Sustainable Springfield

09/01/2026

BREAKING: American energy storage surges in Q2, deploying more capacity and discharging more electricity than any quarter in history.

Here are the biggest takeaways:
- 20.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of new capacity in Q2, bringing total installations in the first half of 2026 to 30.8 GWh
- Utility-scale energy storage capacity has nearly doubled from 88 GWh to 165 GWh in the first 18 months of the Trump administration
- More than 74% of the energy storage capacity installed in Q2 was built in states won by President Donald Trump in 2024.
- Arizona led the country with 6.2 GWh of new storage installations in Q2, the strongest quarter for any one state on record.
- Battery energy storage supplied more electricity to the grid in the first eight months of 2026 than in all of 2025.

Dive into the data of SEIA's Energy Storage Market Outlook: https://seia.org/news/largest-quarter-on-record-for-energy-storage/

08/28/2026

90 minutes is not enough to prepare comments on highly technical permits. Demand the U.S. EPA extend its comment period by 10 days!

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

"Without the renewable energy credits, this project is not financially viable."

08/25/2026

I hope someone can attend this webinar! Let us know if you attend. Energy Storage 101

Join the Illinois Environmental Council, Union of Concerned Scientists, Citizens Climate Lobby, Faith in Place, Greenlight America, and Sierra Club for a virtual session that will cover what energy storage is and how it can support Illinois communities. In this hour-long virtual discussion with expe...

08/21/2026

We need to be able to have a dialogue with CWLP and City Council during IRP meetings. Not just statements but back and forth Q&A.
Sustainable Springfield is trying to work with both to improve citizen engagement in the IRP process. Let your Alderperson know we want true engagement in the IRP process.

U.S. utility-scale battery storage capacity has grown rapidly, averaging about 70% annual growth over the past three years. By the end of 2025, the country had 43.6 GW of operational battery-storage capacity.

During the first six months of 2026, operators added another 8.3 GW, bringing total U.S. battery-storage capacity to nearly 52 GW. Developers also plan to add another 54 GW by the end of 2028, including 14 GW in the second half of 2026, 26 GW in 2027, and 14 GW in 2028.

Solar plants are increasingly being paired with large battery systems. For example, California’s Bellefield Solar and Energy Storage Farm currently combines 500 MW of solar with 500 MW of battery storage, with plans to double both capacities by November 2026. If completed, it would become the largest battery-storage facility in the U.S.

Battery storage allows electricity generated when supply is high or prices are low to be stored and discharged later when demand and prices increase. This makes large-scale batteries increasingly important for integrating growing amounts of solar power and improving flexibility on the U.S. electric grid.

Source:
U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA

08/21/2026

Cincinnati Zoo Expands to One of America's Largest Urban Solar Carports With 4.4 MW of Capacity

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has completed a major solar expansion, increasing its total installed solar capacity to about 4.4 MW. The newest 2.85 MW solar carport, completed in 2024, makes the zoo home to the largest publicly accessible urban solar array in the United States, supporting its goal of achieving net-zero energy.

The zoo began its renewable energy journey with its first solar installation in 2006, followed by a 1.56 MW solar carport in 2011. The latest expansion adds thousands of high-efficiency bifacial solar panels over parking areas, generating more electricity while providing shade for visitors' vehicles.

Together, the solar systems are expected to produce enough clean electricity to supply most of the zoo's annual power needs, significantly reducing dependence on the grid. Zoo officials estimate annual electricity costs could fall from about $1.6 million in 2005 to around $300,000 by 2030–2032, cutting both operating expenses and carbon emissions.

The project was developed by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and built by Melink Solar, using VSUN bifacial solar modules, CPS inverters, and Terrasmart mounting systems. The newer installation delivers about 80% more generating capacity than the original carport while occupying only about 20% more space thanks to larger, more efficient panels.

The Cincinnati Zoo is widely recognized as a leader in sustainable operations, combining solar energy with energy efficiency, green buildings, and conservation programs. The expanded solar array demonstrates how public attractions can lower costs, reduce emissions, and promote renewable energy while improving the visitor experience.

Source:
Cincinnati Zoo
Solar Builder Mag