Author:                         Published: 6/2/2023         Energea

Redwood Valley, California Redwood Valley Solar in the USA We are excited to announce the latest addition to our Solar in the USA portfolio—an operational 99kW project located in Northern California. Originally built in 2010, we’ve acquired this project to revitalize its infrastructure and restore it to its full potential. Through panel replacements and the construction of a protective privacy wall, we will breathe new life into this project, maximizing both economic returns and environmental impact for years to come.   Discover the transformative power of the Redwood Valley Solar Project!

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Author: U.S. Department of Education       Published: 6/1/2023    HBCUnewsletter@ed.gov

WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, EXCELLENCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGH  HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Announcements!

HBCU Student Opportunities! U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission SEC Career Internship Program: Paid Internships & Information Sessions The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking bright, innovative, results-oriented students to complete internships in our Washington, DC and regional offices. We offer paid internship opportunities that enhance careers by providing robust responsibilities and experiences to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. These internships may lead to permanent placement upon completion of the Pathways Internship Program. More information about the SEC can be found at www.sec.gov/careers. Internship Opportunities: Student Trainee (Program Support) based in Washington, DC Student Trainee (Program Support) based in Regional Offices  Internship Locations: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Denver, CO; Fort Worth, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC. The announcements close on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 11:59pm ET. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Vacancy Announcements Career & Internship Opportunities Potential applicants can visit FWS careers for more information about the different careers we have at FWS and within the Department of the Interior. Go to our FWS careers searchable map and database to locate current opportunities within FWS. In addition, FWS collaborates with nongovernmental organizations (partner intern opportunities) to provide internship opportunities for students and graduates, which can lead to a valuable experience for a future career with FWS. FWS is one of the 11 bureaus within the Department of the Interior (DOI).  To learn more about the types of careers across all of the DOI organizations, find your career path, and access other information and career resources, visit My DOI Career.   The DOI Human Capital mobile app is now available in the Apple App store!  Users can learn about DOI’s important work and how to navigate a federal career through video vignettes, occupation information, and other resources. Note: If you have a question about a specific position or internship, please contact the person listed directly in the specific announcement. U.S. Agency for Global Media The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is one of the largest international media agencies in the world. We broadcast to over 100 countries in 63 different languages on multiple media platforms.  Our mission is to inform, engage, and connect the people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. If you are interested in becoming a part of an exciting, multi-media, multi-cultural organization, check out the below links and apply! Paid Fellowship/Internship U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) via the Washington Center is now accepting applications for our newly established USAGM Fellowship Program (Paid Internships) for the upcoming Fall semester. Application Deadline:  June 8, 2022 Program Dates:  August 28, 2023 – December 8, 2023. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Career Fair – ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND In-person | June 8, 2023 | 10am-3pm | Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center, McLean, VA (Shuttle service available from the McLean metro station) This event provides job seekers an opportunity to learn about FHWA careers while visiting an FHWA facility and engaging with transportation research. During the career fair, there will be general informational booths, workshops, on-the-spot interviews, and resume reviews. Demonstrations, displays, food trucks, and additional offerings will also be available. REGISTER HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/617247362477 Virtual Career Fair Option Can’t make the in-person fair? FHWA will host a virtual career fair on June 14, 2023 from 1-5pm EST via CareerEco. REGISTER HERE: www.careereco.com/events/FHWA2023 National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) Mission 1: Discover Information Session: June 15, 2023 @ 4:30-5:00 PM CDT | Teams Link NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) Mission 1: Discover registration is now open through June 26, 2023! Commencing in July, Mission 1: Discover takes students through a 5-week, self-paced online course where they gain broad knowledge of NASA’s mission directorates and discover NASA career paths. Students can expect to hear from subject matter experts and learn about NASA’s missions dedicated to space exploration, technology, and aeronautics research. Mission 1: Discover is the first of three missions designed to challenge and build student knowledge and skills by focusing on NASA’s mission goals, team collaboration, and career pathways. Mission 1: Discover sets a baseline for all participants wishing to pursue subsequent NCAS missions. For more information, eligibility, and the application process join an information session or visit the NCAS website.  Dragonfly Student and Early Career Investigator Program Audience: Graduate students/undergrad STEM students Application Deadline: June 16, 2023 Contact: dragonfly-seo-leadership-l@listserv.jhuapl.edu Set to launch in 2027, NASA’s Dragonfly mission will send a rotorcraft lander to explore a variety of locations on Saturn’s moon Titan. Graduate students are invited to apply for a two-year term to work with Dragonfly mission team members to conduct Titan research, help formulate Dragonfly mission science and operations plans, or assist in the development of instrumentation, hardware, or testing. Applicants must be U.S. citizens pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in the physical sciences, biological sciences, computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Undergraduate STEM students who will be graduating with bachelor’s degrees in May 2023 are also eligible to apply, provided that they will be enrolled in STEM graduate programs in fall 2023. Psyche Inspired Intern Applications Now Open Audience: Undergrad students from any discipline Application Deadline: June 23, 2023 @ 12:00 PM PDT Contact: Form available here The Psyche Inspired application for the 2023-2024 academic year is now open. Psyche Inspired is a program that brings undergraduate students from any discipline or major together to share the excitement, innovation, and scientific and engineering content of NASA’s Psyche mission with the public in new ways through artistic and creative works. Visit the Psyche Inspired application page for more information. Upcoming Events & Opportunities! The White House Initiative on HBCUs, 2023 Career & Recruitment Fair, Call for Proposals! OVERVIEW. The Initiative will host its 5th Annual National HBCU Week Conference Career and Recruitment Fair on September 28, 2023, in the DC Metro Area. The career fair will welcome 500-800 in-person job seekers. This year’s career fair theme is Career Pathways and Economic Mobility: advancing and maximizing programs, resources, and initiatives that support the recruitment of HBCU talent, human capital, and career advancement opportunities; with an underlying objective to identify and fill available opportunities on-site. This career fair will feature professional development sessions, and direct hiring and recruitment opportunities grouped into the following paths of engagement: Career Services Supports (i.e., Wraparound Services) Career Pathways Development (Internships/Fellowships) Experiential Learning Workforce Development (Faculty Development Opportunities, Executive in Residence) Entrepreneurship Access and Affordability Career Fair Session Proposal and General Hiring Proposal Process HBCU Career Fair Guidance – This is general information and guidance on how to submit your requests for sessions or booths during the Career and Recruitment Fair. Career Fair Session Proposal Form -Use this form if you want to provide session content during the Career and Recruitment Fair. Gen Hiring Recruitment Form– Use this form if you are interested in a booth during the Career and Recruitment Fair. All applications must be submitted no later than Friday, June 2, 2023.  Note: Organizations are not limited to just one option. The Initiative’s HBCU Week Career and Recruitment Fair opportunities will be open to all National Annual HBCU week participants, as well as the general public. U.S. Department of Energy The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Clean Energy Education Prize, a competition that will help HBCU institutions develop programming to strengthen the participation of K-12 and community college students in science, technology, engineering, and technology (STEM) fields. The $7.75 million prize competition will support the creation of clean energy “ecosystems,” or community networks, to inspire the next generation of students to work in STEM fields related to clean energy. Visit Herox.com/HBCU for more information on how to compete in this prize. A webinar will take place June 6, 2023. If you have any questions, please register for the HBCU Clean Energy Education Prize Informational Webinar. On June 8 and 9, 2023, in Seattle, WA, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) will host Transitioning to a Sustainable, Circular Economy for Plastics, a workshop to convene stakeholders for a discussion of the current challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a sustainable domestic economy for plastics. The workshop will include experts in recycling technologies and processes; polymer sciences; bio-based plastics innovation and manufacturing; and plastics policy, economy, and sustainability. It will feature facilitated panel presentations and discussions on: Current landscape of plastic sustainability and circularity, Industry metrics in plastic sustainability and circularity, Supply chain and technology gaps, Decarbonization opportunities and pathways to achieve them, and Collaboration across the plastics value chain to accelerate transition to a more sustainable, circular economy. BETO will provide a public report to share a summary of findings from the workshop. For more information and to register for this event, visit the Transitioning to a Sustainable, Circular Economy for Plastics workshop webpage. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Future Aviation Maintenance Technical Challenges Award Amount: up to $300K/year for 2 years Information Site: Check out the Future Aviation Maintenance Technical Challenges site for more information Information Session: Presentation slides posted here | FAQ posted here Proposal Deadline: June 30, 2023 @ 5:00 PM EST Contact: HQ-UnivPartnerships@mail.nasa.gov NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s vision includes the safe and widespread use of piloted, remote-controlled, and fully autonomous aircraft of all sizes to move people and packages wherever they need to go – perhaps within a dense urban environment, out to a nearby international airport, or to a rural town on the prairie. With government, industry, and academic partners, NASA Aeronautics is working to make real these new forms of air transportation with their new concepts of operations, vehicle designs, airframes, and propulsion systems – whether powered by electric, hydrogen, hybrid power, or other energy source. This program element focuses on these new forms of aviation. Volunteer Panel Reviewers & Subject Matter Experts Needed! ROSES Panel Reviewers Needed! NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is seeking subject matter experts to serve as external and/or virtual panel reviewers of proposals to the “ROSES” research solicitation. All of the reviewer volunteer forms may be accessed on the main landing page. If your skills match the needs necessary for that review and there are not too many organizational conflicts of interest, someone will contact you to discuss scheduling. Questions specific to individual ROSES programs should be directed to the point(s) of contact for that program. Policy questions regarding ROSES may be directed to sara@nasa.gov. Current openings for volunteer panel reviewers include: Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Mission Validation Artemis III Geology Team (ROSES C.25) Yearly Opportunities for Research in Planetary Defense Earth Surface and Interior and Space Geodesy Programs Space Apps Challenge NASA International Space Apps Challenge is in search of Local Leads for its 2023 global hackathon! Local Leads work with NASA and the Space Apps Global Organizing Team to organize and host virtual or hybrid Space Apps Challenge events in their community. Local Leads are inclusive leaders of their local space and science communities who bring problem solvers and innovative thinkers together in 160+ countries/territories to solve real challenges on Earth and space. Learn more about how to become a Local Lead and apply here. Applications are due June 15, 2023. Federal Opportunities! U.S. Department of Education Notice Inviting Applications for OSERS-OSEP: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities—Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Other Minority Serving Institutions (Assistance Listing Number 84.325M). The purpose of this priority is fund projects within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services personnel at the bachelor’s degree, certification, master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral degree levels to serve in a variety of settings, including natural environments, early learning programs, classrooms, schools, and distance learning. