June 29, 2020 at 1:00 PM Eastern
Partnerships Provide New Solar Generation to Power Bank of America Operations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas
Bank of America announced today it is partnering with Duke Energy, NRG Energy, 3Degrees, NativeEnergy and Birdseye Renewable Energy to expand its renewable energy commitment through 10 agreements to purchase solar electricity for its operations in three states, including North Carolina, home to the company’s headquarters. These offsite solar projects are located in low-to-moderate-income communities, and all of the projects help support jobs, clean energy access and more sustainable communities.
“These unique projects and partnerships build on our achievement of carbon neutrality and expand our renewable energy commitment. By driving more clean energy solutions in our facilities, we are developing a broader sustainable energy ecosystem to help transform our operations and the communities where our employees work and live,” said Andrew Plepler, global head of Environmental, Social and Governance at Bank of America. “These partnerships bring to the forefront creative thinking and innovative solutions to address a changing climate and clean energy access.”
The agreements total 200 megawatts (MWAC) of new solar electricity capacity and will supply over 340,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of Green-e®-certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually, which meets 100% of Bank of America’s annual electricity use in the Carolinas and the majority in Texas. Representing nearly 21% of the bank’s U.S. electricity use, the solar projects will cover hundreds of acres and include hundreds of thousands of solar panels.
Additionally, many of the projects have a unique feature of pollinator habitats with vegetation and plantings to support local biodiversity and agriculture. Other benefits of these pollinator habitats include:
These renewable energy generation deals will benefit the company’s operations and expand Bank of America’s commitment to reduce its operational impacts on the environment, including being carbon neutral and utilizing 100% percent renewable electricity across its global operations.
In partnership with Duke Energy, Bank of America is expanding its renewable energy commitment by powering its headquarters and other Charlotte, North Carolina operations with solar energy. Through a renewable energy-sleeved power purchase agreement (PPA), the company is participating in Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) program. The bank is the first company and financial institution to sign a 10-year agreement for electricity and Green-e®-certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) through this program. The purchase of a 25-megawatt (MWAC)solar project’s electricity output and RECs will cover 45% of Bank of America’s electricity load in the state.
This innovative project will be constructed in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The project will include the installation of a pollinator habitat surrounding 70,000 solar panels, covering approximately 180 acres; and is expected to be online in 2022.
Silver Pine Energy, a joint venture between Silver Creek Energy and North Carolina developer Pine Gate Renewables, will oversee the development of the project and support the engineering, procurement and construction services.
Bank of America partnered with 3Degrees to purchase RECs for 10 years to help make possible the development of four additional solar projects in the eastern part of the state. Pine Gate Renewables is developing the projects. The counties of Harnett, Columbus, Nash and Johnston will benefit from these projects, with solar energy added to the grid and pollinator habitats that will increase biodiversity in these communities. The total annual MWh output from the 3Degrees projects are expected to produce 33,000 MWh/year.
For more details, please read the North Carolina press release.
In partnership with Reliant, an NRG Energy company, Bank of America has announced a 10-year structured renewable energy agreement for solar power in Texas. The project will provide electricity through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region to 345 facilities, which include office sites, financial centers and ATMs. Bank of America will receive both electricity and Green-e®-certified RECs.
The agreement will supply 160,000 MWh of electricity to Bank of America’s Texas operations annually. The project will be located in west central Texas and is expected to be operational in mid-2022. In the interim, the company’s Texas facilities will receive electricity and Green-e®-certified RECs from other renewable energy projects contracted by NRG.
For more details, please read the Texas press release.
Through partnerships with NativeEnergy and Birdseye Renewable Energy, Bank of America will expand its renewable energy commitment in South Carolina by signing three 10-year agreements for four new solar projects. Through the company’s financial support by purchasing project-related RECs, the Yemassee, Denmark, Blackville and Dillon communities gain additional clean energy on the grid.
NativeEnergy represents three of the projects. These projects are expected to be completed by year-end.
Each project has a unique feature ‒ pollinator habitats with vegetation and plantings to support local biodiversity and agriculture.
Birdseye Renewable Energy is the developer of the Dillon project, which includes 75 acres and over 30,000 solar panels with 10 MWAC of renewable energy. The REC agreement is for 10 years and the project will be completed in mid-to-late 2021.
The project also includes a strong biodiversity commitment. In addition to the installation of pollinator habitat, the location will have permeable fencing for small mammal access to an array area as a habitat and forage resource. There will be a low-growing clover mix in the solar array beneath the panels, and taller plant species in designated areas outside the array to support local pollinator populations. All of these efforts will help maintain a sustainable ecosystem and environment in this community.
In 2019, Bank of America announced the installation of solar panels on more than 60 locations in the U.S., including offices, financial centers and ATMs. Seven installations are in North Carolina and nine locations are in Texas.
Bank of America achieved carbon neutrality a year ahead of schedule and has also implemented other energy-efficient and renewable energy efforts. In 2019, the company’s total sourcing of renewable electricity was more than two-million megawatt hours for its global operations, amounting to 100% of its global energy use – the equivalent of powering 239,000 homes for one year. In 2019, Bank of America was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the EPA Green Power Leadership Award for Excellence in Green Power Purchasing. The company was also named to the CDP Climate Change A-List.
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.
