Individuals went loopy for bathroom paper at first of the pandemic, and it turned a commodity that appeared as precious as gold.
Harvey Abouelata noticed a run on one other in-demand product: photo voltaic panels.
Previous to the pandemic, Abouelata, the vp of Knoxville-based Photo voltaic Alliance, mentioned the corporate put in photo voltaic panels on eight residences per 12 months.
He put in 148 through the first two years of the pandemic.
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In a world with pandemics and wars, Abouelata mentioned he is seen individuals wish to grow to be extra unbiased and have extra management over sources like vitality — one thing solar energy can present.
“Speaking about photo voltaic and what it does is about as attractive as watching paint dry,” Abouelata advised Knox Information. “However what it does for us, (it has) given us resiliency, given us independency, reducing our prices. That is essential.”
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The advantages of solar energy and renewable vitality aren’t misplaced on Knoxville and Tennessee businesses and companies investing large in these fields.
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Since 2015, the Knoxville Utilities Board has invested $3.3 million in photo voltaic vitality throughout three initiatives.
KUB has invested to carry 502 megawatts of solar energy on-line by the TVA’s Inexperienced Make investments program. The funding may even assist town meet its purpose of lowering greenhouse fuel emissions by 80% by 2050.
By 2035, Tennessee Valley Authority spokesperson Scott Fiedler mentioned the TVA hopes to provide 10,000 megawatts of solar energy per 12 months. That’s sufficient to energy 35% of the single-family houses throughout the TVA’s seven-state space.
Companies going photo voltaic
Final 12 months, mechanical seal producer AESSEAL invested $1.8 million to put in photo voltaic panels and storage batteries into its facility in Blount County. The panels will generate sufficient electrical energy to energy 70% of the power’s operations and are anticipated to be accomplished this October.
AESSEAL high quality, security and manufacturing supervisor Josh Perry mentioned the corporate is not bothered by the sum of money spent and is extra targeted on doing the most effective factor for the surroundings.
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As soon as put in, the photo voltaic panels will assist the corporate save on its vitality invoice.
“Photo voltaic is actually free, you already know, nobody pays for the solar,” mentioned Perry. “(We’re) paying for the panels up entrance, however after that it is a free vitality supply that is renewable.”
In an effort to grow to be extra inexperienced, AESSEAL, headquartered in the UK, introduced it is investing $40 million into environmentally pleasant initiatives for its amenities across the world by 2029.
In February, Mechanicsville’s Beardsley Neighborhood Farm put in a 2.7-kilowatt photo voltaic array on its training constructing with the assistance of Photo voltaic Alliance. The panels had been supplied at value for $5,000 and Photo voltaic Alliance volunteered the labor.
On a sunny day, Beardsley Farm co-director Charlotte Rodina mentioned the eight photo voltaic panels can offset the entire constructing’s electrical wants, from powering computer systems to the walk-in cooler.
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The farm doesn’t have a battery to retailer the facility, so it pivots to historically generated energy on cloudy days.
Whereas the financial savings on the electrical invoice are good, the panels serve a better goal. Rodina mentioned the farm makes use of the panels to coach guests on the advantages of solar energy and reveal environmentally pleasant practices.
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“We wish to be greener and use much less fossil fuels right here on the farm,” she mentioned. “It is a win-win as a result of we additionally get to indicate everyone these panels.”
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Not solely can putting in solar energy assist a enterprise grow to be vitality unbiased, it could additionally present some tax breaks.
Abouelata mentioned there are many tax credit and financial incentives out there, together with the Rural Vitality for America Program grant from the U.S. Division of Agriculture. The grant offers funding for rural small companies to put in renewable vitality techniques or to enhance vitality effectivity.
It is a program Abouelata mentioned many companies within the South are underutilizing.
“Majority of that cash proper now could be going to Iowa and California,” Abouelata mentioned. “That is your taxpayer cash going to totally different states. So I believe it is essential that we promote, and actually discuss in regards to the REAP grant.”
Neighborhood Investments
Knoxville residents finally can have simpler entry to photo voltaic.
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KUB introduced in November 2020 that 20% of Knoxville’s electrical energy might be generated from renewable sources by 2024. That will be sufficient electrical energy to energy 83,000 houses a 12 months.
KUB dedicated $1.5 million to construct the primary neighborhood photo voltaic array, in line with KUB’s 2021 Environmental Report. The one-megawatt array is situated on a three-acre plot of land on the Public Works facility on Western Avenue.
“(It’s) actually a fantastic place for photo voltaic, as a result of it is a helpful method to make use of the land that in any other case would not have a lot use,” KUB environmental stewardship analyst Chasity Pastime mentioned.
Residents will be capable of subscribe to a portion of the array and the vitality that is generated, in line with Pastime. Subscribers will then obtain renewable vitality credit for his or her share of vitality produced.
KUB estimates the neighborhood array will generate sufficient vitality to energy 100 houses a 12 months.
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KUB mentioned it has greater than 300 clients using solar energy.
On April 21, Knoxville’s Parks and Recreation division introduced it’s partnering with Photo voltaic Alliance to construct a photo voltaic array on high of the Cal Johnson Recreation Heart. The 20.5-kilowatt array will offset a number of the energy used to run the constructing.
