How the Yellow School Bus is Helping Modernize the US Grid

Valtinson Bruner Financial Planning is a fiduciary, fee-based financial planning firm in New Brighton, Minnesota. The firm operates from two buildings; one serves as their office, while the other houses a private tennis and pickleball court. With both of their buildings constantly needing electricity and prime site conditions, the decision to switch to solar energy with All Energy Solar Inc was clear and definitive.

"We focus on guiding property owners toward the most efficient solar energy solution, then deliver a robust, long-term project that maximizes their needs with the utmost focus on quality and reliability," said Michael Thalhimer, Director of Business Development at All Energy Solar. "Occasionally, a project opportunity like this array at Valtinson Bruner can be unique, with solar installed on one building, but designed and interconnected to offset the property's energy usage across multiple services. We collaborated with the customer and utility to combine their two meters into one account, enabling the solar energy system generation on one rooftop to supplement power to both buildings."

Valtinson Bruner's optimal pitch on their south-facing tennis building was the perfect candidate for installing solar panels on its roof. With 105 Silfab black frame solar panels across the south slope, this 44.1 kW array is estimated to achieve an annual production of nearly 57,000 kWh. That is equivalent to 53.9 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), avoiding 54,323 pounds of coal burned annually.

The new solar installation showcases a commitment to environmental responsibility, ensuring more energy independence for the property and delivering significant long-term cost savings. By embracing this clean and renewable resource, Valtinson Bruner now contributes to a healthier planet while also providing innovative financial solutions that resonate with the company's environmentally conscious values.

"My breakeven point on this project is eight and a half years, so we have sixteen or seventeen years of potentially free energy costs (under warranty). That's a significant financial saving," said Larry Valtinson, ChFC, owner of Valtinson Bruner Financial Planning and Valtinson Tax Services. "This is really for our children and grandchildren. This is for the future."

All Energy Solar offers various services, including commercial and residential solar installations, energy storage solutions, electric vehicle chargers, smart electric panels, and roofing in specific locations. With a strong presence in Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin for residential installations, and a national and international reach for commercial projects, the company has installed over 308,000 solar panels, helping over 10,300 customers make the switch to solar. This collective effort has resulted in over 113,000 kW (113MW) of clean energy designed and installed by All Energy Solar's extensive in-house team.

All Energy Solar | www.allenergysolar.com

Comings and goings at the ALL Family of Companies have resulted in the retirement of a nearly 50-year man and promotions to two other familiar names. First, Rick Mikut, who began his ALL career as a teenager, is retiring after 49 years. Chad Rados will replace him as the new director of crawler crane operations. Brian Meek becomes project manager, Rados’ previous position.

Rados has his own longevity with the company, currently serving in his 30th year. Also, Rados’ father retired from ALL in 2022, and his brother remains with the company. Chad Rados is well-traveled within ALL, having begun as an oiler when he was 18 before moving into the cab as an operator out of the company’s flagship yard in Cleveland. After 10 years, he transferred to the Chicago branch, Central Contractors Service, where he served as a site supervisor. After seven years there, he returned to Cleveland and has served in a variety of capacities, most recently as project manager.

ALL’s project manager position is a diverse role that splits time in charge of training and continuing education for sales reps across the national footprint as well as stepping in to provide technical, logistical, and planning support for complex projects originating from any branch.

Brian Meek now takes on that role. Meek also has a long history with ALL, having been with the company for 21 years, where he also started out as an oiler before moving into the cab as an operator. In recent years, he was a sales representative and an equipment specialist, which saw him in charge of hundreds of bridge and urban construction projects. He also worked alongside Chad Rados to develop some of the training courses he will now be in charge of spearheading in his new role.

Mikut officially retired May 30. Both promotions are effective immediately.

ALL | https://www.allcrane.com/

Bellofram Elastomers has named Garnett Component Sales, Inc. (GCS) as its official manufacturer’s representative for the southeastern U.S. GCS will cover Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

GCS has more than 75 years of combined sales expertise and is renowned for its dedication to providing high-quality products to OEMs across a wide range of industries. Its strong customer relationships and industry knowledge make GCS an ideal partner in expanding the regional reach of Bellofram Elastomers and parent company Marsh Bellofram.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Garnett Component Sales, with their solid reputation for service and industry expertise,” said Matthew Wingertsahn, vice president of Bellofram Elastomers. “This collaboration will allow us to better serve our customers in these regions.”

Bellofram Elastomers is a unified entity created by joining together Bellofram Diaphragm, maker of the original rolling diaphragm, and Bellofram Silicones, two legendary names in the world of elastomer innovation.

Recent investment by Bellofram Elastomers includes a Fecken-Kirfel skiver and a CNC Digital Knife Cutting System to fabricate parts like silicone gaskets and silicone pads with clean edges and precise shapes. New product introductions include UL 94 V-0 listed flame-retardant closed cell silicone sponge sheet, and engineered foam in neoprene and EPDM that are highly resistant to UV rays, ozone, and weathering, while maintaining excellent elasticity in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius.

