Clean energy news: August 2021
Green Mountain Energy applies to enter Arizona’s electricity market
Residents in the sunniest state in the nation could soon have the power to choose 100% renewable, clean energy for their homes and businesses as Houston-based Green Mountain Energy (GME) recently submitted its application to the Arizona Corporation Commission to provide regulated competitive retail electric services in accordance with the Energy Competition Act (ECA). When approved, Green Mountain will be the first and only Arizona electricity provider to exclusively offer clean renewable energy to its customers, meeting the Arizona Corporation Commission’s recent 100% clean-energy requirement nearly 50 years ahead of the 2070 deadline. Read more >>
Phoenix No. 7 best-prepared metro for electric cars
Valley residents should be happy to know that Phoenix stands out as the 7th best metropolitan area in which to own electric cars. As many as 1.8M electric vehicles were registered in the US in 2020, with consumer interest constantly on the rise. As more and more Americans have been switching their gas-guzzlers for electric vehicles (EVs), the path to a greener future seems easier to walk. Essentially, electric vehicles have more than one feature working in their favor: They are quiet and generally much cheaper to gas up, all while helping us make a contribution to the welfare of the planet. Read more >>
Nikola Corporation awarded nearly $2M U.S. Department of Energy grant
Nikola Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and energy infrastructure solutions, recently announced that they have been awarded an approximate $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to advance its research into autonomous refueling technologies for future hydrogen fueling stations. This project is expected to address this goal by working to develop an autonomous fueling system that can rapidly refuel heavy-duty fuel-cell electric trucks, while minimizing labor and challenges relating to ergonomics and maintenance of equipment, as compared to an equivalent manual fueling process. Read more >>
Facebook announces $800M solar-powered data center in Mesa
Social-media giant Facebook has announced plans to build a data center in Mesa, its first significant investment in Arizona and one the company said it will sustain largely by solar power and efficient water use. The new will house routers, switches, servers, storage systems and other equipment to keep important applications running and data secure. Facebook’s 2.5 billion global users exchange messages, share photos and interact in other ways. The 960,000-square-foot facility, one of several data centers rising in east Mesa, will mark an $800 million investment and support up to 1,500 construction jobs along with the 100 permanent operational workers, according to the company. Read more >>
Mesa Air looking for even more electric aircraft investments
Phoenix-based regional airline Mesa Air Group (Nasdaq: MESA) has already invested in two separate electric aircraft startups, but its CEO said it is looking into other clean aircraft technology as well. Jonathan Ornstein, the chairman and CEO of Mesa Air, said the investments in new electric aircraft technology are not only good for the environment, but also makes sense on the business side. Mesa’s main business is being a regional airline that operates flights from American Airlines and United Airlines, but Ornstein is under the mindset that the airline industry is changing, and he wants to be leading the change instead of catching up. Read more >>
NextEra Energy Resources plans 3,000-acre solar energy project in Buckeye
Buckeye will add to its list of renewable energy sources with a new 3,000-acre solar energy project near the State Route 85 and Riggs Road alignment. Called the Sonoran Solar Project, the NextEra Energy Resources plant announced by the city this week will have a capacity of up to 260 megawatts of solar energy combined with 260 megawatts of battery energy storage. The new project estimates a $600 million capital investment in the community, a $500,000 annual tax impact and employment of 500 construction workers over 18 months and about 15 full-time employees once fully operational. Construction is expected to start in November. The project could be operational by June 2023. Read more>>
Sion Power introduces rechargeable battery targeting the electric vehicle industry
Tucson-based Sion Power, a technology leader in high-energy, lithium-metal rechargeable batteries, is introducing their Licerion® rechargeable battery for electric vehicles at The Battery Show North America in Novi, Michigan in September. The 17 Ah Licerion Electric Vehicle (EV) cell boasts over 400 Wh/kg and 810 Wh/L in a large-format pouch cell. The company has specifically designed Licerion-EV for next-generation electric vehicle applications, focusing on high energy density, increased cycle life, safety, and fast charging capability. Read more >>
Hawaii-based Shifted Energy expands tech into Arizona
Hawaii-based energy technology company Shifted Energy is taking its grid demand response talents to Arizona.
Shifted Energy, which installs devices on electric water heaters to create virtual power plants, was recently selected as one of 20 startup companies among an international pool of 250 for the Incubatenergy Labs 2021 Cohort, run by national nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute. Read more >>
Exro announces U.S. headquarters in Mesa, Arizona
Exro Technologies Inc., a leading clean technology company that has developed a new class of power electronics for electric motors and batteries, today announced the location of its U.S. headquarters in Mesa, Arizona. Exro plans to hire 50 employees over the next 18 months, bringing new job opportunities to the region and expanding the local e-mobility ecosystem. This news comes on the heels of Exro’s graduation to the Toronto Stock Exchange and demonstrates the Company’s continued growth and momentum. Read more >>
Lucid expands Arizona presence with Scottsdale studio location
Lucid Group, which is setting new standards with its luxury EVs, announced the opening of its newest retail location – the Lucid Studio at Scottsdale Fashion Square – on Saturday, August 7. This location, the ninth in a growing network of Lucid Studios, is the first in Arizona and sits just 50 miles from the company’s Advanced Manufacturing Plant (AMP-1) in Casa Grande. The Lucid Studio design has translated the company’s post-luxury design aesthetic into a welcoming physical environment where customers can review options for the full Lucid Air lineup of luxury, high-performance EVs. Read more >>
Infrastructure deal big step in clean-energy future
The bipartisan infrastructure bill rapidly moving through Congress is a great deal for our state and the nation. The bill will invest $550 billion in new money in roads, bridges, ports, passenger rail, waterways and airports. Just as importantly, it will propel Arizona and the rest of the nation toward a cleaner energy future. The deal will result in the federal government’s largest-ever investment in clean energy transmission and electric vehicle infrastructure. It would electrify thousands of school and transit buses across the country, in turn, reducing air pollution in our communities. It would create a new Grid Deployment Authority to build a clean, 21st century electric grid. Read more >>