Author Archives: Deborah Robbins

Two TAEBC members make Solar Power World 2019’s Top 100 Solar Contractors List

Solar Power World, the industry’s leading source for technology, development and installation news, presents the 2019 Top Solar Contractors list. The list ranks applicants according to their influence in the U.S. solar industry in 2018.

The list details the headquarters location of a company, employees, its primary market (utility, commercial, residential) and its primary service (EPC, developer, rooftop contractor, installation subcontractor, electrical subcontractor, manufacturer installer). 

TAEBC member Silicon Ranch Corporation ranked at #26 on the list, installing 94,449 kW in 2018 alone.

Silicon Ranch is the U.S. solar platform for Shell and one of the largest independent solar power producers in the country. Silicon Ranch develops to own all of its projects for the long-term, a distinction that means the company is deeply committed to its partners and communities and stands behind the performance of its facilities day in and day out. The company’s operating portfolio includes more than 125 facilities across 14 states from New York to California, including the first large-scale solar projects in Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas.

Ameresco, headquartered in Massachusetts but with locations in Tennessee, ranked #55 on the list, installing 30,793 kW in 2018.

Ameresco is a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions provider serving North America and the United Kingdom. Their energy experts deliver long-term customer value, environmental stewardship, and sustainability through energy efficiency, alternative energy, supply management, and innovative facility renewal all with practical financial solutions. Solar projects are designed for the unique needs of customers. Ameresco has built innovative projects on municipal landfills, parking garages, parking lots, interstate highways, military bases, industrial plants, schools, and airports. In addition, Ameresco has paired solar PV projects with batteries and interconnection controls for microgrid applications to meet resiliency objectives.

You can view the complete list and rankings on Solar Power World’s website.

Disclosure: Companies choose their primary market and primary service. That does not mean they only work in these areas. They could work across all markets and all services, and their listed kilowatts reflect their cumulative installation numbers from the last year in all markets, services and states. Ranks are determined by the number of kilowatts (DC) a company was involved with installing in 2018 in the United States only. If two companies reported the same 2018 numbers, they were sorted by total kilowatts installed.

Strata-G honored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a Dream Big Awards Finalist

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced Knoxville-based Strata-G as one of three finalists for its annual Dream Big Awards. The Awards, presented by MetLife, celebrate the achievements of small businesses and honor their contributions to America’s economic growth.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Their grit, determination, and generosity give real meaning to the term free enterprise. When small businesses thrive, our communities prosper, and that’s good for everyone,” said Tom Sullivan, U.S. Chamber vice president of small business policy. “The U.S. Chamber is proud to honor small businesses who inspire themselves and others to dream big through their actions, contributions, and leadership.”

“We are honored by our selection as one of three Dream Big Award finalists,” said Strata-G President, Dan Hurst. “It’s a testament to our professional staff of more than 200 scientists, engineers, health and safety experts, and project managers who practice our core values of integrity, service, and quality each day. We appreciate the U.S. Chamber’s recognition.”

Award winners will be announced at the Dream Big Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 16, in Washington, D.C., at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Strata-G is a team of engineers, scientists, safety professionals and project managers dedicated to the responsible care of client-entrusted resources in the environmental, energy, defense, utilities and infrastructure sectors.

TVA seeks comment on Draft Environmental Assessment regarding private-scale solar programs

TVA is seeking comment on its Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the proposal to close the Green Power Providers program and bringing a new private-scale solar offering to market.

The public comment period runs October 9 through November 8. The Draft EA and online comment form can be found at www.tva.com/nepa. Or here.

As the market evolves, TVA continually evaluates its renewable programs and strategic direction. While utility-scale solar provides the least-cost approach to add solar in the Valley, market analysis also highlights the demand for private-scale solar. TVA believes that this new offering will reflect the needs of those wanting to invest in private solar.

Background

TVA, partnering with local power companies and TVPPA, has supported solar generation in the Tennessee Valley through a number of pilots and programs for nearly two decades in order to gain knowledge, experience, and promote solar as a renewable option to our customers. Today we have 3,745 installations providing 1,099 MWAC operating and contracted capacity.

In 2017, a stakeholder group, the Solar Strategies Initiative, was convened representing multiple interests to offer a recommended path forward. Three key recommendations had strong support:

  • TVA should focus efforts on utility scale projects
  • Solar growth should follow demand and economics
  • Resources and efforts are needed to educate customers

Consequently, TVA has evaluated its renewable programs and proposed closing the Green Power Providers program effective January 1, 2020. To address the demand for private-scale renewables, TVA and its partners, including TenneSEIA, is working to propose a new private-scale solution. Using input from people across the valley a concept was put forward and is now under review in the Draft EA. It contains:

  • A network of qualified installers
  • Installation guidelines, best practices, inspection standards, and commissioning protocols
  • Training and educational material

If approved, the new private-scale solar offering will go into effect in 2020.

City of Chattanooga releases solar RFP for wastewater treatment plant

Sealed bids for furnishing all materials, labor, tools, equipment and appurtenances necessary for the construction of the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Solar Project will be received at the City of Chattanooga at City Hall, Purchasing Department, Suite G13, 101 East 11th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37042, until 2:00 p.m., local time, on October 22, 2019, and then at said office publicly opened and read aloud.

A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15 at 11:00 A.M. local time to give interested parties an opportunity to review the bid documents and submit questions. This will happen in the Training Facility, Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at 455 Moccasin Bend Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405. Bidder attendance is encouraged but not mandatory.

Project Specific: Construct a 3.2 MW DC solar array at the Moccasin Bend WWTP in Chattanooga, TN. This array will provide “behind-the-meter” renewable solar to the Moccasin Bend WWTP. This is a turnkey project and the selected contractor shall perform (or subcontract) the civil site development of the site, installation of the solar array (racking, panel installation, inverter installation, wiring) and interconnection of the solar array to the Moccasin Bend WWTP to provide solar power to the WWTP.

A conceptual layout of the solar array and interconnection to the Moccasin Bend WWTP is provided within along with a civil site design. The selected contractor will be required to finalize the design for approval by Chattanooga, purchase and install all equipment and materials for a successful project.

The instructions to bidders, bid, contract agreement, drawings, specifications and forms of bid bond, performance bond, payment bond and other contract documents may be examined at the following:

 

City of Chattanooga

Purchasing Department

101 E. 11th Street, Suite G13

Chattanooga, TN 37402

423-643-7230

 

Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.

631 Broad Street, Suite 300

Chattanooga, TN 37402

423-779-3075

 

See below for additional information/documents.

R190759_Moccasin_Bend_WWTP_Solar_Project

AddendumNo02

Innovation Crossroads Showcase spotlights new entrepreneurs, recent graduates

(Cross-posted from Teknovation.biz)

By Tom Ballard, Chief Alliance Officer, PYA

Five of the seven new start-ups that comprise Cohort 3 of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s “Innovation Crossroads” (IC) program and two of the alumni of Cohort 1 that recently graduated were spotlighted during a showcase Thursday as part of “Innov865 Week.”

Held in collaboration with the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC), the event underscored one of the entrepreneurial strengths of the region – advanced energy and the 15 start-ups that have been or are still participating in the IC initiative. It also marked the graduation for the two alumni of Cohort 1 that recently completed the “Energy Mentor Network” program offered by TAEBC with financial support from Launch Tennessee.

During the event, I had the opportunity to have a fireside chat with the two Cohort 1 graduates – Anna Douglas of SkyNano Technologies and Mitchell Ishmael of Active Energy Systems. Both have ties to Tennessee, but both have also decided to remain here and grow their companies.

Read more here.

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