Among those on hand Friday for a ribbon-cutting event for the new 3,348-solar panel system at Naperville’s Springbrook Water Reclamation Center were U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, second from left, Naperville Steve Chirico, third from left, and U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, fourth from left. (City of Naperville / HANDOUT)
Solar Power
Energy-starved Rio favela enjoys solar panels on World Environment Day
An NGO is bringing solar power to one of Rio de Janeiro”s poorest communities, providing a cheaper and sustainable power source to residents of the city’s Babilonia favela.
The project, run by Revolusolar, started in 2016 with two hostels in the favela. Brazil celebrates World Environment Day on Saturday.
In 2019, one public school received solar panels that have saved around 975 euros annually in electricity bills, according to Valdinei Medina, who is a spokesperson at Revolusolar.
The latest installation, a small solar panel plant, will help 36 local families.
Public and private services are not always accessible in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, with residents complaining of high electricity prices and poor grid services.
Besides installing solar panels, the NGO also provides professional training for residents to become electricians who specialise in solar energy installations and educational material for children which teaches them about the importance of renewable energy and the environment.
Suzi Rocha lives in Babilonia and is part of the crew that installed the latest solar plant and one of 44 residents who have been trained by the programme.
“The idea to help my community, act in my community and other communities in need attracts me a lot,” said Rocha.
She was already an electrotechnical technician and saw the project as a way to specialise in the solar energy area and be better prepared for the market.
Revolusar’s project has so far helped dozens of locals families and employed several residents in the favela, according to spokesperson Medina.
“Our dream is to have every resident here using solar energy,” said Medina.
Naperville’s New Solar Energy System
New Solar Energy System
This morning, the City of Naperville and the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency held a ribbon cutting to unveil Naperville’s new solar energy system.
“Naperville is a city that has always cared about sustainability. That is true,” said Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico. “Showing good stewardship to our environment is important to our community, important to our leaders, it’s important to our residents, it’s important to our businesses. And today, marks a significant step towards our commitment to renewable energy.”
Naperville’s Springbrook Water Reclamation Center is now home to an array of more than 3,000 solar panels.
“Installing more solar panels across the country and here in our community is a key component to diversifying our energy grid and moving away from our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Congressman Bill Foster.
The 4.5-acre solar farm will generate around 1.684 million KWh per year. This will fully power 180 homes for a year.
“We continue growing our renewable energy economy in Illinois and expanding on projects like this on,” said Congresswoman Lauren Underwood. “I know that our region will continue to lead on providing local, innovative solutions to a global problem.”
The solar energy system began operation in February of this year.
Renewable Energy Program
The city’s electric utility, water/wastewater utility, and fire department buildings are also part of Naperville’s Renewable Energy Program.
Naperville News 17’s Aysha Ashley Househ reports.
1972 Murder Investigation Breakthrough | Humane Society Renovations | New Solar Panels
1972 Murder Investigation Breakthrough
The Naperville Police Department and Will County State’s Attorney’s Office announced a breakthrough in the nearly 50-year-old case of the murder of 15-year-old Naperville resident Julie Ann Hanson. Police have arrested and charged 76-year-old Barry Lee Whelpley with three counts of first-degree murder. On July 8, 1972, Hanson borrowed her brother’s bike to go to a baseball game, but didn’t return home. Police said they found Hanson’s body later that day with multiple stab wounds. Authorities couldn’t give out specifics but said thanks to advancements in DNA and genetic genealogy technology, they were able to bring the charges against Whelpley, who was 27 at the time. The case is still under investigation and the NPD reminds the public a charge is an accusation until a defendant is proven guilty.
Naperville Area Humane Society
The Naperville Area Humane Society is showing off its new digs tomorrow at an open house-style grand opening. Visitors can tour the facility, which underwent $2 million of renovations to more than double its space. New features include a brand new front reception area, more space for cats, a puppy room, and an isolation and surgery room. One lucky raffle winner will also take home an Airstream Bambi travel trailer. The open house is free and raffle tickets can be purchased online.
Solar Panel
This morning, the City of Naperville and the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency held a ribbon cutting to unveil Naperville’s new solar energy system. Naperville’s Springbrook Water Reclamation Center is now home to an array of more than 3,000 solar panels. The solar energy system will create enough power to fully supply 180 Naperville electric customers for a year.
Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to Jimit Gosar, and Sonika Memon as they were both recently awarded the Naperville Newcomers and Neighbors Club Scholarship. The scholarship awards $2,500 to students from District 203 and 204 who exemplify community involvement.
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Azerbaijan and BP plan solar power plant in Karabakh, Energy News, ET EnergyWorld
BAKU: Azerbaijan and British oil major BP have signed an agreement to cooperate in the evaluation and implementation of a project to build a solar power plant in the Karabakh region, the Azeri energy ministry said on Thursday.
The intention to build the 240 MW solar plant is part of a plan by oil- and gas-rich Azerbaijan to reduce carbon emissions by 35per cent by 2030, as well as BP’s strategy to cut its net emissions to zero by 2050.
Azerbaijan said the project was part of plans to develop a green energy zone in Karabakh, the region where it last year won back some territories previously controlled by ethnic Armenians who say the land is theirs.
Former coal mine land to be transformed into solar energy sites in Wise County | WJHL
WISE COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) – Collaborating groups in Southwest Virginia plan to repurpose land previously used for coal mining and convert it into sites for solar development.
Five different sites in Wise County are designated to become utility-scale solar farms over the next few years.
The project was initiated by the Nature Conservancy, a global environmental organization that has had a conservation program in Southwest Virginia since the early 1990s. The Nature Conservancy manages the Cumberland Forest Project, which spans parts of Southwest Virginia, Eastern Tennessee, and Eastern Kentucky.
Clinch Valley Program Director Brad Kreps said the Cumberland Forest area contains several thousand acres of flat and non-forested land.
Standing in a grassy field in Coeburn, Kreps explained these former coal mine sites offer space for large solar projects. Additionally, the cleared land means existing forests and wildlife do not have to be disturbed.
“Over time, this will convert from a grassland to a site that has solar panels on it,” said Kreps.
Charlottesville-based renewable energy company Sun Tribe was recently announced as one of the Nature Conservancy’s new project partners.
“Going forward, we essentially set up a process where we as the landowner are leasing these sites to Sun Tribe so that they can then pursue development,” said Kreps.
Sun Tribe CEO Danny Van Clief said they’ll work with local utilities to determine how much additional electricity can be input to the grid.
“That process does take about two years in total. And so the typical life cycle of a project like this is two to three years before construction starts,” said Van Clief. “Once construction is underway, it takes six to 12 months, and then the solar farm is operational for at least 35 years thereafter.”
Sun Tribe will lead the permitting, approval, and development process. The Nature Conservancy’s other partner is Washington D.C.-based company Sol Systems, which will finance, construct, own, and operate the projects.
The target is a 2023 or 2024 operation date for the solar farms. Van Clief said current estimates indicate the first five Wise County sites will create enough energy for between 5,000-10,000 homes each year. However, consumers are not limited to homeowners.
“It can sell power to anybody who buys power in this regional area. That could be the local utility, or it could be a large corporate customer that wishes to buy energy from a clean source,” Van Clief said.
The solar initiative comes as Virginia moves aggressively in renewable energy development. In 2020, the passage of the Clean Economy Act mandated companies and utilities in the state pursue cleaner energy. Under the law, electric utilities must produce their electricity from 100 percent carbon-free sources by 2050.
Van Clief said developing multiple utility-scale solar farms means bringing a tremendous amount of technology into the area. At the peak of construction, he said to expect 150-250 workers on-site.
“Solar is an economic engine. Developing a solar farm does create direct and indirect economic impact in the communities where that is located,” said Van Clief.
Aside from environmental and economic benefits, the collaborators hope to create a blueprint for further coal to solar transformations across Central Appalachia.
“There are thousands of acres of former mine lands in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. We think that many of those sites hold potential for solar energy. But we have to learn how to do it right,” said Kreps. “These first projects with Sun Tribe are very exciting because they represent some of the first projects in the entire region.”
Senate approves bill changing rules for wind, solar energy development
COLUMBUS – Legislation designed to give communities more control over the development of wind and solar energy projects has been approved by the Ohio Senate.
