News Type: Press Release

Collaboration brings LevelTen’s global renewable energy project supply and transaction infrastructure to support 3Degrees’ leading consulting services

Oct. 29, 2020 – Global renewable energy and climate consulting leader 3Degrees today announced a new partnership with LevelTen Energy, enabling the firm to leverage the LevelTen Marketplace to search, compare, and source new renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPAs) for its clients.

The new partnership provides 3Degrees direct access to LevelTen’s searchable PPA marketplace—the largest PPA collection in the world—with more than 3,800 Transaction-Ready Pricing™ offers spanning 21 countries in North America and Europe. It also provides access to quality-controlled market data, automated risk analytics, RFP automation software, performance monitoring, and other powerful efficiency tools. With access to this key renewable transaction infrastructure provided by LevelTen, 3Degrees can further scale its world-class consulting practice, providing global customers with even more choice and value in renewable energy procurement.

“3Degrees’ proven expertise helps organizations around the world implement renewable energy, supply chain and transportation decarbonization, and other climate strategies,” said Rebecca Sternberg, Vice President, Energy and Climate Practice at 3Degrees. “With LevelTen’s unmatched collection of renewable PPA offers and transaction tools, we can now connect these clients to a wider range of high value, low-risk renewable energy opportunities, and do it faster than ever before.” 

The partnership is also indicative of another, broader trend, as the renewable market begins to mature. “Corporate clean energy demand is surging at such a rate that developers and brokers can no longer serve the market in a piecemeal way,” said Kyle Harrison, Senior Associate at BloombergNEF. “Buyer preferences are also changing as the pool of interested customers grows. It makes sense that advisory specialists, like 3Degrees, and infrastructure specialists, like LevelTen, come together to offer a more dynamic product and help scale up the market.”

The collaboration allows both partners to leverage their unique strengths and to achieve their shared objective: supporting a sustainable, carbon-free energy system.

“LevelTen and 3Degrees share the same vision: accelerating the clean energy transition,” said Ryan Warren, Vice President of Marketing at LevelTen Energy. “By bringing together 3Degrees’ customer and execution expertise, and LevelTen’s global energy project supply and renewable transaction infrastructure, we’re both better positioned than ever before to make this future a reality.”

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About LevelTen Energy

LevelTen Energy is the leading provider of transaction infrastructure for the renewable energy economy. Our platform delivers buyers, sellers, advisors, and financiers the automation software, data management, and standardized contracts needed to facilitate faster, safer renewable energy transactions. LevelTen’s marketplace of renewable energy power purchase agreements is the world’s largest, with more than 4,000 Transaction-Ready Pricing™ offers spanning 21 countries in North America and Europe. LevelTen’s CFO-Ready Analytics™ automatically calculate more than a billion data points every day, providing our partners with leading-edge, real-time risk and value insights at modern market scale. Together, LevelTen and our partners share #OneGoal to accelerate the clean energy transition. Visit us at LevelTenEnergy.com to learn more.

The largest Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) agreement to date, and the first-ever P-REC registration in South Sudan, has been executed by 3Degrees and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with support from Energy Peace Partners (EPP). In the agreement, 3Degrees obtained the P-RECs generated by the IOM-managed solar plant and transferred them to Block, a fast growing global technology company with a focus on financial services, to further the company’s commitment to financial inclusion and desire to support forward-looking sustainability projects. The pioneering transaction will help support the expansion of P-RECs globally.

The arrangement between 3Degrees and IOM, a United Nations organization, will allow IOM to fund the solar electrification of the Malakal Teaching Hospital, the main healthcare facility serving the city of Malakal and the surrounding region. The city of Malakal was destroyed in the country’s civil war that began in 2013 and now houses one of the largest camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in South Sudan. Expected to be completed in mid to late 2022, the solar electrification project will enable improved community health services by providing a reliable source of power for the hospital. The P-REC transaction also serves to pilot a funding model that can be replicated by United Nations entities and other international organizations in the field to support humanitarian and peacebuilding initiatives.

P-RECs are international renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) with a supplementary label developed and issued by EPP, which certifies the co-benefits associated with the new renewable energy generation. P-RECs serve as an innovative financing instrument that supports high impact renewable energy projects in fragile, energy poor countries. The first P-REC contract was executed in 2020 by Microsoft, and Block’s purchase now serves as the single largest P-REC acquisition to date.

