• April 23, 2026

The New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Lithonia, Georgia, is celebrating becoming one of the first faith communities in the state to install solar and battery storage on its campus, as well as the first commercial pilot participant to seek battery storage in collaboration with Georgia BRIGHT and Capital Good Fund. This initiative is part of a broader effort by AME District Six and the Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL) to transform congregations into resilience hubs. The gatherings are equipped not only with solar and battery storage but also with electric vehicle charging stations, enabling them to provide emergency vehicle power, store essential medications, and serve as shelters during severe weather and climate disasters. Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell of the AME Church in Georgia's Sixth District stated, "Historically, the AME Church has been a beacon of hope and safe harbor for communities during crises." "In becoming a center of resilience, our church prepares for tomorrow's climate challenges while honoring this legacy. This is to uphold our sacred mission of serving and caring for our neighbors." Hannah Shultz, Director of the GIPL Project, stated, "AME Church is demonstrating to Georgia that when faith communities embrace both practical resource management and climate justice, anything is possible." "This initiative goes beyond clean energy—it is about building the infrastructure our communities need to withstand future storms, both literally and metaphorically." Currently, 12 churches are participating in the pilot program of the Sixth Region and GIPL, and have recently received additional funding to support the implementation at four of them. The 482 churches in the Sixth Region could collectively generate approximately 34 GWh of electricity annually. This amount is sufficient to power over 3,000 households each year. Reverend Will Thomas, the senior pastor of New Bethel AME Church, stated, "This initiative reflects our commitment to being good stewards of creation and serving our community in tangible ways. 'When the lights nearby go out, we hope New Bethel becomes a place where people know they can come for safety and support. That is the mission of our church.'" The 70.11-kilowatt solar system and 41-kilowatt-hour battery storage system installed by Better Tomorrow Solar is expected to meet 80% of the church's annual energy needs, saving the faith community over $15,000 in utility costs each year. This project was made possible with the support of Hive Fund, Black Voters Matter, and Georgia BRIGHT, which provides funding for Solar Energy Purchase Agreements (SEPA) to congregations at zero upfront cost. Georgia BRIGHT is a program under the national nonprofit Capital Good Fund, enabling nonprofit organizations and homeowners to access solar power without prepayment by leveraging federal tax credits, grants, and bulk purchasing. "Black Voters Matter is proud to support New Bethel AME Church as it leads the ...

• April 22, 2026

Geronimo Power announced that the 270-megawatt Brayton Solar Project in Falls County, Texas, is now operational. "The Blevins project reflects Geronimo's commitment to building energy infrastructure that delivers real value to communities," said Gemma Smith, Geronimo's Vice President of Operations. "By collaborating with partners like Fujifilm and Bristol-Myers Squibb, we provide reliable power and meaningful economic investments while advancing our shared commitment to community-centered, responsible clean energy development." Blevins will provide services for the two previously announced power purchase agreements (PPA) signed with Fujifilm and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Girish Menon, Senior Director of Environmental Health and Safety at Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation, stated, "At Fujifilm, we boast a proud history spanning nearly a century, leveraging our excellence in imaging to become a global leader in healthcare, life sciences, and advanced materials. Yet our mission remains unwavering: to create and support technologies that improve lives and bring more smiles to the world. This power purchase agreement transforms our vision into action by supporting new renewable energy, advancing our energy strategy, and furthering Fujifilm's broader decarbonization efforts across North America." With Blevins going live, Fujifilm announced it will offset 100% of its electricity consumption in the U.S. and Canada with renewable energy. Briana Marvuglio, Executive Director of Environment and Sustainability, stated: "Bravais reflects how Bristol-Myers Squibb integrates sustainability into the core of our operations—not as a standalone initiative but as a strategic lever to enhance resilience and improve performance. By making large-scale investments in renewable energy, we are redefining how environmental management supports long-term business continuity and delivers better outcomes for the patients we serve." During its first 20 years of operation, Bliven's is projected to generate approximately $33.8 million in direct economic impact, including $32.5 million in new tax revenue for Forsyth County, local schools, and emergency districts. The project will create around 400 construction jobs and sustain three to four full-time operational positions throughout its lifecycle. Beyond tax contributions and job creation, Bliven's also commits to providing approximately $1.3 million in charitable donations during the project's initial 20-year operational period.

