SolarCar at Virginia Tech的动态

What we're reading at Planet Detroit this week: ?? The recent $100,000 donation from a DTE-affiliated nonprofit to a dark-money fund associated with House Speaker Joe Tate has ignited controversy and allegations of "legal bribery" in Michigan's efforts to address power outages. This donation coincided with the stalling of the "Putting People First Energy Package," designed to hold utilities accountable, under Tate's leadership. Critics assert that this donation exemplifies corporate influence in Lansing's secretive political funding. ?? In other news, the Arbor Hills Landfill, infamous for odor complaints and environmental violations, is proposing a contentious expansion in Washtenaw County. This proposal has met with opposition from Northville Township residents, who already contend with "stink, seagulls, and truck traffic." ?? Meanwhile, Ann Arbor's Bryant neighborhood is poised to become the nation's first carbon-neutral existing community, thanks to a $3.1 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission. The initiative focuses on renewable energy, home electrification, and health improvements for 50 low-income households. ?? Detroit's food pantries and soup kitchens are receiving a boost with $20 million in federal funds to transform into "climate resilience hubs." These upgraded facilities will include solar panels, energy-efficient enhancements, and even EV charging stations to ensure continued operation and meal service during power outages. https://buff.ly/4iAL0oZ

Acu?a, Mexico, is one hot place during the summer, with temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A local children’s home, Casa Hogar Esperanza, found the cost of running its air conditioning units to be prohibitive after a local company that had been paying for the electricity changed leadership and ended its charitable support. The home tried to keep the children cool by using the units only sparingly. KBGCNA contributed $107,350 in grant funding toward a 136-panel rooftop photovoltaic system to generate electricity for the home. The Bendix Foundation, directed by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix), contributed $28,200 to the project. Additionally, Bendix donated the solar panels, which reduced the overall project cost by $24,000. The grants funded the purchase and installation of the system and transformer, along with maintenance for 20 years, insurance, and remote oversight. The system has begun going online in stages. Once the home can use 100% of the energy produced by the panels, the system is calculated to reduce electricity costs by almost 90% while enabling the operation of the HVAC units. Average monthly savings are expected to be about $2,500. The energy generation is so significant that the units will essentially run for free. “Our support for Casa Hogar Esperanza and its children goes back many years, and we’re pleased to help meet their need for cost-efficient cooling,” said Maria Gutierrez, president of KBGCNA and senior director of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) at Bendix. “The effort aligns with KBGCNA’s larger mission to contribute to the well-being of underserved populations in the surrounding communities of Knorr-Bremse’s North American companies. Making a positive difference in the communities we call home is incredibly important.” Read more about this project: https://lnkd.in/gmhyhabZ #WeMoveTogether #CommunitySupport #LifeAtBendix ??

In 2024, Pivot Energy, a Denver-based leader in renewable energy, donated $370,000 to 22 community organizations, all of which focus on helping low-income families with energy bills, creating career opportunities in renewable energy, and promoting land stewardship and rural economic development, across three states. Garrett County organizations benefiting from these donations included Garrett County Community Action Committee, Habitat for Humanity Garrett County, and the House of Hope. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3C8g1QL

For those of you that are new here or don't now much about Minnesota Brownfields, please allow us to introduce ourselves. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and our mission is to promote, through education, research, and partnerships, the efficient cleanup and reuse of contaminated land as a means of generating economic growth, strengthening communities and enabling sustainable land use and development. Minnesota Brownfields was established in 2006 to promote the voluntary investigation, cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites throughout the state by: ?? Facilitating interaction between interested parties, including property owners, government, community organizations, developers, attorneys, consultants and policy makers. ?? Providing a venue/platform for the identification of brownfield redevelopment barriers and solutions. ?? Removing obstacles to redevelopment of problematic brownfield properties in Minnesota by, for example, acting as a conduit for obtaining local, state, and federal sources of funding, taking title to property, or otherwise facilitating the investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment process as appropriate. Learn more about us on our website: https://buff.ly/4aplS0f

Through Chaberton Cares, we’re proud to support nonprofits in the communities where our solar farms are developed. At last month’s Project Crestone groundbreaking in Harrington, Delaware, we donated $10,000 to the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club’s advocacy was instrumental in helping Delaware pass community solar legislation, paving the way for projects like Crestone and Blackburn (Magnolia, Delaware) to provide renewable energy to local residents. The organization's efforts have made clean energy more accessible and sustainable for communities across the state. ?? We’re inspired by their dedication to protecting our environment and advancing a clean energy future. This partnership highlights how nonprofits and clean energy companies can collaborate and make meaningful change. ?? #communitysolar #cleanenergy #communityengagement

An unused stainless-steel canister from Savannah River Mission Completion has become a learning tool at Aiken Technical College. The canister was donated through the SRS COMMUNITY REUSE ORGANIZATION (SRSCRO). Marking the occasion are, from left, SRSCRO President and CEO Robbie Bennett, Aiken Tech President Forest Mahan, SRMC’s Defense Waste Processing Facility Project Director Ken Wells, SRSCRO Board Chair Cal Wray, and Steven Simmons, dean of the School of Technical and Continuing Education at Aiken Tech. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/epPhU8Cu

Creative Arc supports Exeter Seed Bank: We are pleased to have received funding from Creative Arc to support our flagship events and activities, and to introduce two new strands of work between October and March 2025: a time for seed collecting and winter sowing. This includes an exciting new initiative for an Exeter broad bean flock. The aim is to develop a resilient and genetically diverse broad bean crop through the efforts of community and individual growers in Exeter that will work well in our soils and adaptive to the effects of climate change. This project is funded with the support of the Creative Arc Programme, an initiative funded by the University of Exeter, Exeter City Council and the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund. https://lnkd.in/e-q-nJ93

The world is more connected than ever, yet we’re more divided than ever. Nature Labs is helping students understand how ecological, political, and cultural systems work—fighting misinformation and healing democracy through education. Stand with us: Help us raise $25,000: naturelabs.ca/donate

Fantastic short video summarising the opportunities that exist.