, , , , , , ,

ENGIE sees continued strong growth in renewables in the U.S.

HOUSTON, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ENGIE, a leader in the Net Zero energy transition, envisions continued strong customer demand for its renewables solutions in the U.S. and aims to grow its number of integrated projects substantially.

ENGIE was recently named the top corporate seller of clean power purchase agreements (PPAs) globally in what was a record year for PPAs, according to BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) 2023 full year rankings. According to the report, corporations publicly announced a record 46 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind contracts in 2023, a 12% increase from 2022. The U.S. remained the largest market for PPAs with 17.3GW of deals announced.

“Our strong customer focus combined with our safe, expert project delivery is at the heart of our growth in the U.S.,” said David Carroll, chief renewables officer, senior VP, North America region for ENGIE. “Our reputation for consistently delivering projects that enable our customers to meet their public commitments with confidence is key. Customers value our track record of delivering projects on-time, on-spec and on-budget. We do this by leveraging our global scale and integrated model complemented by our energy expertise and local presence.”

ENGIE currently has 7 GW of solar, wind and battery storage projects in North America and that number is growing. Last year, it ranked among the top 10 clean power owners and number 4 in top developers of clean power capacity installed in the U.S., according to American Clean Power (ACP) 2023 Market Report.

The company views its pace of growth accelerating to support its customers as PPAs increasingly become the centerpiece of companies’ sustainability strategies. Its growth pipeline also ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. according to the ACP report, with an emphasis on co-locating energy storage with solar and wind projects with its acquisition of Broad Reach Power last year.

“Our success is attributed to our team of clean energy experts – our people. They are the driving force behind our achievements, impacting one customer and project at a time,” said Prathima Sundar, chief human resources officer and VP at ENGIE N.A. “We actively seek out and cultivate top talent within the industry, fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusion. This approach ensures that we deliver the highest quality sustainability solutions to our customers.”

###

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 97,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

/by
, , , ,

ENGIE announces $1bn Tax Equity Financing for more than 1.3 GW of U.S. Renewables Assets

Largest Financing to Date Supports Acceleration of Renewables and Continued Expansion for ENGIE in the U.S.

HOUSTON – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced that it recently completed more than $1bn of Tax Equity financing, through separate agreements with three banks, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs and BNP Paribas. The financing pertains to a portfolio of recently commissioned renewable projects in the U.S.
The overall portfolio consists of 6 projects across ERCOT, MISO and SPP, including 950 MW of solar and 353 MW of wind capacity. The aggregate 1.3 GW of these renewable projects represents one of the largest Tax Equity financing arrangements for ENGIE North America so far.

“We are delighted that ENGIE is once again able to collaborate with some of the world’s leading financial institutions to accelerate the energy transition towards a net zero future,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer and SVP, ENGIE North America. “This transaction reflects our proven and recognized track record in developing, building and operating renewables assets, both in North America and globally”.

ENGIE is a leader in the net zero energy transition and currently has more than 7 GW of renewable production in operation or construction across the U.S. and Canada.
“ENGIE can rely on its strong relationships with leading financial investors to support its continued acceleration of renewable growth in the U.S.,” said Audrey Robat, Chief Financial Officer, ENGIE North America. “This deal also highlights the outstanding level of commitment and expertise of our teams in delivering reliable and affordable renewable generation to the grid.”

Globally ENGIE has an aspiration to add 4 GW per year globally through 2025, with North America as a material contributor to that growth.

###

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and
ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.
Contacts:

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

/by
, , , , , ,

Ventura Unified to Become 1st District on Central Coast to Utilize IRA Funding, Launching Clean Energy Program with ENGIE

Comprehensive energy program will leverage Federal funding to implement integrated solutions at all 27 school sites and capture an expected $106 million in net energy savings.

 

VENTURA, Calif. and HOUSTON – Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) recently approved a contract with ENGIE North America (ENGIE) for comprehensive solar, LED building lighting, customized sports facility LED lighting, and an integrated STEM internship and student engagement program. As the first K-12 school district along the Central Coast to leverage Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding, VUSD will also utilize bond funding to help pay for the project and expand its technical scope which will positively improve sustainability outcomes across the District.

