Philip Houde’s Post

Ulkatcho First Nation is building the largest off-grid solar plant in Canada! Construction begins spring 2025 at a former sawmill site near Anahim Lake. This project will: 🌱 Reduce diesel reliance by 64% (1.2 million litres annually). 💼 Create jobs for 8–20 community members during construction. 🏞️ Transform a former sawmill site into a hub for clean energy. Learn how Ulkatcho First Nation is shaping the future of clean energy: https://ow.ly/qQ4450UkjJh

The Double Black Diamond Solar project is taking shape as the largest east of the Mississippi. With its significant size and capacity, this project will make a substantial impact on renewable energy in the region. #renewableenergy #solarpower #sustainability #chicago

Far North eyes fast-track for 420 MW solar Far North Solar Farm Limited is looking at putting its grid-scale solar farm in Canterbury up for fast-tracking after receiving clearance from the Overseas Investment Office. Director and co-founder Richard Homewood says even with the looming deadline to join that process, fast-tracked consents are the likely option for meeting timeframes for the 420-megawatt project in the Mackenzie Basin. The company can access a new grid injection point under a transmission agreement with Transpower New Zealand. The grid owner expects to install this in the September quarter of 2026, which would further Far North’s goal to be generating power by 2027. “It’s worth noting it wouldn’t be possible to meet these within the normal consenting timeframes,” Homewood tells Energy News. Prior application Far North had applied for resources consents from Environment Canterbury and Mackenzie District Council in November 2023. But the company suspended that application under agreement with the two councils, who determined it was beyond their decision-making capabilities. That echoes its experience with a 175 MW farm proposed for Greytown currently before the Environment Court. In September last year, South Wairarapa District Council agreed to the company’s request to refer the application to the court directly. It noted the proposal’s complexity, likelihood of appeals, cost and streamlining, among other considerations. Homewood says that’s essentially what ECan and Mackenzie District recognise in regards to its proposal in their region. “They’ve agreed outside of their capability and that they’d prefer it were taken off their hands and considered nationally.” Last week, the Government asked developers interested in having projects fast-tracked to make their case by 3 May. A special advisory group will then advise on which should be referred into the new process. Growing pipeline Mackenzie is one of 11 projects Far North is developing across the country with partners Aquila Capital, a Singapore-headquartered division of Germany’s Aquila Group of companies. Australian-owned Far North and Aquila Capital are planning 1.4 gigawatts of new capacity over the next decade. Projects currently under construction range in size from 30 to 40 megawatt facilities at Foxton and Edgecumbe. Far North says the 420 MW Mackenzie farm, with 737,000 tracking panels over 580 ha, will generate enough electricity for 100,000 homes annually and fund ecological restoration over 90 ha of the surrounding area. It has found 670 hectares of leasehold dairy and cropping land between the Tekapo and Pukaki rivers for the project. The company says this was specifically chosen as it is flat and close to transmission infrastructure. This article was first published on Energy News www.energynews.co.nz on April 12. It is republished with their permission. You can contact eduardo.zanata@freemanmedia.co.nz for a free trial. Eamon Rood Eduardo Zanata

Horizon Power has offered to connect the proposed $30 million, 10 megawatt Junja solar farm near Port Hedland to its coastal grid, in a major boost for the shovel ready Pilbara project.

The other side of renewable energy. Solar development comes amid increasing competition for farmland. Common solar farm construction practices, including clearing and grading large sections of land, also can lead to significant erosion and major runoff of sediment into waterways without proper remediation. #renewables  #renewableenergy  #power  https://lnkd.in/eRs3masi

The Vista Sands Solar Project will be built on more than 6,000 acres in Portage County. It will generate more than 1,300 megawatts and feature 300 megawatts of battery storage. It’s more than four times the size of the Badger Hollow Solar Farm, currently the biggest solar project online in Wisconsin. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin unanimously approved construction of the roughly $2 billion project Thursday.

