Illinois Shines
With the rise of solar usage, incentives are more available now and many are implemented through state programs. Illinois Shines was created by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) to support developments for distributed solar generation and community solar. Monitored in accordance with the Future Energy Jobs Act, the IPA purchases Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) from community solar projects and sets costs through the Adjustable Block Program known as Illinois Shines.
Community solar benefits areas that cannot install rooftop arrays due to limited space, high costs, and issues with zoning laws. Illinois Shines increases solar access for residents that may not easily receive green energy while also providing information and inspections for vendors to become approved.
Illinois Shines’ evaluation of Realgy Energy Service’s solar arrays at Ridgeland Recreation Complex recently concluded. They state Realgy’s project is in compliance with program guidelines. We are proud to serve the Illinois community and help the state meet its renewable energy goals.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://illinoisshines.com/
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 2,411 Bcf as of Friday, June 4, 2021, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 98 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 383 Bcf less than last year at this time and 55 Bcf below the five-year average of 2,466 Bcf. At 2,411 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 2,313 Bcf as of Friday, May 28, 2021, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 98 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 386 Bcf less than last year at this time and 61 Bcf below the five-year average of 2,374 Bcf. At 2,313 Bcf, total working gas is within the five-year historical range.
US Approves 1st Major Offshore Wind Energy Project
The United States joined the rest of the world and issued final permits allowing for the development of large-scale offshore wind projects.
Large scale: 62 turbines standing 90 stories above the water with underground cables bringing electricity onshore to 400,000 homes. The turbines will be located about a mile off the coast of Massachusetts.
Wind power is the least costly energy power to build and the new turbines from General Electric are the largest available.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.npr.org/2021/05/11/995852356/biden-administration-approves-first-major-offshore-wind-energy-project
A solar panel in space is collecting energy that could one day be beamed to anywhere on Earth
Launched in May 2020, a panel attached to an unmanned drone has been looping Earth to harness the sun’s light to convert to electricity. Technology to focus power directly back to Earth has already been studied and proven possible. This prototype could, once scaled up, revolutionize energy generation and distribution around the world. Experimental results point to this being a feasible option to receive energy in the future. Funded by the Pentagon, costs are always of a concern but prices to create the panels have been decreasing. The amount of people this could help in remote areas or during natural disasters is a large incentive to backing this project.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/23/americas/space-solar-energy-pentagon-science-scn-intl/index.html
Brutal Cold grips central United States
Temperatures have dropped more than 40° below the average.
Power costs have soared from $4 / MWh to over $600 / MWh.
Most of the news we are seeing is coming from Texas for several reasons:
- Well, it is really cold; well below freezing for nearly 5 days.
- Texas is a power island. They have no connections outside of Texas so, other states cannot supply power for them.
- Texas’ energy infrastructure is not built for freezing temperatures. This results in water main breaks, gas pipes freezing, and power equipment not operating properly.
Outside of Texas the Polar Vortex will have economic impact but, electricity and gas are generally staying on.
If your power or heat is interrupted, CALL your local utility.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/16/us/winter-storm-texas-power-outage-map.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
Tech giants are becoming green energy barons
Tech company advancements have increased dramatically, especially over the past year. With this progress, we have seen a rise in carbon emissions due to the thousands of devices these businesses use each day. Some centers are using enough to power 80,000 US homes. “The Financial Times (FT) stated that the combined power usage of Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple is more than 45 terawatt-hours a year, about as much as New Zealand”. To offset these numbers, tech giants have focused on developments such as wind and solar installations while also agreeing to clean energy deals. This has caused the corporate market for purchasing clean energy to grow exponentially and indicates we will see further growth continuously in the market.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://techhq.com/2021/02/tech-giants-are-becoming-green-energy-barons/
Tips to Lower Your Utilities This Winter
Here’s your bi-annual reminder to make some improvements around your home or business to save money on utility bills. Winter brings about colder weather for most of us North Americans and with that comes an increase in energy usage. There are more ways to conserve than just turning down the thermostat. You can seal any air leaks around windows and doors. Try to also keep them closed as much as possible to prevent losing the warm air created inside. Use the sun to your benefit by keeping curtains open to let the warm sunlight in but, keep them closed at night to reduce heat loss. Insulating your water heater and using your fireplace and oven will also be to your advantage. Among other tips, you can check out your utility’s website to find incentives and home assessments to see where you might be able to increase energy efficiency and savings .
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://ourcommunitynow.com/home-and-garden/start-a-winter-garden-to-keep-the-blues-away
Holiday Goals
Previously commended for safe practices, our sales agents have been excelling despite Covid-19 restrictions. The end of 2020 saw an increase in sales with our representatives exceeding their goals. Through an incentive program titled “Christmas Cookie”, targets were met by multiple team members. If the team member hit the target, they received a “cookie” in the form of a check. If they exceeded the target, they received an even bigger “cookie”. We had 2 recipients of the “Big Cookie” and 3 received the “Small Cookie” prizes. In true holiday spirit and to their surprise, all members received a small “cookie” for working a full schedule after the contest reached completion. A similar incentive was created for the week of New Year’s and we had the same outcome of agents reaching their targets. We are off to a good start in 2021 and wish everyone the same. Happy New Year!
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Peoples Gas is spending billions to replace miles of aging pipe below Chicago by 2040. But will natural gas be obsolete before it’s complete?
In 2011, Peoples Gas began to replace 2,000 miles of pipelines below Chicago. Originally estimated to take 20 years and cost $2.6 billion, it is now projected to continue until 2040 and cost $7.7 billion. Interruptions have occurred due to “budget overruns, delays and charges of mismanagement”.
Many believe the project should be reviewed. By the time of completion, both gas and electric are anticipated to be very different from the systems we have now. Replacements are necessary to lower leaks and halt possible explosions as some pipes date back to the 1800s. However, costs have been passed along to customers. While Peoples has tried to keep those amounts down and minimize disruption in each neighborhood, consumers worry about paying their bills.
The Citizens Utility Board believes the focus should be on more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient alternatives such as electric-powered heat pumps. They want Peoples and the ICC to target and repair problem areas while pursuing their renewable energy goals.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Realgy owns and operates 7 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations.
Additional Information: https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-peoples-gas-pipeline-replacement-renewable-energy-20201222-i6er5w2abjeazg34ywajhfvg7q-story.html