Clean Energy Group

Peaker power plants, which produce some of the most polluting and expensive electricity on the power grid, disproportionately impact neighborhoods inhabited by low-income people and people of color. CEG's Eva Morgan uses newly available EPA data to show these inequities in a new blog. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eB8FRfEe

Power outages can quickly turn into a health crisis for the millions of Americans that rely on electricity for home medical devices, such as life-support equipment or refrigerated medication. A new report outlines opportunities for solar paired with battery storage to maintain electricity to essential services, centered around three case studies of multifamily affordable housing facilities in Connecticut. In addition to evaluating the health benefits of energy resilience in the event of an outage, the report explores potential economic benefits for both the provider and residents during regular grid operations. This report was prepared by Clean Energy Group with American Microgrid Solutions as part of the Climate Smart Technologies and Home Medical Devices for Affordable Housing initiative, an effort co-funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Connecticut Green Bank and led in partnership with the Connecticut Insurance Department , Operation Fuel, and the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health. https://lnkd.in/eydNbPTq

To help save lives when a hurricane strikes, churches in Louisiana are installing solar panels paired with battery storage so they may provide essential services during a power outage. CEG's recent webinar highlighted the 10+ resilience hubs installed in the New Orleans area by Together New Orleans, facilitated in part by CEG's Technical Assistance Fund. Read more from Will Driscoll in pv magazine USA: https://lnkd.in/eBW8XQD7

As power outages continue to increase in occurrence and severity, the economic, reliability, and resilience benefits of battery storage will become more important than ever. How can these benefits effectively be distributed in areas that need it the most? A new report by Clean Energy Group evaluates the barriers and opportunities to advance solar photovoltaics paired with battery storage (solar+storage) in historically marginalized communities. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eQHsHS4F This report was developed through the Equitable Solar Communities of Practice?program initiated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO).?Special thanks to the Smart Electric Power Alliance, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Northwest Arctic Borough, Together Louisiana, Appalachian Voices, and ReVision Energy for their contributions and support as Core Team members.

Really excited to announce that the Solar+Storage Microgrids for Rural Community Health Centers initiative is officially getting started! Over the next 7 years, the DOE-supported project will install resilient solar+storage at 125 community health centers in rural areas across the Southeast. Clean Energy Group is thrilled to be launching this work with National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), Capital Link, and Collective Energy Company.

Join us on Wednesday, January 15 at 1pm ET to hear about innovative applications of solar+storage to assist?vulnerable communities in the event of an outage and emergency event, featuring speakers from Footprint Project and Together New Orleans. Read more and register here: https://lnkd.in/e3jEv_Us

In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $7 billion in federal funding for seven regional Hydrogen Hubs. So far, development of the Hubs has been marked by lackluster community engagement and transparency efforts, pushback from local advocates, and financial uncertainty regarding continued support under the incoming Trump Administration, as well as long-awaited tax credit guidance from the Treasury.?CEG's Abbe Ramanan summarizes the status of each Hub in a new blog. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/enyCfDhP

Join us on Wednesday, January 15 at 1pm ET to hear about innovative applications of solar+storage to assist?vulnerable communities in the event of an outage and emergency event, featuring speakers from Footprint Project and Together New Orleans. Read more and register here: https://lnkd.in/e3jEv_Us

The Petersburg Resiliency Hub is the first of its kind in Virginia. The Hub serves as a multipurpose community center, as well as the headquarters of two organizations directed by Queen Zakia Shabazz: United Parents Against Lead (UPAL) and the Virginia Environmental Justice Collaborative (VEJC).?And, because it is powered with solar panels and energy storage system (solar+storage), the Hub can keep its doors open when the larger grid goes down. ? In the event of a power outage, the Resiliency Hub’s battery can power the entire building for several hours, or support critical loads for up to three days. “People will be able to come to the Resiliency Hub and have light, have food, have shelter,” says Shabazz. “They can power up their electronics or their wheelchairs and other medical devices.” ? In 2020, UPAL applied for and received a Technical Assistance Fund grant from Clean Energy Group (CEG). As part of this grant, CEG provided one-on-one support and connected UPAL with an engineer to conduct a solar+storage feasibility study. Early-stage technical assistance is instrumental for community organizations considering solar+storage for cost savings and resilience. ? Read more about the Petersburg Resiliency Hub here: https://lnkd.in/eUbAkiHT ? Read more about Clean Energy Group's Technical Assistance Fund here: https://lnkd.in/g-teUi_C

This year, Clean Energy Group celebrates 10-years and $2 million in small grant support to build local energy resilience in historically underserved communities through the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF). Over 150 community-serving organizations, representing 375 facilities across 33 states and territories, have received the early, individualized technical and small grant assistance they need to develop resilient power systems – solar photovoltaics paired with battery storage (solar+storage) – at community facilities. To date, with Clean Energy Group’s assistance, 77 solar+storage projects have been completed, and many more are in progress. Over 50 percent of 2024 TAF support has gone to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) led organizations. Read more on our blog: https://lnkd.in/ejD8zumV