The Solar Product Registry Set to Boost Solar Deployment

As solar energy projects continue to grow across the U.S., a fact sheet from the Center for Rural Affairs outlines how new development can be designed to protect soil health, reduce erosion, and maintain long-term agricultural productivity. 

The newly released fact sheet, “Soil Health in Solar Development,” provides practical guidance for developers, landowners, and communities constructing solar sites with soil conservation in mind. It highlights strategies such as low-impact construction methods, native vegetation establishment, and dual-use solar practices.

“Well-designed solar development can protect the long-term viability of agricultural land that is used for solar sites,” said Alex Delworth, senior policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. “As more solar is developed in agricultural settings, it is important to support soil health so that at the end of project life the land can be returned to agricultural production, if desired.”

One recommendation is to use low-impact construction practices that minimize soil disruption. This includes preserving topsoil, avoiding grading, and adapting panel leg height to the land’s natural contours. These approaches contrast with conventional methods that often involve topsoil stripping, soil compaction, and vegetation removal. 

Establishing native vegetation beneath and around solar arrays is also important for erosion control, according to the fact sheet. Deep-rooted perennial native plants anchor soil, improve water infiltration, and help minimize stormwater runoff. Compared to turfgrass or gravel ground cover traditionally used on solar sites, native vegetation offers long-term erosion control and helps store carbon in the soil.

“When carefully planned and managed, solar energy projects can minimize impacts on soil quality and ensure optimal outcomes,” said Delworth.

Additionally, the fact sheet talks about the value of dual-use solar practices. Co-locating solar panels with agriculture, such as grazing livestock or growing crops, can keep land in agricultural use while maintaining and enhancing soil health. 

To read and download a copy of “Soil Health in Solar Development,” visit cfra.org/publications.

Center for Rural Affairs | https://www.cfra.org/

The Connecticut Green Bank announces the completion of a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation at 28 High St. Apartments in Hartford, a six-story residential building owned by CCAM LLC. The property features market and affordable-rate studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in a building that is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in the High Street Historic District. The 16.6 kW solar system is projected to provide more than $100,000 in energy cost savings over the estimated useful life of the panels.

Built in 1860, the site was originally operated by James Batterson as the New England Granite Company before Batterson formed the Travelers Insurance Company in 1863. The property was recently converted to housing by commercial property investor Constantinos Constantinou, who secured loans through the Capital Region Development Authority and utilized state historical tax credits.

“The Green Bank provided low‑interest, long‑term financing that made the solar installation affordable,” said Constantinou. “The fact that there is essentially no upfront cost facilitates the process.”

“Thanks to flexible terms and lower interest rates, C-PACE is a great option for owners as they navigate the unique challenges of a property conversion,” said Mackey Dykes, Executive Vice President of Financing Programs at the Green Bank. “In addition to renewable energy projects, C-PACE can provide financing for energy efficiency upgrades that can also improve the comfort of an industrial property turned residence.”

Connecticut Green Bank | https://www.ctgreenbank.com/

B2U Storage Solutions, the leading provider of large-scale repurposed battery energy storage systems (BESS), has started constructing its third grid storage facility and first in the state of Texas. The facility is located in Bexar County, east of San Antonio, and will have a total capacity of 24MWh. It is expected to be fully operational and transacting with the Texas grid later this year.

B2U will deploy approximately 500 EV battery packs that have reached automotive end-of-life across 21 cabinets. B2U has previously deployed over 40MWh into the California grid. The company’s patented and proven EPS technology is certified to UL 9540 and enables plug-and-play deployment of EV batteries while avoiding remanufacturing costs. B2U’s BESS platform provides safe and reliable operation 24/7, and leverages AI to optimally bid and deliver power and grid services into wholesale markets.

The Bexar Corrilla facility will interconnect to the CPS Energy distribution system. Energy load growth and increased adoption of renewables are contributing to ongoing energy price volatility across Texas. Battery energy storage systems are a proven solution capable of addressing volatility, particularly in markets where demand growth is high and transmission and distribution additions are limited.

“Expanding our footprint into Texas is a significant strategic milestone for B2U as well as a testament to the excellence and scalability of our technology platform,” said Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U. “As EV pack repurposing gains acceptance as a preferred source of batteries for the large and high-growth grid and industrial energy storage markets, B2U will continue to lead by deploying our bankable, safe and profitable technology to the grid, and expanding to industrial customers.”

