Miami-Dade County, the fourth-largest school district in the nation, became the first Southern school district to commit to an ambitious goal: switching to “clean energy” entirely by 2030.
The resolution didn’t define clean energy, but traditionally that means switching away from fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy, like switching to electric buses and more schools powered by solar energy.
Still, the resolution represents a victory for parents and students who developed and pushed for the proposal, passed unanimously with no debate in a school board meeting.
Source: Alex Harris, Colleen Wright – Miami Herald, WLRN
Image credit: CARL JUSTE, MIAMI HERALD (half-acre 402-panel floating solar array)
A new blueprint from the Biden administration shows how solar energy could play a massive role in transitioning the United States’ power sector to clean energy, and achieve the President’s ambitious goals to decarbonize the US economy.
The Solar Futures Study from the Department of Energy, shows that by 2035, solar energy has the potential to power 40% of the nation’s electricity and employ as many as 1.5 million people — without raising electricity costs for consumers.
Though the report shows reaching 40% solar is possible, that goal is contingent on Congress passing legislation that incentivizes renewable energy as well as the widespread adoption of solar power. Congressional Democrats are currently negotiating a $3.5 trillion spending billthat includes tax credits for wind and solar power.
“The study illuminates the fact that solar, our cheapest and fastest-growing source of clean energy, could produce enough electricity to power all of the homes in the US by 2035 and employ as many as 1.5 million people in the process,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
The Biden administration in January announced a goal to decarbonize 80% of the US electricity sector by 2030 and get to 100% renewable electricity by 2035. The new DOE report lays out a blueprint for how the administration could achieve that goal using solar energy, but Biden’s administration is also pursuing other forms of renewable energy, including wind.
The study showed that other forms of renewables could complete a carbon-free US power grid. The DOE study estimates that wind power could make up 36% of the grid, nuclear could account for around 13%, hydroelectric could make up around 5-6%, and geothermal could account for the remaining 1%.
Still, whether that renewable energy transition can happen depends on the amount of tax credits Democrats in Congress can pass in their upcoming budget reconciliation bill. While final details are still being worked out, a coalition of environmental groups is pushing Congress to fund between $191 billion and $265 billion for 10-year direct-pay tax credits for renewable energy like wind and solar.
Solar currently accounts for about 3% of US electricity supply. The study shows the US would need to quadruple its yearly solar capacity additions by 2035, providing 1,000 gigawatts of power to ensure most of the electricity grid was powered by renewables. By 2050, solar energy could provide 1,600 gigawatts of energy to the US grid grid, which DOE projects would provide more electricity than is currently consumed in all residential and commercial buildings in the US today.
“ It is now possible to envision—and chart a path toward—a future where solar provides 40% of the nation’s electricity by 2035,” Becca Jones-Albertus, the director of DOE’s Solar Energy Technologies Office said in a letter introducing the report. “This growth is necessary to limit the impacts of climate change, and our work to realize this vision could not be more urgent.”
FSEC Energy Research Center (FSEC ERC) is proud to announce that it has joined forces with NREL as a Connector for the American-Made Challenges (AMC).
Entrepreneurs, are you ready for a challenge, an American-Made Challenge? Win cash prizes for your ideas that help to advance U.S. leadership in the energy industry. AMC is all about “Empowering American Innovators to Lead the Clean Energy Revolution.” Become part of this amazing opportunity by visiting https://americanmadechallenges.org/solve.html and if you participate in the Solar Prize Rounds, be sure to choose FSEC ERC as your Connector. The deadline to apply for the Solar Prize Round 5 is October 5, 2021.
What is a connector you ask?Connectors are an American-Made Challenges Network of national support organizations, such as FSEC ERC, serving as a critical component to a participant’s success. Our team of highly skilled solar researchers are here to support competitors in the solar hardware and software prize track by reviewing designs, conducting performance testing, providing field validation, and similar technical services. Our goal at FSEC ERC is to help participants win and turn their innovative ideas into marketable products.
Not familiar with AMC? The AMC family started over three years ago and now has over 15 prize programs. This year, FSEC ERC became a Connector to support the solar prize competition, designed to energize U.S. entrepreneurs in solar innovations.
