Real-time Renewables – Monitoring Solar Energy Generation In 2018, the City adopted a goal to power municipal operations with renewable energy by 2030. To achieve this goal, the City will need to invest in renewable energy in a number of ways including both on-site and off-site generation. Solar energy and battery storage on city property were identified as a top priority by the community through engagement in the development of the “Moving to 100%” roadmap. Below is a link to the real-time production from the City’s first solar installation, the ART Transit Center. This project was funded from the Green Savings Account. The Green Savings Account is generated from avoided energy costs following the City’s initiative to retrofit all streetlights to LEDs. Click the button below to see: How much electricity the solar system is generating in real time as well as the amount of electricity the system has generated to date. The environmental benefit from distributing this clean energy to the grid including the amount of carbon emissions avoided. For terminology explanation, see this page. Transit Center Real Time Solar Data All the energy produced by the solar panels is sold directly to Duke Energy. Since it is a ‘sell all’ system, the City is compensated via a wholesale rate. The City pays Duke a retail rate for electricity consumed. The retail rate is higher than the wholesale rate because it includes transmission of electricity (think poles and power lines) as well as power production/generation. The City will receive monthly payments from Duke Energy for the sale of electricity. We expect to receive our first payment in mid-November. The system is providing clean renewable energy to our electricity grid. This means that the type of emissions from fossil fuel generated electricity such as carbon dioxide or methane is not polluting our air. The link shows how much carbon emissions are saved which also supports the City’s 80% carbon reduction goal as well as the equivalent number of trees that would need to be planted to offset the same amount of carbon emissions avoided. A point-in-time spreadsheet of data from the Transit Center solar installation is available by contacting Bridget Herring, Energy Program Coordinator. Contact Information Bridget Herring, Energy Program Coordinator 828-259-5558 Related Services Dispose of large, seasonal or unusual items Information about disposing of large or unusual items such as furniture, household hazardous waste, or appliances. As well as instructions for brush, leaves, or Christmas trees. 3 Services Recycling guidelines Information on what can be recycled, how to prepare items for collection, and composting. 4 Services More Related Services Real-time Renewables - Monitoring Solar Energy Generation News Office of Sustainability will work with consultant to develop Municipal Climate Action Plan Posted on June 17, 2021June 17, 2021 by Christy Edwards At the June 8 City Council meeting, City Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract with environmental strategy firm AECOM to update the City’s Sustainability Management Plan into a Municipal Climate Action Plan [MCAP]. The purpose of the Municipal Climate Action Plan is to update the [...] Ways Asheville can celebrate Earth Day all this month Posted on April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Here are some ways our Asheville community can celebrate Earth Month locally — leading up to Earth Day on April 22! Participate in Food Waste Reduction Month — Asheville City Council proclaimed April as Food Waste Reduction Month. More than 57,000 tons of food waste is generated in Buncombe County [...] City of Asheville raises food waste awareness, invites residents to join #AVLFoodWasteChallenge Posted on March 24, 2021April 5, 2021 by Polly McDaniel This week, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer signed a proclamation declaring April “Food Waste Reduction Month.” The City’s Office of Sustainability is working with our local Food Waste Solutions group alongside other innovative cities in the Southeast to develop and implement food waste initiatives. This “Food Matters” project is facilitated through [...] More Real-time Renewables - Monitoring Solar Energy Generation News
Office of Sustainability will work with consultant to develop Municipal Climate Action Plan Posted on June 17, 2021June 17, 2021 by Christy Edwards At the June 8 City Council meeting, City Council voted unanimously to enter into a contract with environmental strategy firm AECOM to update the City’s Sustainability Management Plan into a Municipal Climate Action Plan [MCAP]. The purpose of the Municipal Climate Action Plan is to update the [...]
Ways Asheville can celebrate Earth Day all this month Posted on April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Here are some ways our Asheville community can celebrate Earth Month locally — leading up to Earth Day on April 22! Participate in Food Waste Reduction Month — Asheville City Council proclaimed April as Food Waste Reduction Month. More than 57,000 tons of food waste is generated in Buncombe County [...]
City of Asheville raises food waste awareness, invites residents to join #AVLFoodWasteChallenge Posted on March 24, 2021April 5, 2021 by Polly McDaniel This week, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer signed a proclamation declaring April “Food Waste Reduction Month.” The City’s Office of Sustainability is working with our local Food Waste Solutions group alongside other innovative cities in the Southeast to develop and implement food waste initiatives. This “Food Matters” project is facilitated through [...]