Claire McKenna’s Post

🌍 Big News for Clean Energy & Sustainability! 🌞 The Sunstone Solar project, set to become the largest solar and energy storage initiative in the U.S., has been approved in Morrow County, Oregon. With a 2.4 GW capacity and enough power to serve 800,000 homes annually, this is a huge leap toward Oregon’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2040. But beyond the headlines, projects like this highlight a critical opportunity to address Scope 3 emissions—the indirect emissions across supply chains that are notoriously difficult to tackle. While clean energy solutions like Sunstone Solar are essential for decarbonizing the grid, businesses still face challenges in offsetting emissions tied to their operations, suppliers, and logistics. 🌱 Carbon Offsets: A Path to Scope 3 Solutions Carbon offsets offer a powerful tool to help organizations balance these emissions. By investing in verified offsets, businesses can: • Mitigate Scope 3 emissions in supply chains. • Align with sustainability goals and demonstrate climate leadership. Want to take action on your Scope 3 emissions and explore carbon offset solutions tailored to your business? We’re here to help! 🌎 👉 Contact us today to learn how we can support your journey toward Net Zero with our high performance solutions. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g-4SBVYp #CleanEnergy #Sustainability #NetZero #CarbonOffsets #Scope3 #RenewableEnergy

We're a proud supporting sponsor of NC Sustainable Energy Association's Clean Energy in the Mountains event next month! When: Thursday, May 16th, 6-9pm Where: Highland Brewing, Asheville What: The event features conversations about clean energy program limitations, and what’s needed to spur rapid growth for customer projects to accelerate progress towards the state’s goal of 70% carbon emissions reductions by 2030 and a moderated panel with customers and clean energy providers alike to highlight some of the challenges and opportunities for clean energy programs moving forward. Why: For some time now, North Carolina has been a national clean energy leader, at one point reaching #2 in installed solar. That growth is slowing down as we face  challenges related to interconnection, transmission, and utility procurement of generation technologies.  On the other side of the equation, there are a lot of opportunities ahead for customer-sited (or sited nearby) clean energy projects involving technologies like solar and storage. Unfortunately, the clean energy programs available for residential and commercial customers have been fairly limited. Extra Goodies: Music, beer and hors d’oeuvres! Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/effmjWhg

☀️ Designing an effective Solar for All program isn't one-size-fits-all. For states with existing solar initiatives, like New York's NYSERDA programs, new EPA funds will bolster current efforts with workforce development, technical assistance, and more. But for others starting from scratch, equity and access are vital. Identifying target communities, creating friendly customer experiences, and exploring community-owned solar models can make a huge difference. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02YJt7M0

One of the reasons we developed Generations for Generations was to address the challenges that major renewables projects have with community acceptance. In this blog https://lnkd.in/g4GABiXp, Christy Goldfuss of the US-based Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Michelle Moore of Groundswell, Inc. address the challenges of community engagement and how when local opposition blocks a renewable project only 13 per cent ever reach completion. 'Generation for Generations’ is engineered to enhance stakeholder and community engagement strategies by leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, tools, and resources. In a landscape where public understanding of renewable projects and technologies is limited, and projects are often situated in scenic areas, countering misinformation and fostering engagement is crucial. Learn more about how we can move the needle on the 13 per cent at https://lnkd.in/gA6WSSMq

Local and state leaders from EGLE, Michigan Infrastructure Office, City of Detroit, and community organizations are celebrating a historic $156 million investment in solar energy by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This groundbreaking initiative, known as the Michigan Solar for All (MISFA) program, is set to accelerate the deployment of community and rooftop solar for thousands of low-income households across the state. The MISFA program aims to reduce utility costs for families, foster job creation, and strengthen Michigan’s advanced clean energy sector while aligning with the #MIHealthyClimate Plan goals. With the expectation of reducing energy bills by up to 20%, MISFA will provide low-income households across Michigan with access to affordable renewable energy and enable home repairs. This investment represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and equitable clean energy future for Michigan. Read more: tinyurl.com/yc5hncd7 To learn more about the MISFA, visit: https://lnkd.in/gfbJj3TA To receive MISFA updates, please sign up via the MI Solar for All Interest Form: https://lnkd.in/gs8_SvQF

A just transition to a clean energy future will require using battery energy storage systems – a solution that will balance supply and demand by creating a more resilient and efficient energy grid which will bolster our green economy.

The Nature Conservancy in Colorado is pleased to be one of 19 multi-sector coalition partners supporting the recently introduced ‘Inclusive Community Solar,’ bill. Updating and expanding Colorado’s Community Solar Program will enable more solar energy to be developed on existing surfaces like parking lots, rooftops, and previously disturbed areas, which can help conserve high-value natural and working lands. Further, this bill is a step forward in ensuring that all Coloradans can access the benefits of our transition to affordable, abundant clean energy. Big thanks to Sen. Steve Fenberg for introducing this important legislation and to Duncan Gilchrist for leading TNC’s engagement! -- Note: If you have a moment, take a look at the breadth and diversity of coalition partners championing this bill. In my humble opinion, this is representative of what a partnership that can generate durable, equitable and actionable outcomes can look like - and is an exciting aspect of this initiative 🙌. #communtysolar #ira #energyaccess #dualuse #brownfields #brightfields #agrivoltaics #lmi #renewables #cleanenergy #partnership #policy

Big update! NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities program now offers more solutions for local governments investing in clean energy by supporting even more high-impact actions! These actions now include benchmarking, build-ready, renewable energy, and clean fleets. Participating in the Clean Energy Communities program not only helps local governments save energy, they also earn Clean Energy Community (CEC) designation. When high-impact actions are completed, the community receives points, which can be used toward future grant funding. We’re helping communities create a healthier, more sustainable environment for all residents. https://on.ny.gov/3wyjggX Interested in data? See which communities are involved and track their progress with NYSERDA’s CEC Scorecard and CEC Communities map! https://on.ny.gov/3Pvzz55

In the first half of 2024, several states, including Maryland, Virginia, Colorado, and Massachusetts, achieved significant policy victories that support the growth of solar and storage industries. These wins include expanding solar access, modernizing the grid, and enhancing community solar programs, which are crucial for the ongoing transition to clean energy. These small wins are always great for our industry: https://lnkd.in/gMzfU_kA

Great points made by Sandra McCroom of Children's Services of Roxbury, Inc. and Rare's own Frank Lowenstein in their op-ed for the Dorchester Reporter on #solar and #ClimateJustice: "those who can least afford it are paying more of their income for power, may lack the savings or credit ratings to be able to put solar and other cost-saving technologies into play, and see a portion of their bill go to subsidize energy efficiency and renewable energy products that are often most utilized in wealthier communities." Check out the full article to see how programs like the SHINE project are laying a pathway to a more equitable solar future: https://lnkd.in/enMWgWwd