Solar support you say! FSEC ERC, a research facility of the University of Central Florida (UCF), conducts a wide range of research in solar technology. From advanced photovoltaics system performance to long-term reliability and durability testing, FSEC ERC is a leader in solar research. For more details visit https://energyresearch.ucf.edu/research/solar-research/.
Compete To Win! The AMC team devised a prize method rather than a grant method, which helps to shorten the prize program process (PPP). Once a submission has been made and the packet scored, the PPP enables winners the flexibility to get cash when needed to start on their project.
There are many opportunities to win prizes and two competitive tracks that FSEC ERC researchers can assist you with are:
Hardware Track: $3 million prize focused on solar hardware components
Software Track: $1.6 million prize and seeking new solar software technology
For more information: https://americanmadechallenges.org/solarprize/round5/No wonder NREL and AMC chose FSEC ERC to be a Connector, given the UCF FSEC ERC’s long standing reputation, as the leading university research center in Solar Energy. It only makes sense that participants choose our researchers to be their “Connector” as our goal is to ensure we assist participants in getting solar hardware and software concepts one-step closer to market. Good Luck!Source: Elizabeth Myron, U.S Department of Energy, energyresearch.ucf.eduImage credit: U.S Department of Energy
Kitson & Partners announced that Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, has surpassed 1,500 homes sold. With sales surging by 61% for the first half of the year, Babcock Ranch also jumped nine spots to the No. 25 position in the country’s 50 top-selling master-planned communities of 2021 by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors.
“The hometown feel of Babcock Ranch continues to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners. “Our focus on health and wellness, commitment to sustainability, and advances in technology and innovation all contribute to making our vibrant community not only a destination but also a hometown.”
As the demand for residential homes in master-planned communities remains high, Babcock Ranch is looking to have another strong gain in home sales by the close of 2021, with new neighborhoods introduced later this year to meet buyer demand. Residents will also soon enjoy new retail offerings at Crescent B Commons, the 82,640-square-foot Publix-anchored shopping center at a new entrance to Babcock Ranch slated to open in September. Publix is expected to open in mid- to late-September.
Additional developments throughout the community includethe construction of the highly anticipated Babcock High School, a new state-of-the-art, project-based learning destination at Babcock Ranch. A new one-story field house, under construction on the school campus, will serve as both an emergency shelter and a recreation center for school and community activities; the 40,600-square-foot facility is being built to International Code Council 500 standards for storm shelters and will accommodate up to 1,343 occupants.
“As Babcock Ranch continues to grow, we are excited to offer our residents and neighbors in the area a broad spectrum of services – from education and recreation spaces to additional options for shopping and dining,” added Kitson.
Ranked as Southwest Florida’s top master-planned community based on Metrostudy data for single-family home annual starts in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, Babcock Ranch was also named 2020 Master-Planned Community of the Year by the Lee Building Industry Association.
Created by Kitson & Partners with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand, half of the town’s footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and expansive lakes, providing recreation and scenic backdrops for Babcock Ranch’s homes and the Founder’s Square downtown district. Babcock National brings golf to Babcock Ranch with an 18-hole Gordon Lewis-designed course as the centerpiece of Lennar’s new lifestyle community.
Babcock Ranch offers homes from seven home builders in seven neighborhoods with more than 50 home design options ranging from 1,120 to more than 4,000 square feet. Homes appeal to young millennials, families, empty nesters and retirees alike, with prices ranging from the $200,000s to over $1.5 million. Built to Florida Green Building Coalition standards, homes emphasize energy and water conservation and offer a full gig of fiber-optic connectivity.
Within Babcock Ranch’s welcoming neighborhoods, more than two dozen model and quick-delivery homes are now open or under construction by AR Homes by Arthur Rutenberg, Divco Custom Homes, Florida Lifestyle Homes, Lennar, Meritage Homes, Pulte Homes, and WCI.
For more information about Southwest Florida’s new Solar hometown, located just northeast of Fort Myers off Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31, visit the Woodlea Hall Discovery Center at 42850 Crescent Loop in Babcock Ranch.