• April 21, 2026

The Trinity-St. Peter's Episcopal Church in San Francisco is a historic landmark built in the 19th century, now equipped with a 19.74 kW solar power system. The system was installed by SunSource and supported by RE-volv and California Interfaith Power & Light (CIPL), saving the church over $261,000 in electricity costs over its lifetime. These savings will be directly reinvested into social justice initiatives, including food insecurity programs and community cleanups. "In every chapter of San Francisco's history, our church has been a constant presence in this community. Committing to solar energy ensures our doors remain open and our mission remains sustainable for the next century," said Mike Chambers, the senior warden of Trinity Saint Peter Church. "Releasing these funds means we can focus less on administrative costs and more on our neighbors. We take pride in demonstrating that a faith community with deep historical roots can lead the way toward a fairer world." Susan Stephenson, Chief Executive Officer of CIPL, added: "Faith communities have a moral mandate to lead climate solutions." "St. Peter's Trinity Church is truly inspiring, as it is a sacred space with a century-old history that embodies the future of our clean energy." This Wednesday, the church will lead an Earth Day cleanup event to showcase and invite community members to participate in their outreach program. RE-volv provided the church with a zero-down loan, enabling the congregation to start saving on energy costs from day one. RE-volv Executive Director Andreas Karelas stated, "For 175 years, Trinity-St. Paul's has been a pillar of the San Francisco community. Community leaders like Trinity-St. Paul's demonstrating their commitment to sustainability by adopting clean energy is profoundly significant. This is an example of the kind of genuine community leadership needed to address the climate crisis."

• April 20, 2026

PowerSecure, a subsidiary of Southern Company, will construct a 1.25 MW solar and 21.6 MWh energy storage project for Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp) in Moorcroft, Wyoming. The project aims to help PRECorp address the grid-level peak demand challenges posed by industrial growth and rural load expansion, while reducing its members' annual electricity costs and enhancing system reliability through increased reserve capacity. The system is also expected to assist PRECorp in cutting wholesale power costs by up to $1 million annually, while providing critical backup power capacity during outages and extreme conditions. "This project aims to deliver genuine value to PRECorp members," said Jim Smith, President of PowerSecure. "By combining battery storage and solar generation, we are helping the cooperative manage peak demand, enhance reliability, and control costs, while also ensuring the system is prepared to support future growth." The project is expected to take approximately two years, with the system target set for operation by 2027. PRECorp CEO Brian Mills stated, "Our value to members is always about being a trusted energy partner. The entire project is rich in technology and expertise, offering highly valuable benefits to our cooperative members."

• April 17, 2026

Blue Ridge Power Agency (BRPA) is partnering with Lightshift Energy, Central Virginia Power Cooperative (CVEC), Craig Botetourt Power Cooperative (CBEC), and Salem Power Authority to deploy a range of battery storage projects in Virginia, with the possibility of more BRPA projects in the future. The first five projects are currently under construction and are expected to be launched in 2026. The initial project portfolio will save approximately $100 million for BRPA utilities throughout the project lifecycle. BRPA General Manager Alice Wolfe said, "We are pleased to see these facilities go live and save costs for members and customers of CBEC, CVEC, and Salem. ”For some time now, the continuously rising transmission and capacity costs have been a focus of attention, and these new battery projects will begin to control these costs These five project portfolios have been strategically deployed in three CVEC locations in rural areas of Virginia, one in CBEC and one in Salem. These projects have an installed capacity of approximately 5 megawatts and are connected to the power distribution system, enabling them to bring benefits to the distribution and transmission system as well as the local community. Mike Herbert, co-founder and managing partner of Lightshift Energy, said, "As Virginia's demand for energy storage continues to increase, power cooperatives and municipal utilities are in a unique position to lead innovative applications that directly benefit their members." "By partnering with BRPA, CVEC, CBEC, and Salem, this coordinated effort demonstrates that distribution connected storage combinations can not only save significant costs for participating utilities, but also provide fast and cost-effective capacity during a time when the PJM market is competing to introduce new resources and maintain low electricity prices.

