Andrew Sorrell and David Sessions rank highest scorecards for Club for Growth Foundation

On Wednesday, Club for Growth Foundation released its annual legislative economic scorecard, which tallied up the 2021 legislative year based on criteria for “economic growth issues,” 1819 News reported. According to a release, Club for Growth Foundation based their scoring on each lawmaker’s record on votes related to “pro-growth policies and computed an Economic Growth Score on a scale of 0 to 100.” “A score of 100 indicates the highest support for pro-growth policies. The Foundation’s study examined over 2,500 floor votes and, in the end, included 21 Alabama House votes and 20 Alabama Senate votes.” According to the scorecards, Republican Senator David Sessions had the highest rating with a 35%. The lowest-rated Republican was Larry Stutts, with a score of 16%. The highest-rated Democrat Senator was William Beasley with 30%, and the lowest-rated Democrat was Kirk Hatcher with a score of 0%. For the House, Republican Andrew Sorrell was the highest rated Represenative, with a score of 95%. The lowest rated Republican was Dickie Drake with a 14%. The highest rated Democrat was Dexter Grimsley with a score of 20% and several Democrats rated lower than 6%. Other key takeaways include: Alabama Senate Average Republican Score: 27% (Up from 21% in 2020) Average Democrat Score: 11% (Up from 6% in 2020) Alabama House Average Republican Score: 28% (Up from 15% in 2020) Average Democrat Score: 12% (Up from 0% in 2020) “Through the release of this scorecard series, the Club for Growth Foundation is looking at how state legislatures perform in terms of pro-growth policies,” Club for Growth Foundation president David McIntosh said in a release. “We believe that this scorecard will help inform citizens and entrepreneurs about who supports the policies that promote economic prosperity.” According to their website, their mission is “to inform the general public about the many benefits of economic freedom and limited government.” Some of the Club for Growth’s top policy goals include: Reducing income tax rates and repealing the death tax Replacing the current tax code with a fair/flat tax The full repeal of ObamaCare and the end of abusive lawsuits through medical malpractice/tort reform Reducing the size and scope of the federal government Cutting government spending and passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution Regulatory reform and deregulation School choice

ADPH warns Alabamians to get their flu shot by Halloween

There were freeze warnings across the state on Wednesday and Thursday as nighttime temperatures plunged to below-freezing or near-freezing temperatures. Colder weather means wearing coats and jackets. It usually heralds the return of influenza. According to the latest data reported to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), influenza-like illnesses are increasing in most parts of the state. As of Thursday, six public health districts are seeing influenza-like illness activity at or above baseline levels, and 15 influenza or influenza-like outbreaks were reported during the past week. Significant influenza activity is based on reported influenza-like illness data or reported influenza outbreaks for the week and positive influenza specimens from the previous three weeks. According to the latest Alabama influenza surveillance map, influenza-like illness statewide is at 4.09 percent, which represents an increase compared to last week. This percentage is above Alabama’s 2022-2023 season baseline level of 3.27 percent. ADPH recommends everyone 6 months of age or older, with rare exceptions, get the flu vaccine before the end of October in order to have peak resistance against the flu. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection, so getting the vaccine sooner rather than later would be beneficial for maximum immunity. Flu vaccinations are especially important for adults ages 65 and older, children under the age of 5, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters can also be gotten on the same visit as a flu shot. Some vaccine recommendations are as follows: People 65 years and older account for the majority of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths. These are also the people who have the worst outcomes due to COVID. Changes in the immune system with age mean that older adults often do not have a strong immune response to vaccination as younger, healthy people. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending three flu vaccines that are preferred for people ages 65 and older. These are Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent Recombinant flu vaccine, and Fluad Quadrivalent Adjuvanted flu vaccine. However, the standard-dose flu vaccine is still acceptable if the new shots are unavailable for older adults. Annual influenza vaccination is especially important for people, including healthcare workers and those who live with or care for persons at higher risk to protect these vulnerable populations. Children younger than six months can develop serious flu illness; but are too young to be vaccinated, so people who care for or are frequently around infants need to be vaccinated to help protect themselves and the child. Pregnant women are more susceptible to influenza severe enough to cause hospitalization and can be vaccinated during any trimester of pregnancy. Prenatal vaccination can help protect an infant after birth because antibodies are passed to a developing baby during pregnancy. In addition to ADPH, the Alabama Hospital Association, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama are encouraging Alabamians to get a flu shot with the ongoing No Time for Flu campaign. Please contact your healthcare provider, pharmacy, or county health department for flu clinic schedules. Flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinic availability can be found by entering your zip code at https://vaccines.gov/. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.