Senate Bill 52, which was co-sponsored by Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, was passed by the Senate on Wednesday by a vote of 20-13, and now moves on to the Ohio House of Representatives, according to the Senate’s website. The legislation would then need the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine.
“The bill has gone through many revisions, trying to make it satisfactory to all of the different interested parties, so I am satisfied that we have gotten some kind of local control involved with these projects,” said Reineke, who represents Ohio’s 26th District. “We are interested in promoting development, but also interested in making sure that our local citizens know what’s happening in their own back yards.
“My objection was to bring control to the local level, and we were trying to get it to township level, and we have it at the county level.”
Honey Creek Wind Farm planned in county
Apex Clean Energy is developing the Honey Creek Wind Farm Project in northern Crawford County and southern Seneca County. The actual height, number and location of wind turbines has not been determined, but a company representative has said it’s anticipated the project will use about 75 turbines, each 600 to 650 feet tall (measured to the tip of the blade). Apex representatives could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The Honey Creek plan faces opposition from the Seneca-Crawford Anti-Wind Alliance.
Under current legislation, developers of clean energy projects apply to the Ohio Power Siting Board for operating permits.
The new legislation would give county commissioners the power to designate energy development districts — essentially, a form of zoning — explained Joe Cicchillo, Reneike’s senior legislative aide. They also would be able to designate whether the zone was open to wind, solar or both. The new law would require all new wind or solar projects to be within such a zone.
If a project is not entirely within an energy development district, the Ohio Power Siting Board would have to reject the permit application as incomplete.
“There’s no need for a specific project before a zone is created,” Cicchillo said; counties could designate an energy development district in an effort to attract such projects.
“You’ll probably also see the other situation, where the developer will approach a county and say ‘Hey, we’re looking to develop a project, would you consider making an energy zone district in this area?'” he said.
Commissioners can’t block a specific project
The legislation does not give commissioners the ability to block a specific project once the energy development district has been created, Cicchillo said, but they can resize the district or ask the developer to make changes.
The legislation also gives opponents a 30-day window after commissioners approve an energy development districts to file a referendum petition, putting the issue on the ballot in a special election, he said — adding that’s in line with other laws governing zoning. The bill does not allow a referendum on a specific project.
More:Honey Creek Wind officials explain project, answer questions during New Washington meeting
More:Wind farm planners, opponents each plan informational meetings
More:Letter to the Editor: Honey Creek Wind Farm
If the Senate Bill 52 is signed into law, it would go into effect 90 days later. It would apply to any projects in the development process that had not yet been deemed “complete and accepted” by the Ohio Power Siting Board, Cicchillo said. “Any project that had not yet reached that point would be subject to this bill,” he said.
Developers would be required to have a a public meeting at least 90 days before filing an application with the Ohio Power Siting Board. At that meeting, all details about the planned development would be shared.
For the purpose of considering such an application, the siting board would be supplemented by two ad hoc members, representing the county and the township where the facility would be built. In cases where multiple townships or counties are involved, they would select a representative.
The legislation also would give commissioners the ability to adopt a resolution barring the development of any major wind farms or solar facilities in the county.
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Engie switches on 60 MW of solar in Senegal – pv magazine International
The Kael solar power plant.
Image: Engie
French energy company Engie has commissioned two solar parks with a combined capacity of 60 MW in Senegal.
The Kahone Solaire SA and Kael Solaire SA plants have capacities of 35 MW and 25 MW, respectively, and are located in the regions of Kaolack and Diourbel, in the central part of the country.
Both projects were built under the Scaling Solar program led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is a member of the World Bank. The Scaling Solar initiative aims to create viable markets for solar power in the developing world with the IFC as principal transaction advisor.
Engie built the projects with French investment firm and asset manager Meridiam, and Fonsis, Senegal’s sovereign strategic investment fund, which have 40% and 20% stakes, respectively, in the special purpose vehicle owning the two facilities, with Engie owning the remaining 40%.
The two plants will sell power to the local grid under a 25-year PPA at a price of XOF25/kWh ($0.046).
Including two more 30 MW solar parks, called Senergy and the Ten Merina, the three companies own and operate four solar plants in Senegal totaling 120 MW, which they claim represent more than 50% of the country’s solar capacity.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, the African country had approximately 155 MW of installed solar power at the end of 2020.