• April 16, 2026

Opterra Energy Services has completed a $33 million modernization project for the Yucapa CaliMesa Unified School District (YCJUSD) in California. In addition to upgrading lighting systems and HVAC equipment, the school district has also installed 3.1 megawatts of solar energy for 12 schools. This project represents an important step forward for our school district, "said Cathy Bogh, Chair of the YCJUSD Education Committee. We are proud to invest in modern, efficient, and sustainable facilities that directly benefit our students and faculty, while also being responsible managers of taxpayer funds. This partnership allows us to improve our school for the current student and teacher community, while responsibly planning for future development. This modernization project is expected to bring significant financial and environmental benefits, including net savings of over $42 million over 20 years. YCJUSD will also receive over $5 million in grants under the Inflation Reduction Act. In order to ensure that the improvement of project infrastructure also has a direct impact on regional education goals, the energy plan includes a customized student engagement program that provides multiple services. One of the key activities focuses on student internships, aimed at enriching YCJUSD's vision, expanding workforce development, and preparing students in the fields of energy and sustainable development. Led internally by Operra, the program is advised by the energy education team and district leaders, and includes the development of a Basic Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) learning suite that aligns with the district curriculum, which will be distributed to all elementary schools. Through the unique combination of upgrading energy infrastructure and customized education, YCJUSD's project is helping educators equip practical tools to enable students to understand sustainable development, energy, and engineering concepts. Courtney Jenkins, CEO of Opterra Energy Services, said: "Our team is very proud to support YCJUSD's vision for future success by successfully completing our project together this spring. YCJUSD's leadership demonstrates how the school district takes a proactive strategic approach to modernizing facilities while bringing measurable financial and environmental benefits. ”By utilizing a comprehensive energy plan, the school district has transformed its campus into a more efficient and sustainable learning environment without increasing community costs.

• April 15, 2026

Suniva announced that it will open its second monocrystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing plant in the United States. The company has reached an agreement to build a 4.5 gigawatt factory in Lawrence, South Carolina, expected to open in the second quarter of 2027. The factory will work together with Suniva's existing 1-gigawatt manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Atlanta to increase the company's total domestic manufacturing capacity to 5.5 gigawatts per year. Suniva has long defended the United States' leadership position in solar manufacturing. Solar energy is the fastest and most economical way to increase our country's energy supply, "said Tony Etnyre, CEO of Suniva. Our expansion means that domestically produced renewable energy will ensure America's energy future more than ever before. We are proud to collaborate with South Carolina on this important initiative Suniva has experienced a roller coaster ride in the US solar market. The company was founded in 2007 and is the largest manufacturer of dual solar cells and panels in the United States. Suniva suspended operations in 2017 due to high prices of foreign imported products, and subsequently restarted its silicon cell manufacturing business in Georgia at the end of 2024. Suniva will invest $350 million to build a 620000 foot 2 Laurens factory, which will create over 550 job opportunities. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said, "With 564 new jobs added in advanced manufacturing and energy, Suniva's decision to root in Palm State will create new opportunities for our workforce. This investment strengthens our commitment to innovative energy solutions, and we are proud to welcome Suniva to Lawrence County. ” 30 miles south of the Lawrence factory is ES Foundry's 3 gigawatt silicon solar manufacturing plant, which is currently the largest battery manufacturing plant in the country. Once Suniva's new factory opens, the company will be regarded as the largest silicon battery manufacturer in the United States.

