• May 22, 2026

Polar Racking is launching its solar asset management division, which specializes in providing operational and maintenance services for utility scale and commercial projects. This department provides support for on-site and remote projects in North America and the Caribbean, including projects in the United States, Canada, and island markets. With the expansion of solar energy projects, asset owners in the industry are facing performance degradation issues such as misplaced trackers, aging hardware on site, and communication failures. The solar asset management department of the polar bracket will provide on-site inspection and mechanical evaluation, including alignment verification and structural integrity review, to identify and resolve energy output before any issues arise. It will also have remote monitoring and control diagnostic tools for identifying faults in tracking logic, network performance, and system response. This department provides continuous support and can directly contact Polar's on-site technical personnel to maintain stable performance during scheduled service visits. Polar will also provide training programs for asset management teams and regularly send project performance reports. We have invested many years in this field, deploying shelf tracking systems for hundreds of sites in some of the most demanding environments in North America. We are well aware of how these assets will change over time, and we are also aware of what measures asset owners need to take to protect the value of their assets. ”Sam Alradi, Vice President of Operations at PolarRacking, said, "The establishment of this department is directly in response to customer needs: we will become a trusted single partner that can provide support for customers' projects throughout the entire process.

• May 21, 2026

Enbridge is developing the "Cowboy Project," a 365-megawatt solar and battery storage project in Wyoming designed to support Meta's data center operations. The first phase of the Cowboy Project is being built near Cheyenne, Wyoming, expanding Enbridge's partnership with Meta. Currently, the collaboration covers a total contracted capacity of approximately 1.6 gigawatts across North America. The first phase of the "Cowboy Plan" is built on a stable and evolving relationship between the company and Meta, reflecting Enbridge's prudent strategy in expanding its power asset portfolio. Allen Kappes, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and President of the Power Business at Enbridge, stated, "By combining utility-scale solar with battery storage, we are delivering reliable, scalable energy solutions that support Meta's data center operations while enhancing grid performance.". Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power Company (CLFP) will supply electricity for the project to Meta at the rates of the Wyoming Large Power Contract Service (LPCS), which applies to large load customers, enabling the utility to offer market and renewable energy options that influence retail electricity prices. "We are committed to supporting projects that inject new energy into the grid while enhancing the reliability of the data center community," said Amanda Young, head of Meta's Clean Energy and Renewable Energy Division. "By collaborating with Enbridge and Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power, the Cowboy Project's 1,600 MWh battery system, combined with 365 MW of solar power, will deliver flexible and reliable electricity, benefiting a broader grid, including our data center operations.". The BESS capacity is contracted under the long-term battery dispatch agreement with CLFP at the same LPCS tariff. Tesla will be responsible for providing and maintaining these batteries. The first phase of the "Cowboy Project" is part of Enbridge's broader power portfolio aimed at supporting Meta, which includes Clear Fork Solar (600 MW), Easter Wind (152 MW), and ConeWind (300 MW), all located in Texas. Enbridge is expected to invest $1.2 billion in the project, with an anticipated operational start by the end of 2027. Meta has been procuring renewable energy from a series of solar and energy storage projects under development to meet the power demands of its new data centers. Earlier this month, Meta signed a power purchase agreement with EDPR Renewables for the Cypress Knee solar project in Arkansas (with a capacity of 250 megawatts).

• May 20, 2026

Floating solar contractor D3Energy has signed a master lease with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to become the exclusive developer of the FDOT rainwater pool floating solar system. D3Energy's first project under this framework is a floating solar array on the FDOT pond in Orlando, which was fully operational earlier this year. In Florida, the bottleneck for new solar energy is rarely capital or technology, but available land. This lease solves this problem at the state level, "said Stetson Tchividjian, Managing Director of D3Energy. It took years of cooperation with FDOT to achieve this goal. With our first project now underwater and operational, we are ready to promote it to partners throughout the state. ” Unlike most solar projects that adopt a site by site approach, FDOT Master Lease integrates statewide site access rights under a single agreement. This structure replaces scattered procurement with an FDOT coordination framework, eliminating the decentralization that slows down the deployment of clean energy in the state. D3Energy estimates that the FDOT pond inventory can support over 1 GW of floating solar photovoltaic capacity across the state, enough to power over 200000 households in Florida, while saving approximately 5000 acres of Florida land by converting it into ground mounted solar energy. This arrangement also brings regular rental income to Florida, transforming passive infrastructure into a new source of income without taxpayers bearing any costs. For investor owned utilities and municipal utilities in Florida, leasing places the new generation in places where there is already demand: substations, highways, and ponds next to the customers it will serve. The result is faster deployment, lower interconnection costs, and clean energy, supplementing rather than competing with Florida's land use.

