Navigating the Complex Landscape of Energy Storage Permitting

Granite Source Power ("GSP") and Great Bay Renewables ("Great Bay") are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership focused on tackling the rapidly growing demand for reliable energy and the evolving needs of the power grid. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the development of battery storage and energy generation projects across key U.S. markets.

Formed in 2022, GSP has closed on approximately 2,000 MW of project sales and built a robust pipeline of battery storage and energy generation projects across ERCOT, PJM, NYISO, ISONE, and SPP. This partnership will utilize Great Bay's energy finance and interconnection security expertise to help GSP progress its siting, development, interconnection, and commercialization activities.

As demand from data centers and other loads rises, the energy market has become more complex. In response, GSP has developed and implemented innovative strategies to accelerate project timelines and cost-effectively deliver vital infrastructure. Working alongside utilities and high-demand customers, GSP offers rapidly deployable energy and capacity solutions. Through this new partnership with Great Bay, GSP is in a strong position to expand its services and create more opportunities for utilities, large-load clients, and generation owners.

"This partnership represents a significant step forward in advancing our vision to collaboratively address the grid reliability and energy demand challenges facing our markets," said Marc Rizzo, one of the co-founders of Granite Source Power. "By pairing our team's development capabilities and unique siting strategy with Great Bay's creative financing approach, we're able to advance and deliver projects that bring real, sustainable impact to communities and utilities while unlocking value for our customers."

Commenting on the new partnership with GSP, Frank Getman, CEO of Great Bay, said, "Granite Source Power has built an exceptional platform at exactly the right moment, led by a stellar team. Battery storage and electricity generation are critical to meeting America's exploding power demand from AI, datacenters, and industrial growth. Great Bay's innovative financing offerings remove financial bottlenecks, enabling GSP to scale rapidly and deliver the infrastructure our grid desperately needs."

Granite Source Power | https://www.granitesourcepower.energy/

Great Bay Renewables | https://www.greatbayrenewables.com/ 

Cypress Creek Renewables announced financial close and the start of construction on the 505-megawatt (MWdc) (396MWac) Hanson Solar facility in Coleman County, Texas. The project builds on Cypress Creek's leadership as a developer, owner, and operator of solar and energy storage assets nationwide.

Once operational, Hanson Solar will deliver electricity to the ERCOT grid under a power purchase agreement with Meta, supporting Meta's clean energy and sustainability goals while contributing to grid reliability, creating local economic value, and reinforcing Texas's position as a leader in energy innovation.

"Securing financing for Hanson Solar marks another important milestone as we expand our investment in Texas and continue partnering with customers like Meta" said Sarah Slusser, CEO of Cypress Creek Renewables. "Projects like Hanson Solar go a long way to meeting the near-term need for reliable, affordable power that supports economic growth across the country."

Construction was mobilized earlier this year with TIC - The Industrial Company, a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, serving as the EPC contractor for the project. The project will contribute to local economic activity, supporting an estimated 300 construction jobs, and deliver more than $80 million in local tax revenue over its operational lifetime.

Hanson Solar reached financial close with a combination of preferred equity and debt financing. The preferred equity commitment was provided by funds managed by a premier global credit asset manager with more than $350 billion of assets under management. The debt facilities were provided by MUFG Ltd. and SMBC, underscoring sustained lender and investor confidence in Cypress Creek's platform.

"MUFG is pleased to provide debt financing for the Hanson Solar project, a significant step forward in expanding renewable energy capacity across Texas," said Takaki Sakai, Managing Director at MUFG Bank. "Our continued partnership with Cypress Creek reflects our commitment to supporting bankable, future-ready infrastructure that aligns with investor priorities and global sustainability goals."

"The Hanson Solar project represents a compelling opportunity for long-term investment in the renewable energy sector, and SMBC is excited to support it," said Paul Jun, Group Head, Power & New Energies North America at SMBC. "Cypress Creek's development platform and the financial fundamentals of this project make it well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the clean energy economy."