Biden administration awards grant to Anovion to build an electric vehicles battery plant

Anovion Battery Materials announced in a news release that it had been selected to receive a $117 million grant under Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Law. This is the first set of projects funded by the controversial law to expand domestic manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and the electrical grid and for materials and components currently imported from other countries. This new plant is reported to be sited in Colbert County and will supplement the company’s existing facility in Niagara Falls, New York. “We are thrilled to have been recognized as a nominee for the Infrastructure Grant opportunity. This grant consideration will enable Anovion to expedite its ongoing investments in expansion to advance the company’s mission of growing a resilient, secure, and sustainable North American lithium-ion battery supply chain,” said Anovion Chief Executive Officer Eric Stopka. “This nomination affirms Anovion’s commitment to creating a meaningful, positive impact on the environment, communities where we currently and plan to operate, people we employ, and the broader clean-energy economy. Anovion’s existing qualified commercial products, process technologies, focus on R&D, and experienced team uniquely position this project for success.” Styopka said that the company looked at 47 sites; but chose Colbert County because of the work in support of the project by the Shoals Economic Development Authority, the Alabama Department of Commerce, and Alabama’s congressional delegation, including Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04). The company has already begun land acquisition. Anovion will use the grant to build a new, large-scale manufacturing facility producing 35,000 tons per year of synthetic graphite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EV), energy storage systems, personal e-mobility, medical devices, military, and aerospace, as well as other industrial applications. This U.S.-owned and operated, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant will be the first of its scale in North America, creating hundreds of high-quality clean energy jobs in communities previously impacted by offshoring over the years. Anovion’s existing Niagara Falls plant is the only qualified U.S. source of battery-grade synthetic graphite anode material commercially shipping products today. The company said that the country’s ability to produce synthetic graphite battery anode materials is essential to competitiveness across many industries as batteries are critical to the ongoing transition to the new energy economy, enabling decarbonization, lower energy costs, and resilient power grids. The automotive industry has rapidly increased its investments and commitment to electric powertrains, causing domestic demand for synthetic graphite battery anode materials to skyrocket. Establishing a domestic lithium-ion battery supply chain directly impacts several strategic imperatives, including national security interests, a robust economic growth, and environmental stewardship. “Our sincere thanks to customers, partners, community, stakeholders, suppliers, and employees that came together to make this exciting moment in Anovion’s history a possibility, and we look forward to sharing continued progress as we work to grow a resilient, secure, and sustainable North American battery supply chain,” said Stopka. “This grant represents an enormous vote of confidence in the critical work our team is dedicated to advancing every day.” The Monomyth Group, a diversified holding company that provides long-term, partner capital to help companies reach potential, is a majority investor in Anovion. Amsted Industries, an employee-owned diversified global manufacturer of industrial components for the rail, automotive, commercial vehicle, and construction markets, is the minority investor. A summit was held last week in Birmingham on electric vehicle technology. Governor Kay Ivey headlined the EV summit, and other elected officials attended the event. Representatives from the major automotive manufacturers and suppliers and Alabama were also there. “Over the course of the last thirty years or so, Alabama has gone from not being on the map in the automotive sector to being an industry giant,” Gov. Ivey stated. “Today, we are one of America’s top five producers and exporters of cars and light trucks. Like our college football, we’re proud of the standard of excellence we set with our automotive industry, but it’s no secret that this is an industry changing by the day. In the last several years, we’ve seen an entirely new market emerge for many automotive manufacturers, and it’s clear that EVs are on the rise and will continue to gain popularity among drivers.” Anovion Battery Materials is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Anovion brings more than 140 years of experience in the production of synthetic graphite materials. Now a leader in synthetic graphite lithium-ion battery anode materials innovation and manufacturing, Anovion’s products were the first made in North America to qualify for EV applications. Commercial production commenced in early 2021, and Anovion continues to operate the largest manufacturing capacity available today. Product qualification testing continues with leading automotive electric vehicle OEMs, battery cell suppliers, and many others. The company presently operates in Chicago, Niagara Falls, Clarksburg – West Virginia, and Charlotte – North Carolina. Anovion plans to expand its capacity by up to 150,000 tons per annum of the finished product by 2030. President Biden has ordered the American auto industry to produce only EVs by 2030. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.