Kelly Sapp, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.214.3070
kelly.e.sapp@bofa.com
June 29, 2020 at 1:00 PM Eastern
Bank of America Plays a Catalytic Role in Supporting New Solar Projects in Local Communities by Expanding Its Renewable Energy CommitmentPartnerships Provide New Solar Generation to Power Bank of America Operations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas
Bank of America announced today it is partnering with Duke Energy, NRG Energy, 3Degrees, NativeEnergy and Birdseye Renewable Energy to expand its renewable energy commitment through 10 agreements to purchase solar electricity for its operations in three states, including North Carolina, home to the company’s headquarters. These offsite solar projects are located in low-to-moderate-income communities, and all of the projects help support jobs, clean energy access and more sustainable communities.
“These unique projects and partnerships build on our achievement of carbon neutrality and expand our renewable energy commitment. By driving more clean energy solutions in our facilities, we are developing a broader sustainable energy ecosystem to help transform our operations and the communities where our employees work and live,” said Andrew Plepler, global head of Environmental, Social and Governance at Bank of America. “These partnerships bring to the forefront creative thinking and innovative solutions to address a changing climate and clean energy access.”
The agreements total 200 megawatts (MWAC) of new solar electricity capacity and will supply over 340,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of Green-e®-certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) annually, which meets 100% of Bank of America’s annual electricity use in the Carolinas and the majority in Texas. Representing nearly 21% of the bank’s U.S. electricity use, the solar projects will cover hundreds of acres and include hundreds of thousands of solar panels.
Additionally, many of the projects have a unique feature of pollinator habitats with vegetation and plantings to support local biodiversity and agriculture. Other benefits of these pollinator habitats include:
These renewable energy generation deals will benefit the company’s operations and expand Bank of America’s commitment to reduce its operational impacts on the environment, including being carbon neutral and utilizing 100% percent renewable electricity across its global operations.
In partnership with Duke Energy, Bank of America is expanding its renewable energy commitment by powering its headquarters and other Charlotte, North Carolina operations with solar energy. Through a renewable energy-sleeved power purchase agreement (PPA), the company is participating in Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage (GSA) program. The bank is the first company and financial institution to sign a 10-year agreement for electricity and Green-e®-certified renewable energy certificates (RECs) through this program. The purchase of a 25-megawatt (MWAC)solar project’s electricity output and RECs will cover 45% of Bank of America’s electricity load in the state.
This innovative project will be constructed in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The project will include the installation of a pollinator habitat surrounding 70,000 solar panels, covering approximately 180 acres; and is expected to be online in 2022.
Silver Pine Energy, a joint venture between Silver Creek Energy and North Carolina developer Pine Gate Renewables, will oversee the development of the project and support the engineering, procurement and construction services.
Bank of America partnered with 3Degrees to purchase RECs for 10 years to help make possible the development of four additional solar projects in the eastern part of the state. Pine Gate Renewables is developing the projects. The counties of Harnett, Columbus, Nash and Johnston will benefit from these projects, with solar energy added to the grid and pollinator habitats that will increase biodiversity in these communities. The total annual MWh output from the 3Degrees projects are expected to produce 33,000 MWh/year.
For more details, please read the North Carolina press release.
In partnership with Reliant, an NRG Energy company, Bank of America has announced a 10-year structured renewable energy agreement for solar power in Texas. The project will provide electricity through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region to 345 facilities, which include office sites, financial centers and ATMs. Bank of America will receive both electricity and Green-e®-certified RECs.
The agreement will supply 160,000 MWh of electricity to Bank of America’s Texas operations annually. The project will be located in west central Texas and is expected to be operational in mid-2022. In the interim, the company’s Texas facilities will receive electricity and Green-e®-certified RECs from other renewable energy projects contracted by NRG.
For more details, please read the Texas press release.
Through partnerships with NativeEnergy and Birdseye Renewable Energy, Bank of America will expand its renewable energy commitment in South Carolina by signing three 10-year agreements for four new solar projects. Through the company’s financial support by purchasing project-related RECs, the Yemassee, Denmark, Blackville and Dillon communities gain additional clean energy on the grid.
NativeEnergy represents three of the projects. These projects are expected to be completed by year-end.
Each project has a unique feature ‒ pollinator habitats with vegetation and plantings to support local biodiversity and agriculture.
Birdseye Renewable Energy is the developer of the Dillon project, which includes 75 acres and over 30,000 solar panels with 10 MWAC of renewable energy. The REC agreement is for 10 years and the project will be completed in mid-to-late 2021.
The project also includes a strong biodiversity commitment. In addition to the installation of pollinator habitat, the location will have permeable fencing for small mammal access to an array area as a habitat and forage resource. There will be a low-growing clover mix in the solar array beneath the panels, and taller plant species in designated areas outside the array to support local pollinator populations. All of these efforts will help maintain a sustainable ecosystem and environment in this community.
In 2019, Bank of America announced the installation of solar panels on more than 60 locations in the U.S., including offices, financial centers and ATMs. Seven installations are in North Carolina and nine locations are in Texas.
Bank of America achieved carbon neutrality a year ahead of schedule and has also implemented other energy-efficient and renewable energy efforts. In 2019, the company’s total sourcing of renewable electricity was more than two-million megawatt hours for its global operations, amounting to 100% of its global energy use – the equivalent of powering 239,000 homes for one year. In 2019, Bank of America was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the EPA Green Power Leadership Award for Excellence in Green Power Purchasing. The company was also named to the CDP Climate Change A-List.
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.
Kelly Sapp, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.214.3070
kelly.e.sapp@bofa.com
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