Under this agreement, EPP will issue the P-RECs generated from a new IOM-managed solar plant that supplies electricity to its Humanitarian Hub at a camp that houses more than 30,000 IDPs outside the city of Malakal in South Sudan. Since 3Degrees and EPP had previously collaborated on the inaugural P-REC project, EPP again approached 3Degrees to help assess project options and navigate the contracting process. 3Degrees then entered into an agreement with IOM to obtain the P-RECs from the solar plant.

“We are grateful to IOM, 3Degrees, and Block for their collaboration and commitment in making this groundbreaking transaction a reality. EPP’s work grew out of efforts to expand renewable energy in South Sudan, one of the most fragile and least electrified countries in the world. This project fulfills the original vision of the P-REC, and we are excited about the positive impact this will have for communities in Malakal,” said Dave Mozersky, President of Energy Peace Partners. “More broadly, this highlights the value of the P-REC in mobilizing private sector actors to support high-impact projects in some of the hardest-to-reach communities.”

“We are thrilled to support another innovative P-REC transaction, which will help make a tangible difference in people’s lives,” said Steve McDougal, CEO, 3Degrees. “More and more, our customers are seeking out ways to make a greater impact through their renewable energy procurement. We applaud Block for their desire to support this meaningful project, and thank Energy Peace Partners and IOM for their partnership and collaboration to make it happen.”

“At IOM, we know we can only reach sustainability at scale by working with partners who share our vision for a greener future,” said Amy Pope, IOM’s Deputy Director General for Management and Reform. “We are thrilled to have partnered with 3Degrees and Energy Peace Partners to implement the first Peace Renewable Energy Credit agreement to date within the United Nations system. This groundbreaking initiative in South Sudan demonstrates that it is possible to transition to cleaner energy in a way that directly benefits the migrants we serve.”

“At Block we are guided by our purpose of economic empowerment and for us, P-RECs represent a unique opportunity to support global financial inclusion through high-impact renewable energy projects,” says Neil Jorgensen, Global ESG Lead at Block.

Existing solar project at the UN Humanitarian Hub in Malakal.
Source: Omar Mohammad Patan at International Organization for Migration (IOM)

About EPP

Energy Peace Partners leverages climate finance solutions to support peace in places affected by violent conflict. We believe that a paradigm shift toward climate-sensitive development can deliver enduring benefits to the planet’s most vulnerable populations. The Energy Peace Partners team brings together expertise in international peacebuilding, renewable energy, and climate security. Our efforts create an enabling environment for introducing renewable energy that can serve as the building blocks for peace.

About IOM

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is part of the United Nations system and is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. From its roots as an operational logistics agency following the Second World War, it has broadened its scope to become an essential international actor in the field of human mobility, supporting migrants across the world, developing effective responses to the shifting dynamics of migration, and a key source of advice on migration policy and practice. The Organization works in emergency situations, developing the resilience of all people on the move, and particularly those in situations of vulnerability, as well as building capacity within governments to manage all forms and impacts of mobility.

About Block

Block, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) is a global technology company with a focus on financial services. Made up of Square, Cash App, Spiral, TIDAL, and TBD, we build tools to help more people access the economy. Square helps sellers run and grow their businesses with its integrated ecosystem of commerce solutions, business software, and banking services. With Cash App, anyone can easily send, spend, or invest their money in stocks or Bitcoin. Spiral builds and funds free, open-source Bitcoin projects. Artists use TIDAL to help them succeed as entrepreneurs and connect more deeply with fans. TBD is building an open developer platform to make it easier to access Bitcoin and other blockchain technologies without having to go through an institution.

3Degrees, a firm that helps organizations achieve renewable energy and decarbonization goals, announced today several notable advancements in the use of hydrogen as a lower carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels: 3Degrees has developed custom Tier 2 hydrogen fueling pathways in California and Oregon; the Oregon pathways are the first to generate credits from the use of hydrogen under Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program (CFP); and 3Degrees has reported on green hydrogen produced via electrolysis in California.

Hydrogen production requires a large, centralized operation and therefore production sites are limited across the western United States. Oregon, for example, has no hydrogen production facilities, so hydrogen was sourced from two California-based producers and transported to facilities in Oregon to power hydrogen fuel cell forklifts.