Robert Aderholt and Republican leadership urge Joe Biden to invest in American energy

Robert Aderholt opinion

Congressman Robert Aderholt joined House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), HEAT Co-Chairs Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-South Carolina) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), and 126 other members in a letter led by Whip Scalise to President Joe Biden urging the President to reverse what the GOP calls “his anti-American energy policies. “President Biden has no plans, or desire, to lower energy costs for the long term,” Rep. Aderholt warned on social media after Biden made his pre-election final release of America’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves. “Instead, he releases oil from our emergency supply to try and bring them down ahead of the election. Basically, a gimmick. We need more American energy and a real energy plan. Not an election gimmick.” Congressman Mike Rogers agreed with Aderholt’s assessment of the release four weeks before the election. “Biden is depleting our Strategic Petroleum Reserve (which is reserved for emergency situations) for political gain,” Rogers wrote on Facebook. The GOP members of Congress urged Biden to issue a five-year offshore oil and natural gas leasing plan after Interior Secretary Deb Haaland let the previous five-year plan expire. “We write to express our deep concern with your ongoing war on American energy. Unfortunately, since taking office, you have fulfilled your campaign promises to shut down American oil and gas production,” Scalise et. al. wrote. “As a result, America is no longer energy independent, and our nation is less secure. In order to reduce the dramatically higher energy costs your actions have placed on hard-working families, we strongly request you reverse course and work with us to unleash American energy. Specifically, we ask you to take immediate action by issuing a five-year leasing plan that includes regular annual lease sales in America’s offshore areas.” “Undermining oil and gas production has severe consequences,” the GOP Congressmembers wrote. “For example, Europe is in a full-blown energy crisis, and we are seeing the same issues manifest in California with their governor telling people to turn thermostats above 78 degrees, avoid using appliances, and limit charging electric vehicles when they get home from work, all while he mandated a ban on fossil-fuel cars. Europe and California should both serve as a cautionary tale against the devastating anti-fossil fuel policies your administration is currently pursuing. To be clear, already sky-high energy prices will likely worsen unless you immediately reverse course and drastically increase exploration, leasing, and production of oil and natural gas here at home. And keep in mind your extremist policies are hurting low and middle-income families the hardest.” The letter urges President Biden to immediately announce a new offshore leasing plan and unleash American energy production. The GOP lawmakers claim that driving more investment into United States’ energy sector would lower gas and electricity prices for struggling families and guarantee a steady flow of American energy into the future. “We’ve seen the future of Biden and [Nancy] Pelosi’s reckless Green New Deal policies play out in Europe with mushrooming energy costs, and allowing the same devastating fate for American families would be unconscionable,” Scalise said in a statement. “Instead of begging OPEC and Russia to increase oil production, I have called on President Biden to look to places like offshore Louisiana and Port Fourchon in my district so we can unleash American energy, create good jobs, and lower costs for hard-working families.” Democrats and some environmentalists claim that increased exploration and production of American fossil fuels could have deleterious effects on the world’s climate. The letter was also signed by Republican Policy Committee Chairman Gary Palmer and Alabama Reps. Jerry Carl and Barry Moore. Aderholt has represented Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District since 1996. He faces Democratic nominee Rick Neighbors and Libertarian Johnny Cochran in the November 8 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.

