Projects will support lower cost energy for households, organizations and businesses often unable to participate in the benefits of the energy transition.
HOUSTON – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) is collaborating with Microsoft on the development of two community solar projects in Illinois that will serve historically excluded communities and significantly reduce electricity costs for them.
ENGIE will develop, construct, and operate two new community solar gardens, one in Lena, IL west of Rockford, and a second in downstate Illinois. Together, the projects are expected to have a capacity of 4.75 MW, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of more than 1,000 average Illinois households with clean, carbon emissions-free power.
ENGIE and Microsoft will work with leading community solar provider, Solstice, who engages directly with residents, businesses, and community organizations to enroll and manage community solar customers with local community gardens like the ones in Lena and downstate Illinois. Community solar enables households, small businesses and other organizations to benefit from renewable electricity without the need to install their own panels by effectively sharing local, centralized installations. Solstice’s partnership and community organizing model help provide access to renewables for the estimated 77% of Americans who do not have access to roof space or the financial means to install rooftop systems and expands access to traditionally excluded populations.
Traditional approaches to financing have limited the ability of many to install roof-top solar. Solstice has pioneered EnergyScore, a machine learning algorithm to qualify individuals more inclusively and accurately for green products. The focus for these two solar gardens will be on providing access to renewable power to traditionally under-resourced communities, not-for-profit organizations, and other economically disadvantaged groups.
Customers who subscribe to the solar garden program will not only be supporting the transition to a lower carbon future but will also benefit from reduced electricity costs. Because of Microsoft’s involvement in financing the development, customers subscribed to these two solar gardens can expect to see even greater savings than from the current Illinois Shines community solar program. Once fully subscribed, the two solar gardens could save Illinois subscribers around $450,000 in total, with some subscribers benefiting from up to 60% savings through participation.
“At a time when energy costs are rising and are a particular burden on lower income communities, the opportunity to access clean, renewable, locally produced power and reduce daily costs is an important part of accelerating the energy transition in a just way – widening the population who can benefit as we all work to decarbonize our economy” said Laura Caspari, Senior Vice President Power Marketing and Commercial Strategy, ENGIE North America. “This innovative collaboration with Microsoft to help grow access to lower cost renewables for residents and organizations across Illinois reflects our shared desire to widen the positive impact of the energy transition to an increasingly diverse set of communities.”
“As we at Microsoft work toward a more sustainable and equitable future, we are pleased to collaborate with ENGIE and Solstice to help facilitate access to lower cost community solar for communities who have previously been excluded from these opportunities,” shared Danielle Decatur, Microsoft Director of Environmental Justice.
In Illinois, community solar projects were enabled through the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and subsequent 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Power from the solar gardens is fed into the local grid and credited to customers through their existing utility bills with ComEd and Ameren. This new project model provides renewable volume above-and-beyond existing state programs. ENGIE is hopeful that in the future similar projects will bring economic benefit to under-resourced communities in Illinois while accelerating the state’s energy transition goals.
Construction of the two projects both in rural counties, will be led by ENGIE’s Chicago based team and is expected to commence later this year.
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About the ENGIE Group
The ENGIE Group (made up of ENGIE S.A. and its subsidiaries and affiliates) is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. ENGIE S.A. (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges.
In North America, ENGIE companies have delivered integrated, innovative energy solutions to public and private organizations for nearly half a century. We employ approximately 3,000 people focused on enabling our customers to become more sustainable and achieve their decarbonization targets through expert project delivery and competitive solutions. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.
About Solstice
Solstice is dedicated to bringing affordable solar power to the 77% of Americans who cannot install a rooftop system. It connects residents and community organizations to nearby shared solar farms, creates financing innovations that expand access to underserved Americans (the EnergyScore), and provides frictionless subscriber management software for community solar projects. Solstice has partnered with municipalities, employers, and nonprofits across the country and won awards from the Department of Energy, Inc. Magazine, and Elle. Together with its partners, Solstice is building an equitable energy future for every American.
Media Contacts:
ENGIE North America: Michael Clingan, michael.clingan@external.engie.com
Solstice: mary@solstice.us
BEAUMONT and HOUSTON, Texas – Entergy Texas and ENGIE North America (ENGIE) recently executed a memorandum of understanding to work collaboratively toward the exploration of mutually beneficial sustainability solutions.
ENGIE is currently developing a 350 MW industrial-scale green hydrogen plant in Entergy Texas’ service area with an estimated commercial operation date by 2026. This first phase of the proposed project requires an investment of over $500 million and will generate up to 500 jobs during construction and as many as 40 full time positions. Subsequent phases of the proposed hydrogen project could grow this Renewable Hydrogen project to 1 GW by 2030.
