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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Confirmed U.S. cases of COVID-19 are surging to their highest levels in months, and no industry has avoided their fallout. That includes the U.S. renewable energy sector, which hit a record 11% of total U.S. energy consumption in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Two of the fastest-growing sources, wind and solar, have seen a long list of projects face setbacks following the outbreak. Industrial Info is tracking more than $10 billion worth of active wind and solar power-generation projects across the U.S. that have faced delays or other hurdles due to the pandemic.
Click on the image at right for a graph detailing U.S. wind and solar projects that have been affected by COVID-19 precautions, by state.
Although solar energy accounted for only about 9% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2019, it enjoyed the largest percentage growth among renewable sources for that year, according to the EIA. Appropriately, one of the fastest-growing markets for solar power is the Sunshine State: Florida is home to more than $3 billion in active solar-energy projects, with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida), accounting for more than half of the investment value.
Two of FPL's projects are set to begin construction in the coming weeks, after their kickoff dates were pushed back from June: the estimated $60 million Nassau County Solar Facility in Hilliard and $60 million Orange Blossom Solar Facility in Fellsmere, each of which is expected to generate 74.5 megawatts (MW) from more than 220,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels. An estimated $60 million solar farm in Palm Bay, which has the same capacity, also was pushed back from June and is expected to kick off next spring. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Nassau County, Orange Blossom and Palm Bay projects; for details on NextEra's near-term plans, see October 22, 2020, article - With Strong Earnings, NextEra Energy Further Increases Renewables Backlog.
North Carolina is home to two solar-power projects with differing outlooks. Sun Energy 1 LLC's (Mooresville, North Carolina) $160 million Albemarle Beach Solar Plant in Roper began construction in August, after its kickoff had been scheduled for May, and is set to be completed toward the end of first-quarter 2021. But Ecoplexus Incorporated's (San Francisco, California) $100 million Fresh Air Energy II facility in Grifton remains in its conceptual stage, with kickoff unlikely until the end of next summer--assuming it is approved. The solar farms are expected to generate 80 and 56 MW, respectively, from PV panels. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Albemarle Beach and Fresh Air Energy II projects.
Wind surpassed hydroelectricity to become the most-consumed source of renewable energy on an annual basis in 2019, according to the EIA, accounting for about 24% of all renewable energy consumed that year. But these gains have not made the energy source immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; Caithness Energy (New York, New York) has delayed a $140 million repowering of its Shepherds Flat Windfarm in Arlington, Oregon, until next summer, after the 280-MW project had been slated to begin in November this year, while the Apache Nation has pushed back the kickoff of its 50-MW $60 million Jicarilla Solar I plant in Dulce, New Mexico, about one year to May 2022. Both projects remain in their permitting phases. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Shepherds Flat and Jicarilla projects.
One of the fastest-growing markets for wind energy is Texas, which boasted 28.1 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind capacity in 2019--the highest for any U.S. state, according to the EIA. In fact, Texas would have the fifth-highest wind-energy capacity in the world if it were its own country.
Two major wind-energy projects in the Lone Star State are set to wrap up before the end of 2020, following substantial delays in their project schedules: Castleton Commodities International LLC's (Stamford, Connecticut) 149.6-MW, $260 million Sherbino Windfarm Repower Project in Fort Stockton and Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) 182-MW, $315 million Maryneal Windfarm in Blackwell. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Sherbino and Maryneal projects.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.
Click on the image at right for a graph detailing U.S. wind and solar projects that have been affected by COVID-19 precautions, by state.Although solar energy accounted for only about 9% of U.S. renewable energy consumption in 2019, it enjoyed the largest percentage growth among renewable sources for that year, according to the EIA. Appropriately, one of the fastest-growing markets for solar power is the Sunshine State: Florida is home to more than $3 billion in active solar-energy projects, with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Incorporated (NYSE:NEE) (Juno Beach, Florida), accounting for more than half of the investment value.
Two of FPL's projects are set to begin construction in the coming weeks, after their kickoff dates were pushed back from June: the estimated $60 million Nassau County Solar Facility in Hilliard and $60 million Orange Blossom Solar Facility in Fellsmere, each of which is expected to generate 74.5 megawatts (MW) from more than 220,000 photovoltaic (PV) panels. An estimated $60 million solar farm in Palm Bay, which has the same capacity, also was pushed back from June and is expected to kick off next spring. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Nassau County, Orange Blossom and Palm Bay projects; for details on NextEra's near-term plans, see October 22, 2020, article - With Strong Earnings, NextEra Energy Further Increases Renewables Backlog.
North Carolina is home to two solar-power projects with differing outlooks. Sun Energy 1 LLC's (Mooresville, North Carolina) $160 million Albemarle Beach Solar Plant in Roper began construction in August, after its kickoff had been scheduled for May, and is set to be completed toward the end of first-quarter 2021. But Ecoplexus Incorporated's (San Francisco, California) $100 million Fresh Air Energy II facility in Grifton remains in its conceptual stage, with kickoff unlikely until the end of next summer--assuming it is approved. The solar farms are expected to generate 80 and 56 MW, respectively, from PV panels. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Albemarle Beach and Fresh Air Energy II projects.
Wind surpassed hydroelectricity to become the most-consumed source of renewable energy on an annual basis in 2019, according to the EIA, accounting for about 24% of all renewable energy consumed that year. But these gains have not made the energy source immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; Caithness Energy (New York, New York) has delayed a $140 million repowering of its Shepherds Flat Windfarm in Arlington, Oregon, until next summer, after the 280-MW project had been slated to begin in November this year, while the Apache Nation has pushed back the kickoff of its 50-MW $60 million Jicarilla Solar I plant in Dulce, New Mexico, about one year to May 2022. Both projects remain in their permitting phases. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Shepherds Flat and Jicarilla projects.
One of the fastest-growing markets for wind energy is Texas, which boasted 28.1 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind capacity in 2019--the highest for any U.S. state, according to the EIA. In fact, Texas would have the fifth-highest wind-energy capacity in the world if it were its own country.
Two major wind-energy projects in the Lone Star State are set to wrap up before the end of 2020, following substantial delays in their project schedules: Castleton Commodities International LLC's (Stamford, Connecticut) 149.6-MW, $260 million Sherbino Windfarm Repower Project in Fort Stockton and Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) 182-MW, $315 million Maryneal Windfarm in Blackwell. For more information, see Industrial Info's reports on the Sherbino and Maryneal projects.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com/.