Huntsville Utilities to purchase solar power from Toyota Tsusho

solar panels

Huntsville Utilities recently announced a new green initiative that is a first for the company. AL.com reported that the company will purchase electricity from a Toyota Tsusho, the first time the company will purchase power from a company other than Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). According to CEO Wes Kelley, it will save money too. Huntsville Utilities is the 16th largest municipal gas provider in the U.S. and the 18th largest municipal electric provider in the U.S.  Huntsville city council unanimously approved an agreement for Huntsville Utilities to purchase power from Toyota Tsusho, which is building a solar power facility near Toyota Motor Manufacturing in north Huntsville. “This is the first green initiative of renewable power that Huntsville Utilities has been directly party to,” Kelley told the council. In 2020, the city council approved a power supply flexibility agreement with TVA. That agreement allowed Huntsville Utilities to purchase up to 5% of its electricity from a source other than TVA. TVA began offering local power companies a long-term partnership option that includes the flexibility for them to meet a portion of their power needs through their own generating sources. At the time, TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash explained that the TVA supported green initiatives. “Over the past few months, we collaborated with our new Valley Partners to develop a set of principles to help them serve some of their own customers’ requests for cleaner energy,” stated Lyash. “Among the principles we’ve jointly developed, up to 5% of a partner’s average energy needs can be met by new distributed energy solutions built in their own service territory, ultimately helping TVA’s carbon reduction efforts in the future.” In September, the Huntsville City Council approved a resolution by Huntsville Utilities and TVA to finish capital projects totaling more than 100 million dollars, WHNT.com reported. With recent frustration over high energy prices, neither company promised the projects would alleviate the problem. The solar project with Toyota is small. Kelley said the solar development will generate up to 30 megawatts of electricity which could power about 4,000 homes. The power purchase agreement would cover about 40% of the 5% flexibility that Huntsville Utilities has to purchase power from a non-TVA source, Kelley said. Huntsville Utilities will also build a $2.6 million substation to connect with the solar development. That project is supposed to be completed in February 2024. The agreement approved by the council authorizes Huntsville Utilities to purchase power from the Toyota solar development at $43.85 per megawatt hour with a 1.5% escalator annually for 30 years. “It is at a price lower than what we are paying TVA,” Kelley said. “Of course, solar doesn’t generate 24 hours a day, though, so it’s a bit of an apples and oranges comparison. But certainly, it is not only a green initiative, it’s a great partnership with Toyota. And it is cost-effective for our ratepayers.” Kelly’s letter to the council stated, “If TVA were to raise its base rate an average of half a percent a year and increase the fuel cost adjustment by half a percent, the project would provide nearly $500,000 in savings for HU each year. If TVA rates only increase by one-tenth of a percentage point each year over 30 years, then the project would provide less than $200,000 in savings each year. Many variables would change this calculation, but the significant ones are the solar panels’ energy output and TVA’s future rates. The more energy produced, the less power HU purchases from TVA. The higher TVA’s rates rise, the better value this agreement provides.” “Aside from the financial savings, this project would be the largest “flexibility” project in the Tennessee Valley,” the letter continued. “It demonstrates Huntsville’s interest in renewable energy and creating green power options for HU customers.” The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors, serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity.

Richard Shelby announces $1.17M ARC POWER Grant for Wallace State Community College