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: Friday, July 14, 2023 Point of contact for the 84.325M competition: Tracie Dickson (Tracie.Dickson@ed.gov) The notice inviting applications is available online at FY23 NIA 84.325M. The application package for the 84.325M competition is posted on the Grants.gov website. A brochure describing the components of the NIA is online at: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/osepprep/325m-2023-program-brochure.pdf U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy 101: Introducing Educators and Students to National Laboratory Bioenergy Research Case Studies Are you interested in increasing your students’ bioenergy awareness by immersing them in a real-world national laboratory scenario?   Did you know that skills used to complete the Bioenergy Research and Education Bridge Program (BRIDGES) can prepare students to contribute to the success of the bioeconomy workforce? The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory  (ANL) and Idaho National Laboratory (INL), is excited to introduce BRIDGES, a brand-new case study-based education curriculum that helps educators encourage students to embrace new ways of thinking while building confidence and critical thinking skills. The case studies can be taught in diverse settings, including high schools, technical and community colleges, and universities, and are designed to introduce students to exciting careers in the bioenergy industry. BETO and its partners have developed four case studies that include student and instructor guides. Each is focused on authentic research and development (R&D) scenarios to secure the nation’s energy future using bioenergy technologies, and all of them focus on cultural responsiveness and address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A major advantage of teaching with case studies is that the students are able to develop and strengthen skills in: Problem solving Quantitative and/or qualitative analytics Decision making in complex situations R&D dynamics comprehension Bioenergy concepts with equity and inclusion considerations Download case studies ranging from sustainable aviation fuels to plastics and learn more about how you can create an active, engaging, and personalized learning experience by visiting the BRIDGES website. Environmental Protection Agency Deadline Extension and Webinar – EPA EJ Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program (EJ TCGM) Due June 30th! The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) Program’s Request for Applications (RFA) has extended the application to June 30, 2023! The entities eligible to apply under this RFA and serve as an Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaker fall into four categories. They include: A community-based nonprofit organization; A partnership of community-based nonprofit organizations; A partnership between a Tribal Nation and a community-based nonprofit organization; or, A partnership between an institution of higher education and a community-based nonprofit organization. Economic Development Agency Among the many exciting updates at EDA lately, we’re thrilled to share that the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program is now accepting applications from organizations interested in hosting a full-time fellow for 2.5 years (30 months). Funded by EDA and run by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), we hope our partners can both support and benefit from this effort to further drive the implementation of locally driven economic development strategies across the country. Are you interested in applying as a host organization?  Background: In 2022, the EDA awarded a $30 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance cooperative agreement to IEDC and its partners to establish and operate a nationwide Economic Recovery Corps program. The ERC program will build capacity in distressed and under-resourced communities across the country by connecting host organizations with highly trained, early- to mid-career professionals (Fellows) who will be based in the host organization’s community or region. Fellows will provide dedicated technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building support to build stronger, more resilient, equitable economies. Click here for more information!  Employment Opportunities! Opportunities are open at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and are waiting for you!  As we face the new challenges of the 21st-century, we need your talent, imagination, and dedication to public service to continue our tradition of excellence in serving the American people. We’re seeking applicants to join our team from all backgrounds!  DOL is committed to hiring a highly talented and diverse workforce to include veterans, individuals with disabilities, students and recent graduates, retirees, and those from the corporate world.  Our positions offer valuable experience, training opportunities, excellent benefits, and opportunities for advancement. As we continue to grow our DOL team and promote job opportunities, please reach out to us at anytime to guide you through your federal application journey. To begin, visit www.usajobs.gov, the official website for searching for and applying to the federal government. View all DOL Jobs Opportunities Open Now Here are some tips for getting started with USAJOBS as well as tips for writing a federal resume! Career opportunities feature competitive starting salaries and the potential for performance-based increases, flexible hours, and the ability to achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle. View our comprehensive and competitive employment benefits on our website at DOL.GOV Visit our site to learn more about: DOL Agencies Major Occupations How to Apply Benefits Veterans’ and Military Spouse Employment Persons with Disabilities Students and Recent Graduates Executive Employment National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) is hiring students for paid internship opportunities under the Pathways Internship Program. These are indefinite internships which allow you to work part-time or full-time while completing your degree. These announcements will be used to hire multiple students across multiple offices at NSF. If you are interested exploring a federal career at the NSF, be sure to apply before the announcements close on June 2, 2023! Student Trainee (Data Scientist), GS-1599-07/09 Student Trainee (HR Specialist), GS-0299-5/7/9 NSF is one of the best places to work in federal government! For the second year in a row, NSF was ranked No. 2 among mid-sized agencies in the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® Rankings. Come join our talented and diverse workforce and help keep NSF at the frontier of discovery! U.S. Department of Transportation The Federal Highway Administration is Hiring! Thursday, June 8th from 10 AM to 3 PM ET. All attendees MUST pre-register. Join us! This event allows job seekers to learn about Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) careers while visiting an FHWA facility and engaging with transportation research. During the career fair, there will be general informational booths, workshops, on-the-spot interviews, and resume reviews. Demonstrations, displays, food trucks, and additional offerings will also be available. Wednesday, June 14th from 1 to 5 PM ET, Register today through Career Eco This event allows job seekers to learn about Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) careers while virtually engaging with current FHWA staff. During the career fair, there will be general information sessions, group chats, and opportunities to speak with FHWA recruiters one-on-one. Learn more about FHWA at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/careers/ National Aeronautics and Space Administration  Support for Planetary Sample Science (SPSS) Cooperative Agreement Award Amount: $5 million/year for 5 years Information Site: Check out the SPSS site for more information Proposal Deadline: Step 1 Proposals due June 12, 2023 Contact: Stephen.A.Rinehart@nasa.gov NASA seeks an institution to facilitate cooperation between NASA and the planetary science community and support for analysis of NASA’s extraterrestrial samples. This support is critical for enabling community-driven scientific investigations. Proposals may include any elements that are deemed appropriate, but there are several core elements that are programmatically desirable. The inclusion and quality of such elements will be considered as part of the peer evaluation of proposals. For a list of elements, please refer to section A.3. here. Request for Info: Space Weather and Science Agile Platforms (SWAPs) Information Site: Check out the SWAPs site for more information. Deadline: June 12, 2023 Contact: bradley.d.williams@nasa.gov NASA is seeking responses under this Request for Information (RFI) to assess commercial interest in and opportunities for the in-space hosting of science instruments that will directly address science and/or applications needs for space weather and other NASA science disciplines (astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, planetary science). Information collected through this RFI will support programmatic decisions regarding approaches for hosted payload opportunities on commercial or Other Government Agencies (OGA) missions. Announcement of Opportunity: DYNAMIC Program Information Site: Check out the DYNAMIC Acquisition homepage for more information Information Session: Tentative date of June 6, 2023 Deadline: Mandatory Notice of Intent due June 30, 2023 Contact: Email both jared.s.leisner@nasa.gov and elisabeth.l.morse@nasa.gov with email subject line “DYNAMIC Final AO” NASA has issued an Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the purpose of soliciting proposals for Dynamical Neutral AtmosphereIonosphere Coupling (DYNAMIC) investigations to be implemented through its Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) Program. All investigations proposed in response to this solicitation must support the goals and objectives of the DYNAMIC mission of the STP Program, must be implemented by Principal Investigator (PI) led investigation teams, and must be implemented through the provision of complete spaceflight projects. Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2023 ROSES is an omnibus solicitation with individual program elements, each with its own due date(s) and topic(s). You can view the list of ROSES opportunities in Table 2 (organized by due date), Table 3 (organized by research), or by open program elements. Together, these program elements cover the wide range of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences supported by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Visit the SARA ROSES blog for updates, clarifications, and amendments. Current ROSES opportunities include: New! 22 Soil Moisture Active-Passive Mission Science Team 15 Heliophysics Innovation in Technology and Science 16 Laboratory Analysis of Returned Samples New! 4 Astrophysics Theory New!9 Space Biology: Plant Studies New! 18 NASA Innovation Corps The Bridge Program Seed Funding (BPSF) awards prioritize projects that support faculty and students at under-resourced institutions (URIs) to develop or participate in research activities with partners at NASA Centers or facilities. For the purposes of this Bridge Seed Funding Program element, a URI is a non-research-intensive (i.e., non-R1) MSI, HBCU, TCU, PUI, PBI, HSI and/or community college, that graduates fewer than 20 STEM PhD students each year and receives less than $5 million in NASA funds annually. Award Amount: Maximum of $300k/year for 2 years Information Site: Check out the SMD Bridge Program Seed Funding website for FAQs Proposal Deadline: June 30, 2023, with anticipated award date in October 2023 Contact: padi.boyd@nasa.gov The Space Technology Research Grants Award Amount: varies based on availability Information Site: Check out the Early Stage Innovations site for more information Proposal Deadline: Notice of Intent due June 7, 2023 | Proposals due July 6, 2023 @ 5 PM EST Contact: hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov The Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program within STMD seeks proposals from accredited U.S. universities to develop unique, disruptive, or transformational space technologies that have the potential to lead to dramatic improvements at the system level — performance, weight, cost, reliability, operational simplicity, or other figures of merit associated with space flight hardware or missions. The projected impact at the system level must be substantial and clearly identified. The solicitation exclusively seeks proposals that are responsive to one of the following three topics: Topic 1 – Advancing Radiation-Hardened Photon Counting Sensor Technologies Topic 2 – Advancements in Predicting Plume-Surface Interaction Environments During Propulsive Landings Topic 3 – Advancing the Performance of Refrigeration Systems Based on the Elastocaloric Effect.