Hanson Solar is expected to reach commercial operation in mid-2027, delivering reliable power to ERCOT and long-term economic development benefits to Texas communities.

Cypress Creek Renewables | www.ccrenew.com

MUFG Americas | www.mufgamericas.com 

SMBC Group | www.smbcgroup.com

Inspiration Energy, an Inspiration Mobility Group company and a leading developer of fleet-focused electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, announced a milestone in its continued partnership with zTrip, the nation's largest taxi fleet operator. Together, the companies are expanding access to EV charging by opening the first publicly-accessible Level 3 fast-charging hubs near the downtown metro areas of Kansas City, MO, and Pittsburgh, PA.

The two public PowerUp Point (PuP) stations provide drivers with up to an 80% charge in about 20 minutes, dramatically reducing charging times from hours to minutes. Together, the sites initially provide twelve high-power ports in Kansas City and six in Pittsburgh, filling a critical gap in urban EV infrastructure where public fast-charging options were practically nonexistent.

"Our goal is to make EV charging as easy and reliable as filling up a gas tank," said Josh Green, CEO of Inspiration Mobility Group. "By adding commercial-grade Level 3 fast-charging solutions in both cities, we're helping accelerate the shift to electric transportation and ensuring fleets and local drivers can charge quickly, reliably, and conveniently."

Until now, Kansas City drivers had access to only a handful of public fast chargers, none of which were located within five miles of the city's downtown, with Pittsburgh drivers facing similar charging challenges. The new, Inspiration-owned and managed charging depots provide dependable, 24/7 access to Level 3 fast charging, supporting local businesses, rideshare drivers, delivery fleets, and everyday EV owners.

"As the nation's largest taxi fleet operator, we know how critical reliable charging is to keeping drivers on the road and passengers served," said Bill George, CEO of zTrip. "Partnering with Inspiration not only supports our own EV transition but also strengthens the entire EV community in both cities."

To open these PowerUp Points to the public, Inspiration teamed with Presto, an all-in-one EV charging platform purpose-built for scalability. Drivers can easily find, charge, and pay through the Presto network, ensuring a seamless and reliable experience.

"The PowerUp Points are exactly what Presto was built for: shared-use infrastructure that grows with demand and delivers consistent, fast-charging access," said Ashwin Dias, CEO of Presto.

Located in Kansas City's downtown Paseo West district and Pittsburgh's historic Manchester neighborhood, each PowerUp Point operates year-round and features 180-kilowatt-hour chargers compatible with CCS connectors and NACS (with an adapter). By reducing charging times from hours to minutes, they provide essential infrastructure where it's needed most, powering economic activity and enabling the transition to electric transportation.

Opening these PuPs to the public marks the next phase of Inspiration and zTrip's partnership, which launched its first charging depot exclusively for zTrip fleet drivers in November 2024. With additional charging hubs planned in major metro areas in 2026, the companies are accelerating the shift toward cleaner, more cost-effective fleet operations and equitable EV access nationwide.

Inspiration Energy | https://www.inspiration.energy/

zTrip | https://www.ztrip.com/

Presto | https://www.prestocharging.com/

EIC Rose Rock, an early-stage VC fund focused on clean energy technologies, announced Aurora Hydrogen’s receipt of the prestigious Alberta Science and Technology (ASTech) Award in the Hydrogen and Alternative Energies category. The award celebrates the emerging company’s attainment of Technology Readiness Level (TRL)7 and its progress toward commercial-scale hydrogen production with commercial unit deployments for use in industrial, chemicals, logistics, and transportation sectors.

Hydrogen produced using Aurora Hydrogen’s patented technology has the potential to reduce global CO2 emissions significantly while using far less electricity than alternative production methods and eliminates the need for CO2 sequestration. The process also eliminates the need for water feedstock, preserving another critical resource.