“We are proud to partner with industry leaders like ENGIE to support the needs of our customers and communities,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “Southeast Texas has the infrastructure and workforce to play an essential role in the growing low-to-zero carbon hydrogen industry, and our collaboration with ENGIE will lead the way for significant advancements.”
Entergy Texas operates in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator energy market and has reliably served customers in Southeast Texas for decades. The company plans to invest over $2.5 billion by the end of 2024 to build a more resilient and sustainable energy future for the region.
“High-energy, low-emission, locally produced hydrogen could be the next game-changing energy resource for Texas,” said Eric De Caluwe, Managing Director of Flexible Generation & Hydrogen at ENGIE North America. “With Houston being home to our North American headquarters for the last 40 years and Texas continuing to be a key market of investment and advancement of new projects and technologies, we look forward to working with Entergy Texas to serve the changing needs of industrial and heavy transport customers here as they seek cleaner forms of energy to fuel their operations and processes.”
About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom.
About the ENGIE Group
The ENGIE Group (made up of ENGIE S.A. and its subsidiaries and affiliates) is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. ENGIE S.A. (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges.
In North America, ENGIE companies have delivered integrated, innovative energy solutions to public and private organizations for nearly half a century. We employ approximately 3,000 people focused on enabling our customers to become more sustainable and achieve their decarbonization targets through expert project delivery and competitive solutions. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.
Comprehensive ‘Clean & Green Project’ Celebrated during Event Showcasing Water-Energy Nexus Upgrade Project to save $83 Million and, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 93 Percent.
RICHMOND, CALIF. and HOUSTON, April 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — West County Wastewater’s (WCW) Board of Directors today announced the approval of Phase Two of their comprehensive energy improvement project. Phase Two initiates the addition of backup power to major energy facilities at WCW’s Water Quality and Resource Recovery Plant. ENGIE North America (ENGIE), a leader in the Net Zero energy transition, will be installing a battery energy storage system that will work in coordination with the cogeneration system, solar system and diesel generators.
The new microgrid will provide uninterrupted plant operations during weather or utility related outages, now commonplace in California. In 2022 alone, California led the United States with nearly one quarter of outages due to increasing temperatures, droughts, wildfires and a strained power grid. Working with ENGIE, the additions to major facilities are a part of WCW’s 5-year strategic plan. The infrastructure project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 93 percent and save more than $83 million over its lifetime.
ENGIE and West County Wastewater are collaborating on what will be a best-practice water-energy nexus technology model for sustainable water treatment. Along with the new microgrid, the project includes construction of a solar system, upgrades to LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations, and various wastewater treatment process improvements to generate electricity and produce Class A biosolids.
“The WCW infrastructure improvements expand resilience in the face of wildfire and weather events that necessitate utility-imposed, Public Safety Power Shutoffs,” said Andrew Clough, General Manager from WCW. “This is a long-term collaboration to meet our sustainability goals and support the surrounding community. Since 2022 we have worked closely with ENGIE to engage local community members including college students for an internship and community engagement programs. This initiative is designed to complement the energy project goals and continue to bring job opportunities and economic benefits to the City of Richmond.”
Construction for Phase One of the Clean & Green Project is underway. Since building began in 2022, construction is nearly 25 percent complete with significant energy and operational savings already recognized. In concert with ongoing program implementation milestones, the ongoing facility upgrades were recently celebrated by the WCW Board, staff and special guests at an official Clean & Green groundbreaking ceremony on April 27, 2023.
“By partnering with West County, we are providing impactful and comprehensive energy, infrastructure designed to offset carbon emissions and provide substantial savings,” said ENGIE’s Chief Energy Solutions Officer, Stefaan Sercu. “Wastewater treatment is an especially energy-demanding operation—but wastewater districts that take advantage of ENGIE’s expertise at the energy-water nexus can make the improvements necessary for the reliability of their equipment, safety of the local community, and environmental sustainability.”
About West County Wastewater
West County Wastewater serves several communities in the Richmond, California, area. The organization owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater collection system with 249 miles of gravity sewer pipelines, 17 lift stations, 6 miles of pressure force mains, and a Water Quality and Resource Recovery Plant with a capacity of 12.5 million gallons per day (mgd). All told, WCW provides wastewater services to approximately 34,000 residences and 900 commercial and industrial businesses, with a total population of nearly 100,000.
About ENGIE S.A.
ENGIE S.A. is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. With its 96,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges.
In North America, ENGIE has delivered integrated, innovative energy solutions to public and private organizations for nearly half a century. We employ approximately 3,000 people focused on enabling our customers to become more sustainable and achieve their decarbonization targets through expert project delivery and competitive solutions. For more information on ENGIE in North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.
Contact Data
Michael Clingan
ENGIE North America
(832) 745-6057
michael.clingan@external.engie.com
Kate Gibbs
West County
(510) 390-4844
kgibbs@wcwd.org