Stay Engaged! Learn more about what we do at www.ed.gov/whhbcu. Have suggestions or comments? Send them to oswhi-hbcu@ed.gov  If you wish for your organizations announcements to be included in our weekly distribution, please email: HBCUnewsletter@ed.gov

Author: US Census Staff     Published: 6/1/2023  data in data.census.gov.

In this video tutorial, we show you how to access 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics housing data in data.census.gov.

Step by step instructions: Accessing Data from the 2020 Demographic and Housing Characteristics File in data.census.gov

Author: Jason Kaminsky, CEO, kWh Analytics   Published: 6/1/2023   Solar Power World

Climate change is driving an urgent shift to renewable energy — arguably one of the biggest opportunities of our generation — and insurance is playing a critical role. Just a few years ago, insurance was a “check the box” in renewable energy project financing — a small and easily dealt with detail that renewable asset owners completed upon starting a project. Today, it has become an essential part of the project finance puzzle. If an asset is uninsurable, it is unfinanceable. And yet insurance continues to be an enigma in the renewable energy industry.

Renewable energy insurance 101

To understand the insurance challenges renewable energy sponsors face, it’s important to understand the insurance space and the pivotal role it plays in financing and protecting renewable assets.

In the value chain, insurance usually flows from the project sponsor or asset manager, through the brokers, and then finally to the insurance carrier. Specialty products like solar and wind energy often involve managing general agents (MGAs), who specialize in the asset class and help carriers understand and underwrite risk.

Renewable energy insurance is impacted by the entire (re)insurance ecosystem; it typically sits within a carrier’s energy/inland marine book, which is within a property insurance book. The carrier then purchases reinsurance across multiple lines of business to insulate against risks from a large claim — essentially insurance for the insurance companies.

Challenges

Although opportunities abound in the renewable industry, rapid, massive growth does not come without challenges for insurers. And a retreat by insurers ultimately impacts project financing for renewable providers.

Skyrocketing reinsurance rates

Reinsurance typically renews on January 1, and this year’s renewals proved to be especially difficult. Significant natural catastrophe losses in past years resulted in skyrocketing reinsurance rates across many insurance types, particularly for natural catastrophe coverage. And clients and sponsors are feeling the effects in all lines of business, including renewables.

Lack of renewable underwriting expertise

Since renewable energy is still a newer asset class, there are few underwriters and agencies with the expertise and specialization to truly understand the nuances and risks associated with solar panels, wind turbines and storage. As a very specialized asset class experiencing massive growth, working with an insurer who has renewable experience could be the deciding factor in whether a project receives critical financing. Underwriters should be looking at attritional risks, such as the chance of inverter failure, vandalism, etc., as well as natural catastrophe risks like winter storm, wind, hurricane, earthquake, fire, flood and relying on weather-adjusted performance data to drive decisions.

Increased natural catastrophe losses

Natural catastrophe risks receive a lot of attention, and for good reason — such events have tripled in frequency over the past 50 years. These shocks to the system have caused the industry, and carriers in particular, significant concern when managing renewable energy. Major hail and hurricane events have resulted in outsized losses in carriers’ books, which are now passed onto end customers through higher premiums and tighter terms and conditions.