3Degrees worked to verify the fuel supply chain, developed a new carbon intensity calculation for the fuel, and managed the pathway certification process with the Oregon Department of Environmental Air Quality (ODEQ) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The pathways were approved in mid-2021, with the first credits generated and monetized by 3Degrees in the summer.

3Degrees is also working with California State University, Los Angeles to report its green hydrogen production and EV charging infrastructure. This reporting is inclusive of infrastructure credits under the Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure (HRI) provision which was added to the LCFS as an amendment in 2018 under the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) crediting provision. In operation since 2014, Cal State LA’s Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility was the first such facility globally to sell hydrogen fuel by the kilogram directly to retail customers.

Dr. David Blekhman, the hydrogen facility technical director, commented “working with 3Degrees was easy and provided necessary support in securing the LCFS incentives.”

“Full transportation decarbonization will require a mix of low-carbon fuels to meet the needs of varied equipment types, including off-road applications,” says Dave Meyer, Director of Transportation Markets at 3Degrees. “3Degrees is proud to support the groundbreaking work of our partners by working through the complex regulatory, supply chain, and business issues associated with these projects to ensure our partners realize the value they deserve.”

New Energy One (NEO), jointly owned by Meridiam, an independent investment Benefit Corporation under French law and an asset manager, and an affiliate of Sevana Bioenergy, a California-based anaerobic digestion project developer, announced today the completed transaction of negative Carbon Intensity (CI) electricity supply from their Idaho-based dairy digester facility for use in electric vehicles in California. The sale is one of the first of its kind and hints at a growing trend of biogas facilities transitioning to electricity to support the decarbonizing California transportation market.

3Degrees, a firm that helps organizations achieve renewable energy and decarbonization goals, worked with NEO to determine the best strategy for maximizing the benefit of the power it generates. Through this joint effort, 3Degrees purchases the power from the NEO facility, wheels it into the California market, and matches it with electric vehicle chargers in order to generate credits under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). To enable this, 3Degrees managed the Tier 2 pathway approval process with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), including the modeling and validation process required for NEO’s negative carbon-intensity score.

The power from this facility has a Carbon Intensity score of -698.21 grams of CO₂e/megajoule[1], one of the best scores registered for an approved pathway under the LCFS. Each MWh of electricity generated by this project and delivered into EVs equates to 3.6 tons of CO₂ emissions reductions, 2.5 more tons than qualifying zero-CI RECs generated from wind or solar resources[2].

“This investment, first of its kind for Meridiam in North America (after having invested in 12 biogas facilities in Europe), further supports our commitment to invest for people and the Planet and achieve sustainable, long-term growth,” says Peter Petrovszki, Investment Director at Meridiam. “We are proud to have achieved a very ambitious CI score, together with our partners, and we are working relentlessly to continue supporting this asset class and developing similar projects throughout North America, Europe and Africa.”

“Sevana is pleased to lead development of this innovative project to decarbonize transportation fuels in collaboration with our partners,” says Steve Compton, Executive Vice President at Sevana Bioenergy. “Realizing this carbon negative anaerobic digestion pathway is an example of working as a team to deploy cutting edge renewable energy market insight and capabilities.”  

“The LCFS provides the opportunity for anaerobic digesters of all kinds to generate significant value from the environmental benefits they provide,” says Dave Meyer, Director of Transportation Markets at 3Degrees. “Accessing this value requires deep expertise in complex regulatory markets and the ability to manage the entire supply chain. 3Degrees is proud to partner with Meridiam and Sevana to deliver the value and the environmental impact associated with this project.”

The project began delivering power in November 2020, and CARB issued the first LCFS credits from this project in July 2021. In addition to the California LCFS, a Tier 2 pathway has recently been approved for this project to support Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program, making it one of the first of its kind in the state[3].

About Meridiam

As a world leader with $17.8 billion of assets under management, Meridiam has invested close to $1 billion of inter-generational capital in nine states in the United States and it is estimated that over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs have been created by our U.S. projects. ESG criteria are at the heart of all our investment decisions and each of our projects is measured against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our mission is to go beyond investing our resources by actively helping to develop the global community through partnerships or alliances to build the world of tomorrow. 

Meridiam completed the “B” Impact Assessment as part of the self-reported and unaudited process and is awaiting B-Lab verification. Once certified, Meridiam will join a movement of 3,500+ Benefit Corporations globally that are helping to accelerate the global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy.