Two solar farms planned for construction in central Kentucky. Two new solar farms in Fayette County and Marion County are being planned for construction by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative. The two farms combined are expected to produce 136 megawatts, enough for 15,500 homes. It’s the co-op’s second solar project, with their first farm being built in Clark County in 2017. Separately, the Fayette County farm would generate 40 megawatts for 4,500 homes. The Marion County farm would generate 96 megawatts for 11,000 homes. “Over the next decade, we expect to implement about 1000 megawatts of solar energy coming up in the next 10 years,” co-op representative Nick Comer said. The co-op is also preparing to accommodate large businesses who are becoming more interested in sustainable energy. “When we have large industries that are considering Kentucky, often they're looking for options that they can take a certain percentage of their energy use, whether that's 25, 50 or 100 percent of their facilities’ use to make that renewable,” Comer said. #solar #construction #energytransition https://lnkd.in/g8G5AYFn

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners $7.8 billion Project Green Poly has reached a significant milestone by being declared a prescribed project under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971. The announcement, made by the Minister for State Development and Infrastructure Grace Grace, acknowledges the Project’s promise and the significant social and economic benefits it will bring to the north Queensland region. The Project aligns with the state's renewable energy goals, illustrating the pivotal role innovative resource projects play in driving the global transition towards cleaner energy solutions. Quinbrook plans to source high-quality silica quartz from North Queensland as feedstock for the manufacturing of polysilicon prior to export, the country’s first integrated mine-to-manufacturing polysilicon supply chain. The manufacturing plant is to be located in Townsville’s Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (LEIP) and is expected to create around 4400 jobs during construction and operation and will have a functional life of 30 years or more. This state-of-the-art facility will use best in class manufacturing technology and will in part be powered by #largescalesolar and #batterystorage. EMM has been involved with the project since 2023 providing strategic approvals advice and technical support as the Project progresses through to environmental assessments in preparation for primary approval applications. Strategically located within LEIP and bolstered by government support and recognition of Project Green Poly as a prescribed project, the outlook for North Queensland's manufacturing and export market is looking bright! To read more: https://lnkd.in/gCgy2-8w #CreatingOpportunities #ProjectGreenPoly #RenewableEnergy #EnvironmentalAssessments #CleanEnergySolutions #Polysilicon #PrescribedProject

BlueScope’s Orrcon Steel subsidiary will manufacture components for Nextracker Inc. solar trackers under an agreement announced today which will see the first local steel used in ACCIONA Energía’s 480MWp Aldoga Solar Farm to be built near Gladstone. The components for Nextracker’s smart solar tracker used on distributed generation and utility-scale solar farms will be produced from BlueScope’s steel coil at Orrcon Steel’s Salisbury Tube mill in Brisbane and finished at its Northgate site by Baojia, Nextracker’s global manufacturing partner. A new manufacturing facility for the components was officially opened by Queensland Government Minister for Energy and Clean Economy Jobs, Mick de Brenni. The Chief Executive BlueScope Australian Steel Products Tania Archibald said: “As one of Australia’s largest manufacturers, BlueScope continues to invest in our Australian operations, with more than $2 billion currently committed to secure our future as a vibrant, modern and sustainable manufacturer with a clear role to play in enabling Australia’s energy transition." #manufacturing #australianmanufacturing #steel #steelproducts #solar #solarenergy #energytransition #renewables #renewableenergy

Via PV Mag: " Massive 900 MW solar project designed to preserve agricultural land: Brookfield Renewable Partners filed a notice of intent for a 900 MW solar project in Oregon that will be installed in ribbons along the edge of a field to allow for continued agricultural use of the land Brookfield Renewable Partners announced it has filed a notice of intent to develop a 900 MW solar project in Oregon, making it among the largest solar projects in U.S. history. The project is located near the Oregon Raceway outside of Grass Valley. It is placed next to existing transmission lines, eliminating the need for additional transmission infrastructure buildout. Called Speedway Solar and Battery Storage Project, the proposed facility began community outreach efforts in the spring of 2024. Brookfield expects to issue a project order in fall 2024, apply for a site certificate in the winter of 2024, hold a public informational meeting in spring 2025, and deliver a proposed order in fall 2025. If approved, the project would receive a final order and site certificate in Spring 2026, after which the project can be constructed. The project has a unique design in which the solar array is designed in “ribbons” along the edge of existing agricultural and wildlife corridors, thereby allowing for continued agricultural use of the land. Speedway Solar is expected to occupy about 4,500 to 6,000 acres. “With Speedway, we want to preserve the county’s legacy of natural resource stewardship,” said John Soininen, vice president of development, Brookfield Renewables U.S. “By working with the landowners, we can reach our twin goals of decarbonizing the grid and maintaining the character of the region.” During the construction phase, the project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and stimulate local economic activity. Once operational, it will provide ongoing employment opportunities and contribute to the local tax base for shared priorities like firefighters, education and infrastructure. Find the website for the Sherman County, Oregon proposed project here. " #EnergyStrorage #BatteryStorage #Energy