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 Look ahead: City of Asheville projects and initiatives for the new year Posted on January 4, 2021December 30, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Asheville residents can look upon the new year with optimism. Together, we’ve weathered a pandemic and a vaccine will be available this year. Even so, the City of Asheville’s response to COVID-19 will continue in the new year, in coordination with the state of North Carolina and Buncombe County. Residents can look forward to advances in [...] Asheville Mayor joins over 1,000 U.S. leaders in affirming commitment to global climate action on the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement Posted on December 10, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Dec. 12 marks the five-year anniversary of the world coming together to sign on to the Paris Agreement and the City of Asheville is marking the moment by committing to a national mobilization for a clean energy economy and centering their own operations in pursuit of climate action. In doing so, Asheville joins over 1,000 [...] City of Asheville shares energy data from first solar installation Posted on October 26, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville recently “flipped the switch” on its first solar energy production site at the newly renovated ART Transit Station, 49 Coxe Ave. After several weeks of being online, the City is pleased to share energy production data with the community. The real-time information shows power [...] More Real-time Renewables - Monitoring Solar Energy Generation News
Look ahead: City of Asheville projects and initiatives for the new year Posted on January 4, 2021December 30, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Asheville residents can look upon the new year with optimism. Together, we’ve weathered a pandemic and a vaccine will be available this year. Even so, the City of Asheville’s response to COVID-19 will continue in the new year, in coordination with the state of North Carolina and Buncombe County. Residents can look forward to advances in [...]
Asheville Mayor joins over 1,000 U.S. leaders in affirming commitment to global climate action on the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement Posted on December 10, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Dec. 12 marks the five-year anniversary of the world coming together to sign on to the Paris Agreement and the City of Asheville is marking the moment by committing to a national mobilization for a clean energy economy and centering their own operations in pursuit of climate action. In doing so, Asheville joins over 1,000 [...]
City of Asheville shares energy data from first solar installation Posted on October 26, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville recently “flipped the switch” on its first solar energy production site at the newly renovated ART Transit Station, 49 Coxe Ave. After several weeks of being online, the City is pleased to share energy production data with the community. The real-time information shows power [...]