• April 14, 2026

The University of Hawaii, Western Europe, plans to invest $14 million to build solar and storage projects on campus. The project will install a solar powered garage on the existing parking lot. Planning is underway and construction is expected to begin in August 2026. The university expects the project to generate approximately 2.38 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which could be equivalent to a 1.3 megawatt system. This project is expected to support the broader net zero energy goals of the University of Hawaii system, contribute to the sustainable development goals of the entire system, and provide approximately 50% of the net zero energy needed to power the University of Hawaii's Western Pacific campus. The next stage of the university's efforts to achieve complete net zero emissions is to replace its coolers with new efficient devices and control systems. The upgrade plan is scheduled for the fiscal year 2027. The new photovoltaic system aims to offset 100% of the park's cooling load, significantly reducing our dependence on imported fossil fuels while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, "Miles Topping, Director of Systems Energy Management at the University of Hawaii, said in a press release. Producing clean energy while providing shade is meaningful, it is the right approach, and it also enhances our resilience as a community. All campus buildings of the University of Hawaii at Western Oahu are LEED certified and equipped with energy-saving systems, with each building equipped with approximately 100 kilowatts of solar installations. The campus also utilizes rainwater harvesting systems for irrigation and benefits from proximity to public transportation, including on campus buses and railway services. The new solar energy project is implemented through multiple funding sources, including approximately one-third of campus funding, one-third of state capital improvement program funding, and one-third of federal tax incentives. The project management is led by the Project Delivery Office of the University of Hawaii and the Planning and Design Office of the University of Hawaii in Western Europe. The team also includes local industry partners Elite Pacific Construction and RevoluSun.

• April 13, 2026

Independent power producer REC Solar, commercial solar developer, and EPC Dynamic Energy have completed an 881 kW rooftop array at Kingspan Insulation North America's facility in Mendota, Illinois. This is Kingspan's third solar project in North America, which will help the company achieve its goal of 60% direct renewable energy utilization by 2030. The project utilizes Kingspan's 50000 square foot industrial rooftop space and is expected to generate approximately 1 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually. Realizing solar power generation at our production base is a milestone, and we are immensely proud of it, "said Kyle McEnroe, President of Kingspan Insulation North America. This project is a concrete manifestation of our commitment to 'loving the earth'. We continuously reduce operational carbon emissions, increase the use of renewable energy, and invest in long-term solutions to enhance our environmental performance and business. This is another step for us to integrate sustainable development into North American manufacturing, operation, and growth. REC Solar will own and operate the solar cell array under a 25 year power purchase agreement. In addition to the Mendota project, REC Solar also owns and operates a 1.05 MW canopy and rooftop solar cell array at its Kingspan plant in Delan, Florida, which is scheduled to be completed in 2023. Rob Jetty, CEO of REC Solar, stated, "As businesses increasingly seek strategies to reduce emissions and enhance supply chain sustainability, this project demonstrates how clean, reliable, and affordable solar energy provided through long-term power purchase agreements can help achieve these goals. By owning and operating these systems, REC Solar is proud to support Kingspan's leadership in renewable energy and its continued progress in sustainable development. ” Dynamic Energy developed and served as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company for the project. Kingspan also has a 1.36 MW rooftop solar cell array at its Winchester plant in Virginia, which was developed and built by Dynamic Energy and completed in 2024. Oliver Davis, President and Chief Operating Officer of Dynamic Energy, said: "As a trusted solar partner for Kingspan, Dynamic is honored to partner with REC Solar to deliver another rooftop solar project that supports its net zero emissions and renewable energy goals. ”As industrial electricity prices continue to rise in the United States, this project demonstrates how sustainability and sound business planning can go hand in hand. We appreciate their forward-looking approach of reducing emissions while controlling rising energy costs.