Bellofram Elastomers | https://belloframelastomers.com/

Fortress Power, a global leader in energy storage solutions, officially celebrated the inauguration of a new regional headquarters in Guadalajara, Jalisco. This strategic new facility strengthens the company’s presence in Mexico and includes technical support offices, customer service, national sales operations, and a regional training center designed to train strategic partners from across Latin America. 

The event brought together key figures from the energy sector, including Jing Yu, CEO of Fortress Power; Alfredo Terán, Technical Director for Mexico; Rodrigo Aguirre, Director of C&I Projects; and Luisa Medel, Sales Director for Mexico. Also in attendance were representatives from authorized distributors such as WTS, Krannich Solar, and Corey Solar, along with distinguished guests from both the public and private sectors: Mario Hernández, Director of FIDE in Jalisco and Nayarit; Aldo Díaz, President of CPEF; Nallely Camarena, President of Mujeres CPEF; and Justo Torres, CPEF Delegate in Jalisco. Also, the sustainable artist Natalia Stopani (focused on the rescue and reuse of photovoltaic modules), whose artwork was showcased at the opening.

In her opening remarks, CEO Jing Yu stated, “This moment symbolizes growth, new beginnings, and meaningful partnerships. We are deeply excited to put down roots in a country known for its vibrant culture, rich history, hardworking people, and dynamic business environment. As we open our doors here in Guadalajara, we are not only bringing our products and services—we are also bringing our values, our commitment to excellence, and our belief in collaboration.” 

The opening of this facility represents a significant step in Fortress Power’s expansion across Latin America, enabling closer, more agile, and personalized service to installers, distributors, and customers throughout Mexico. The new regional training center will become a cornerstone for ongoing technical training, promoting knowledge and the adoption of clean and sustainable energy solutions. 

“Our mission has always been to work hand in hand with our distributor and installer partners to deliver clean and reliable energy to homes and businesses—while helping them reduce energy costs,” added Yu.

With this initiative, Fortress Power reinforces its commitment to Mexico’s economic and technological development by fostering job creation, knowledge transfer, and long-term partnerships within the local energy ecosystem.

“Let this new branch be a bridge—between our past and our future, between our global family and the local community, and most importantly, between our shared aspirations and the achievements to come,” concluded the CEO.

The company thus reaffirms its vision to lead a sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative energy transition in Mexico and throughout the region. At the same time, the artist Natalia Stopani presented the company with a personalized artwork on a disused MFV, featuring their logo and distinctive colors, forming a strategic alliance with them to promote this project.

Fortress Power | https://www.fortresspower.com/

Haven Energy, a climate tech company that is expanding access to reliable, renewable energy for homeowners, announced its partnership with Clean Energy Alliance (CEA) to enroll its qualifying customers in the Battery Bonus Connect program, offering qualifying, single family homeowners access to battery storage systems at no purchase or installation cost. 

The program is funded through California’s $280 million Self-Generation Incentive Program Residential Solar & Storage Equity (SGIP RSSE), a state initiative designed to spur adoption of solar and storage systems. 

Qualified homeowners approved for the SGIP rebate will receive a battery storage system and full installation at no out-of-pocket cost, with no additional monthly payments beyond their regular electricity bill. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. CEA estimates approximately 300 qualifying homeowners will receive home battery systems through this inaugural program. 

Through the Battery Bonus Connect program, homeowners’ batteries will also participate in a CEA–managed virtual power plant (VPP), operated on their behalf by Haven Energy. During periods of high demand, the VPP helps stabilize the grid and lower electricity costs by pooling stored energy from participating systems. Homeowners can expect 20% of their battery capacity to always be reserved for backup power, ensuring reliability while maximizing bill savings.

“We’re excited to partner with CEA to add batteries for hundreds of their customers, lowering homeowner energy costs and providing backup power,” said Jeff Chapin, Haven Energy’s chief product officer and co-founder. “By installing and aggregating the customer-sited battery systems into a VPP, we will also reduce grid congestion, lower our reliance on fossil fuels, and accelerate California's optimization of renewables. Rather than sending surplus solar electricity to the grid in the middle of the day, we will store that electricity in the battery systems and discharge it during evening peak demand, reducing the need for natural gas generation.” 

To qualify for the Battery Bonus Connect program, a homeowner must be a CEA residential customer, participate in CEA’s PeakSmart Savers program, own their home, and have a household income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), typically verified with a 1040 tax form. Enrollment in programs like CARE, FERA, or ESA generally indicates eligibility under the income requirement. The program does not require a credit check or place a lien on the property. 

As part of enrollment, the program will assess your home’s configuration, available space, and other factors to determine the technical feasibility of adding a home battery system to existing solar PV.

