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Lumin CEO Byline Published in Solar Power World: Energy Equity is Pivotal to Unlocking the Energy Transition
Posted August 15, 2023
When it comes to decarbonization, we’re pointed in the right direction. The United States has set ambitious targets to achieve 100% carbon pollution-free electricity and establish a net-zero emissions economy by 2035. However, the energy transition’s success depends on ensuring that all Americans, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, can participate in this pivotal shift. Tax credits and rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have helped reduce the cost of home electrification and electric vehicle (EV) ownership, but significant roadblocks remain.
Cleantech has traditionally been expensive and early adopters of clean energy technologies such as solar, batteries and EVs came from wealthier segments of society. But as we aim to progress beyond the early adoption phase and into mass electrification, we must enable participation from all socioeconomic groups. Otherwise, we’ll fail to achieve our climate goals in time.
Utilities and policymakers should focus on two central themes when working towards energy equity:
- Scale: Achieving our electrification and carbon reduction goals will require mass participation
- Fairness: Incentive programs should ensure that all stakeholders benefit, not just the wealthy.
Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between the cost of clean energy adoption and the average American income. In 2020, households with residential solar systems had a median income of about $115,000 per year, while the median household income was only about $63,000 annually. This disparity increases for those below the median income — a group largely excluded from the clean energy market. Moreover, 65% of low-income families bear the burden of inefficient home energy systems and don’t receive their fair share of utility energy-efficiency funds.
CLICK HERE to read the full article.
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OATI Recently Featured in a New York Times Article
Posted August 14, 2023
OATI, The Most Trusted Name in EnergyTM, was recently featured in a New York Times article highlighting the growing demand for microgrid technology in communities across the country. The article took an in-depth look at Heron’s Nest, a booming energy-resilient community in North Carolina. Residents use OATI’s GridMindTM technology to power their homes using green energy while also helping them save on their utility bills.
CLICK HERE to read the full press release.
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OATI Announces New DR Program
webSmartEnergy® for Residential Managed Charging uses Telematics to connect to EVS
Posted August 14, 2023
Minneapolis, MN (May 8, 2023) – Join OATI, The Most Trusted Name In Energy™, as it showcases its innovative new Demand Response (DR) Program: webSmartEnergy® for Residential Managed EV Charging, at the Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) Conference in Memphis, Tennessee, May 8-10. Using telematics data, OATI’s new solution eliminates the need to add a meter to each home, and creates a robust residential Electric Vehicle (EV) charging demand response (DR) program that leverages an EV’s onboard diagnostics systems.
The new webSmartEnergy® Program includes simple web-based enrollment to attract EV drivers to sign up and increase program participation. “OATI’s data-driven platform enables utilities to enroll EV drivers in cost-saving programs and incentivizes grid-beneficial charging habits,” says Sasan Mokhtari, Ph.D., OATI President and CEO. “It also manages that charging, and generates insights on customer EV charging habits to improve future services.”
Communicating directly with EVs gives utilities the freedom to enroll multiple EV vehicle manufacturers in the program to increase the potential customer pool. The program provides utilities:
- Access to “State of Charge”, “Charge Status”, etc.
- Ability to schedule demand response events to shape home charging behavior away from expensive peak times to lower-cost, non-peak hours
- A single dashboard sightline that presents a holistic view of program effectiveness
“This is yet another innovation that shows why OATI is the Most-Trusted Name in Energy,” adds Dr. Mokhtari. “With industry experts and superior solutions, we’re the utility’s best partner to transform EV customers into participants who benefit the grid, the utility, and the customer themselves.”
CLICK HERE to read the full press release.
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Entergy New Orleans and Sagewell, Inc. Launch Incentive Program for Electric Vehicle Owners
Posted August 1, 2023
Entergy New Orleans and Sagewell, Inc. are working together to reduce the cost of EV ownership by offering EV owners the ability to earn a financial reward for off-peak charging. For 2023, the program is accepting 350 enrollments on a first come, first served basis and EV drivers can enroll online at https://www.bringyourowncharger.com/energysmartbyoc. Sagewell’s Bring Your Own Charger® (BYOC) program has received industry awards from the Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA), Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and American Public Power Association (APPA).
The program incentivizes EV owners to charge their vehicles during preset off-peak hours, with no special hardware or separate meter required. Participants will program their vehicles to charge during off-peak hours, and software algorithms developed by analytics company Sagewell will confirm off-peak charging is happening using advanced meter data. Enrolled customers will receive a credit of $7 per month, paid quarterly. For an EV driver that charges off-peak, the incentives earned are enough to pay for electricity for a typical EV to drive approximately 2,000 miles per year[1].
Off-peak EV charging helps smooth energy demand and utilizes available overnight capacity in the electric system, resulting in lower energy costs and less strain on the energy grid. Other communities participating in Sagewell’s programs have seen participants charge off-peak at least 90% of the time, helping to integrate EV charging load more efficiently with the utility’s distribution system.
“Entergy New Orleans continues to embrace new ways to support electric vehicle drivers and the growing number of EV registrations in New Orleans,” said Ross Thevenot, Entergy New Orleans Demand Side Management Senior Project Manager. “As the proliferation of EVs continues, programs like this will help benefit all customers and help minimize impacts to the grid.”
Pasi Miettinen, CEO of Sagewell added, “We are very excited to launch the program with Entergy New Orleans. The City of New Orleans is still early in the EV journey, but programs like BYOC can help make EVs more affordable for residents and help ensure EV growth does not negatively impact the grid.”
The pilot will initially enroll up to 350 EV drivers who are residential customers of Entergy New Orleans and who use any type of Level 2 charger at home, including 240-volt charging cables provided by vehicle manufacturers. Interested EV drivers can enroll by visiting: https://www.bringyourowncharger.com/energysmartbyoc.
[1]Assumes $7 monthly incentive, weighted average $/kWH on electric rate RES-25, and 3 miles per kWh. Individual results may vary.
CLICK HERE to read the full press release.
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WeaveGrid Launches EV Managed Charging Solution in Detroit
Posted August 1, 2023
WeaveGrid announced the launch of its platform in support of DTE Energy’s (DTE) Smart Charge program. DTE Smart Charge leverages vehicle telematics, to help electric vehicle (EV) drivers manage their charging during times of the day that help the energy grid operate more efficiently. WeaveGrid’s solution enables affordable, optimized charging for EV drivers while managing grid demand for utilities. WeaveGrid is supporting the program alongside others including GM, Ford, and BMW, to add in Tesla driver eligibility via the evPulse platform. Eligible EV drivers can easily enroll in the program through the WeaveGrid user interface and gain access to $50 in sign-up incentives and $50 in end-of-program incentives from the utility. By joining DTE’s Smart Charge program, WeaveGrid offers valuable data needed to manage the grid including load shifting off peak times, while providing drivers with incentives, charging insights, and reducing charging costs.
CLICK HERE to read the full press release.
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