Navigating the Complex Landscape of Energy Storage Permitting

Ava Community Energy has launched its first electric vehicle (EV) fast charging station in downtown Oakland. The first in a network of up to fifteen fast charging stations planned by Ava, their goal is offering greater convenience for current users and beginning to break down barriers to EV adoption.

"We are excited to have launched our first fast charging station in the City of Oakland, a city that was instrumental in the founding of our agency just a handful of years ago," said Howard Chang, Ava Community Energy CEO.  "We truly value their continued partnership and the collaboration to make this charging station a reality.  Together with Oakland, we share a common goal, to increase access to clean energy and clean transportation."

As a Community Choice Aggregator, Ava has worked closely with its member cities to plan the locations of a network of fast charging stations, with the goal of increasing access to EV usage and to promote decarbonization. Locations will include city-owned public garages, parking lots, and curbsides near key community and business areas, and in close proximity to multi-family housing.  This is key in an area like Alameda County where nearly 50 percent of its residents are renters.

Chang continued, "We want to be part of the solution to make clean powered transportation more accessible to everyone and so we have to look at placing charging stations in locations that have been underserved. We know that for renters, where home charging may be difficult or even impossible, building fast charging stations closer to them helps to start slowly breaking down barriers to EV adoption and begins to create greater equity and accessibility in EV usage."

Located in Oakland City Center West Garage near downtown Oakland, this first Ava fast charging station is the largest non-Tesla fast charging station in Northern California, a distinction that Ava is proud to bring to the City of Oakland.  This first charging station features chargers for all makes and models of EVs, offers an abundance of charging stalls and, like future Ava fast charging stations, is near workplaces, housing and in this case, close to the freeway for commuters.

"We are pleased to have partnered with Ava to bring its first fast-charging station to Oakland. This project reflects the city's commitment to advancing equitable climate solutions and ensuring all residents are considered in the transition to clean energy," said Oakland City Councilmember Rowena Brown, who serves on the Ava Community Energy Board.

Oakland's 2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan (ECAP) aims to confront climate change by prioritizing frontline communities and expanding equitable access to clean air. A core focus of the plan is ensuring that residents have the infrastructure needed to consider electric vehicle adoption, while supporting current EV owners with charging stations that are reliable, accessible, and community-centered. The new fast-charging station represents a meaningful step toward that vision.

"Clean energy options must be accessible to all Oakland residents if we are going to make a meaningful and equitable impact on climate change," concluded Councilmember Brown.

By putting fast charging stations in these key areas of population density, Ava is helping to create the infrastructure for more residents to consider EV adoption.

Electric vehicle charging stations are central to Ava's core mission of expanding access to clean, sustainable energy to benefit more communities and move to decarbonization.

In addition to the City of Oakland, core partners in this first Ava Charge location include San Francisco-based EV Realty, who led engineering, procurement, and construction on the project, and is responsible for the site's ongoing maintenance and operations. And Kempower, the manufacturer of the 18 EV charging dispensers in use at the site.

"Our goal is to expand access to clean, sustainable energy in large and small ways through increased usage of solar systems, more electric transportation via cars and electric bikes which reduces tailpipe emissions, improving how people cook at home, and even how we heat our homes and water," continued Chang. "Ava Charge is just one step in our overall goal to make the transition to carbon-free energy easier for all."

Following the launch of the Oakland City Center West Garage charging station, Ava plans to continue its work with member cities to launch up to fourteen additional fast charging stations in their service territory by the end of 2030.

The Ava Charge station at Oakland City Center West Garage has 18 chargers with a total of 31 connectors to charge every EV model on the market.

Ava Community Energy | https://avaenergy.org/

Ampacity LLC hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of the company’s 300,000-square-foot distribution facility in Des Moines, Iowa. The new warehouse represents Ampacity’s commitment to serving the construction firms, developers, and utilities building solar, wind, battery storage, and data center infrastructure projects throughout Iowa and the Midwest.

The ribbon-cutting event was attended by legislators, local business owners, and community members to celebrate the collaborative efforts to bring the distribution center into operation. Speakers included David Young, Chair, Iowa House Commerce Committee; Eben Russell, President at Ampacity; Jimmy Olsen, Executive Director at the Des Moines City Chamber of Commerce; Crosby Fish, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Ampacity; and Jason Holsman, Government Affairs Director at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA). Ampacity’s CFO Crosby Fish served as the Master of Ceremonies. 

“We were specifically drawn to the Des Moines area by the local talent pool—there is a lot of expertise in the supply chain and logistics fields here. In addition, Des Moines provides multiple strategic advantages, such as proximity to our customers’ projects and positioning on major freight lanes,” commented Eben Russell, President of Ampacity. “Our goal is to build a team in Iowa that cares about the impact we're making and is committed to meeting power demand as quickly and reliably as possible.”

Throughout the event, Ampacity emphasized the local economic stimulation the facility will provide to the Des Moines region. Ampacity has invested nearly $2 million in the warehouse and will employ 25 long-term employees. During operations, the distribution center will contribute around $1 million annually to the Des Moines community through payroll, tax payments, and other local expenditures. 

The new Des Moines facility functions as an operational hub carrying out the stocking, fulfillment, logistics, kitting and prefabrication, and material storage functions that keep large, complex renewables projects running smoothly. The distribution center will support and promote further deployment in the region by providing essential support to nearby power generation and data center projects.

"Power demand from data centers and other sources is driving the renewables and battery storage sector at a record rate. Electricity demand in Iowa alone is expected to increase by 30 to 60 percent in the next two decades. Agility is more important than ever, and Ampacity's distribution center provides rapid and flexible solutions for the Midwest," Crosby Fish, CFO of Ampacity said. “We provide key materials and logistics to community solar and utility-scale projects alike—all of which are vital to meeting America’s growing energy needs.” 

Expanded Electrical Solutions
In addition to expanded handling and distribution capacity for Ampacity’s longstanding single-axis solar tracker business line, the Des Moines site houses the company’s largest-ever investments in handling and processing machinery for electrical goods. The warehouse features a three-to-one wire spooling line that simplifies cable installation by combining multiple reels into a single run. The team at the facility also performs custom cutting of medium-voltage cables and assembles modular kits that are pre-configured for specific phases of construction. These activities help reduce manual labor, limit installation errors, and enable customers to keep their projects moving with greater consistency and efficiency.

“Electricity demand in Iowa is rising fast, and meeting that challenge will require more local generation and more flexible distributed energy resources,” said Jason Holsman, Director of Government Affairs at the Coalition for Community Solar Access. “As lawmakers consider creating a statewide community solar program in Iowa, facilities like Ampacity’s new distribution center show what’s possible when the private sector has the tools it needs to deliver projects efficiently. A stronger local supply chain means faster deployment, lower construction costs, and more reliable clean energy options for Iowa communities. This is exactly the type of investment that can help community solar take root and thrive in the state.”

Ampacity | www.ampacity.com

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/