To date, the company has raised $11 million from multiple investors including EIC Rose Rock, Energy Innovation Capital (EIC), Williams, Chevron Technology Ventures and Shell Ventures as well as from Canadian grant programs such as Natural Resources Canada, NGIF Accelerator, Alberta Hydrogen Centre of Excellence and Sustainable Development Technology Canada. Those funds enabled Aurora Hydrogen to reach recent critical milestones including generating a 95% increase in operating hours, achieving over 99% microwave absorption within the reactor, and launching a commercial testing program for its solid carbon co-product to advance cleaner industrial processes. The company continues to optimize its demonstration plant to realize continuous hydrogen production at commercial scale and aims to deploy commercial units into commercial operations across key industries in 2027.

“Aurora Hydrogen’s technology is well positioned to meet the evolving industrial and maritime applications for hydrogen fuel in a cost-effective and sustainable way, helping organizations around the world achieve their operational, financial, and sustainability objectives,” said David Clouse, Managing Director of the EIC Rose Rock fund. “Beyond producing low-cost hydrogen at scale, Aurora Hydrogen’s process also generates a sand-like solid carbon co-product that will be commercialized to support more sustainable steelmaking, earthworks, industrial and high-value applications.”

“Our low-cost, distributed, and clean approach to on-site hydrogen production supports industrial decarbonization efforts and offers important advantages for chemical producers as well as maritime and logistics operators,” said Bryce Campbell, Aurora Hydrogen’s CEO. “Our method can reduce the cost per kilogram of hydrogen which is significant as many companies currently pay between $10 to $30 per kilogram in certain regions. Additionally, our ability to produce a valuable carbon co-product supports emerging carbon markets seeking sustainable feedstocks.”

Aurora Hydrogen | www.aurorahydrogen.com

EIC Rose Rock | www.eicroserock.com

Energy Innovation Capital | www.energyinnovationcapital.com

Beam Global, (Nasdaq: BEEM), a leading provider of innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions for the electrification of transportation, energy security and smart city infrastructure, announced that the City of Dallas has placed an order for seven additional EV ARC sustainable electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. This marks the City’s third EV ARC deployment and fourth overall Beam Global purchase.

The systems will be used to charge the City’s growing fleet of EVs, including electric pickup trucks. Each EV ARC generates and stores its own clean electricity and can be deployed without construction, electrical work, or a utility connection, providing immediate, off-grid EV charging and backup power in emergencies. The purchase was made via the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Contract.

“This is an excellent example of our pre-negotiated contracts making it as easy for our customers to buy our products, as our products make it for them to deploy EV charging infrastructure,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “Our recently renewed GSA contract, and our recently announced Sourcewell contract, enable government organizations to acquire Beam Global solutions without having to go through lengthy and complex bidding processes. They get the fastest deployed charging infrastructure they need in a fraction of the time. The City of Dallas, and many other state and local governments in the United States, are continuing to buy our products - even as the federal government has ceased to do so for the time being - because fleet electrification just makes sense.” 

The City of Dallas aims for all new light-duty vehicles and transit buses to be fully electric by 2030 and for its entire fleet to be 100% electric by 2040, as part of its comprehensive climate action plan targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. Beam Global’s transportable, renewable charging solutions enable the City of Dallas’s transition to a resilient, zero-emission transportation future.

Beam Global | https://beamforall.com/

Pleasant Valley Solar 2 project partners, rPlus Energies, Sundt Renewables, BHI, Alan Stearns, and Thornova Solar, have announced a joint commitment of $375,000 to support students at the College of Western Idaho and Boise State University through two workforce development scholarship programs. Each school will receive $187,500 to expand opportunities for Idaho students preparing for careers that strengthen the state’s economy and energy future.

The Local First – Pleasant Valley Solar 2 Scholarship, awarded in partnership with College of Western Idaho, supports students pursuing any certificate or associate degree, with an emphasis on keeping skilled talent in Idaho communities.

“This scholarship directly strengthens Idaho’s workforce by helping more students gain the skills and education needed for their careers,” said Gordon Jones, President of CWI. “The $187,500 commitment will open doors for CWI students, fuel business growth and support innovation across our state.”