• May 19, 2026

Delta Electronics completed a microgrid system at its factory in Detroit, Michigan, developed in collaboration with the local utility company DTE Energy. Unlike traditional power systems, this microgrid is directly interconnected via medium-voltage DTE Energy, enabling Delta to test grid interactive energy strategies under real-time utility conditions and actively support the grid in the future. The microgrid also serves as a validation environment for customers to evaluate grid interactive and microgrid-based power strategies. "Grid resilience is rapidly becoming one of the decisive challenges faced by communities, enterprises, and utility companies. Through our Detroit microgrid, we operate real energy infrastructure under actual grid conditions to understand how the system responds, controls, and contributes to grid stability," said Austin Tseng, President of Delta Electronics Americas. "The system is not an isolated standalone technology but dynamically responds to grid conditions, facility needs, and utility signals. This approach is becoming increasingly critical for data centers and commercial operators in constrained grid environments and rising electricity costs." Delta Air Lines' Detroit plant's on-site microgrid integrates 425 kW of solar power generation, eight Level 2 electric vehicle chargers, and a 400 kW DC fast electric vehicle charger developed under a Department of Energy-funded project. The microgrid connects these assets via a 13.2 kV medium-voltage interconnection provided by DTE Energy—a point on the grid typically reserved for utility-scale infrastructure, completed in April. The microgrid is supported by Delta's 3 MW Power Conditioning System (PCS) and a 2.8 MWh fixed BESS. At the software level, the microgrid's operation is controlled by Delta's Energy Management System (EMS) and monitored by the internal VTScada SCADA platform. The core of this system is the Solid-State Transformer (SST), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Unlike traditional passive transformers, the SST employs digitally controlled power conversion to achieve faster grid response, real-time voltage regulation, and more precise coordination across the entire microgrid. This enhances system efficiency and enables more accurate power flow control under dynamic load conditions. These assets collectively reduce the facility's reliance on the grid by approximately 50% annually. During summer, solar power generation should suffice to supply the entire building, achieving net-zero operation. In the remaining six months of the year, energy storage provides load balancing to lower peak demand costs and reduce the facility's electricity expenses. Once fully operational, the device will run daily under real-time grid conditions, helping alleviate pressure on public infrastructure during peak demand periods and generating authentic performance data on how to build and expand commercial energy systems. It provides insights that can assist businesses and data c...

• May 18, 2026

Electronics manufacturer Richardson Electronics announced a partnership with Chinese lithium battery company Guoxuan to produce larger scale battery energy storage systems in the United States. Guoxuan operates a battery manufacturing base in Manteno, Illinois, while Richardson has a contract manufacturing base in LaCrosse, Illinois. Jacky Yu, Vice President of Sales at Guoxuan Technology, said, "This cooperation demonstrates Guoxuan Technology's long-term commitment to establishing a localized and resilient battery supply chain in the United States. By combining our advanced battery technology with Richardson Electronics' deep market expertise, we are providing scalable, domestically supported energy storage solutions to meet the growing reliability, cost, and performance needs of American commercial, industrial, and utility customers The two companies have announced that they will collaborate to launch two new BESS platforms: a 760 kWh system for commercial storage applications and a 5 MWh system for utility scale applications. BESS will be manufactured and assembled at the Guoxuan Manteno factory. Richardson Electronics is pleased to collaborate with Guoxuan to expand our portfolio of power management and energy storage solutions, "said Greg Peloquin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Power and Microwave Technology and Green Energy Solutions Group. The combination of Guoxuan's advanced battery technology with Richardson's in-depth understanding of the US electricity market and global engineering support capabilities enables us to provide reliable, high-performance battery energy storage solutions for customers in the utility and commercial markets This new partnership may enable Guoxuan Battery to comply with FEOC requirements, which are government demands that US solar and storage projects not use products with too much Chinese influence.

• May 15, 2026

Pluma Construction, ForeFront Power, Standard Solar, and Solstice gathered with project partners to invite guests and community stakeholders to the Pino Community Solar site in Las Vegas, New Mexico, celebrating the state's community solar initiatives and the progress of eight projects totaling a 48.4-megawatt portfolio. The product portfolio, developed by Pluma Construction headquartered in New Mexico with support from ForeFront Power, was acquired by Standard Solar for long-term ownership and operation, with Solstice leading the user acquisition. This portfolio also reflects Standard Solar's broader commitment to New Mexico, as the company actively acquires more projects in the state. The event was held at one of the operational sites of the portfolio, where project partners delivered speeches and cut the ribbon to honor the collaboration behind one of the earliest community solar portfolios in New Mexico. Seven out of the eight solar tracker projects have been completed, with the last project, Otero, expected to finish by the end of 2026. Once fully operational, the 48.4-megawatt portfolio is projected to generate approximately 103,287 megawatt-hours of electricity in its first year. Through the National Land Trust and private facilities, this portfolio is helping New Mexico households expand access to clean energy and reduce electricity costs.

