Sandhills Energy, LLC

The Global Renewables Watch (GRW) maps and measures the capacity of utility-scale solar and wind energy sites to provide insights into the progress and trends of renewable energy adoption. After more than two years of dedicated effort, the GRW has made its data publicly available, and you can check it out at https://lnkd.in/djDjChYw. This initiative, powered by Microsoft, Planet, and The Nature Conservancy, was designed to help individuals understand the scope and impact of renewable energy globally, and the now public data set makes it easy for anyone to see the local and national impact.

Researchers at Penn State University have unveiled a promising solution to repurpose depleted oil and gas wells as geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage (CAES) facilities. These abandoned wells present a cost-effective opportunity for energy operators by offering pre-existing access to geothermal heat, thereby eliminating the significant upfront expense of drilling—a key barrier to the widespread adoption of CAES technology. “The problem is that sometimes when we need energy, there is no sunshine or there is no wind,“ said Arash Dahi Taleghani, professor of petroleum and natural gas engineering at Penn State and the study's corresponding author. "That’s a big barrier against further expansion of most of the renewable energy that is available to us. That’s why it's very important to have some storage capacity to support the grid.” https://lnkd.in/gqvaGN43

Early generations of solar panels had a life expectancy of about 20-25 years. However, advancements in technology mean that modern solar panels are rated to function at high efficiency for more than 30 years. Over time, solar panels naturally experience degradation. For example, first-generation panels may still operate at approximately 70% of their original performance after 30 years, according to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The degradation rate for the First Solar panels on our projects is significantly lower than first-generation panels—around 0.3% per year. This means that after 25 years, these panels can still perform at up to 90% of their initial efficiency.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by to connect with us at the 50th Annual NMPP Energy Conference. We always appreciate the opportunity to share insights about our solar projects with MEAN wholesale power participant communities and to engage in meaningful discussions with our peers across the region.

Our solar projects are about more than advancing energy independence—they’re about working with partners who share our vision for making a meaningful impact close to home. That’s why we choose First Solar modules for our projects. First Solar’s impressive technology is only part of the story. Their commitment to strengthening the U.S. economy shines even brighter. According to their 2023 U.S. Economic Impact Report, First Solar’s operations contributed: ? 16,245 total jobs (direct, indirect, and induced) ? Over $2.8 billion in added value to the U.S. economy Discover more about First Solar’s positive impact here: https://lnkd.in/dWjM6EBZ.

This year marks the 50th NMPP Energy Annual Conference, happening from March 18-20 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Lincoln. Join us on March 19, from 10-11 AM, as we present insights into our solar projects with MEAN wholesale power participant communities. Don't miss this valuable opportunity to connect with regional peers and explore critical topics in energy, community development, and more. Registration is still open—secure your spot here. https://lnkd.in/gNa7iv5h We look forward to seeing you there!

Last week, I was honored to take part in the American Conservation Coalition Action's 2025 Fly-In to Capitol Hill, where I joined 50 other students in advocating for common-sense environmental policy. In D.C., I had the privilege of meeting with elected officials, and hearing from those in the clean energy industry about the challenges facing American energy. From permitting reform to advanced nuclear reactors, special thanks to representatives from Hudson Sustainable Group, ?rsted, Invenergy, Solar Energy Industries Association, Southern Company, Nuclear Energy Institute, Constellation, TerraPower, Oklo Inc, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG), National Mining Association, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, and many others for sharing the challenges facing American energy and how we can tackle these issues. Tremendous thanks as well to Rep. Bruce Westerman for giving us a nighttime tour of the Capitol Building. It was truly a pleasure to visit the halls of the greatest deliberative body in the world. ????? I want to thank Brian Martinez, Karly Matthews, and everyone at the American Conservation Coalition for making this week possible! I look forward to continuing to advance common-sense environmental solutions! ??????

Clean energy investments are projected to add $21 billion to Nebraska's economy from 2025-2035, according to a new report commissioned by the American Clean Power Association (ACP) and conducted by ICF International. The analysis considers how investments are expected to boost jobs, household income, and the state economy. Key takeaways include: ? 171,400 full-time equivalent jobs created by federal programs ? $11 billion in boosted income for Nebraskans ? $47 billion added to Nebraska’s economy from overall American energy investments ? $19.2 billion from clean transportation ? $5.5 billion from building electrification and efficiency improvements For more information, by state and ICF International’s methodology, visit https://lnkd.in/gkWkC9Th.?

Combined, the 51,000 solar panels we installed last year are projected to generate 79 Gigawatt hours annually, resulting in a predicted total output of 18.7 MW.

We rely on the American-made SmarTrack? racking from Array Technologies and its trusted distributor, RPCS, for our solar installations. ARRAY is one of the world's leading racking manufacturers, and our projects benefit significantly from the advanced features of SmarTrack racking. SmarTrack's software suite includes solutions like ARRAY SmarTrack Backtracking and ARRAY SmarTrack Diffuse, which are crucial in maximizing energy yield. Backtracking adjusts tracker angles to reduce shading caused by terrain variations, while Diffuse optimizes panel angles during cloudy or low-light conditions. These intelligent features result in increased energy production and higher returns on investment for the rural communities that benefit from our solar projects.