The Energy First – Pleasant Valley Solar 2 Scholarship, awarded in partnership with Boise State University, supports students pursuing degrees in energy-related fields such as engineering or construction management.

“We are incredibly grateful for Pleasant Valley Solar 2 Partners’ continued generosity and leadership with this scholarship,” said Argia Beristain, CEO of the Boise State University Foundation. “Energy-related careers are of high interest to our students and of high importance to our state. This scholarship opens the doors for our students while also helping to develop Idaho’s workforce and economy.”

Both scholarships continue the Local First and Energy First programs established during the Pleasant Valley Solar 1 project, which raised $123,000 in 2024 for College of Western Idaho and Boise State University students.

Since launching in 2022, the Local First and Energy First scholarship series, implemented by rPlus Energies in every community where they begin construction, has contributed more than $1 million to support local students and strengthen host communities.

Pleasant Valley Solar 2 is a 125-megawatt (MW) solar facility under construction in Ada County, Idaho. The project will create roughly 200 construction jobs and is expected to begin operations by summer 2026.

rPlus Energies | https://www.rplusenergies.com/

Sundt Construction | https://www.sundt.com/what-we-build/solar/

Thornova Solar | https://www.thornova-solar.com/

BHI | https://www.bhico.com/

Boise State University Foundation | boisestate.edu/giving

Trinity Energy (Trinity), a leading provider of turn-key sustainable energy solutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with University of Washington (UW) to deploy a solar canopy system in Parking Lot E18, located adjacent to the university’s athletic and campus infrastructure near the baseball stadium. The project underscores Trinity’s commitment to enabling institutions to generate clean energy on-site and demonstrates a scalable model for renewable infrastructure across higher-education and campus environments.

The Lot E18 Solar Canopy can produce up to 93kW of power and will be connected to the City of Seattle and UW’s campus electrical grids. Designed to integrate with future electrification infrastructure, the system can support campus EV charging and fleet operations, transforming an existing parking area into a high-value, clean-energy asset without sacrificing parking capacity. By capturing avoided utility costs and producing on-site renewable energy, the project demonstrates how large campuses can turn available real estate into energy-producing infrastructure.

“Generating solar power from a parking lot may sound modest, but the strategic value is enormous,” said Darin Leonard, President of Trinity Energy. “With the Lot E18 project at UW, we’re turning underutilized space into a clean-energy asset while building the foundation for campus-wide electrification. This is how institutions redefine energy from a cost center into a strategic advantage.”

The Lot E18 project represents more than a single solar installation, it serves as a template for institutional scalability. The canopy’s modular design enables replication across other campus lots or similar environments, allowing universities and organizations to expand renewable power generation without major land-use tradeoffs. Beyond its immediate carbon-reduction and cost-saving benefits, the system’s grid-tied architecture also prepares UW for future energy resilience initiatives, including microgrid development and broader electrification goals.

As institutions like the University of Washington expand their reliance on digital infrastructure, electric mobility, and research facilities, energy independence and reliability have become critical priorities. Projects such as this allow campuses to generate on-site power, reducing dependence on the broader utility grid while mitigating exposure to outages or fluctuating energy costs. By producing renewable energy where it is consumed, the university strengthens its operational resilience and gains greater control over its energy future.

Nicole Bulgarino, president of federal solutions and utility infrastructure at Ameresco, reinforces this in an opinion piece published April 2025 stating, “Microgrids play a crucial role in facilitating energy conservation and decreasing overall emissions by optimizing the amount and timing of customer energy consumption. They not only support sustainability, but importantly, they can also be a key driver in securing our future of energy.”

Reliable on-site energy also supports a broader transition toward electrification, including fleet vehicles, building systems, and high-demand research equipment. Solar canopy installations provide a consistent, distributed source of electricity that complements grid power, ensuring uninterrupted operations while advancing sustainability goals. For Trinity Energy and its partners, these projects demonstrate how practical, scalable clean energy solutions can meet the dual demands of reliability and environmental responsibility.

Trinity Energy | https://www.trinityenergy.net/