Serving approximately 15,000 students across 27 school and campus facility sites, VUSD leadership and the supporting community have long prioritized the design of a financially-viable energy program to capture energy savings and align with local and state climate action goals. ENGIE worked with the District to lock in favorable Net Energy Metering 2.0 rates for the next 20 years. VUSD is also committed to delivering sustainable solutions across all school sites – many of which are located in economically underserved parts of the city.

This project is financially attractive for the District and will reduce its overall electricity costs by 70 percent over 30 years. This work will be done across schools with a Southern California-based team of ENGIE project engineers. The combined project scope will include:

• 4,708 kW solar PV scope across 25 sites and parking canopy solar structures;

• Interior/exterior LED lighting and occupancy sensor controls at nine sites;

• Sports Field LED lighting at Buena High School and Ventura High School, reusing existing lighting infrastructure poles to minimize extended construction impact on the fields; and

• Integrated STEM offerings aligned with real-time project data production, including professional development for teachers, hands-on engineering design learning for students, and six dedicated summer intern opportunities for local students.


The VUSD program is expected to save $133 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the project. The District should be eligible for $14 million in IRA federal funding dollars that will go directly to it after the project is completely constructed.

“As thoughtful stewards of our community’s resources, Ventura Unified has been interested in solar energy and high-efficiency LED lighting systems for many years. Unfortunately, making those changes was cost-prohibitive until recently,” stated Board President, Sabrena Rodriguez. “Thanks to the generosity of our community by passing Measure E, a general obligation bond to update our schools, we can now make these changes a reality. These changes are not only a positive step towards sustainability and resilience for the District, but they will also provide opportunities for our students and staff to learn about how green technologies can be good for the financial bottom line — creating a win-win for the community and our schools.”
“The IRA is a true gamechanger for our ENGIE customers – now that we are seeing local leaders like VUSD start to directly build out projects that leverage potential IRA funding, it is clear what a win-win this is for energy communities across the U.S.,” said Jean-Francois Chartrain, Managing Director, Energy Solutions Americas at ENGIE. “We are excited to help VUSD expedite their plan for long-term sustainability that will enhance and elevate the District’s financial and environmental impact through our range of comprehensive solutions.”


###

About VUSD
The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is located in Southern California, in the coastal city of Ventura, approximately 70 miles north of Los Angeles. The District is made up of an early childhood education program, 26 elementary, middle, and high schools, with approximately 15,000 school-age students, an adult education center, 2,000 staff, and a wealth of parents and community members who all strive to help our children find their passion—academically and personally. For more information, visit www.venturausd.org.

About ENGIE North America
Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 96,000 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more). For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.


Contacts:

VUSD
Marieanne Quiroz, Director of Communications / PIO
marieanne.quiroz@venturausd.org
805-641-5000

ENGIE North America
Michael Clingan, Press and External Relations
Michael.clingan@external.engie.com
832-745-6057

/by
, , , , , ,

#1 Global Developer Selling Corporate Clean Energy

ENGIE drives PPA innovation after being ranked as the top developer to sell corporate clean energy PPAs by BloombergNEF in their latest Market Outlook report. Since 2019, we have shown resilience and consistency by ranking in the top three for developers, and our success in 2023 is no exception. We signed 19 deals covering over 1GW in five different countries, bringing our total corporate PPA portfolio to 7.3GW. Our clients trust us to support them in their adoption of renewable energy and to help them meet their energy reliability, sustainability, and efficiency goals.

We are proud to lead in both wind and solar technology for MW sold through PPAs, and we look forward to continued success as an innovative provider of sustainable energy solutions. On a local note, we are proud that the majority of the deals in the report were contributed by North America, an important growing market for ENGIE.

Read the full BloombergNEF report.

/by
, , , ,

ENGIE collaborates with Microsoft and Solstice to accelerate access to community solar for under-resourced communities in Illinois

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.

###

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

/by
, , , , ,

ENGIE adds more than 650 MW to U.S. operations

HOUSTON – ENGIE North America (ENGIE) announced four projects reached commercial operation at the end of December 2022 with a total production capacity of 651 MW. The addition of these projects brings ENGIE’s renewable operations to more than 4.8 GW across the U.S. and Canada.

