Five new community solar sites are up and running in Maine. Leeward Renewable Energy completed a 200 MW project in Texas. The Long Island Power Authority approved two utility-scale battery energy storage contracts in Suffolk County, New York. Read about these initiatives and more in our new feature, Projects Weekly.
Five Maine community solar sites managed by Ampion Renewable Energy reached commercial operation and started producing energy in November. These community solar sites, in both Versant Power and Central Maine Power utility territories, add nearly 25 MW of renewable power to the grid and will produce over 28 million kWh of energy annually. The solar projects, located in Franklin, Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington counties, provide local subscribers with up to 15% savings on electricity costs while enabling them to support the generation of new, clean energy for the state of Maine.
“Community solar is an invaluable state program that provides Mainers with many benefits. It bolsters the local economy, improves grid resilience, and is available to all types of electricity consumers,” said Nate Owen, CEO and founder of Ampion. Owen spent much of his childhood in Orrington and attended John Babst Memorial High School in Bangor and Bowdoin College in Brunswick. He founded Ampion in Bar Harbor in 2014. “As a company with roots in Maine, we are thrilled to bring clean energy and savings to Maine electricity consumers.”
Ampion successfully enrolled 1,700 residential and 70 commercial customers onto these community solar sites. The company will also manage the ongoing billing and customer care for these customers for the full 20-year lifecycle of the projects. Currently, Ampion manages subscriptions for 48 community solar projects in Maine, amounting to over 215 MWdc. About 10% of company’s employees reside in Maine, and the company continues to hire more employees in the state to support its growing footprint.
Ampion also works with Maine community organizations like The Highlands, a senior living center in Topsham, Maine, to connect residents to electricity savings.
Leeward Renewable Energy begins operations at Morrow Lake Solar in Texas
Leeward Renewable Energy (LRE) completed construction and began commercial operations at its 200 MW Morrow Lake Solar project. Located in Frio County, Texas, the project will provide Microsoft Corp. renewable energy under a previously announced long-term power purchase agreement.
Morrow Lake Solar is the first of two solar facilities developed under the agreement with Microsoft and is LRE’s second project in Frio County, located across from its 200 MW Horizon Solar project. Morrow Lake Solar created over 300 jobs during peak construction, with 112 being local hires. The project utilizes First Solar ultra-low carbon, thin-film photovoltaic solar modules.
As part of LRE’s continued commitment to land stewardship, Morrow Lake Solar used robust practices that promote soil health, preserve native plant species, and enhance biodiversity, including the introduction of sheep grazing for vegetation control. The project also has supported various community programs, including educational initiatives, and contributions to local events such as toy drives and holiday celebrations.
LRE acquired the Morrow Lake Solar Project in 2023 from Red River, a joint venture of SunChase and Eolian, which initiated the development of the Morrow Lake Solar Project in 2017.
Long Island Power Authority approves energy storage contracts
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) approved two battery energy storage contracts in Suffolk County, New York: a 79 MW facility in Hauppauge and a 50 MW facility in Shoreham. Developer Key Capture Energy LLC will coordinate with the towns of Islip and Brookhaven to build and operate the lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery facilities under long-term contracts with LIPA. They will serve as a critical resource to meet clean energy goals and reliability needs for Long Island and the Rockaways by providing LIPA with capacity and dispatch rights from these energy storage facilities.
“Energy storage is essential to delivering reliable and affordable power as we increasingly switch to renewable energy sources and electrify our buildings and transportation systems,” said John Rhodes, acting CEO of LIPA. “Integrating storage in the electric grid, especially in areas with high energy demand, will allow clean energy to be available when and where it is most needed. These projects are critically valuable for our electric grid and will be valuable additions to our power supply portfolio.”
The New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), enacted in 2019, set a target of 70% of the state’s electricity being produced from renewable resources by 2030, with the additional goal of achieving a 100% carbon-free grid. The Climate Act targets include a 3,000 MW statewide energy storage goal, which has since been expanded to 6,000 MW by the New York Public Service Commission.
Through a 2021 Bulk Storage Request for Proposals, LIPA intends to meet its share of these goals by procuring approximately 175 MW of new bulk energy storage contracts. These facilities will be critical as the needs of the local electric grid are changing — in preparation for additional offshore wind generation and the retirements of existing fossil fuel peaking plants. The electric grid will need flexible solutions that can respond quickly when needed, given the intermittency of renewable generation, and discharge during peak demand hours to enhance reliability.
- KCE NY 29 – Hauppauge, N.Y.: The KCE NY 29 project will sell LIPA 79 MW and 316 MWh of capacity. Over the 20-year contract, the cost to the average LIPA residential ratepayer will be $0.19 per month. A 12-ft high barrier wall will be installed to serve as a sound barrier and landscaping will be added around the perimeter to further reduce its visibility. The project will connect to the Kings Substation and is expected to be completed by 2028.
- KCE NY 31 – Shoreham, N.Y.: The KCE NY 31 project in Shoreham is being developed on a portion of the former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, which LIPA owns. LIPA will purchase a guaranteed 50 MW and 200 MWh of capacity from the project. Over the 20-year contract, the cost to the average LIPA residential ratepayer will be $0.11 per month. The project will connect to the Shoreham Substation and is expected to be completed by 2028.
These projects will use LFP batteries with a discharge duration of four hours. These are the most common types of batteries used in utility-scale battery energy storage, and they enable increased integration of renewable energy sources while ensuring a resilient and reliable power supply. Both projects are executed under “Energy Storage Build-Own-Operate-Optional Transfer Agreements,” which provide LIPA the option to purchase the projects in the future.
