Partnership paves way for technical and commercial evaluations of battery energy storage units

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) and ABB, the world’s leading power and technology group, along with 4R Energy and Sumitomo Corporation of America, have formed a partnership to evaluate the reuse of lithium-ion battery packs that power the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first and only all-electric car designed for the mass market.

The purpose is to evaluate and test the residential and commercial applications of energy storage systems or back-up power sources using lithium-ion battery packs reclaimed from electric vehicles after use. Energy storage systems can store power from the grid during times of low usage and feed that electricity back into the grid during periods of peak demand, increasing grid performance and providing back-up power during outages. The team plans to develop a LEAF battery storage prototype with a capacity of at least 50 kilowatt hours (kWh), enough to supply 15 average homes with electricity for two hours.

The SOLARSMART program has recently been introduced in Tennessee and neighboring states that allows for the installation of a solar system at no-cost to the host, where participants can earn $1000.00 upon activation and save on their future energy costs.

Greener Product LLC, an industry leading solar service company, announced the SOLARSMART earlier this month which provides homeowners, real estate developments, businesses, non-profits, schools and municipalities an opportunity to install solar systems and expand the use of renewable energy.

Top Program Participants to Receive Green Training with Leading Sustainability Expert

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Foundation announced that three Nashville-area business owners have been selected as the top participants in the National Green Builds Business Program and will receive a combined 24 hours of one-on-one green training from nationally renowned sustainability expert, Bill Roth. 

Titus HVAC, the leader in air management, announced the company has selected Memphis-Tenn. based Air Components, Inc. as a manufacturer representative in the mid-South trade zone with an expertise in green buildings. Starting January 1, 2012, the company will be offering Titus HVAC's extensive line of advanced air management products and services in western Tenn., east Ark. and north Miss.

First Automotive Manufacturer to Reach Top Green Building Standard

Both Volkswagen Factory and Volkswagen Academy Awarded Platinum Certification

Volkswagen's Chattanooga manufacturing plant has received a platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building certification program. The facility is the first and only automotive manufacturing plant in the world to receive the Platinum certification.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wright Brothers Construction Co. and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) have agreed to pay a $1.5 million penalty and spend more than $1.3 million to offset environmental damages to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The civil penalty is one of the largest ever under the CWA provisions prohibiting the unauthorized discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

Energy efficiency initiatives by TVA and local power distributors reduced electric power consumption by 559 gigawatt-hours in fiscal year 2011 — a 270 percent improvement in power savings over last year.

"I believe these results signal a new era for energy efficiency in the Tennessee Valley that will help make TVA's vision of a cleaner energy future a reality for our region," said Bob Balzar, TVA vice president of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response. "TVA's energy efficiency team worked hard to achieve these results. We wouldn't have accomplished this without strong support from local power distributors and direct serve industrial customers, as well as participation from consumers, businesses, and industry."

A University of Tennessee-led partnership that includes the City of Knoxville is one of 22 teams nationwide awarded Rooftop Solar Challenge Grants by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The DOE announced the winners of the competitive grants - designed to encourage the deployment of solar power by simplifying the zoning, permitting and other processes surrounding solar installations - on Thursday.

LEAF™ Website Educates Customers on Reducing Emissions with SunPower Solar Power Systems

In a collaboration announced today, Nissan North America and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) will team up to help Nissan LEAF™ electric vehicle owners learn how a residential solar power system from SunPower can reduce their carbon emissions and control the cost of charging their electric vehicles.