capita is equivalent to rooftop solar on 1 out of every 125 households; 40 watts per capita is equivalent to  2 out of every  125 households; 100 watts per capita is equivalent to 1 out of every 25 households; 200 watts per capita is equivalent to 2 out of every  25 households; 300 watts per capita is equivalent to 3 out of every 25 households; and Hawaii has the equivalent of rooftop solar on 1 out of every 5 households (given the national average of 2.6 persons per household and 6.5 kilowatt rooftop solar systems).

Here are the top states in order from most distributed solar per capita to least:

1. Hawaii: 521 watts per capita (750 megawatts of distributed solar)
2. Massachusetts 363 watts per capita (2,532 megawatts of distributed solar)
3. California: 311 watts per capita (12,200 megawatts of distributed solar)
4. Arizona: 269 watts per capita (1,956 megawatts of distributed solar)
5. Rhode Island: 249 watts per capita (272 megawatts of distributed solar)
6. Vermont: 228 watts per capita (147 megawatts of distributed solar)
7. New Jersey: 222 watts per capita (2,057 megawatts of distributed solar)
8. Nevada: 203 watts per capita (637 megawatts of distributed solar)
9. Connecticut: 196 watts per capita (708 megawatts of distributed solar)
10. Minnesota: 169 watts per capita (966 megawatts of distributed solar)
11. New York: 151 watts per capita (3,005 megawatts of distributed solar)
12. Washington D.C.: 150 watts per capita (101 megawatts of distributed solar)
13. Maryland: 145 watts per capita (897 megawatts of distributed solar)
14. Colorado: 140 watts per capita (814 megawatts of distributed solar)
15. New Mexico: 125 watts per capita (264 megawatts of distributed solar)
16. Utah: 116 watts per capita (387 megawatts of distributed solar)
17. New Hampshire: 108 watts per capita (150 megawatts of distributed solar)
18. Delaware: 100 watts per capita (101 megawatts of distributed solar)

Although California, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina have the largest overall solar markets (see below), Hawaii, Massachusetts, California, and Arizona have the greatest distributed solar saturation, as measured in installed distributed solar capacity per capita. California, Arizona, Nevada, Massachusetts, and New Jersey all land in the top ten for both distributed solar saturation and total solar generation capacity.

These state solar markets changed the most since our 2020 update:

• Installed solar capacity in Texas, California, and Florida all grew by more than a gigawatt in 2021 (4.3, 3.0, and 1.5 gigawatts, respectively). Virginia’s installed solar capacity grew by just under one gigawatt (955 megawatts).
• Maine, Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin doubled or more than doubled their installed solar capacity with growth from 2021.
• Indiana, Iowa, Colorado, and Michigan also saw rapid solar generation capacity expansion in 2021 (91%, 80%, 55%, and 53%, respectively).

Eighteen states can now claim more than 1,000 megawatts of total solar capacity and 40 have more than 100 megawatts.

For more analysis on the growth of the U.S. power sector, read our latest quarterly update.

Community solar, enabled in 20 states and the District of Columbia, brings many of the benefits of power to those who have traditionally been left out. Community solar gardens — which are larger than residential solar installations, but smaller than utility-owned solar fields — are the most cost-effective size for solar and reduce electric bills for members of the community.

The following graphic highlights the four community solar-enabling states — Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York — that we are able to track at this time. The figures for community solar saturation are calculated by dividing installed community solar capacity by state population.

Total installed community solar capacity at the end of 202:

1. Minnesota (826 megawatts)
2. New York (799 megawatts)
3. Massachusetts (641 megawatts)
4. Colorado (96 megawatts)

State policies like community solar are crucial in support of local decision-making and promoting the adoption of distributed solar. Additional essential policies include net metering, simplified interconnection rules, property assessed clean energy, a renewable portfolio standard carve-out for solar or distributed energy, and solar or solar-ready mandates for buildings. We track these policies and others in our Community Power Map.

ILSR’s State(s) of Distributed Solar analysis is updated annually. For a historical snapshot, explore our archived analyses of distributed solar by state in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016.

This article originally posted at ilsr.org. For timely updates, follow John Farrell on Twitter or get the Energy Democracy weekly update.

Author: US DOE SETO Staff        Published: 6/6/2022       SETO