“The Battery Bonus Connect program is a meaningful step toward making clean energy solutions more accessible and available to all of CEA’s customers,” said Greg Wade, CEO of Clean Energy Alliance. “By partnering with Haven Energy, we’re helping income-qualified customers with existing solar systems to gain the added benefits of battery storage – improving energy reliability, lowering electricity costs, and supporting a cleaner, more resilient grid. This program reflects CEA’s commitment to an equitable and affordable clean energy future.”

Haven Energy | www.havenenergy.com

Clean Energy Alliance | https://thecleanenergyalliance.org/

Acteon is proud to announce that its proprietary technology, the Rocksteady Tension Tool (RSTT), has been selected by InnovateUK iX, a UK programme designed to fast-track knowledge transfer and accelerate innovation.

As part of this initiative, Acteon will collaborate with the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, which supports the programme - and leading floating offshore wind developer Flotation Energy to advance the RSTT toward commercial and technical readiness. 

The RSTT is a reusable in-line winch and connection system designed to enable mid-line hookup of mooring lines at final tension. Its selection highlights its potential as a transformative solution for optimising the hook-up and disconnection processes between mooring systems and floating offshore wind turbines.

Jack Paterson, Team Leader - Floating Offshore Wind at ORE Catapult said: “As part of our remit to help grow and expand the UK supply chain linked to offshore wind, we’re committed to supporting the development and derisking of new technologies. Tools like this are examples of the type of technological advances we need to see more of if the UK supply chain is going to benefit from offering suitable solutions to industry challenges. We’re looking forward to working with the team at Acteon as they seek to further develop and commercialise this technology.”

The RSTT aims to significantly reduce capital expenditure (CAPEX) and installation costs by eliminating the need for fairleads, tensioners, and chains; reducing vessel size requirements and using a reusable subsea winch system that minimises rigging operations for each new mooring installation. It works in tandem with the Rocksteady connector, a field-proven subsea quick connector capable of triggering release under load, tested up to 1,000 tons.

Beyond cost savings, the RSTT enhances safety and reduces risk during installation and throughout the lifecycle by eliminating platform-adjacent operations, avoiding personnel transfer, preventing seabed operations with poor visibility and eliminating the need for subsea chain cutting, reducing the risk of line abrasion or tangling.

The technology has already progressed through concept feasibility engineering, including sizing calculations and static installation analysis. The Innovate iX programme will support the next phases, including small- and large-scale testing.

Acteon | https://acteon.com

Terrasmart announced completion of a canopy solar project for AdventHealth’s Altamonte Springs, Florida campus, in partnership with ESA, a national solar and storage developer. AdventHealth is a faith-based system of healthcare with more than 80,000 caregivers across 50 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites in the U.S. ESA selected Terrasmart based on its years of experience and expertise in parking garage and canopy racking. The 3 MW photovoltaic system is now powering approximately a third of the corporate campus’s electricity needs with solar energy. AdventHealth is projected to save more than $4.6 million in energy costs over the life of the system.  

image courtesy ESA

The canopy project will generate about 2,900 tons of CO2 offsets annually, accelerating AdventHealth’s goals to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The photovoltaic system will produce an estimated 4,2000 megawatt hours of clean energy each year, enough to power the equivalent of 550 homes. In addition to the collaboration with ESA, the project was executed through close coordination with Duke Energy and the city of Altamonte Springs.

“Partnering with ESA on behalf of AdventHealth is a testament to the power of partnership as well as design ingenuity. Installing a multi-canopy system in a populated area instead of an open field exemplifies the adaptability of photovoltaic design, and the continued growth potential of solar energy,” said Yury Reznikov, Chief Sales Officer at Terrasmart.

 “The Terrasmart team brought valuable expertise and a collaborative mindset that helped make this complex installation a success. Their racking systems played a critical role in maximizing performance while meeting both structural and design requirements across rooftop and carport arrays,” said Morgan Brawner, Chief Revenue Officer, ESA.

Unlike wide-open fields where many solar projects are built, AdventHealth’s campus is in a populated area with limited access points, narrow roads, and a laydown yard three-quarters of a mile away from the primary worksite. Both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene impacted the construction schedule and flooded the laydown yard, but the project was completed on a favorable revised schedule. 

As one of the largest privately owned solar arrays in Florida, the installation included 7,500 solar panels across the rooftops of four buildings, two multistory garages, covered walkways, and parking canopies. The project required Terrasmart to produce three separate designs – two for canopies on parking garages and one for a surface lot. The project also added 62 electric vehicle charging ports and incorporated shaded parking for hundreds of surface parking spots for staff and visitors. 

“The Altamonte Springs solar installation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to sustainability, enhances the comfort and care of our team members and patients, and contributes to the betterment of our community,” said Christine Stewart, VP of organizational integration and campus administration for AdventHealth.

Terrasmart | https://www.terrasmart.com/

ESA | https://esa-solar.com/

AdventHealth | https://www.adventhealth.com/