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 Check out Asheville’s local farms and farmers markets this fall Posted on September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 by Polly McDaniel From the Office of Sustainability The smells and colors of fall are starting to creep in with crisp mornings and the full flavors of the late season. Fall is a great time to support local farmers, enjoy fresh food, and bolster Asheville’s local food economy at our many farmers markets. Local farmers markets, or tailgate markets, [...] City of Asheville supports food waste reduction bill introduced to Congress Posted on July 29, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Earlier in July, a group of representatives and senators introduced the Zero Food Waste Act to Congress. This legislation would advance the federal goal of halving US food loss and waste by 2030 and reduce the climate, resource, economic, and social impacts of food waste. This bill would help communities meet local, regional, and [...] Asheville Office of Sustainability shares results of recent food waste audit Posted on June 24, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Did you know that in the US nearly 40% of food is wasted, clogging our landfills and costing us over $408 billion annually?! The City of Asheville is working hard to think of solutions to reduce our waste and save our food. The City of Asheville’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Sanitation and Buncombe County, [...] More Real-time Renewables - Monitoring Solar Energy Generation News
Check out Asheville’s local farms and farmers markets this fall Posted on September 9, 2021September 9, 2021 by Polly McDaniel From the Office of Sustainability The smells and colors of fall are starting to creep in with crisp mornings and the full flavors of the late season. Fall is a great time to support local farmers, enjoy fresh food, and bolster Asheville’s local food economy at our many farmers markets. Local farmers markets, or tailgate markets, [...]
City of Asheville supports food waste reduction bill introduced to Congress Posted on July 29, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Earlier in July, a group of representatives and senators introduced the Zero Food Waste Act to Congress. This legislation would advance the federal goal of halving US food loss and waste by 2030 and reduce the climate, resource, economic, and social impacts of food waste. This bill would help communities meet local, regional, and [...]
Asheville Office of Sustainability shares results of recent food waste audit Posted on June 24, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Did you know that in the US nearly 40% of food is wasted, clogging our landfills and costing us over $408 billion annually?! The City of Asheville is working hard to think of solutions to reduce our waste and save our food. The City of Asheville’s Office of Sustainability, in partnership with Sanitation and Buncombe County, [...]