Impact on renewable financing

Pre-2019, insurance was abundant and asset owners and renewable sponsors could receive as much as they asked for. Between 2019 and 2022, outsized natural catastrophe losses catalyzed changing insurance terms, driving up premiums and driving down capacity, creating a difficult environment for insureds. This has not only impacted existing renewable asset owners, but it also had dramatic repercussions on financing for new renewable projects.

Using innovation to control risks

Swift Current project in Illinois. Credit: Rich Saal/Swift Current Energy

Today, risk allocation is rapidly shifting, placing the onus on asset owners to demonstrate resiliency — and that costs money. The good news is that there is a lot of innovation in renewable energy, particularly around data and resiliency. With more and better data entering the space, modeling and pricing have become more accurate. Being able to understand weather predictions, the frequency of natural catastrophe events and the actual outcomes on assets when such events occur is key. Today, we’re having conversations about correct hail stow angles and vegetation management, topics that were not nearly as active even five years ago.

Looking ahead, the key will be continued innovation and the further adoption of resilient practices. Sponsors can control some of their risk by diversifying their portfolio geographically and ensuring that adequate operations and management protocols are in place for their sites. Insurance has become a crucial part of the development process and it’s important to understand it in a global context. Working with knowledgeable, specialized and data-driven carriers will help unlock this lucrative form of capital for the renewable energy industry.

Author: ClearBlu Group Staff      Published: 5/3/2023     ClearBlu Group

                                                                         Larry L. Gilmore, CMB, AMP

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“I appreciate ClearVision’s commitment to extraordinary customer service. They are always courteous, friendly and go out of the way. They really let us know our business is priority.”

Marissa

“I had hired several coaches and decided to fire the rest and just work exclusively with ClearVision. I’m very glad I did! They bridged both personal and professional goals.”

Schedule Your Purpose Driven Discovery Call Today!

CLEARBLU IS CURRENTLY RECRUITING

SMALL BUSINESS
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And

Author:   HFA Staffing        Published: 6/1/2023        DCDH

Author: AGOA Staff     Published: 5/31/2023    AGOA

We have some exciting news for you! The Communique & Recommendations for the 8th Annual AGOA CSO Network Spring Conference is now available for your perusal. This important event, held in partnership with The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) and the Institute for African Studies, The Elliot School for International Affairs, George Washington University, took place on April 13, 2023, in Washington D.C., USA.

Under the theme “Extending AGOA to 2035: Using Trade to Strengthen U.S.-Africa Strategic Alliances,” this conference brought together key stakeholders to discuss the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and its significance in fostering strong trade relationships between the United States and Africa.

Ms. Rosa Whitaker, President of the Whitaker Group, highlighted a crucial point in her written remarks, “While the utilization rate of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and other U.S. preferential trade programs for Least Developed Countries has declined, AGOA stands out with a positive utilization rate of about 1.6%.” This demonstrates the immense potential and value that AGOA holds for African countries.

To delve deeper into the discussions and outcomes of the conference, we invite you to read the full Communique. It encapsulates the key takeaways and proposals put forth by experts and industry leaders. The Communique sheds light on the role of AGOA Strategy Plans, which studies have shown to be instrumental in achieving higher utilization rates for AGOA. It’s an opportunity to gain insights into the strategies and policies that can drive mutually beneficial trade between the United States and Africa.

READ COMMUNIQUE

We urge you to explore the complete USITC AGOA Report. This comprehensive report provides a thorough analysis of AGOA’s impact, challenges, and potential areas of improvement. It serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and business professionals seeking to understand the intricacies of AGOA and its role in shaping trade dynamics. VIEW REPORT We believe in taking action and making a difference, which is why we encourage you to sign the petition calling for the extension of AGOA. By adding your voice, you can contribute to the efforts to ensure that AGOA continues to promote economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in Africa. SIGN HERE

Registration for

AfrICANDO 2023

is Open!!!

You’re invited you to join us for our 24th Annual AfrICANDO. The conference and expo will be held on-site at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center (MACC),711 NW 72nd Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA, and virtually. Registrants unable to travel to the US can participate in the conference online. The hybrid event will feature Seminars, A Trade Expo, and a Gala Awards Dinner.

THEME: The Diaspora: Accelerating U.S.-Africa Trade, Investment, and Technological Innovation

Areas of Focus

Trade and Investment ● Health ● Infrastructure ● Technology ● Tourism

AfrICANDO is designed to assist civil society organizations (CSOs), micro, small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs), and the African Diaspora in creating linkages with US businesses. Read more

REGISTER TODAY!

DOWNLOAD AGENDA

DOWNLOAD FLYER

The Hotel for AfrICANDO 2023 is DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC). To reserve your room, CLICK HERE!  

EVENT SPONSORS

AGOA CSO Network

Membership

DONATE TODAY!

I want to help the AGOA CSO Network educate micro, small and medium enterprises on AGOA , expand U.S. Africa trade and thereby create good paying jobs on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean by donating:

$5 $10 $15 $25 $35 Other

No amount is too small or too big!!!

Author: NFD Staff       Published: 5/31/2023       New Frontier Data

Just Released!

Our latest report, Cannabis Trends in 2023: Products, Consumers and the Impact of Prohibition on the Industry is out now and available for free! This  report examines current trends across cannabis and how the history of cannabis prohibition continues to have a profound impact on every face of the cannabis industry. From product preferences to social equity programs and everything in between, prohibition has shaped the cannabis narrative. As the cannabis industry seeks to set the record straight, it must address the harms of prohibition head on while meeting the needs of modern cannabis consumers.

Key Findings:

• Because of prohibition, cannabis consumers may equate potency with quality and default to flower as their product of choice.
• Potency and effect continue to dominate product purchase decision-making in regulated markets.
• States are funding technical assistance and education for equity applicants and businesses as they move away from fee waivers and early access to licensing offered in earlier programs.
• Currently, most consumers use cannabis alone and stay home during and after the experience, but there is high interest in participating in cannabis activities outside the home.
  

  Get the Report

Author: Gabriela Aoun Angueira      Published: May 31,2023      Canary Media

Quatavius Rushin places electric-vehicle batteries on a conveyer belt at the Ascend Elements EV-battery recycling plant in Covington, Georgia.

The race to electrify the world’s vehicles and store energy will require batteries — so many of them, in fact, that meeting the demand we will see by 2040 will require 30 times the amount of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt and nickel that those industries currently use.

That presents an enormous challenge, one exacerbated by alarming allegations of the mining industry’s labor crimes, environmental destruction and encroachments on Indigenous land.

There are ways to mitigate electrification’s extractive impacts, one of which may seem obvious: Recycle every battery we make.

Doing so would reduce the world’s need to mine these minerals by 10 percent within 16 years, because the critical materials in batteries are infinitely reusable. Eventually, a robust circular battery economy could all but eliminate the need to extract them at all.

Of course, that would require recovering every EV pack at the end of its life, a sizable undertaking as the United States prepares for hundreds of thousands of electric vehicles to retire by the end of the decade. A nascent ecosystem of startups is working toward that goal, and the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits to incentivize the practice. But some electrification advocates say those steps do not go far enough. While the European Union recently passed a regulation mandating EV battery recycling, there is no such law in the U.S. Proponents of a federal recycling standard say that without one, batteries that could be recycled might get left behind, increasing the need for mining and undermining electrification’s environmental benefits.

“We need a coordinated federal response to truly have a large-scale impact on meeting our demand,” said Blaine Miller-McFeeley, a policy advocate at Earthjustice, which favors a federal recycling requirement. ​“If you compare us to the EU, we are woefully behind and need to move much more quickly.”

