What is a Culture of Safety and Why Does It Matter? Creating a culture of safety is crucial for any construction team, but what does it really mean to have a “safety culture”? It’s a question that goes beyond PPE and bare minimum safety standards – it strikes at the heart… Continue reading “What is a Culture of Safety and Why Does It Matter?”
A Look at Solar Jobs in the United States Did you know that clean energy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy? According to E2 Clean Jobs America, 3.3 million Americans working in various different roles around clean energy now account for more than 3 percent… Continue reading “A Look at Solar Jobs in the United States”
The Importance of Solar O&M: Ensuring Longevity and Efficiency of Solar Power Plants I’ve now worked in large-scale solar for over ten years, contributing to over 2GW of installations and managing multiple projects exceeding 100MW in capacity. While my career has primarily focused on the development, design, and installation of solar power plants,… Continue reading “The Importance of Solar O&M: Ensuring Longevity and Efficiency of Solar Power Plants”
2023 Energy Storage Code Course – Now Free for HeatSpring Members We need more professionals designing and installing energy storage systems safely. So starting today, for a limited time, 2023 NFPA 855 & Fire Codes for Energy Storage Systems is free for HeatSpring members. Ryan and the Mayfield Renewables team teach… Continue reading “2023 Energy Storage Code Course – Now Free for HeatSpring Members”
REAP Grants Can Cover 50% of Eligible Solar Project Costs – So Who’s Eligible? For solar sales professionals, it’s essential to stay informed about the various incentives and programs available to help your customers make the switch to solar energy. One program that is particularly beneficial for farmers and rural small business owners is… Continue reading “REAP Grants Can Cover 50% of Eligible Solar Project Costs – So Who’s Eligible?”
Permitting Requirements To Keep In Mind on Landfill or Brownfield Solar Projects When developing solar projects on landfills or brownfields, it could be easy to assume that the usual environmental considerations don’t apply. After all, these sites are already disturbed, so what’s the harm in adding solar systems? However, as instructor Lucia… Continue reading “Permitting Requirements To Keep In Mind on Landfill or Brownfield Solar Projects”
What is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)? The Inflation Reduction Act provided many incentives for clean energy adoption across the United States. Included in the legislation was a major boost to the already existing Rural Energy for America Program (also known as REAP). REAP helps agricultural producers… Continue reading “What is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)? “
What are Landfills and Why Are They Great Candidates for Solar Development? Solar on landfills is seeing a major boost in many places across the country. States like Maryland, New Jersey, and New York, are encouraging or incentivizing the repurposing of closed landfills, also known as brownfields, to generate clean, renewable energy… Continue reading “What are Landfills and Why Are They Great Candidates for Solar Development? “
What Makes Someone a Qualified Person? Here at HeatSpring, we get a lot of questions that are along the lines of… “what course can I take to make me qualified?” To that we answer, there’s no quick fix or single course that can make you qualified… Continue reading “What Makes Someone a Qualified Person?”
Understanding the 2023 NEC Requirements for Disconnecting Means on Energy Storage Understanding where to place disconnects on solar and storage projects can feel complicated if you’re unfamiliar with the National Electrical Code (NEC). In fact, some inspectors (like Pete Jackson, Chief Electrical Inspector for the City of Bakersfield, mentioned in IREC’s… Continue reading “Understanding the 2023 NEC Requirements for Disconnecting Means on Energy Storage “
Key Elements of a Safety Program Creating a strong safety program is a critical, yet sometimes overlooked, aspect of running a successful solar installation company. It’s not just about meeting bare-minimum regulatory requirements or avoiding accidents; it’s about fostering a work environment where every team member… Continue reading “Key Elements of a Safety Program”
FERC Orders 1920 and 1977 – What’s the Bottom Line? The recent buzz in the electric transmission industry, which is a key part of utility-scale renewables growth, is the May 13th issuing of FERC Order 1920 and FERC Order 1977 . FERC Order 1920 FERC Order 1920, “Building for the… Continue reading “FERC Orders 1920 and 1977 – What’s the Bottom Line?”
Solar Job Highlight: Chief Operating Officer at Sẽsẽnergi As a part of HeatSpring’s free Solar Career Pathways course, professionals from across the solar industry share an inside look at their careers through short interviews. Professionals talk about the details of what their jobs entail, their day-to-day activities, how… Continue reading “Solar Job Highlight: Chief Operating Officer at Sẽsẽnergi”
Performance-Based Solar and Storage Incentives When your customers are considering solar and storage solutions for their home or business, it’s essential to understand the various incentives available to help offset the initial investment and provide ongoing benefits. In this blog post, we hear from Spencer… Continue reading “Performance-Based Solar and Storage Incentives”
How Do Companies Start a Safety Program? Safety is the cornerstone of any successful construction business, especially in the solar industry where workers are exposed to various hazards – like working at heights and electrical hazards – on a daily basis. If you are a leader at… Continue reading “How Do Companies Start a Safety Program?”
Which NABCEP is right for you? Let’s Use a Mind Map to Find Out! Navigating the different NABCEP certifications and credentials can be difficult if you aren’t immersed in the details day in and day out. NABCEP offers one credential (which is the PV Associate) along with 7 professional certifications. What’s the difference between… Continue reading “Which NABCEP is right for you? Let’s Use a Mind Map to Find Out!”
Why Do Companies Need a Safety Program? In the solar industry, safety should never be just a buzzword or a box to check off on a list of requirements. It is a fundamental principle that should be ingrained in the fabric of every company’s culture. It feels… Continue reading “Why Do Companies Need a Safety Program?”
Solar Job Highlight: Founder at Agrivoltaics Project Development Firm Meet Savannah Whitfield. She is the COO and Co-Founder of Okovate Sustainable Energy. They’re on a mission to make community solar deployment more sustainable through agrivoltaics and dual-use habitat development. Okovate recognizes the challenges faced by farmers in today’s economic… Continue reading “Solar Job Highlight: Founder at Agrivoltaics Project Development Firm”
Interconnection of Renewables to Electric Transmission: Insights from Industry Expert Tim Taylor Tim Taylor is a HeatSpring instructor who focuses on utility transmission and distribution systems, and the interconnection of renewables to those systems. We recently asked Tim a few questions about two new courses that he has been developing. Tim’s new… Continue reading “Interconnection of Renewables to Electric Transmission: Insights from Industry Expert Tim Taylor”
A Brief History of Transmission Legislation in the United States The electricity industry in the United States has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, largely driven by a series of legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at promoting competition, efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy resources. In this… Continue reading “A Brief History of Transmission Legislation in the United States”