Dominion Energy Proposes New Solar and Energy Storage Projects in Virginia

Dominion-PV-and-Energy-Storage

By Power Engineering:

“Dominion Energy has proposed nearly two dozen new solar and energy storage projects, according to new filings with Virginia regulators. If approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), the projects will provide more than 800 MW of electricity.

Ten solar and storage projects totaling nearly 500 MW would be directly owned and operated by Dominion. The proposal also includes PPAs with 13 solar and storage projects, totaling more than 300 MW.

Construction of the projects is projected to support nearly 4,800 clean energy jobs and will generate more than $920 million in economic benefits across Virginia.”

Continue Reading…

To build or not to build: TVA asks public to weigh in on construction of large solar farm

TVA-PV-Solar-Farm

RenewableEnergyWorld – The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is asking for public input on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the North Alabama Utility-Scale Solar Project in Lawrence County.

In January 2019, TVA announced that it holds a two-year purchase option on 3,000 acres in Lawrence County to study the feasibility of building a large solar farm in order to continue reducing its carbon footprint.  

The purpose of this EIS is to address the potential environmental effects associated with constructing, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning the solar facility.

The draft EIS includes two alternatives: a No Action Alternative and an Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, TVA would not execute the purchase under the Purchase Option Agreement, and TVA would not develop a solar facility at this location. Under the Action Alternative, TVA would execute the purchase under the Purchase Option Agreement for the Lawrence County, Alabama, property. 

READ MORE ….

Minnesota governor accelerates state’s carbon-free power target 10 years, to 2040

Minnesota-Carbon-Free-Electricity

UtilityDive – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, D, on Thursday proposed a series of policies that would bring the state to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, a decade earlier than the goal he proposed in 2019.

His proposed policy goals follow a report from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued earlier this month, finding the state is not on track to meet its previous goals of reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2025, and 80% by 2050. Overall, greenhouse gas emissions have declined 8% since 2005, according to the agency’s latest data, which measures emissions through 2018.

Minnesota’s largest investor-owned utilities (IOUs) — Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power — are pursuing 100% carbon-free energy by 2050 targets, and said their plans are more realistic.

READ MORE ….

State regulators fine Xcel Energy $1M over dispute with solar developers

solar-farm

StarTribune – Minnesota utility regulators Thursday slapped Xcel Energy with a rare $1 million fine for a bevy of complaints over delays in connecting solar projects to the electricity grid.

Almost all of the roughly 120 complaints were filed by St. Paul-based All Energy Solar in 2019. A solar trade group said All Energy’s grievances reflect longstanding and costly interconnection problems with Xcel for the entire industry.

Minneapolis-based Xcel, the state’s largest electric utility, has acknowledged shortcomings. But it argues that the big batch of complaints should be rolled into one.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously disagreed with Xcel’s assertion but split on whether to immediately hit Xcel with the $1 million fine.

READ MORE ….

Why Grid-Tied Solar Power Systems Are Recommended Over Other Solar Systems?

Off-Grid-Solar-System-with-Backup
by the 3 Phase Associates “TEAM”
Renewable energy and distributed energy resources (DERs) continue to flood the electric utility grid providing cleaner and more sustainable energy. As the traditional power grid evolves into a smarter electric grid, environmental regulations push for more cleaner renewable energy sources. Solar PV electric power systems are leading the path in this effort with improvements in technologies, efficiencies, and cost reductions. The grid-tied solar systems are gaining popularity and becoming more favored over other solar electric systems. 
Click here to continue reading….

FREE Online Electrical Engineering Calculator Tools

Basic-EE-Calculator-Tools

3 Phase Associates – Try out our FREE and basic electrical engineering calculator tools that aid you in performing some basic electrical engineering calculations, like: transformer fault currentsshort circuitssubstation physical electrical clearancesvoltage droppower factor correctionmotor full loadconductor ampacitiesgroundinglighting designgrid-tied solar power systems, etc.

Click HERE to Continue…