The portfolio additions include two Texas projects, the 300 MW Limestone Wind project in Navarro and Limestone counties alongside the 250 MW Sun Valley Solar project in Hill County northeast of Waco.

Dedication ceremonies to formally inaugurate Limestone and Sun Valley were held earlier this month, bringing together some 200 people including customers, landholders, local, state and federal representatives, community members and development partners, reflecting both the addition of 550 MW of clean energy to the grid, as well as the long-term commitments to the three counties which are expected to generate around $88 million in tax revenues over the life of the projects.

A further two solar projects totaling 101 MW came online in Halifax County, Virginia and New Castle County, Delaware, which was ENGIE’s first grid scale project in that state.

“Maintaining momentum with our projects and meeting the expectations of our customers to help them deliver on their own Net Zero journey was and remains our key focus. Our proven ability to deliver consistently in a dynamic environment will be a critical differentiator over the next few years,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer of ENGIE North America. “Last year was a volatile one for the renewables industry, including sector-wide supply chain challenges, a rapidly evolving incentives landscape, inflation and all coupled with an accelerating commitment to a Net Zero future made for a lively twelve months, but one where our breadth and depth of the ENGIE team came through.”

Earlier in 2022, Procter and Gamble (P&G) announced a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with ENGIE for production from Sun Valley.

Jack McAneny, P&G Vice President Global Sustainability said at the time:

“Partnering on new renewable power projects brings long-term, zero emissions renewable electricity on-line and is an important strategy to help us achieve our goal of purchasing 100% renewable electricity. We are excited to work with ENGIE on projects like Sun Valley that progress our strategy and provide benefits to the local community.”

Last year also saw three customers announce PPA’s for Limestone – LyondellBasell, Stanley Black and Decker and Whirlpool Corporation.

LyondellBasell commented:

“LyondellBasell announced four power purchase agreements (PPA) during 2022 totaling 381 megawatts of renewable energy and the Limestone Wind Project was the first PPA in our portfolio. We are excited to see it beginning operations as this marks an important milestone for us in achieving our sustainability goals,” said Aaron Ledet, Senior Vice President, Olefins and Polyolefins Americas of LyondellBasell. “Renewable Electricity is a vital component of how we aim to deliver our greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, which is a 42% absolute reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline.”

Stanley Black and Decker commented previously:

“Creating a more sustainable world and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 requires a transition to renewable energy,” said Deb Geyer, Corporate Responsibility Officer for Stanley Black & Decker. “This project, operational by the end of 2022, will continue to support Stanley Black & Decker’s strategy to source 100 percent of its United States and Canada electricity needs from renewable power.”

Whirlpool Corporation commented:

“This latest wind project is an important part of our ongoing sustainability initiatives, adding additional clean, renewable energy to the electrical grid while helping to reduce the company’s carbon footprint,” said Whirlpool Corp. Sr. Director of Sustainability Beat Stocker. “Now that Limestone Wind is becoming fully operational, we have achieved an important step in matching 100% of our U.S. plant electricity emissions, taking us closer to our Net Zero by 2030 goal for our operations.”

ENGIE has established a large and growing pipeline of wind, solar and storage projects across the U.S. and Canada, including two acquisitions last year that added some 50 early, mid and late-stage development projects to the portfolio.

“Globally ENGIE aims to add an average 4 GW of renewable capacity each year through 2025 and North America is poised to be a material contributor to that aspiration. We plan to almost double production capacity by 2025 across the U.S. and Canada,” said Carroll. “We are already in construction for many of our 2023 projects, including storage, which will become an increasing element of our portfolio.”

###

About ENGIE

ENGIE 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 towards 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.

 

Media Contacts:

 

ENGIE North America

Michael Clingan, External Relations

Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

832-745-6057

/by
, ,

Chula Vista Elementary School District Unveils $32M Solar and Microgrid Project with ENGIE

Improvements are expected to save the District more than $70 million in net electricity costs over the next 25 years.