That movement would have to come from Congress, according to Miller-McFeeley. Historically, however, regulating recycling has been left up to the states and local jurisdictions.

The Biden administration has instead been supporting the country’s budding EV battery recycling industry, mainly by making it good business to recover critical materials.

The Department of Energy wants to establish a ​“battery ecosystem” that can recover 90 percent of spent lithium batteries by 2030. It has granted billions in loans to battery recyclers to build new facilities. Automakers are incentivized to buy those recyclers’ products, because part of the federal EV tax credit applies only to cars with batteries that include a minimum amount of critical minerals that were mined, processed or recycled in the U.S. or by a free-trade partner. Manufacturers also get a tax credit for producing critical materials (including recycled ones) in the U.S.

Daniel Zotos, who handles public advocacy at the battery recycling startup Redwood Materials, said in an email that a healthy market for recycled materials is emerging. ​“Not only is there tremendous value today in recycling these metals, but the global demand for metals means that automakers need to source both more mined and recycled critical minerals.”

Zotos said Redwood Materials agrees with the approach the federal government has taken. ​“The U.S. has in fact chosen to help incentivize, rather than mandate, recycling through provisions established in the Inflation Reduction Act, which we’re deeply supportive of.”

During a pilot project in California last year, the company recovered 95 percent of the critical materials in 1,300 lithium-ion and nickel-metal-hydride EV and hybrid batteries. The cost of retrieving packs from throughout the state was the biggest barrier to profitability, but Zotos said that expense will subside as the industry grows.

A tiny but growing secondary market for EV batteries is also driving their reuse. Most batteries will be retired once their capacity dwindles to about 70 to 80 percent, due to the impact on the car’s range. But they’re still viable enough at that point to sustain a second life as storage for renewable energy like wind and solar power.

B2U Storage Solutions used 1,300 retired batteries from Nissan and Honda to create 27 megawatt-hours of storage at its solar farm just north of Los Angeles in Lancaster, California. Photovoltaic panels charge the packs all day, and B2U sells the stored power to the local utility during peak demand in the evening. ​“There is more value in reuse,” said company president Freeman Hall, ​“and we’re not doing anything more than deferring recycling another four or five years.”

Homeowners and hobbyists are embracing second-life batteries, too. Henry Newman, co-owner of the auto dismantler EV Parts Solutions in Phoenix, said customers buy his Tesla and Nissan Leaf batteries to convert classic cars or create DIY power storage at home. Any batteries that Newman can’t sell are picked up by Li-Cycle, a lithium-ion battery recycler with a plant in Gilbert, Arizona.

Newman said dismantlers and customers seem to want to do the right thing. ​“I know there will be people who don’t follow regulation, but my experience in the last six to seven years is that the industry is pretty conscious of it and tries to mitigate throwing these things in the trash,” he said. A law could help prevent mishandling, but Newman worries about any overreach or added costs that would come with more regulation.

Author: US DOE Staff    Published: 5/24/23       EERE

                                                     Funding Updates 

DOE Announces $3 Million for Waste-to-Energy Community-Driven Solutions

DOE awarded $3 million in funding for two projects to improve local community waste-to-energy processes and infrastructure. These projects will explore new approaches to reuse waste streams as energy, nutrients, and other resources.

                                                    DOE’s National Labs

NREL $150M IRA Investment to Accelerate a Clean Energy Future

DOE announced a $150-million investment to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that will help the laboratory keep the United States on the cutting edge of clean energy technology and lead the world in the transition to carbon-free power sources. Of the investment, $93 million is earmarked for modernizing NREL’s research infrastructure, including facilities to advance technologies such as sustainable aviation fuels, and $57 million will focus on laboratory renovations and deferred maintenance.

                                                   Renewable News

DOE Announces Winners of 10th Annual Collegiate Wind Competition

DOE announced the winners of the 10th annual Collegiate Wind Competition, which aims to prepare the next-generation wind energy workforce through real-world technology, project development, and outreach experience. Kansas State University rose above 12 other teams to claim first place by developing the best solution to the challenges associated with fixed-bottom offshore wind energy projects.

Tackling High Costs and Long Delays for Clean Energy Interconnection

Reports released by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory show that renewable generation and energy storage projects face lengthy approval processes to interconnect to the transmission grid, increasing overall timelines and costs. Without reforms, interconnection is likely to remain a major obstacle in meeting the goals of clean energy deployment and decarbonization.

Events and Webinars 

Learn How Efficiency Programs are Preparing for Inflation Reduction and Infrastructure Act Funding

                                                                                              May 25 | 1 p.m. ET

Join this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call to learn about the significant levels of U.S. government investment and how states, cities, utilities, and residential energy-efficiency programs are planning for it.

Events and Webinars 

Learn How Efficiency Programs are Preparing for Inflation Reduction and Infrastructure Act Funding

May 25 | 1 p.m. ET

Join this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call to learn about the significant levels of U.S. government investment and how states, cities, utilities, and residential energy-efficiency programs are planning for it.

Building with Benefits: Low-to-Moderate-Income Access 

                                                                                                   May 31 | 2 p.m. ET

This webinar will explore existing best practices for community solar projects and programs to increase access to community solar for low- to moderate-income households, including outreach and engagement strategies, best practices for enrollment and verification, and key consumer protection considerations.

HBCU Clean Energy Prize Informational Webinar

                                                                                                     June 6 | 1 p.m. ET

Join presenters for an overview of the two prize tracks, requirements, and timelines, including a Q&A session.

Comprehensive Energy Savings Performance Contract In-Person Workshop

                                                                               June 6 | 10 a.m. –6:30 p.m. ET

This three-day workshop educates attendees on how to implement energy and water projects through an energy savings performance contract.

Workshop: Deploying Purpose-Grown Energy Crops for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

                                                                                    June 6–7 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. ET

Join us in Kansas City, Missouri, to discuss successes, challenges, information gaps, and opportunities for deploying energy crops to produce sustainable aviation fuel on a commercial scale.

Transitioning to a Sustainable, Circular Economy for Plastics

                                                                               June 8-9 | 11 a.m.–8 p.m. ET

Join the Bioenergy Technologies Office in Seattle, Washington, to identify current gaps and challenges in transitioning to a sustainable, circular economy for plastics.

VTO Annual Merit Review

                                                                                           June 12–15 (virtual)

Join the Vehicle Technologies Office for their annual merit review. Reviewers will evaluate projects based on how much they contribute to or advance DOE’s missions and goals.