Investing in solar energy
An enormous consider making Knoxville’s vitality provide extra renewable is the TVA’s Inexperienced Make investments program.
This system affords “enterprise and trade an efficient, well timed, and cost-competitive answer to aggressively meet their sustainability targets,” in line with TVA’s web site.
Final 12 months, the TVA and KUB partnered to construct a 200-megawatt photo voltaic farm in Clay County, Mississippi.
The photo voltaic farm, which might be accomplished in late 2023 by photo voltaic vitality storage developer Origis, will generate vitality that goes into TVA’s grid and is distributed throughout its seven-state footprint.
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For taking part, KUB will get renewable vitality credit, which is a technique to account for any creation of inexperienced vitality. With the farm and different KUB investments, Knoxville is the highest solar energy investing metropolis within the Southeast, in line with the Inexperienced Make investments program.
These renewable vitality credit can be utilized to assist recruit firms to the Knoxville space which can be all for assembly sustainability targets.
“It not solely makes financial sense, however it makes environmental sense,” Fiedler mentioned.
Pick Tennessee Products Partners with Homegrown By Heroes to Promote Veteran Farmers – Clarksville Online – Clarksville News, Sports, Events and Information
Nashville, TN – Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) Pick Tennessee Products (PTP) program has joined together with Homegrown By Heroes to better promote local agricultural products produced by Tennessee farmer veterans.
The Homegrown By Heroes label is the official farmer U.S. military veteran branding program. Administered by the National Farmer Veteran Coalition, it certifies ranchers, farmers, and fishermen from all military branches to sell their products as veteran-owned and produced.
PTP has been connecting people everywhere to all the great things that come from Tennessee’s farms and food businesses for more than 30 years. The PTP logo informs consumers that the products displayed are produced in Tennessee.
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“We are proud of our military men and women and are honored when they choose to join our agricultural community,” Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. “This merged Homegrown By Heroes and Pick Tennessee Products logo will allow our farmer veterans to stand out in the market as not only a Tennessee product but also a veteran-produced product.”
The mission of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is to mobilize veterans to feed America. They work to cultivate a new generation of farmers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities. The Tennessee chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC-TN) assists veterans by finding resources that will help them start their agricultural dream.
“As the President of the Tennessee chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, I am excited about the partnership of Homegrown By Heroes and Pick Tennessee Products.” Ron Bridges, owner of Bee Ridges Farm in Anderson County, said. “This merged logo will serve as a symbol of the productive partnership between FVC-TN and TDA. Many FVC-TN members have enjoyed the benefits of advertising through the Pick Tennessee Products website and adding their Homegrown By Heroes veteran status has helped increase their customer base. Merging the two logos simplifies their visual presence and honors their military service and their farm’s specialty status.”
Many members of FVC-TN are beginning farmers working hard to build their customer base. “Having the Pick TN Products and Homegrown By Heroes logos as part of our farm’s marketing has been a tremendous help in reassuring customers of our quality and integrity,” said Rory Williams of M and R Farm in Marshall County. “I imagine that combining the two logos will strengthen our relationship-building going forward. We are honored to be able to advertise that our farm qualifies for both.”
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Jennifer Rafn, owner of Pecan Hill Farms in Lincoln County, said, “We are proud to be able to share with our customers and others that we are a Pick Tennessee Products producer and a Homegrown By Heroes producer. We look forward to being able to showcase both memberships and hope to stand out as a producer with the combined logo.”
Find out more about Homegrown By Heroes by visiting farmvetco.org/hbh/. Find local products and more at www.picktnproducts.org/ and the free Pick TN mobile app. Look for the Homegrown By Heroes logo throughout the Pick Tennessee Products website to find a farmer veteran near you.
The Tennessee Volunteers already have the No. 11 class in the 2025 recruiting cycle. In honor of America’s birthday, we look at what fireworks could be in store as they close this class.
The 4th of July always calls for fireworks and festivites as we celebrate our country’s birth. The Tennessee Volunteers are still swinging hard on the recruiting trail this month, and we examine a few potential fireworks that could be set off over the next few weeks for them.
Landing David Sanders
Providence Day School offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is officially in decision mode after a flurry of official visits this summer. It seems like his recruitment will stretch into August, with a decision coming before his senior season. There are several blue blood programs still fighting for his services, but this battle likely comes down to Ohio State vs. Tennessee. Sanders would be the highest-rated commit to join Tennessee under head coach Josh Heupel.
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Surviving the race for Travis Smith
Westlake High School wide receiver Travis Smith will commit to Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, or Tennessee on July 13. The talented Peach State native has favored the Bulldogs throughout his recruitment, but recent developments point to the Vols as a top suitor for his services. He ranks as the No. 75 prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, and would be Tennessee’s third wide receiver commit in the 2025 class.
Flipping Jadon Perlotte
Buford High School linebacker Jadon Perlotte is one of the most physically gifted defenders in America. The long-time Georgia commit has always kept an open recruitment, and Tennessee has actively recruited him for a long time. The Vols had a lot of buzz after his official visit this summer and are swinging hard to make him the centerpiece of their linebacker class.
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