Over the next 12 months, B2U plans to deploy three additional grid storage projects using repurposed EV batteries in Texas, for a total deployment of 100MWh in the state. Including its California solar + storage projects, B2U plans to have deployed over 150MWh of repurposed EV batteries by mid-2026.

A December 2024 report from IDTechEx forecasts that through 2035, over 200GWh of global demand for grid storage could be supplied by repurposed EV battery packs. With tens of millions of EVs expected to reach automotive end-of-life over that timeframe, B2U’s EPS technology platform will be critical for maximizing the resource and economic utility of EV packs prior to recycling.

B2U Storage Solutions | www.b2uco.com

New Era Helium, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEHC) (“NEH” or the “Company”), a next-gen exploration and production platform in the Permian Basin, announced that Texas Critical Data Centers LLC (“TCDC”), its 50/50 joint venture with Sharon AI, Inc., has closed on the acquisition of 235 acres from Grow Odessa. The acreage is located in Ector County, Texas and is in close proximity to the City of Odessa.

TCDC is developing a large artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) campus designed to scale beyond 1 GW to meet the surging demand for AI and GPU infrastructure. The facility will integrate advanced energy, cooling, and the potential for CCUS technologies to reduce environmental impact and deliver best-in-class efficiency.

Expansion Opportunity
TCDC has also signed an exclusive letter of intent (LOI) with Grow Odessa for an additional 203 contiguous acres, expanding the site to 438 acres. The site is strategically located near key infrastructure, including fiber optic cable, multiple large intrastate natural gas transmission lines, and CO₂ pipeline infrastructure.

To support the buildout, TCDC will now apply to form an Industrial District with the City of Odessa to facilitate access to municipal services such as water and wastewater treatment. The acreage currently resides within Ector County but just outside the Odessa city limits. Forming the Industrial District will enable TCDC to maintain favorable Ector County zoning regulations rather than adopt City of Odessa zoning—an important advantage for development speed and flexibility.

E. Will Gray II, CEO of New Era Helium, Inc. commented: “Closing on this site marks a key milestone in our strategy to align Permian Basin energy assets with the explosive growth in AI and HPC demand. It advances our long-term vision to transform these resources into critical digital infrastructure, creating a high-impact, future-ready platform that will deliver scalable growth and meaningful value for shareholders.”

New Era Helium | https://www.newerahelium.com

Texas Critical Data Centers | www.texascriticaldatacenters.com

ChargePoint (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of EV charging solutions, announced Safeguard Care, a new service offering that provides end-to-end reliability monitoring of ChargePoint charging stations. The program, available now in six launch markets, utilizes a network of trained service providers to routinely inspect chargers, identifying and repairing many common issues while onsite.

“ChargePoint continues to develop innovative solutions that ensure EV charger reliability, from anti-vandalism measures to monitoring our hardware from our network operations center. Safeguard Care further demonstrates our commitment to delivering a reliable charging experience,” said JD Singh, Chief Customer Experience Officer of ChargePoint. “As the original manufacturer of the chargers, we are able to ensure the highest standards of service and support. With Safeguard Care, we are giving station owners and EV drivers peace of mind knowing that chargers will be in pristine working order.”

Safeguard Care, combined with ChargePoint Assure, is an ideal solution for charging providers with high traffic and distributed charging stations, such as municipalities, parking garages and workplaces. It is particularly beneficial for station owners who do not have their own dedicated staff to inspect and maintain their stations on a regular basis. Each Safeguard Care visit includes a visual inspection of the charging station and the physical area around the chargers, cleaning, minor repairs or adjustments if necessary, and a test charge to validate functionality after the completion of repairs. Any issues the Safeguard Care inspector cannot address on site will be escalated directly to ChargePoint support for follow up.

ChargePoint | https://www.chargepoint.com/businesses/services

CleanCapital, a leading independent power producer focused on distributed clean energy, announced its successful acquisition of a 64-project, 51.2 MW operating solar portfolio from Greenbacker, an energy transition-focused investment manager and independent power producer (“IPP”). This sizeable acquisition—among the largest in the company’s 10-year history—significantly expands CleanCapital’s portfolio to exceed 350 operating and under construction solar and energy storage assets. The portfolio is distributed across 13 U.S. states and includes a diverse mix of rooftop and ground-mounted solar systems, many of which serve municipal, university, school, and hospital (MUSH) entities, as well as commercial customers. These projects not only provide reliable, emissions-free power but also support local economies, reduce energy costs, and contribute to offtakers’ long-term energy goals.

