Category: Big Solar Story
Credit: United Renewable Energy (PRNewsfoto/United Renewable Energy)
Construction of the Phipps Bend Nuclear Power plant kicked off in 1978. Tucked in a bend of the Holston River near Surgoinsville, Tennessee, the project was expected to revitalize the area’s economy. The electricity it generated would reach the entire coverage area of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Just a few years into the project, energy demand and prices were falling. The partial nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island triggered increased citizen concerns along with increased costs to meet new regulatory requirements. The TVA Board of Directors ceased construction in 1981. The plant was never operational.
While an industrial park was developed nearby in the late 1980s, the plant was only used for safety training exercises – until now.
Photo Courtesy of Ben Foster
Somerville, NY, May 3, 2017
United Renewable Energy LLC has completed construction of the first Community Solar Project interconnected to National Grid in New York state. The project is located in Northern New York, in the Hamlet of Somerville, on approximately three acres of underused pasture land. The solar photovoltaic modules peak output is 241 Kilowatts DC, yielding a peak of 165 kilowatts AC returned to the power grid.
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United Renewable Energy and Cypress Creek Renewables partner on 7 MW Bladen County, NC Solar Project
Elizabethtown, NC, December 5, 2016– United Renewable Energy LLC and Cypress Creek Renewables are pleased to announce the completion of a 7 MW solar photovoltaic facility located in Bladen County, NC. The project was completed in a partnership between United Renewable Energy LLC, which completed the development activities, and Cypress Creek Renewables who acquired and constructed the facility in late 2015.
The 7 MW facility provides solar energy to Duke Energy Progress through a Power Purchase Agreement and is located on approximately 30 acres of land. This is one of the first solar projects constructed in Bladen County, NC, but many more have recently been announced. Solar projects offer competitive lease rates for landowners, benefit the local property tax base, and provide local jobs to assist with the construction and operation of facilities.
“We are proud to work on this exciting project with Cypress Creek Renewables, one of the largest and fastest growing independent power producers in the world. Their focus and strict adherence to high quality standards are an excellent fit for our developed projects. ” said Keith Herbs, Executive Vice President of United Renewable Energy LLC.
“The 7MW Bladen County project completed with United Renewable Energy was very well developed and is the first of many solar project investments in Bladen County, NC that Cypress Creek is planning.” said David Bunge, Vice President of Development for Cypress Creek Renewables. “It is also our first project complete with United Renewable Energy LLC. Based on the excellent results, we look forward to working together on many future projects.”
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EATONTON, Ga., Oct. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ – Tri-County EMC, a member owned electric co-op, is proud to announce commercial operation of a one megawatt (MW) community solar electricity generation farm in Eatonton, Georgia. The project was developed jointly between Tri-County EMC, Georgia Power and United Renewable Energy LLC. Tri-County EMC provides the low cost solar energy to its participating member-owners as a credit on their bill. Tri-County EMC was formed in 1939 by farmers and homeowners in Baldwin, Jones and Putnam counties and currently serves five additional counties, totaling more than 21,000 accounts. As a co-operative utility, it is owned by its members receiving electric service.
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Third phase of Dalton Solar Plant now online. 7 MW of new solar energy now flowing to Dalton Utilities ATLANTA, May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Leaders from Georgia Power, Southern Wholesale Energy, United Renewable Energy LLC and Dalton Utilities gathered this past week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the latest expansion of the Dalton Solar Plant in Dalton, Ga. With more than seven megawatts (MW) of new generation capacity, this expansion adds to the approximately 700 kilowatts from two previous phases, which came online in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Photo by Contributed Photo/Times Free Press.
SUMMERVILLE, Ga. — Even under Thursday morning’s overcast skies, the new 1,400-panel solar array perched on the roof of a Mohawk Industries building was generating power. The array can produce up to 628,000 kilowatt-hours a year, roughly enough to power around 55 homes annually. The project was a coming-together of flooring manufacturer Mohawk, clean energy firm Constellation, solar infrastructure firm United Renewable Energy LLC and utility provider Georgia Power. Officials from all four were on hand Thursday morning to celebrate the new array’s unveiling.
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Solar panels installed on land owned by the Stephens County Development Authority are up and running.
The solar panels are located in the area of Turner and Wolf Pit roads. Development Authority Executive Director Tim Martin said that the panels were turned on and began producing 700 kilowatts of electricity to send to the Georgia Power grid on Tuesday morning. Martin said it is part of an initiative by Georgia Power to increase solar power usage. “Georgia Power Company wanted to increase the percentage in their portfolio of all sources of electricity, they wanted more solar,” said Martin. “So they created this advanced solar initiative and we became part of that.”
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Partnering with United Renewable Energy, pet food manufacturer demonstrates commitment to renewable energy
FAIRBURN, Ga., May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Nestle Purina PetCare today unveiled the Company’s largest solar array at its Atlanta pet food manufacturing facility. The solar array, designed and installed by United Renewable Energy (URE), represents the latest step in Nestle Purina’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
Fairburn Mayor Mario Avery joined a Nestle Purina delegation, as well as representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson and URE on the factory’s rooftop during a dedication ceremony for the nearly 1,900 glistening solar panels.
“Congratulations to Nestle Purina on this tremendous achievement,” Mayor Avery said. “I’m excited to be here on behalf of the people of Fairburn to mark another major milestone for this great company. Nestle Purina represents what we’re trying to promote in this community, and we’re glad you’re here.”
Nestle Purina Atlanta’s solar array will produce more than 585,000 kilowatt hours of clean sustainable energy each year, with this energy used to power equipment in various areas of the plant, including Processing, Packaging and the Warehouse. The amount of electricity produced annually by the solar array could power nearly 52 average-sized homes — or approximately 5,000 light bulbs — for one year. The carbon offset for a system this size equates to a C02 emissions reduction of approximately 16 million pounds. (more…)
WILMINGTON, NC (September 26, 2012)- For over 40 years, South Atlantic Services, Inc. (SAS) has been a leader in the contract manufacturing of automotive fluids and agricultural products. The company continues to be an industry leader and recently completed the construction of a 500 kW photovoltaic solar energy system at their manufacturing facility in Wilmington, NC. The rooftop system is comprised of 2,033 solar panels which will utilize 35,000 square feet of otherwise unused roof space. The system is mounted to the roof using a non-penetrating mounting solution that clamps directly to the standing-seam metal roof. The system will produce enough energy for 46 average American homes and offset the CO2 emissions equivalent to 78 passenger vehicles. The project was engineered, procured, and constructed using a local workforce by commercial solar contractor United Renewable Energy, LLC. (more…)