February 2020 Energy News: Creating a sustainable future
Working towards an environmentally sustainable future for Arizona
The Arizona Technology Council supports renewable energy initiatives and sustainability solutions through engagement, collaboration and education to reduce waste and conserve energy to create a vibrant economy and strong communities for future generations.
Glendale orders first Envision EV ARC™ Solar Powered EV charging product For municipal fleet vehicles
Envision Solar International, Inc., (Nasdaq: EVSI, EVSIW) (“Envision Solar,” or the “Company”), the leading producer of unique and sustainable infrastructure products for electric vehicle charging, energy security and outdoor media, announced that the City of Glendale, Arizona has placed their first order for the Company’s EV ARC™ EV charging infrastructure product. The EV ARC™ will be used to charge Glendale’s electric fleet vehicles. According to Arizona State University, the city of Glendale maintains a fleet of over 1,300 vehicles, trailers, and other maintenance equipment. The city aims to decrease its fossil fuel consumption, carbon emissions and maintenance costs by transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles. Read more here.
SRP aims to reduce business energy demands with new program
Salt River Project has rolled out a new program aimed at reducing the power used by businesses and paying them for cutting back during the high-peak summer season. SRP and Boston-based Enel X, launched the program Jan. 29 to encourage businesses to lower consumption of energy during extreme weather, wholesale price spikes, or unexpected system issues. Businesses can earn anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. The program also has been expanded to residential communities. Homeowners receive a discount on smart thermostat technology if they agree to change their thermostats “a degree or two in the summer months. Read more here.
Nuro’s new delivery R2 bot gets the first driverless vehicle exemption from feds
The R2 will soon join Nuro’s fleet of self-driving Prius vehicles in Houston, making deliveries to consumers on public roads, the company said. This deployment follows Nuro’s partnership in 2018 with Kroger to pilot a delivery service in Arizona. The pilot, which initially used Toyota Prius vehicles, transitioned to the R1 delivery bot. The federal exemption allows the vehicle to operate without three features: side-view mirrors, windshield and a rear-view camera that shuts off when driving forward. Learn more about Nuro’s second-generation, low-speed delivery vehicle designed to be unmanned and operates exclusively using an automated driving system.