Senator Richard Shelby

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby applauded the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announcement that Wallace State Community College–Hanceville (WSCC) was awarded $1,169,958 for the Supporting Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Maintenance in North Alabama project.  “The Appalachian Regional Commission has been an integral partner in promoting workforce development in Alabama, and today’s announcement reaffirms ARC’s commitment to helping our state prosper,” Shelby said in a press release. “I look forward to the many benefits expected to stem from this investment. A well-trained workforce is key to fueling Alabama’s economy.” The grant will be awarded through ARC’s Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) initiative. It will provide funding for on-the-job training and the procurement of necessary certifications for students and workers, creating a talent pipeline for careers in the electric vehicle (EV) field. Based on a previous ARC POWER-funded study of automotive manufacturing in North-Central Alabama, this roughly $1.17 million grant will allow WSCC to update its Mechatronics Program and create new EV programs in its Automotive Services and Diesel Technician programs to include the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by the industry.  WSCC will partner with the American Trucking Association, Freightliner, Kenworth, and Mercedes-Benz to bring its mechatronics, automotive services, and diesel technician programs into alignment with EV needs. By the third year of programming, WSCC will serve 230 students and prepare workers for new employment opportunities in an area that has experienced a loss of jobs in the coal sector. ARC’s POWER grant program is a congressionally-funded initiative that targets federal resources to help communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production. This award is part of a $46.4 million package supporting 57 projects across 184 coal-impacted counties through ARC’s POWER Initiative. POWER targets federal resources to communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries. “The downturn of the coal industry has impacted economies across Appalachia. That’s why ARC’s POWER initiative helps to leverage regional partnerships and collaborations to support efforts to create a more vibrant economic future for coal-impacted communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Many of the projects we announced today will invest in educating and training the Appalachian workforce, nurturing entrepreneurship, and supporting infrastructure—including broadband access. These investments in our Appalachian coal-impacted communities are critical in leveling the economic playing field so our communities can thrive.” The ARC is an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. Shelby has served the people of Alabama in the U.S. Senate for 36 years. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.

Alabama judge Tracie Todd convicted on judicial ethics charge, suspended

judicial

A judicial panel convicted an Alabama judge of violating ethics rules by failing to return to work and serve without pay following her conviction in an earlier ethics case, court documents show. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tracie Todd was given a 120-day suspension without pay in an order filed Monday following a trial that lasted five days over three months before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary. Todd was convicted last year of violating orders of an appellate court and, as punishment, ordered to work for 90 days without pay beginning last December 6, news outlets reported. Rather than reporting for duty at the courthouse in Birmingham, Todd remained for most of the period in Chicago, where her husband and children live, evidence showed. Todd, who testified in her own defense, claimed she worked remotely while in Chicago and couldn’t return to Alabama because of illness and COVID-19 quarantines that restricted her from travel. The court could have permanently removed Todd, and one of her lawyers, Edward J. Ungvarsky, said the decision to only suspend her for four months represented a vindication. “Judges, lawyers, and court personnel consistently testified that Judge Todd displays the greatest of integrity, honesty, and compassion,” Ungvarsky said. The Court of the Judiciary convicted Todd in December 2021 of violating judicial ethics by disregarding decisions by higher courts and inserting her own opinions into rulings, including one that declared Alabama’s death penalty statute was unconstitutional. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and the Alabama Supreme Court overturned the decision. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.

