Ashleigh Sherman | October 30, 2023
| Clear Power Era, Photo voltaic
The Clear Power Era is making progress day-after-day right here within the Southeast, together with modern methods of integrating solar energy in our public areas, houses, and companies. From picnic shelters with solar-powered chargers to craft beer from solar-powered breweries, our clear power future is turning into a actuality, one photo voltaic panel at a time.
Listed here are just some tales which have been within the information in current weeks exhibiting modern methods photo voltaic is getting used within the Southeast.
New picnic shelters give faculty college students a solar-powered cost for his or her laptops
Catawba School in Salisbury, NC, put in two solar-powered picnic shelters with plans for 3 extra. The shelters present wi-fi telephone chargers, USB ports, and electrical retailers. Batteries beneath the picnic tables retailer three days of power for when there’s no solar. The picnic shelter roofs maintain the photo voltaic panels and supply shade. Learn extra.
Nonprofit installs photo voltaic panels, crops flowers alongside 18 miles of west GA freeway
Georgia-based nonprofit The Ray is placing “forgotten” inexperienced turf alongside highways to good use. 2,600 panels of solar energy now run alongside an 18-mile stretch of Interstate 85 between LaGrange and West Level. Beneath these photo voltaic panels? A meadow of pollinator gardens, inviting endangered bees to pollinate. This win-win-win undertaking is already inspiring comparable ventures in Florida, Maine, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Learn extra.
Photo voltaic Bar opening in a transformed transport container
A brand new solar-powered outside bar opened Could 20 alongside the Westside Beltline path at Atlanta’s Lee and White complicated. Powered by 10 photo voltaic panels, Photo voltaic Bar is housed in a transformed transport container. The panels retailer extra power captured in the course of the day in a battery system that retains the bar up and working all evening. Learn extra.
At Birdsong Brewing, local weather and surroundings are a part of the marketing strategy
At Charlotte’s Birdsong Brewing, photo voltaic panels have been an integral a part of the marketing strategy from the beginning. 220 photo voltaic panels provide about 40% of the brewery and faucet room’s electrical energy. As one of many metropolis’s oldest craft breweries, Birdsong is a vital case research within the roles environmental sustainability can play for small companies, and the way it could make the office happier and more healthy. Learn extra.
Bees and electrical energy buzz at LaGrange solar energy website
Whereas photo voltaic panel websites have the potential to influence the open meadows and habitats that pollinators must survive, Georgia Energy’s pollinator undertaking helps be sure that each bees and butterflies can thrive on land used for photo voltaic by packing crops recognized to draw pollinators, like milkweed and beebalm, between rows of photo voltaic panels. Learn extra.
Basic Heart undertaking to be Georgia’s largest municipal rooftop photo voltaic power system
1,600 photo voltaic panels are being put in on the rooftop of the Basic Heart, a conference heart and performing arts theater in downtown Athens, GA. This undertaking will probably be Georgia’s largest municipal rooftop photo voltaic power system when full. Learn extra.
Untapped photo voltaic potential on warehouses
The U.S. should make the most of untapped photo voltaic power alternatives to shortly and sustainably transfer right into a clear power future. A type of alternatives is on warehouses. There are ~16.4 billion sq. ft of intensive, flat warehouse roofs throughout the nation (and rising!) – good locations for photo voltaic panel installations. States with the most important potential on this space embrace Georgia and Florida, proper right here within the Southeast! Learn extra.
Comply with alongside every week
These tales spotlight just some of the constructive issues occurring in our space! Each day we see indicators of hope. The Clear Power Era is making a future powered by clear power that results in clear air and water, good jobs, and vibrant communities.
Would you prefer to see extra tales like this? We’ve acquired simply the factor for you! Each Thursday, we share the newest clear power information on Instagram with #CleanEnergyNews. Be part of us as we have a good time the progress and indicators of hope within the clear power transition.
Be part of the Clear Power Era
Collectively, all of us who’re taking motion are a part of the Clear Power Era motion. We’re coming collectively to create more healthy communities and a safer and sustainable surroundings, beginning now. Irrespective of your age, revenue, zip code, or talents, you possibly can play a task. You don’t should have the solutions, studying extra is an effective way to start out. Be part of us, and we’ll share concepts, assets, instruments, and practices to indicate how we are able to all be a part of the transformation.