DOE EIA Weekly Gas Storage Report
Working gas in storage was 3,756 Bcf as of Friday, September 25, 2020, according to EIA estimates.
This represents a net increase of 76 Bcf from the previous week. Stocks were 471 Bcf higher than last year at this time and 405 Bcf above the five-year average of 3,351 Bcf. At 3,756 Bcf, total working gas is above the five-year historical range.
Converting solar energy to hydrogen fuel, with help from photosynthesis
The search for new ways to provide energy and more of it is a constant concern for multiple industries. A team at the Israel Institute of Technology has developed a new efficiency record for converting solar to fuel. They’ve begun to incorporate photosynthesis to increase this development. Using sunlight, they are driving chemical reactions to turn water into hydrogen fuel. Challenges are the multi-step processes and ensuring material stability. Various approaches have been taken into consideration to convert solar energy into fuel. Developments have surpassed records in photocatalysis and they are well on the way to viably converting solar to hydrogen. The team’s discoveries are a breakthrough and are leading researchers to further solar-to-chemical conversions.
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://phys.org/news/2020-08-solar-energy-hydrogen-fuel-photosynthesis.html
Solarize Chicagoland group-buy program bears fruit even in rough times
Environmental benefits and lower energy bills are a main draw for solar customers. Solarize Chicagoland’s participants reap those pros and then some. For those that find researching options and requirements to be laborious, this group-buy program might just gain your attention. They have support through each step of the solar installation process and their developer is accounted for. Windfree Solar was approved by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and partners. Plus, with more customers partaking, there’s an increase in savings and extra rebates through federal and state incentive programs. Helping the environment, increasing home value, decreasing monthly costs, and benefiting the community are valued aspects of the Solarize Chicagoland program.
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://energynews.us/2020/07/29/midwest/solarize-chicagoland-group-buy-program-bears-fruit-even-in-rough-times/
Kent County Recognizes Realgy’s Safe Business Practices
PRESS RELEASE
Kent County Recognizes Realgy’s Safe Business Practices
24 JULY 2020 | BY: REALGY, LLC
Realgy’s Michigan Sales Team Before and After
Safety comes first at Realgy Energy Services for employees and for customers. Even when new challenges arise such as the current Covid-19 outbreak. The company’s Grand Rapids, MI sales team is no exception. Through the Kent County Back to Work Initiative, Realgy qualified to receive assistance with provisions of personal protective equipment. Kent County implemented this program due to the many concerns with acquiring safety gear for small businesses.
Realgy’s sales agents are approved and recognized as practicing safe business following a regimen of safety checks each morning. MI Sales Director Frank Blazek says employees are “constantly reminding each other to go through the checklist to ensure they have their gear along with all PPEs”.
Kent County provided Realgy’s Michigan staff with the proper equipment to safely continue working. Being gifted with gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and thermometers has made employees feel they can continue providing the best possible service without risking anyone’s health. Community response along with Realgy team members provided great feedback for diligently pursuing cautionary steps. Residents have mentioned they are “happy to see representatives wearing masks and taking the virus seriously”. Some even said if they hadn’t seen representatives wearing masks properly, they wouldn’t have opened the door or been willing to discuss services.
Blazek’s philosophy involves leading by example and focusing on teamwork. He keeps in mind Zig Ziglar’s quote “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want”. The transition hasn’t been as difficult for his employees due to “They’ve always maintained the Realgy code of conduct and best sales practices. Ensuring customers are treated respectfully and prompting them with information up front is part of the procedure to ensure protection for both the agents and residents. We are happy to have gotten positive feedback and everyone seems thankful we’ve put their wellbeing first”, says Blazek.
Realgy has taken various steps throughout the last several months to continue business in each state during the pandemic. “We are proud of Frank and the Grand Rapids team for continuing to provide great service throughout Michigan” says Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy Energy Services. Recognition goes to all involved in taking the lead during this difficult time worldwide. The healthcare workers, first responders, and all essential employees working each day. Realgy upholds best practices to ensure safety comes first.
Realgy, LLC
Michael Vrtis, President
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
WattScale is an open source AI tool that identifies energy-wasting homes
It’s no secret that artificial intelligence can have both pros and cons depending on the application. However, this tool seems to improve multiple concerns with potential to address even more issues. Researchers developed WattScale using AI to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint. The program recognizes a building’s energy efficiency or in many cases, its inefficiency. Addressing various ways on how businesses and homes can make changes to better their energy usage will save consumers money on their bills as well as create a lower environmental impact. WattScale also plans to incorporate satellite data in the future to forecast, build patterns, and further investigate tracking energy savings and effectiveness.