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IGNIGHT’s All-Weather Solar Power Bank Keeps Adventure Seekers On The Move
Rugged power bank with massive power perfect for outdoorsy types and travelers alike.
A cutting-edge new product has launched that promises to put power in the hands of adventure seekers and individuals on-the-go. IGNIGHT is a rugged, outdoors and adventure brand founded by adventure seeker Chris Parker during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. As an avid skydiver and travel enthusiast, Chris lives and breathes all things adventure. “As someone who has always strived to live without limits, it was tough to watch the world shut down” said Parker. “I knew at the time though that we would eventually be on the other side, so I set out to create a product and a brand that would inspire people to get back out there when the time was right”.
IGNIGHT’s flagship product is their all-weather solar power bank that features a charging pad, two fast-charging USB ports and a Type-C input and output. The durable device is ideal for any type of adventure regardless of environment, making it the latest must-have device for every travel enthusiast.
In addition to charging devices of nearly any kind, the power bank also features a powerful LED flashlight, a solar power backup and an IP66 waterproof rating – meaning its dust tight and can withstand high pressure water and drenching rain. Its military grade outer shell protects it against falls that would be catastrophic for most devices.
The device also boasts a massive 26,800mAh of power which can charge smartphones up to six times while having enough power for additional devices.
Founder Chris Parker is an adventure enthusiast whose mission was to solve a consistent problem he was experiencing of needing long-term power and a rugged multifunctional tool while enjoying his love of skydiving, skiing, and other outdoor experiences. After a year of research and countless prototypes, IGNIGHT was born and now serves as an essential resource that empowers people to enjoy a life of epic adventures – while also being able to capture those moments with their devices.
In an effort to give back and help end energy poverty in Africa, IGNIGHT has partnered with international charity SolarAid to help provide families in remote areas such as Malawi and Zambia with access to safe solar light. IGNIGHT donates one percent of its total monthly revenue to the cause, specifically to SolarAid’s SunnyMoney program which offers community members the opportunity to become entrepreneurs, generate additional income for their families and provide a safer solution to kerosene lamps. To date, SolarAid has provided 12.3 million people with access to clean solar light, saved families $473 million and is responsible for 6 million community members noticing improved health.
To learn more about IGNIGHT or to purchase this innovative new product, visit https://ignight.us. To learn more about SolarAid’s SunnyMoney program, visit them online at https://solar-aid.org/sunnymoney.
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Website: https://ignight.us/
Solar panels added to two campus buildings
UC Riverside is expanding its access to on-site renewable energy with the installation of solar panels on two campus buildings.
Workers have been installing panels on the Student Recreation Center and Student Services Building roofs over the past month.
The Student Recreation Center now houses 741 panels while 346 panels were added to the Student Services Building. The two installations will provide a combined 473 kilowatts of solar energy.
The projects are part of UC Riverside’s continuing commitment to the University of California’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative, said John Franklin, a project manager with the Office of Planning, Design, and Construction. The initiative commits UC to emitting net-zero greenhouse gases from its buildings and vehicle fleet by 2025.
“Our campus is geared to offset as much (energy use) as we can,” Franklin said.
The projects are the largest installations of solar panels on campus since a 2017 project when 9,600 solar panels were installed in parking lots 30 and 32.
A third project is planned for the roof of Lothian Residence Hall. The project will go out for bid later this week with a contract expected to be awarded soon, Franklin said. The number of solar panels on that project has not been determined yet.
All three installations are being built by UCR and will be owned by the campus, unlike lots 30 and 32, which were built and financed by a third-party power supplier.
The installation, which involved a crane lifting panels to the top of the building, includes racking and protective equipment. A metering system was also added that will allow the campus to monitor exact energy production.
The campus has sought to expand solar use where it can with ground and carport-mounted panels in addition to those on roofs.
Planners need to be selective about the placement of roof panels sites as not all buildings can handle the weight of the solar equipment, Franklin said. They also avoid sites that could cause lighting and reflection issues with adjacent buildings, he said.
More projects are expected to be added as funding and sites become available, Franklin said.