Chula Vista, Calif. and HOUSTON – Chula Vista Elementary School District and ENGIE North America (ENGIE) today announced the completion of the District’s solar project. The District now has 8.1 megawatts of solar installed across 48 sites and is finalizing the installation of a microgrid system. The microgrid is located at the Education Service and Support Center and powered through solar and batteries to provide backup emergency power to the District’s IT department, additional servers, and the Child Nutrition freezer.  The microgrid’s battery storage system will also provide electricity during the peak time period of 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. when electric rates are highest, saving the District from having to pull their electricity from SDG&E’s electrical grid during that time each day.  

The solar installation includes 18,050 panels installed as shade structures at 46 schools, the Transportation Yard, and the Education Service and Support Center. The $32 million project was funded through a G.O. Bond and is expected to save the District more than $70 million in net electricity costs over the next 25 years. 

“That is $70 million in savings even after project costs have been paid for,” said Oscar Esquivel, Deputy Superintendent. “By the end of this project, we think we will be able to generate about 90 percent of the District’s overall energy demands. That is a tremendous amount of energy—and savings for our District. This is a ‘green’ project both environmentally and fiscally.”

“We have a demonstrated commitment to strengthening environmental sustainability efforts that our community recognizes,” Esquivel said. “Our team has done an outstanding job of continually finding ways to increase energy efficiency and savings while doing our part to improve the environment. We want to model for our students the importance of energy awareness, conservation, and sustainability.”

 “Our ENGIE North America team is proud to deliver customized solar and microgrid solutions to customers like Chula Vista Elementary School District,” said Stefaan Sercu, managing director Energy Solutions Americas at ENGIE. “In addition to this technology serving as a critical resource during potential power outages, the bigger picture impact of the District’s move toward sustainable energy ensures long-term financial savings and resiliency.”

 

About the Chula Vista Elementary School District

The Chula Vista Elementary School District is one of the state’s largest traditional kindergarten through grade six districts. It serves a vibrant, diverse community with a blend of residential areas, recreational facilities, open space, and light industry. The District was established in 1892, and each year, over 28,000 students from 50 schools in the Chula Vista area are professionally taught by highly trained and dedicated district teachers. Our district’s shared value is the belief that each child is an individual of great worth and entitled to develop to their full potential. Please visit the Chula Vista Elementary School District’s website for more information at www.cvesd.org.

 

About ENGIE North America

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global leader in low-carbon energy and services. ENGIE (ENGI), is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges. Together with our 101,500 employees around the globe, our customers, partners and stakeholders, we are committed to accelerate the transition toward a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally friendly solutions. Inspired by our purpose (“raison d’être”), we reconcile economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on our key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers.  In North America, ENGIE helps our clients achieve their energy efficiency, reliability, and ultimately, their sustainability goals, as we work together to shape a sustainable future. We accomplish this through: energy efficiency projects, providing energy supply (including renewables and natural gas), and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets (wind, solar, storage and more).  For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, https://www.engie-na.com/ and https://www.engie.com.

 

 

Contact:

Chula Vista Elementary School District

Giovanna R. Castro Giovanna.castro@cvesd.org or 619-425-9600 Ext. 181328

 

ENGIE North America

Michael Clingan, Press Relations

Michael.clingan@external.engie.com

 

/by
,

Illinois residents can now support clean energy and enjoy electric bill savings

February 16, 2021. Four new community solar farms provide ComEd customers with energy savings — no rooftop installation required.

 

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois residents and businesses within Commonwealth Edison’s service territory can now access affordable clean energy from four ew community solar farms. Located in Whiteside County, these solar farms offer ComEd customers the opportunity to support clean energy and save substantially on their annual electricity costs.ComEd customers who enroll may save up to an estimated 20% on the supply portion of their monthly electric bill and receive a $100 enrollment bonus. The total capacity for these solar farms is 11.2 megawatts, enough electricity annually to power about 1,600 homes and small businesses.

Residents who enroll in community solar are allocated a portion of a solar farm based on their annual electricity usage. They receive credits for the electricity their solar panels produce on their utility bills, potentially offering helpful financial relief. Through a subscription-based model, community solar makes clean energy accessible to renters, apartment-dwellers and those who are unable to put solar panels on their roofs.