Author: MCGB Staff       Published: 5/22/23/  MCGB

Here’s The Latest News Announcing the Green Bank’s new CEO Montgomery County Green Bank Appoints Stephen Morel as New Chief Executive Officer Register Now for Green Bank Market Series Session June 28: Montgomery County Green Bank Market Series Event: Solar Market Series Educating the Public on Green Bank Programs  Held On April 23: Montgomery County Green Fest Held On May 5: Montgomery County Affordable Housing Conference Held On May 9: Montgomery County Green Bank Market Series Event Held On May 21: St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church of Silver Spring Solar Celebration June 13: Pepco Service Provider Breakfast Capital Area Solar Switch Capital Area Solar Co-op Now in its Third Year Has a NEW NAME: Capital Area Solar Switch Online Resources and Events Join the Conversation on Social Media  See below for more details on the Montgomery County Green Bank’s new CEO.           Montgomery County Green Bank Appoints Stephen Morel as New Chief Executive Officer The Montgomery County Green Bank (Green Bank) announced that Stephen Morel has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer. Stephen Morel, who has been serving as the Green Bank’s Chief Investment Officer since 2019, will succeed Tom Deyo, the Green Bank’s inaugural Chief Executive Officer. Morel has a professional background in entrepreneurial leadership as well as in corporate and project finance, with a particular interest in public-private institutions and catalyzing investment into high impact sectors. Morel brings his proven skills in business management and investment structuring to the Montgomery County Green Bank with the intent to more rapidly make clean energy and climate-resilient solutions accessible to and affordable for all in Montgomery County. Read the Press Release See below for more details on the upcoming Green Bank Market Series.                     June 28: Montgomery County Green Bank Market Series: Solar Market Series Date: June 28, 2023 Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Location: Rockville Innovation Center, 155 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD Join the Montgomery County Green Bank for a lively in-person panel discussion on the newly signed law making Maryland’s Community Solar Program permanent. With the implementation of the new state law, the Maryland Community Solar Pilot Program will become a permanent program and community solar subscriptions will be able to be paid on the same utility bill where the credits are earned. During this discussion, we will hear from leaders in the solar industry from the Climate Access Fund, We Solar, and CHESSA, the regional arm of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Refreshments will be provided. Register soon because space is limited! Register Now The Green Bank is committed to working collaboratively with partner organizations. See below for more details on networking and outreach events.                                                Held On April 23: Montgomery County Green Fest On Sunday, April 23, The Montgomery County Green Bank attended the highly anticipated Montgomery County Green Fest. As proud participants, we set up a table to engage with attendees and showcase our commitment to sustainable initiatives. At the Green Bank’s table, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about our innovative financing solutions and how we contribute to the development of a greener future. Our knowledgeable team was present to answer questions, provide guidance, and foster meaningful conversations around sustainable financing options.                            Held On May 5: Montgomery County Affordable Housing Conference On Friday, May 5, The Montgomery County Green Bank made a impact by actively participating in the Montgomery County Affordable Housing Conference. As a leading organization in sustainable financing, the Green Bank’s CEO, Steve Morel, took the stage as a panelist, delivering valuable insights and actionable takeaways. During the conference, the Green Bank also demonstrated their commitment as proud sponsors by setting up an engaging and informative table. Attendees of the Green Bank’s booth were eager to learn more about innovative financing solutions for affordable housing projects. The Green Bank team engaged with visitors, answered questions, provided guidance, and fostered meaningful conversations around sustainable housing initiatives.                         Held On May 9: Montgomery County Green Bank Market Series Event On Tuesday, May 9, The Montgomery County Green Bank hosted a captivating and informative in-person panel discussion centered around the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Common Ownership Communities (COCs). This event brought together industry experts, passionate individuals, and community leaders to delve into crucial topics shaping the future of COCs. The panelists included, Emily Curley from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Mike Cain from Era Building Solutions, and Mike Flynn from 8101 Connecticut Avenue. They shared their invaluable insights and expertise with the audience. Their deep knowledge and experience shed light on pressing matters such as state and local Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS), electrification, the Inflation Reduction Act, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, financing strategies, and the abundance of incentives and resources available. Beyond the insightful discussion, this event also provided an exceptional networking opportunity for attendees. The gathering brought together like-minded individuals, fostering connections and collaborations among professionals, community leaders, and individuals passionate about sustainable development.                   Held On May 21: St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church of Silver Spring Solar Celebration On Sunday May 21, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church of Silver Spring celebrated their newly installed solar system with a special dedication ceremony. At the ceremony, congregants gathered to sing the praises of the new solar panels using the clean, abundant energy from the sun. Cindy McCabe, the Green Bank’s Associate Director of Renewables, spoke about working with St. Stephen’s and providing education and financing.  Also in attendance were Matt Coleman from Skyview Ventures, the owner of the solar system and the provider of the Power Purchase Agreement, and Joelle Novey, Director of Interfaith Power & Light. The Green Bank works closely with Interfaith Power & Light to help green the faith communities in the county and to educate residents on options to use clean energy. View The Case Study                                                                June 13: Pepco Service Provider Breakfast                                                                                    Date: June 13, 2023 Time: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM                                                                     Location: 530 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 Join Pepco and The Montgomery County Green Bank for a networking breakfast to connect with colleagues and Pepco program staff. This event presents a unique opportunity to connect with colleagues and engage with program staff from Pepco, the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), the Montgomery County Green Bank, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. During the breakfast, you will receive informative updates on the EMPOWER program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, there will be insightful break-out sessions focusing on new and exciting funding pathways facilitated by the MEA and the Green Bank. These sessions will provide valuable information about financial resources available to support your sustainability projects. Furthermore, you’ll gain important insights into the Inflation Reduction Act and discover opportunities for small or DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise) businesses through the Maryland Department of Transportation. Don’t miss this chance to network, learn, and explore various avenues for advancing sustainability in our community. Mark your calendars and join us for a morning of connection, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. We look forward to seeing you there!                                                                                                Register Now                           See below for more details on the Capital Area Solar Switch program.      Capital Area Solar Co-op Now in its Third Year Has a NEW NAME: Capital Area Solar Switch Capital Area Solar Switch offers DC-area residents the opportunity to install rooftop solar panels, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging stations at a discounted price through group buying. The program, supported by non-profit Solar United Neighbors, vets installers through a reverse auction to secure competitive pricing. Members include Washington, D.C.; Arlington and Falls Church in Virginia; Montgomery and Frederick County, including Poolesville, and Maryland cities Bowie, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Takoma Park. The reverse auction with qualified installers will be hosted on June 21, 2023. More registrations lead to more competitive bids. After the auction, personal recommendations will be sent via email to registrants by July 25, 2023. Residents can save an average of $4,000 through the program, with additional cost reduction from the federal solar tax credit. Registration is free, and homeowners are not obligated to purchase solar panels. They can choose to proceed with a solar installation based on program-negotiated pricing. Capital Area Solar Switch also offers free virtual and in-person information sessions on solar technology, financing, incentives, and sessions with winning installers. Register Now                                                           Online Resources and Events  Take advantage of these resources and webinars: Residential Sales Practices The MEA offers the following resources to assist solar installation companies and sales representatives with providing information for potential Maryland residential solar consumers: Federal ITC: https://news.maryland.gov/mea/2022/10/11/federal-investment-tax-credit/ SREC Pricing: https://news.maryland.gov/mea/2022/10/11/future-srec-prices/ Electricity Cost Increase:  https://news.maryland.gov/mea/2022/10/11/residential-electricity-costs-in-maryland/ Clean Energy Solutions Webinar Archive View the library of Clean Energy Solutions webinars for topics ranging from home appliance efficiency and benchmarking to breakthrough information on achieving energy savings. New Buildings Institute Webinar Archive View NBI’s archive of on-demand webinar recordings on topics including codes and policies to advance net zero to zero net carbon schools. ENERGY STAR Recorded Webinars  Learn about the latest ENERGY STAR residential programs about advanced energy efficiency in homes, or revisit your contractor trainings for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to refresh requirements, objectives, and strategies. Home Energy Score Training Webinars Brush up on your Home Energy Score understanding with these webinars from the U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge. Contact us with any questions or project needs. Join the Conversation on Social Media!  Follow us on all social media platforms for the most recent updates. Like, Comment, and Share!

Copyright © 2018 Montgomery County Green Bank Corporation, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 155 Gibbs Street, Suite 407 Rockville, MD 20850 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Author: GWRCC Staff     Published: 5/22/23    GWRCC

Executive Director
202-671-1580

Author: DCSEU Staff     Published: 5/22/23   DCSEU

       SOLAR FOR ALL RFP INFORMATION SESSION : MAY 23,2023

Author:  John Oliver    Published: 5/21/2023     Energy and Policy Institute

John Oliver exposed a mainstream audience to the ways that failed utility regulation often result in higher monthly bills, political corruption and environmental damage on Last Week Tonight, his weekly late-night show on HBO.