• May 14, 2026

A nonprofit initiative helped build solar projects for 40 row houses in Montgomery County, Maryland, generating over 270 kilowatts of new energy output. The clean energy nonprofit RE-volv and Montgomery County Green Bank provided funding for the project, while solar contractor GreenBrilliance installed the photovoltaic systems. These arrays are installed on the row houses of the affordable housing organization Housing Unlimited and are expected to reduce energy costs by $500,000 during their service life. RE-volv Executive Director Andreas Karelas stated, "Housing Unlimited's incredible mission in the intersection of mental health and housing is now further strengthened through solar power, thanks to lower energy costs, allowing better utilization of precious resources to serve clients." "RE-volv is delighted to play a role in this remarkable project alongside our long-time partners, Montgomery County Green Bank and Green Brilliance.". ” Currently, Housing Unlimited operates 96 scattered housing sites in Montgomery County, providing shared housing for 263 adults in mental health recovery. The transition to solar energy ensures the organization can allocate more of its budget to critical personalized services rather than utility costs. "Housing Unlimited is delighted to install solar power at our homes," said Abe Schuchman, CEO of Housing Unlimited. "This allows us to allocate the saved energy costs toward expanding our team and building more housing. With safe homes and the necessary support, the adults we serve can fully focus on their independence and recovery." Billie Eilish's Changemaker initiative provided funding for the project through REVERB, with one of its missions being to accelerate the adoption of clean energy by community service organizations. GreenBrilliance Senior Mechanical Engineer Nishanth 'Neo' Mahankali stated, "GreenBrilliance is honored to serve as the design and installation partner for this solar energy initiative. Our mission is to provide nonprofit organizations with high-performance, turnkey solar solutions that deliver immediate cost savings. Witnessing our systems support mental health recovery and housing stability in Montgomery County is precisely the reason we undertake this work."

• May 13, 2026

Siemens has built an on-site microgrid at its Wendell plant in North Carolina, combining a 1.25 megawatt solar garage and a 3.9 megawatt hour battery storage system. The microgrid, along with other campus energy initiatives, has achieved carbon neutrality in the park, while reducing the total energy consumption of the grid by 2.5 megawatt hours annually. Siemens' company goal is to achieve a net zero carbon footprint by 2030. The microgrid will maintain energy supply during power outages, so the production of medium voltage power equipment can continue. Without a doubt, we must take more measures to reduce energy costs in North Carolina and enhance the resilience of our power grid, "said Congressman Deborah Ross. I am pleased to see Siemens increasing its investment in innovation and expanding clean and reliable energy in Wendell. The microgrid solution is built using Siemens products and consists of hardware solutions such as SICAM A8000 microgrid controller, fire protection solution, low-voltage distribution panel, low-voltage bolt pressure switch, KACO string inverter, SIPROTEC universal relay, etc. The Siemens VersiCharge electric vehicle charger on site is also connected to the microgrid, so electric vehicles can be charged through self generated solar energy. The microgrid we integrated at Wendell Park is one of the most advanced microgrids installed in the market today, "said Brian Dula, President of Electrification and Automation at Siemens in the United States. It truly showcases Siemens' end-to-end product portfolio from power generation to consumption, not only demonstrating how we can improve our operational efficiency, but also showcasing what we can do for our customers. Siemens is currently collaborating with Wake Technology Community College in Raleigh to build a campus microgrid.

• May 12, 2026

Summit Ridge Energy has completed a 1.62-MW community solar project in Melrose Park, Illinois. The rooftop system was developed in collaboration with with LBA Logistics, a full-service real estate investment and management company, and Black Bear Energy, a commercial buyer’s representative specializing in onsite renewable energy.Hosted on an industrial building owned by LBA, the Melrose Park installation was made possible through the Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program and participates in the Traditional Community Solar (TCS) program. The rooftop solar project sits within both an Illinois Environmental Justice Community (EJC) and a federally designated Energy Community. Illinois designates EJCs as areas where residents face a disproportionate burden of environmental harm, typically due to a legacy of heavy industrial activity, air and water pollution, and underinvestment in infrastructure. The Illinois Shines program prioritizes such areas, aiming to expand access to clean energy and associated economic benefits. In addition to delivering affordable energy, the project creates local jobs during construction and maintenance, strengthens Illinois’ electric grid through reliable distributed generation, and earns a Rooftop Adder under Illinois Shines, an incentive for utilizing existing rooftop space instead of undeveloped land. “Illinois has become one of the most exciting community solar markets in the country,” said Brent Buchberger, VP of Project Development at Summit Ridge Energy. “The Illinois Shines program is working – bringing affordable, locally generated energy to communities that have historically shouldered the burden of pollution without sharing in solar’s benefits. With LBA and Black Bear Energy as partners who share our long-term commitment, this rooftop project in an Environmental Justice Community is a strong example of what’s possible. We’re proud to see it energized and look forward to many more.” This project represents the latest milestone in a decade-long partnership between LBA and Black Bear Energy that began in 2015. The teams have collaborated on a broad portfolio of community solar projects, including 17.5 MW across four Maryland industrial properties owned by LBA, with the solar systems developed, owned and operated by Summit Ridge Energy under the Maryland Community Solar Program. The program provides locally generated energy at reduced rates to Maryland residents under the Maryland Community Solar Program. Additionally, LBA recently energized two Illinois properties totaling 5.5 MW of community solar, including the 1.62-MW Melrose Park facility. “How we own and operate our assets reflects our responsibility as long-term owners and the value we strive to create in every community where we do business is approached with thoughtful, long-term planning,” said Michelle German, Vice President of Portfolio Operations & Sustainability at LBA. “By hosting community solar on our industrial rooftops, we’re expan...