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The POWER Interview: GenCell’s CEO on Importance of Clean Energy

March 25, 2020

The post The POWER Interview: GenCell’s CEO on Importance of Clean Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to slow the growth of renewable energy in 2020, owing to supply chain disruptions and an economic recession. It could make hitting targets for clean energy adoption more difficult, particularly in the short term.

Will government officials look to adjust their goals for renewable energy? Perhaps, but with most of the targeted goals 10 or more years away, it’s likely they will take the long view, with adjustments happening down the road depending on market conditions.

Rami Reshef, CEO of GenCell, an Israel-based fuel cell technology company, in a recent interview with POWER talked about the importance of renewable energy, including fuel cells, which convert potential chemical energy into electrical energy and generate heat as a by-product. While chemical energy is stored inside batteries, fuel cells can continuously generate electricity as long as they are supplied with fuel (hydrogen) and an oxygen supply.…

Wind Energy Group Says $43 Billion at Risk from COVID-19

March 23, 2020

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Energy groups continue to assess the industry disruption caused by the coronavirus, with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) on March 19 saying the global pandemic is putting $ 43 billion of wind industry investments and payments at risk.

Utilities, grid operators, and other have been altering their routines as state and local governments call for the closures of many non-essential businesses. Energy companies have instituted travel bans, have shuttered their offices—asking many employees to work remotely—and changed how they will interact with customers.

Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, earlier this week said the virus has caused “a pretty significant crisis” for the solar industry, disrupting supply chains and likely creating labor shortages. Tom Kiernan, CEO of AWEA, on Thursday acknowledged the challenges the coronavirus is causing for the wind energy industry, going so far as to ask for Congress to intervene to protect jobs and economic investment in the sector.…

The POWER Interview: Google, Utilities Partner for Energy Solutions

March 10, 2020

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The post The POWER Interview: Google, Utilities Partner for Energy Solutions appeared first on POWER Magazine.

Businesses are putting more emphasis on sustainability, coordinating their operations to ensure financial success while also being mindful of environmental concerns. Investors in many cases are demanding companies embrace sustainability, which often includes being more efficient in their use of energy.

That’s one reason behind the growth in distributed power generation, as companies develop their own systems—often utilizing renewable power—to have more control over their energy use and its cost. Several of these companies have told their stories, and provided information about their commercial and industrial power installations, at POWER’s Distributed Energy Conference.

This year’s conference is scheduled for Oct. 19-21 in Chicago, Illinois. Sustainability will again be part of the agenda, with businesses discussing how they are developing programs to address financial, social, and environmental concerns.In the corporate world, it is sometimes referred to as the triple bottom line.

Google, the Silicon Valley-based search engine giant, has become a leader in sustainable business practices, purchasing renewable energy to match its global power consumption.…

The POWER Interview: Vicinity CEO Discusses District Energy

February 25, 2020

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The post The POWER Interview: Vicinity CEO Discusses District Energy appeared first on POWER Magazine.

The rise of distributed, or decentralized, power generation has been supported by district energy, the generation from facilities and associated distribution networks supplying steam or hot water, chilled water, and electricity for heating and cooling to millions of square feet of building space across the U.S. and around the globe. District energy is among several focus areas for POWER’s Distributed Energy Conference, which this year is scheduled for Oct. 19-21 in Chicago, Illinois.

Among the newest district energy providers—at least in name—is Vicinity Energy, a company recently launched by Antin Infrastructure Partners after Antin’s purchase of Veolia North America’s district energy assets in the U.S. Vicinity, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, immediately became North America’s largest provider of district energy. The company is supplying energy and related services across 13 networks in 10 major cities, including large networks in Boston; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; and Kansas City, Missouri.…

New York Is Fertile Ground for Clean Energy

January 12, 2020

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When many people are asked which state is leading the U.S. toward a renewable energy future, California is the first that comes to mind. And while California is worthy of such distinction, it’s not the only state with a progressive clean-energy agenda. New York should also be part of the conversation.

On Jan. 8, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave his 2020 State of the State address, outlining what his office has called a “bold agenda to continue New York’s role as progressive capital of the nation.” Among the many proposals he put forth was a plan to grow New York’s “Green Economy.”

Renewables Growth = Job Growth

In a 318-page book released in conjunction with the address, combatting climate change is the first chapter, and Cuomo believes tackling the issue will be a win-win for the environment and his state. In 2019, the governor signed New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).…

Energy Secretary Perry Tells Trump He is Resigning

October 18, 2019

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Energy Secretary Rick Perry told President Donald Trump on Oct. 17 that he is resigning his post. Trump confirmed to reporters in Texas, where he and Perry flew Thursday, that the energy secretary will step down, and Trump said he would quickly name a replacement.

DOE Deputy Secretary Don Brouillette is viewed as Perry’s likely successor, probably taking the top spot at DOE before the end of the year. Analysts have said his agenda is likely to be similar to Perry’s, support for financially troubled coal-fired and nuclear power generation, along with exports of U.S. oil and liquefied natural gas.

Media outlets including POWER magazine reported on Oct. 4 that Perry was planning to step down, possibly by the end of the year. A Department of Energy (DOE) spokeswoman at that time would not confirm those reports. Perry himself earlier Thursday told a Dallas, Texas, radio station that “[Media has] been reporting [he would resign] for eight or nine months now.…