                                                             

After explaining how monopoly utilities make money from capital expenditures and influence often-captured regulators, Oliver toured some of the scandals that have beset the industry in recent years, from FirstEnergy corrupting Ohio’s political system with $60 million in dark money payments and millions more in admitted bribes of its top regulator, to PG&E’s causing more than one fire per day during a three-year period due in part to the company’s poor maintenance of its equipment.

The segment had racked up over 900,000 views on YouTube as of this morning.

Here’s more context on some of the scandals that Oliver discussed from the Energy and Policy Institute’s archives:

Southeastern utility boondoggles

Oliver explained two power plant boondoggles from the Southeast: the never-built V.C. Summer nuclear plant in South Carolina, and the similarly abandoned Kemper coal and carbon-capture in Mississippi, run by SCANA (now owned by Dominion Energy) and Mississippi Power (Southern Company), respectively.

Both boondoggles were enabled by the utilities’ influence over legislators, which led to the passage of laws that allowed the companies to offload the risk of speculative projects onto customers. The utilities also worked to install and sway pliant regulators at the Public Utility Commissions in those states. Public backlashes in both places have led to greater regulatory scrutiny of the companies since the scandals.

Learn more:

• Charleston Post and Courier: Power Failure: How utilities across the U.S. changed the rules to make big bets with your money
• Charleston Post and Courier: Golf, Beaches and Power: how utilities wine and dine the public officials that set your rates

Duke Energy’s attacks on any solar it doesn’t own

Borrowing footage from Jonathan Scott’s documentary Power Trip, Oliver explained how monopoly utilities around the country have attacked policies that enable customers to own their own rooftop solar panels.

Oliver cited one example from North Carolina, where Duke Energy took legal action against a church to stop it from generating its own power, claiming that the church was violating a ban on third-party electricity sales that Duke had fought to instill and uphold.

He could have chosen other contemporary examples outside the residential sector. Duke is currently attempting to bar Fort Bragg, a military base in North Carolina, from generating its own solar power as well, despite the Department of Defense’s stated need to increase energy security for the military.

The Duke episode follows a well-worn playbook that the industry has used across the country, coordinated by the trade association for investor-owned utilities, the Edison Electric Institute.

Learn More: 

• Citizen Actions Coalition: Duke Energy
• Energy and Policy Institute: Duke Energy
• Energy and Policy Institute: Paying for Utility Politics

The Alabama Public Service Commission

Oliver heaped satire on the elected Alabama Public Service Commission PSC, noting that both Commissioners Twinkle Cavanaugh and Chip Beeker have denied the reality of climate change.

For decades, Southern Company subsidiary Alabama Power has used immense influence over those regulators to extract high rates from Alabama customers and to avoid oversight. From 2014 to 2018, the company reaped over $1 billion in excess profits on top of what it would have earned with industry-average returns on equity, according to an analysis by EPI. Unlike regulators in any other jurisdiction, the Alabama PSC has not subjected the company to a contested rate case with a full discovery process since 1982.

EPI reported last week that Alabama Power has built a war chest of almost $4 million during a year where two of its regulators, Beeker and Jeremy Oden, face re-election.

Learn more:

• Brown Climate and Development Lab: Can State Utility Commissions Lead in the Clean Energy Transition? Lessons from Six States
• WBHM: Alabama Utility Commission To Consider Ban on Recording Meetings
• IEEFA: Public Utility Regulation Without the Public: The Alabama Public Service Commission and Alabama Power

Ohio’s First Energy scandal and Sam Randazzo

The utility scandal that has attracted the most attention in recent years happened in Ohio, where FirstEnergy paid $60 million to Speaker of the Ohio House Larry Householder’s political slush fund in exchange for enacting a new law that provided a $1 billion ratepayer-funded bailout for several nuclear and coal plants owned by a bankrupt FirstEnergy subsidiary. Oliver described how FirstEnergy paid $22 million to its top regulator, Sam Randazzo, in the years prior to Randazzo’s appointment as the chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Randazzo resigned shortly after the FBI raided his house, though he has not yet been charged with any crimes. Householder’s trial is set to begin later this year.

Learn More: 

• Ohio Capital Journal: former DeWine aide warned governor about utility regulator before the FBI raided his home
• Energy News Network: Eye on Utilities: FirstEnergy continues to play hardball with Consumers’ Counsel and others
• Energy and Policy Institute: 13 FirstEnergy utilities paid $144 million for external affairs to service company involved in Ohio bribery scandal

More Utility Scandals: Florida and beyond

Oliver suggested that viewers “Just google your utility and the word scandal, and the chances are they’ve gotten into some major trouble.”

Anyone doing so would find a plethora of examples. A recent set of cascading scandals comes from Florida, where the monopoly utility Florida Power & Light (FPL) drafted legislation that would have ended a key rooftop solar policy, delivering the bill to the sponsoring legislator alongside a contribution to that legislator’s political action committee a few days later. Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis vetoed the bill, which was deeply unpopular.

Like FirstEnergy, FPL and its parent company NextEra Energy also spent millions on dark-money groups to get the legislators that it wanted. With the Florida Senate hanging in the balance during the 2020 election cycle, FPL and NextEra paid millions of dollars to political consultants who used the money to set up 501(c)(4) “dark-money” organizations. According to records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, FPL executives, including the CEO, coordinated closely with the consultants. The utility-funded dark-money groups engineered a brazen scheme to siphon votes from Democrats to third-party “ghost candidates” in three of Florida’s 2020 legislative elections, all of which were won by Republicans, two by razor-thin margins.

Learn More: 

• Orlando Sentinel: Florida’s dark money playbook: How ‘ghost’ candidate scheme revealed secretive political tactics
• Energy and Policy Institute: FirstEnergy scandal is latest example of utility corruption, deceit

 

Featured image: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver episode “Utilities” on May 15, 2022. (YouTube)

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• Posted in: Utilities
• Tagged in: Alabama Power, Alabama Public Service Commission, Duke Energy, Edison Electric Institute, FirstEnergy, Florida Power and Light, John Oliver, Kemper, Last Week Tonight, Mississippi Power, NextEra Energy, Sam Randazzo, SCANA, Southern Company, V.C. Summer

Posted by David Pomerantz

David Pomerantz is the Executive Director of the Energy and Policy Institute.

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Author: US DOE Staff  Published: 5/19/2023 DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 

EERE Funding News

U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office Announces $99.5 Million FY23 Funding Opportunity

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) today announced a new $99.5 million funding opportunity in support of projects to reduce soft costs to improve EV charging infrastructure in underserved communities, provide consumer education on EVs and EV charging, and develop batteries that use low-cost, abundant materials. This funding opportunity seeks the participation of underserved communities and underrepresented groups, and applicants are required to submit Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plans describing actions taken to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, support people from underrepresented groups in STEM, and advance equity.

Read the full VTO Fiscal Year 2023 program wide FOA here. Applicants must submit a concept paper by June 26, 2023, and full applications are due on August 11, 2023.

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

Author: Rachel Patterson           Published: 5/9/2023           Evergreen Action 

Author: Tracey Thompson   Published: 5/1 /2023    Creative PMO,LLC

Author: US DOE Staff    Published: 5/18/2023   EERE

Solar Energy Technologies Office

What’s Inside: Solar Snapshot, the newsletter of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), shares recent announcements; upcoming events; connect the dots on solar energy campaign resources; and more.

If someone forwarded this newsletter to you, you can subscribe here.

Reach out to us at solar@ee.doe.gov with any inquiries or suggestions.

What’s New?

Projects Selected to Demonstrate a 100% Renewable Grid

DOE announced eight projects selected for the $26 million Solar and Wind Grid Services and Reliability Demonstration funding program. Teams will work to demonstrate an electric grid that runs on 100% solar, wind, and battery storage. Learn more about the selected projects.

Additional Project Selected for the Solar Manufacturing Incubator Funding Program

SETO announced the selection of Planted Solar for a $1.6 million award under the Solar Manufacturing Incubator funding program. Planted Solar is developing a novel ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) system design. Learn more about this and the other projects funded through the program.