“Continued investment in operating assets is critical to satisfying ever-increasing energy demand across the U.S.,” said Julia Bell, chief investment officer at CleanCapital. “This portfolio is a textbook example of both the value of distributed generation assets and the opportunities that accompany portfolios like this one. No other platform can match CleanCapital's expertise in valuing, conducting due diligence, and managing diverse assets like these at scale.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with CleanCapital on a deal that delivers high-quality, high-impact assets, while supporting our strategic focus on building larger-scale clean power projects that accelerate the transition to a more resilient and sustainable U.S. energy system,” said Dan De Boer, Greenbacker’s interim CEO.

“For nearly a decade now CleanCapital has built its reputation for efficiency and certainty to transact with portfolio acquisitions like this one,” stated Alyssa Rinaldi, Senior Director, Business Development at CleanCapital. “We look forward to continuing to grow our portfolio with quality projects from respected partners like Greenbacker.”

This acquisition bolsters CleanCapital’s position as a national leader with an operating commercial solar portfolio that is among the largest in the U.S., according to Wood Mackenzie. By expanding its footprint across these key markets, CleanCapital is helping to modernize the U.S. energy grid, strengthen energy security, and unleash American energy dominance.

Ignite Renewable Capital (IRC) represented Greenbacker as the advisor in this transaction.

CleanCapital | https://cleancapital.com/

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company | https://greenbackercapital.com

Ignite Renewable Capital | https://igniterenewablecapital.com/ 

Stem (NYSE: STEM), a global leader in AI-enabled clean energy software and services, announced the successful deployment of its advanced energy system at the Camino Solar project in Kern County, California, developed by Avangrid, a leading energy company and member of the Iberdrola group. Stem’s expert engineering services and software platform enabled grid integration and operational excellence for this milestone renewable energy facility, delivering optimized clean energy to approximately 14,000 homes.

The comprehensive scope of work included project management, design, procurement, configuration, testing and commissioning of the PowerTrack Power Plant Controller (PPC) and data acquisition system. Notably, Stem’s PPC implementation meets the stringent IEEE 2800 standard, as dictated by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) for interconnection with Southern California Edison's transmission system – effectively engineering the 57-megawatt (MW) project to the standard of a 300 MW facility.

The IEEE 2800 standard provides uniform technical minimum requirements for the interconnection, capability and performance of inverter-based resources. As the standard was approved by the IEEE Standards Association in 2022, many PPC systems have not yet been designed to meet this requirement and its enforcement by grid operators is relatively new.

The project features Stem's sophisticated data acquisition system capable of monitoring close to 8,000 real-time data points, enabling critical CAISO telemetry requirements for grid operations and market participation.

“The Camino Solar project exemplifies how Stem's platform transforms renewable energy assets into dynamic grid resources,” said Matt Tappin, President of Software Products at Stem. “This project, in particular, showcases the transformative potential of combining renewable generation with intelligent energy solutions. The IEEE 2800 standard represents a critical evolution in how inverter-based resources interconnect with the transmission system. Our engineering capabilities ensure our clients meet these demanding technical requirements while maximizing operational performance. We welcome the opportunity to continue collaborating with forward-thinking developers like Avangrid who recognize that today's energy projects must be designed to capture value across multiple dimensions – economic, environmental, and grid reliability.”

The Camino Solar project, Stem’s third project with Avangrid, demonstrates Stem's collaborative approach to renewable energy development, working closely with leading developers to deliver integrated solutions that maximize project value. The project's economic benefits extend beyond energy production, with the facility expected to generate approximately $15 million in state and local tax revenue over its lifetime. During construction, the project supported approximately 100 local jobs, largely filled by local union labor, demonstrating the broader economic impact of energy infrastructure development.

“Building strong partnerships is critical to Avangrid’s successful execution of projects, and working with Stem has been important throughout the development and construction of Camino Solar,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. “The successful completion of this project marks another important milestone in Avangrid’s commitment to delivering energy solutions that meet America’s growing electricity needs.”

As inverter-based resources like solar power plants become increasingly prevalent on the electric grid, standards like IEEE 2800 are essential for maintaining system reliability and stability. The successful PowerTrack PPC deployment at Camino Solar adds to Stem's growing portfolio of projects, reinforcing the company's position as a leading provider of intelligent energy solutions for the renewable energy industry.

Stem | https://www.stem.com/

Avangrid | http://www.avangrid.com