How one small town is teaching English to kids of immigrants

As part of an exercise to help the class learn English, a third grader pulled a block from a Jenga tower and read aloud a question written on one side. “Where,” the boy read, then slowly sounded out the other words: “Where would you like to visit?” “Disneyland,” one student said. “Space,” another classmate chimed in. “Guatemala,” said a girl with a bright blue bow. Kathy Alfaro, a new English language teacher at Russellville Elementary, exchanged a few words with the girl in Spanish and then turned to the other students. “Do y’all know what she said?” Alfaro asked the class. “She said she has a lot of family in Guatemala because she was born there. And I told her that I was born here, but I also have a lot of family in Guatemala.” This northern Alabama community with large numbers of Hispanic immigrants is using federal COVID-19 relief money for an experiment to serve students who are still learning English. They are hiring and certifying more local, Spanish-speaking staff, like Alfaro. She was previously a Spanish teacher but took a new role teaching children the English language. More than half of 2,500 students in the small Russellville city school district identify as Hispanic or Latino, and about a quarter are still learning English — known as EL students. But the district, at times, has struggled to find the people and money necessary to help EL students achieve. It typically takes five years of intensive, small-group instruction, on top of regular classes, to help a student learn English and perform well in a regular classroom. In addition to helping more local students succeed, Russellville aims to be a model for the rest of the country. “We were trying to teach an increasing number of EL students with predominantly white teachers that speak English,” said Superintendent Heath Grimes. “And I’m like, ‘Why are we not using resources that we have in our community?’” As a group, English learners performed lower on language proficiency tests during the pandemic. Experts say that may be because many students lacked good access to online classes at home, or because schools struggled to transfer in-person EL help to remote environments. Russellville appears to be bucking that trend. Districtwide, the percentage of students who met their language proficiency goals increased from 46% in 2019 to 61% in 2022. At the two elementary schools, proficiency jumped by nearly 30 percentage points. “We’ve never seen a number like that before,” said Grimes, who credits new EL teachers and aides for the boost. Some of the nation’s largest districts, according to the Education Trust, used pandemic relief money to hire bilingual staff. As federal aid money begins to run out and schools prepare for post-pandemic budget cuts, experts and advocates warn against reducing support for EL programs and other interventions. “Our overreliance on federal funds and temporary funds potentially demonstrates that we’re not doing enough as a state already,” said Carlos Alemán, director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. “As we see those dollars wind down, then the state should really reflect and review what it can do to make sure that these programs can remain in place.” Russellville school officials are working on ways to sustain the new roles — and holding out hope the state will boost long-term funding for EL education. State funding for English language programs is limited, but growing. The state legislature approved $2.9 million for schools with large EL populations in 2018, and that amount grew to $16 million last year. Leaders at the Alabama State Department of Education are asking for more room in this year’s budget for EL specialists and regional coordinators. “We want to make sure that if students come to this country, if they’re not able to read, that they learn to read quickly and in English,” state Superintendent Eric Mackey said. “We’re going to continue to invest in that because it’s our belief that every child deserves a high-quality education.” Advocates say money for EL students often falls short, especially in rural districts that struggle to fund schools. “It takes a lot more money to educate a child that does not speak your language,” said state Rep. Jamie Kiel, a Russellville Republican, who has called for putting more money toward EL students in the state budget. Alfaro is one of three EL staffers at her school. They join about 20 other EL educators, aides, and translators in the district — nearly half of whom are paid with COVID-19 relief money. At West Elementary across the street, Elizabeth Alonzo, who is in her second year as an EL aide, said she never expect to have such a role -– mostly because there were few bilingual teachers in her school growing up, but also because she didn’t think she had the qualifications. Alonzo is finishing coursework through a teacher training program called Reach University, which is contracting with an increasing number of Alabama districts to help certify more local staff. “Whenever I started kindergarten, I didn’t know a word of English, so I struggled a lot,” she said, noting that an older cousin would often have to come to her class to translate what her teacher was saying. “That was one of the reasons why I wanted to do this, because I want to help those students.” Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.

Alabama Power accepting requests for renewable energy proposals through Oct. 26

Alabama Power is seeking proposals through Wednesday, October 26, for potential renewable energy projects. “We are eager to test the market to see if there are renewable projects that may make economic sense for our customers,” said John Kelley, Alabama Power’s director of Forecasting and Resource Planning. “We have always supported a diverse portfolio of energy resources as we strive to meet our customers’ desire for clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy.” On September 9, the company issued a request for proposals (RFP) for renewable energy resources. Under the renewables RFP, the company will consider a variety of proposals, including solar, wind, and geothermal projects, energy from tidal or ocean currents, and low-impact hydro and biomass. Projects involving gas derived from sewage treatment processes, solid municipal waste or landfills, and heat and power projects may be submitted. The submitted projects must be at least 5 megawatts but no larger than 80 megawatts. Turnkey projects and purchased power agreements can also be submitted with terms of 10- or 25 years. Alabama Power would receive all the environmental attributes from the projects. The RFP will also explore and evaluate the potential of renewable energy storage technologies. All projects submitted must be in Alabama and connect directly to the company’s electric system. The proposals also must meet the criteria of the Green-e energy National Standard for Renewable Electricity Products, Gold Standard, the Climate Registry, or similar certifications approved by Alabama Power. Bids for the renewables RFP must be received by midnight on October 26, 2022. Recent projects from past renewable RFPs include the recently approved announced HEP Greenville and Walker Springs solar projects. It will take several months to analyze the projects to determine if any would be beneficial to Alabama Power customers. The company will look to pair potential projects with interested industrial and large commercial clients. Any project must be approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission. For more information about the renewables RFP, click here or go to www.alabamapower.com. Republished with the permission of The Alabama NewsCenter.