Upcoming Deadlines

Don’t forget to participate in these funding opportunities, prizes, and solicitations:

• Energizing Rural Communities Prize – Individuals and organizations can submit applications for phase one until May 24.
• Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS) Funding Opportunity – Diverse teams from universities, federally funded research and development centers, nonprofits, community-based organizations, state agencies, local governments, and solar developers are encouraged to apply by June 1.
• U.S. Solar Manufacturing Workforce Request for Information – Members of the solar industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, manufacturers, suppliers, education and training providers, community-based organizations, and workers’ rights organizations can submit feedback by June 2.
• OPTIMA Funding Opportunity – Diverse teams of researchers, equipment manufacturers, software vendors, utilities, and independent system operators must submit concept papers by June 5 for the Operation and Planning Tools for Inverter-Based Resource Management and Availability for Future Power Systems (OPTIMA) funding opportunity.
• The 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar – Community solar projects and programs can apply by July 14.

Some Light 🌞 Reading

Tackling High Costs and Long Delays for Clean Energy Interconnection

Recent reports by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory highlight the impact of high interconnection costs on the deployment of renewables and storage in the United States and propose solutions to address cost increases and improve the speed and efficiency of the interconnection process.

Enhanced Modeling Protects Solar Panels from the Elements

Reinforcing solar panels against the elements is important to increasing their efficiency and extending their lifetimes. Learn how the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has improved modeling to help researchers and industry personnel develop robust, durable solar panels that are also as thin, lightweight, and cost-effective as possible.

SETO Awardee Receives DOE Funding for its Domestic Manufacturing Facility

CelLink Corporation has come full circle since receiving SETO funding for its novel flex circuit for solar panels and has now received a conditional commitment for a $362 million DOE loan for its U.S. manufacturing facility to support the domestic electric vehicle market.

New $50 Million Investment in Clean Energy for Rural America

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations announced a new grant funding opportunity for community-based energy projects located in rural and remote areas across the country. This funding program aims to recognize and address the distinct energy challenges faced by rural communities, increase energy affordability, and promote climate resilience.

Open Public Comment for New PV Recycling Standards

Sustainable Electronics Recycling International has opened a feedback forum on the addition of PV modules to the R2 Standard. The public can leave comments on the new language through June 12.

Ultra-Low Carbon Criteria for Solar Modules

Solar panels are meant to help decarbonize the electric grid, but net carbon footprints can vary based on manufacturing supply chains. The Global Electronics Council announced the addition of criteria to its EPEAT ecolabel system focused on decarbonizing the supply chain for solar panel production.

Upcoming Events

Webinar Series: Building with Benefits for Equitable Community Solar

May 22 | 2 p.m. ET

The National Community Solar Partnership is launching a webinar series to highlight best practices in developing community solar projects and programs that deliver meaningful benefits to subscribers and their communities. Register for the first webinar, titled, ‘Building with Benefits: Greater Household Savings.’

Continuing Education Course: Community Solar Program and Subscription Design

May 23-24 | 12 p.m.ET

Learn and discuss the various elements of community solar program design, as well as ownership options relevant to municipal utilities in this new continuing education course presented in partnership with the American Public Power Association and NREL.

Webinar: AgriSolar in the Pacific Northwest

May 24 | 1 p.m. ET

Join the AgriSolar Clearinghouse for a webinar series on agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar and agriculture on the same land.

Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X) Meeting Series

May 24 & 31 | 2 p.m. ET

i2X is hosting a new meeting series, the Solution e-Xchange, to facilitate open dialogue across the U.S. electricity ecosystem on important interconnection issues. Join the upcoming sessions:

• DER Interconnection Process Approaches & Flexible Interconnection | May 24
• Limitations and Barriers to Improving Pre-Application Data Transparency | May 31

Systems Integration Webinar Series 2023

May 31 | 4 p.m. ET

SETO’s Systems Integration team is hosting a monthly webinar series. Register for their next webinar, titled, ‘Securing Solar for the Grid (S2G): Cybersecurity for Solar Systems.’

Live Demonstration of the SolarAPP+ Platform

June 6 | 1 p.m. ET

Learn how communities can use the SolarAPP+ automated permitting software for residential solar-plus-storage projects at NREL’s live demonstration event.

Author: US DOE Staff    Published: 5/18/2023     EERE

EERE News

DOE–DOT Joint Office of Energy and Transportation Launches New Funding Opportunity and Consortium to Improve Reliability and Accessibility of EV Chargers, Expand the Nation’s Clean Transportation Workforce

The Biden-Harris Administration today announced a $51 million Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to accelerate the electrification of the nation’s transportation sector and spur private sector investments in clean transportation. The administration also today announced the launch of the National Charging Experience Consortium to advance rapid, on-the-ground solutions that ensure a convenient, reliable, equitable, and easy-to-use charging experience for all Americans with chargers that are made in America. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation (Joint Office) will administer the Ride and Drive Electric program and has funded DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory to lead the National Charging Experience Consortium. Managed by the Departments of Energy (DOE) and Transportation (DOT), the Joint Office was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build a national electric vehicle charging network that will spark public confidence in EV adoption and fill charging gaps in rural, disadvantaged, and hard-to-reach locations. Today’s announcements support President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the American economy from the bottom up and middle out—rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, creating good paying jobs, and building a clean energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are developing a robust and reliable EV charging network that is accessible in all communities and easy to use for all riders and drivers,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Rapidly modernizing and electrifying key parts of our transportation sector is how we’ll meet consumer needs and achieve widespread electrification.”

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we are creating a new generation of good-paying jobs building the vehicles of the future and the infrastructure that supports them,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “The EV revolution is well underway, and this funding will help to ensure that every American can access the benefits and count on a reliable EV charging network across the country.”

Ride and Drive Electric Funding Opportunity Announcement

Electrifying America’s transportation sector will play a critical role in mitigating greenhouse gas pollution and climate change while benefiting all Americans through improved health outcomes, reduced fuel and maintenance costs, and strengthened energy security. With more than 3 million EVs on the road, federal investments to reach President Biden’s goal of building a national network of 500,000 public EV charging ports will allow even more Americans to make the switch to electric. The Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity will advance this mission by:

• Enhancing EV charging resilience
• Providing equitable access and opportunity in electrification through community-driven models for EV charging deployment and workforce development
• Improving EV charging performance and reliability

This funding will help to increase reliability of chargers by providing funding for validating and testing charging equipment; advance new business models for electrified shared mobility and fleet-based services; and increase opportunities for underserved communities through new jobs and training resources, among others. Aligning with the President’s Justice40 Initiative, all applicants must outline the benefits that will be delivered to disadvantaged communities through the Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity.

Read the full Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity announcement here. The submission deadline for concept papers is June 16, 2023. Only applicants who have submitted an eligible concept paper will be eligible to submit a full application. The submission deadline for full applications is July 28, 2023.

The National Charging Experience Consortium (ChargeX)

Led by DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the ChargeX Consortium will rapidly develop solutions that ensure an easy and reliable charging experience for all Americans. The objective of ChargeX is to help the EV industry achieve first-time plug-in success every time a customer uses public charging infrastructure. ChargeX will collaborate with organizations representing a cross-section of the EV charging industry on usability and accessibility issues that require multi-stakeholder collaboration to address. The Consortium already has commitments from nearly 30 companies and organizations that are working to support the deployment of a reliable national charging network. The ChargeX Consortium complements the foundation for charging reliability established by the minimum standards for Federal Highway Administration Title 23 funded EV charging infrastructure projects and complements the Ride and Drive Electric funding opportunity.

For more information or to request to join the ChargeX Consortium, visit chargex.inl.gov.