ENGIE North America, a global leader accelerating the transition toward a carbon neutral economy, is responsible for the development and construction of these solar farms. Solstice, a Boston-based community solar provider, supports ENGIE on these projects through customer acquisition, enrollment and management.

“We are pleased to develop community solar projects that empower Illinois residents to take part in the clean energy transition,” says Luis Felipe Birolini, Head of Distributed Renewables for ENGIE North America. “The projects demonstrate ENGIE North America’s belief that good business must also be good for the environment and communities.  In conjunction with Solstice, our solar projects enable more Americans to save money while supporting the installation of clean, local energy – produced right here in Northern Illinois.”

“We are thrilled to be working with ENGIE North America to get Illinois residents access to affordable clean energy,” says Solstice Co-Founder and CEO Steph Speirs. “Most American households think of solar as outside their means, so our goal is to make solar so simple that anyone can do it. Many Americans could use financial relief right now, and we hope to help alleviate some of that economic burden by offering guaranteed energy savings for all ComEd customers.”

Located in Whiteside County, IL, these projects are built on land that has been supplemented with native prairie pollinator habitats. In addition to helping bees and local agriculture, these solar projects help create jobs with approximately 80 full-time workers involved in the development and construction of the solar farms. The projects also provide long-term economic support through operations and local taxes over their operating life.

ENGIE is an Approved Vendor and Solstice is an Approved Designee of the Illinois Shines Program, also known as the Adjustable Block Program or “ABP.” Illinois Shines is a state-administered program implemented by the Illinois Power Agency to promote new solar development and solar PV systems. These community solar farms produce local solar power, and Renewable Energy Credits, or “RECs”, which are sold to the Illinois Shines program to help Illinois reach its renewable energy goals.

About ENGIE North America

ENGIE North America Inc. offers a range of capabilities in the United States and Canada to help customers decarbonize, decentralize and digitalize their operations. These include comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize energy and other resource use and expense; clean power generation; energy storage; and retail energy supply that includes renewable, demand response, and on-bill financing options. Nearly 100% of the company’s power generation portfolio is low carbon or renewable. Globally, ENGIE S.A. relies on their key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to customers. With 170,000 employees, customers, partners and stakeholders, we are a community of Imaginative Builders, committed every day to more harmonious progress. For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, www.engie-na.com and www.engie.com.

About Solstice

Solstice is a mission-driven organization dedicated to bringing affordable solar power to the 80% of Americans who cannot install a rooftop system. Solstice conducts comprehensive marketing campaigns to educate communities about community solar projects in their area, partnering with trusted local organizations to distribute community solar to their membership, conducting outreach efforts and managing the customer experience. For more information on Solstice, please visit our LinkedIn page, Twitter feed or www.solstice.us. 

More news

/by
,

Customers and Community Join ENGIE to Break Ground on the Long Draw Solar Project in Texas

November 6, 2019 – Houston, TX – ENGIE North America today hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking with county officials and customers for the 225 MW Long Draw Solar Project. ENGIE will serve four Texas municipalities – New Braunfels, Denton, Garland, and Kerrville – and their electric utilities – via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the project’s full capacity.

 

Slated to come online in the summer of 2020, the Long Draw Solar Project – the largest solar project to date in ENGIE’s solar portfolio – will be located in Borden County, Texas. The project will house more than 800,000 solar panels, employ some 150 people during peak construction, and generate total estimated tax payments to Borden County and the Borden County Independent School District of more than $10 million over the life of project.

The PPA stemmed from an original request for solar energy proposals issued by New Braunfels Utilities (NBU), who in turn partnered with Denton Municipal Electric (DME), Garland Power & Light (GP&L), and Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) for the purchase of solar energy from ENGIE and Long Draw in order to diversify their power supplies and to keep retail electricity rates low.

Under the power purchase agreement, which has a term of 15 years, NBU has contracted for 100 megawatts of solar energy from the Long Draw project. Denton will purchase 75 MW of capacity, Garland will purchase 25 MW of capacity, and Kerrville will purchase 25 MW of capacity.