As required under state law, these projects undertook an environmental review under New York’s State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). This act requires all involved local, regional, and state government agencies to examine the environmental impacts along with the social and economic considerations for a jurisdictional project or actions during their discretionary review.
Fire incidents at smaller battery storage facilities on Long Island and New York State have highlighted the need to adequately address fire safety, including measures to prevent and respond to battery storage fires. Last year, to address these incidents, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the creation of an Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group to ensure the safety and security of energy storage. These two projects have incorporated all the Working Group’s recommendations to date.
MN8 Energy spearheads 135 MWac solar project in Illinois
MN8 Energy will own and operate the 135 MWac Prairie Solar project in Champaign County, Illinois, which includes 50 MWac of capacity dedicated to the city of Cambridge’s groundbreaking virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) in Massachusetts. The project will support the largest VPPA ever undertaken by a U.S. city.
Cambridge’s dedicated 50 MWac portion will generate approximately 113,000 MWh of clean energy annually. Boston-based Sustainability Roundtable Inc. facilitated the city’s transaction through their Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB), a buyers’ community for utility-scale clean energy.
“By strategically locating this project in one of the nation’s most carbon-intensive grids, we’re maximizing both the environmental and community benefits of renewable energy deployment,” said Jon Yoder, president and CEO of MN8 Energy.
The project’s location on the MISO grid, where only 32% of energy comes from low-carbon sources, means it will deliver approximately 2.6 times the emissions reductions compared to equivalent solar generation in Massachusetts.
“The Prairie Solar project represents the type of project that drives the clean energy transition forward,” said Alberto Fernandez, head of construction at MN8 Energy. “Through close collaboration with local stakeholders in Champaign County and innovative partnerships like our agreement with Cambridge, we’re demonstrating how large-scale solar can provide lasting economic benefits to host communities while helping municipalities across the country achieve their sustainability goals.”
The Prairie Solar facility was designed considering the local community inputs and satisfies and, in many aspects, exceeds the requirements of the Champaign County solar ordinance. Construction of the Prairie Solar project is expected to achieve commercial operation before 2026. The project will create approximately 300 construction jobs and generate significant economic benefits for Champaign County.
EDF Renewables energizes Morris Ridge solar project in New York
EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) announced Morris Ridge Solar project is fully operational and delivering electricity to the New York power grid. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded Morris Ridge a long-term contract as part of the 2018 Renewable Energy Standard Solicitation.
The Morris Ridge Solar Project, with a capacity of 229 MWdc / 177 MWac, is situated in the Town of Mount Morris and plays a crucial role in supporting New York State’s target of generating 70% of its electricity with renewable energy by 2030. The project has already had a positive impact on the local community, including Mount Morris and Livingston County, by offering procurement and employment opportunities during its development and construction phases.
“The Morris Ridge Solar Project not only represents our commitment to renewable energy but also underscores our dedication to the economic and environmental well-being of New York State,” said Stephane Desdunes, VP of development for EDF Renewables Northeast Region. “We are proud to be the first project to receive permitting through the Office of Renewable Energy Siting, marking a significant step in New York’s clean energy transition.”
At its peak, Morris Ridge Solar provided jobs for 550 people, resulting in over $22 million in union wages. Beyond the projected financial contributions of $18.6 million to the County, Town, School and Fire Districts over its operational life, the project also injected more than $70 million into the New York economy through expenditures for materials, services, labor, and various other expenses.
“It is exciting to see a renewable energy project like Morris Ridge Solar start to deliver clean, reliable electricity to New York families and businesses,” said Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO of NYSERDA. “This achievement is a shining example of how a community-driven project can support hundreds of local jobs while spurring meaningful economic development activity and investment in Mount Morris and Livingston County at large.”
Phillips 66 teams with NextEra to power Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex
Phillips 66 is teaming up with a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC to power Phillips 66’s Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex with a 30.2 MW solar facility.
The solar facility will reduce the complex’s grid power demand by 50% and is one of the largest on-site dedicated solar facilities in the United States.
“This solar facility not only underscores our commitment to advancing a lower-carbon future but also enhances our energy infrastructure,” said Zhanna Golodryga, executive VP of emerging energy and sustainability for Phillips 66.
The solar facility, owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources, will be situated on approximately 88 acres of land owned by Phillips 66. The facility is adjacent to the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex and will consist of more than 70,000 solar modules that will support the renewable fuels complex. The solar facility is designed to generate approximately 60,000 MWh per year of electricity.
“This project will not only benefit Phillips 66’s operations and the customers who rely on its renewable fuels but also demonstrates how renewable energy can integrate seamlessly into industrial operations,” said Rebecca Kujawa, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources.
The solar facility will not use water to generate electricity. The joint project has created approximately 130 construction jobs, which were filled by local union labor.
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex produces renewable fuels such as renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The facility uses lower-carbon intensity feedstocks, including used cooking oil, fats, greases and vegetable oil. Its geographic location, unique processing infrastructure and flexible transportation logistics make it a world-class supplier of renewable fuels, which have lower life-cycle carbon emissions than conventional fuels.
Phillips 66 announced the Rodeo Renewed project in 2020, making a final investment decision to move forward on it in 2022. The complex began processing only renewable feedstocks in March, achieving full processing capacity of 50,000 barrels per day (BPD) of renewable feedstock in June.
Tags: energy storage, utility-scale