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://venturebeat.com/2020/07/07/wattscale-is-an-open-source-ai-tool-that-identifies-energy-wasting-homes/
How New York City plans to end natural gas, oil use in buildings
New York City’s goal of carbon neutrality is set for 2050. To help get there, they have a goal to reach 100% emissions-free power by 2040 by ending fossil fuel use in large building systems. Part of the plan is to follow California’s suit of denying gas hookups in new buildings or renovations. Starting with government owned structures will allow them to set the example for the rest of the city. Since NY has vast climate differences compared to CA, natural gas usage is higher and skeptics aren’t sure it will play out the same way it did on the west coast. Alternatives are being considered to ensure they accomplish those goals but there are many cogs in the machine that we need to see work together.
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.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/how-new-york-city-plans-to-end-natural-gas-oil-use-in-buildings-57232171
Warren Buffett Has Started The Biggest Energy Revolution
Green energy has been on the rise with governments pledging to invest and countries committing to using 100% renewable energy in the upcoming decades. In the past several years, the cost of solar has decreased drastically and has grown ten-times more efficient. For the first time, solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels.
Warren Buffet struck a deal in September to build America’s largest solar farm. Located in the desert outside of Las Vegas, the sunshine will power the world’s largest battery and produce 6-7% of LA’s electricity needs. Costs are half of that of a natural gas power plant. Solar became 2019’s best performing exchange-traded fund and forecasts show solar stocks increasing exponentially if we continue to see progress.
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.forbes.com/sites/stephenmcbride1/2020/02/11/warren-buffett-has-started-the-biggest-energy-revolution/#38c11d204494
Wind Energy supplies nearly 7% of US Electric Demand
There are many ways to measure growth such as this table showing how wind energy went from near 0% to over 7% in less than 9 years.
During that same time, coal declined by half as solar increased by 2%.
During this period, US electric consumption increased by 10%.
If you have followed any technology over the last several years, you are aware that natural gas and solar use has increased but wind is the real story.
Wind energy is the least costly energy source in the US. This fact is not a political statement but can be verified by any US utility that sought competitive bids for energy supply in the last 9 years.
The forecast is more of the same. This shift in energy production occurred without tapping the largest wind energy resource utilized by Asia and Europe: off-shore wind.
Wind energy requires jobs. For every loss of a coal job, at least 1.5 jobs were added in wind and clean energy. However, job losses and gains were typically not in the same areas.
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.awea.org/2018-market-report_us-wind-power-grew-8-percent-in-2018
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_of_wind_power_in_the_United_States
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/31/us-wind-energy-capacity-now-over-100-gigawatts-says-new-report.html
Michigan energy regulators aim to prioritize ‘action’ over ‘fancy reports’
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently launched the MI Power Grid. The initiative is to adapt to changes brought on by increased use of renewable resources. Plans for the next year concentrate on customer engagement, emerging technology, and grid investments. Integrating interconnection rules, demand response, grid security and reliability, and pilot programs are part of the focus while engaging Michigan customers to participate. The MPSC is adamant that they aren’t just discussing change but, actually making sure advancements are made.
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://energynews.us/2019/10/28/midwest/michigan-energy-regulators-aim-to-prioritize-action-over-fancy-reports/
More wind, solar and storage could add up to savings for Midwesterners
Do you want to pay less for energy used to run all your electronics? What’s keeping costs high? Would you believe it’s the use of coal, oil and natural gas?
In the Midwest and Great Lakes area, the cost of electricity could decrease by over $48/year for the average residential customer. How? By eliminating the way electricity is priced at the wholesale level.
When oil, coal and nuclear energy were the primary fuel sources, payments for energy were based on the ability to deliver energy quickly. This meant the large fossil fuel plants had to be kept in a ready-to-generate mode.
Today’s wind and solar energy are kept in a ready state without any fuel costs. So, transferring to wind and solar while not paying fossil fuel plants to stay ready would result in large and sustainable cost reductions.
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.renewableenergyworld.com/2019/10/02/report-more-wind-solar-and-storage-could-add-up-to-savings-for-midwesterners/#gref