“We’re so glad to join with leaders here in Borden County and with our customers to support them in creating new opportunities to diversify their renewable energy sources on a meaningful scale,” said Luis Felipe Birolini, head of solar development at ENGIE North America. “We look forward to completing the project in the summer of 2020, and to providing zero carbon, affordable energy for years to come.”

“New Braunfels Utilities is pleased to be a part of ENGIE’s Long Draw Solar Project, and today’s groundbreaking ceremony. Today culminates many months of hard work and dedication to further enable NBU to be good stewards of our environment – and to deliver affordable and reliable energy to our customers. This project is a great example of municipal entities working together for the best of their customers and embodies NBU’s mission in action, to provide innovative, essential services. We look forward to this project coming online next year,” said New Braunfels Utilities CEO, Ian Taylor.

“Garland Power & Light looks forward to adding solar from the Long Draw Project to our power portfolio,” said GP&L General Manager and CEO Jeff Janke. “This affordable resource will support GP&L’s competitive rate strategy.”

“KPUB is excited to see this project move forward, said Mike Wittler, general manager & CEO of Kerrville Public Utility Board. “It will help us ensure that our customers have competitive, stable rates for years to come.”

The Long Draw project, originally developed by BNB Renewables, from whom ENGIE acquired the project in March 2018, strengthens ENGIE’s strategy to lead the zero-carbon transition for companies and local authorities. It contributes to ENGIE’s rapid expansion in renewables, with an ambition to build approximately 9,000 MW of new renewable energy projects from 2019-2021 globally, including 2,500 MW of new renewable capacity in North America. The company has an additional 10,000 MW of wind and solar projects in its broader development pipeline in the U.S. and Canada.

About ENGIE North America
ENGIE North America Inc. offers a range of capabilities in the United States and Canada to help customers decarbonize, decentralize, and digitalize their operations. These include comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize energy and other resource use and expense; clean power generation; energy storage; and retail energy supply that includes renewable, demand response, and on-bill financing options. Nearly 100% of the company’s power generation portfolio is low carbon or renewable. Globally, ENGIE is the largest independent power producer and a leading energy efficiency services provider in the world, employing 160,000 people. For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook pages or www.engie-na.com.

About New Braunfels Utilities:
Dedicated to excellence in service, New Braunfels Utilities is one of 2,000 community-owned, not-for profit public power electric utilities in the nation. The mission of New Braunfels Utilities is to enhance the quality of our community by providing innovative, essential services. Governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of local residents appointed by the New Braunfels City Council, New Braunfels Utilities is committed to being a recognized and trusted community partner, providing electric, water, and waste water services. Utility revenues are continually invested back into the systems of the customers, which benefits the community. New Braunfels Utilities makes an annual transfer to the City of New Braunfels, which in turn helps to pay for services such as fire, police, and parks. Follow NBU on Facebook at newbraunfelsutilities, on Twitter at nbutility, and to learn more visit nbutexas.com.

About GP&L:
The City of Garland has been providing electric service to its citizens through Garland Power & Light (GP&L) since 1923. With nearly 71,000 customers, GP&L is the fourth largest municipal utility in Texas and the 43rd largest in the nation.

About Denton Municipal Electric:
The City of Denton’s Denton Municipal Electric (DME) department was established in 1905 and provides service to over 53,000 customers. In 2018, the Denton City Council adopted the Denton Renewable Resource Plan, which sets the goal to achieve 100 percent renewable energy supply by 2020 and makes the City of Denton a national leader in renewable energy adoption. To learn more about DME, visit www.dmepower.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Kerrville Public Utility Board:
The Kerrville Public Utility Board (KPUB) was acquired by the City of Kerrville in 1987 and serves approximately 22,750 customers throughout its 146 square mile service area, including Kerrville, Center Point, Ingram, Hunt and surrounding areas in Kerr County. As a community-owned, not-for-profit electric company, our utility is operated with local control. KPUB is overseen by a five-member board of trustees who serve without compensation and who are responsible to the City of Kerrville for the management and control of the system. KPUB’s mission is to be a responsive and efficient, locally-owned provider of reliable, high-quality utility service at the lowest responsible price. For more information on KPUB, please follow our Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook pages, or visit our website at kpub.com.

/by