Upon investing in a project, Meridiam utilizes its proprietary, advanced sustainability impact measurement platform, Simpl, to track and monitor the project’s impact. Meridiam is one of the few infrastructure investors in the US deploying such a targeted and sophisticated mechanism to ensure that projects deliver environmental, social, and economic benefits to the communities in which they exist. 

About Sevana

Sevana Bioenergy develops, designs, owns, and operates large-scale anaerobic digestion projects which produce renewable natural gas and organic-based soil amendments. Using state-of-the-art technology, engineering, and design, we are advancing the future of biogas energy production in the United States. Biogas projects reduce waste, increase the use of renewable energy and reduce long-term greenhouse gas emissions. Our mission is to be a market leader in accelerating the production of renewable natural gas derived from anaerobic digestion facilities in North America.  With an experienced team of national and international experts, we build value-add partnerships in agricultural communities by creating new markets for existing agricultural businesses. Our goal is to ensure that communities benefit and thrive through these partnerships while building renewable solutions to local waste and energy challenges. More information is available at www.sevanabioenergy.com.

[1] LCFS Fuel Pathway Code ELC026B01400100
[2] Using the formula in Section 95486.1(a)(1) of the LCFS regulation assuming the electricity is used in light-duty vehicles for compliance year 2021
[3] OR pathway code ELC998OR00110100

• Corporate power purchase agreements executed for electricity from largest solar project in Louisiana
• 345 MWdc solar farm estimated to abate about 450,000 metric tons of GHG emissions annually, equivalent to annual emissions from about 99,000 fuel burning cars
• Project to stimulate local economy by generating an estimated $30 million in new revenue to the Pointe Coupee Parish along with creating approximately 400 construction jobs

Photo courtesy of Lightsource bp

McDonald’s Corporation and eBay Inc. today announced agreements with Lightsource bp to purchase power from what will be Louisiana’s largest solar project, located 30 miles northwest of Baton Rouge in Pointe Coupee Parish. The 345 megawatt Ventress Solar project will help McDonald’s and eBay meet their sustainability goals and advance their commitment to climate action, while growing Lightsource bp’s expanding footprint of solar assets across the Southeast. Once complete, the project will generate over 600,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually, equivalent to the average annual consumption of 59,000 US homes.

“As one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, McDonald’s is uniquely positioned to help spur significant action around climate change,” said Emma Cox, Global Renewable Energy Lead at McDonald’s. “Our renewable energy deal with Lightsource bp will not only create Louisiana’s largest solar project and serve as the latest milestone in making significant progress toward our science-based emissions reduction target for 2030, but also demonstrate our belief that meaningful solutions to building a sustainable future require partnership and collaboration.”

“At eBay, investing in clean energy remains a focus of our business as we aim to attain 100 percent renewable energy by 2025,” said Renee Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer, eBay. “This project enables us to source the clean energy equivalent of our data center. Our collaboration with Lightsource bp and McDonald’s uniquely propels our shared goal to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.”

Construction is expected to begin as early as the end of this year on the Ventress Solar farm, with commercial operation starting in mid-2023. Lightsource bp is developing the project and will be the long-term owner and operator.

“This agreement is a great example of the teamwork needed to achieve our mutual goals for a healthier, more sustainable and resilient planet and economy for generations to come,” said Kevin Smith, CEO of the Americas for Lightsource bp. “Customer aggregation deals such as this allow businesses of varying sizes and energy needs to come together and spur meaningful development of clean and affordable energy sources in the US. This collaborative agreement by McDonald’s and eBay is a model we hope others will replicate.”

Local economic benefits beyond reducing greenhouse gas pollution

Beyond improving the health and energy security of communities across America, large-scale solar projects help strengthen local economies. Construction of the over $300 million privately funded solar farm will:

• Create approximately 400 construction jobs for 15-18 months, comprised primarily of local labor
• Provide an estimated $30 million dollar boost to Pointe Coupee Parish over the project life – providing additional funding for schools, fire departments, libraries and health services – without a tax increase on its citizens
• Deliver an indirect economic impact of over $200 million, according to a study by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, an economic development agency supporting the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area

“This project is exciting news for our parish,” said Major Thibaut, Pointe Coupee Parish President. “It brings the largest economic development project to the area in thirty years, with minimal impact on our infrastructure. The participation in the PILOT program means approximately $30 million in revenue for parish government, law enforcement and school system without an increase in taxes on our residents.”

Dual use solar – maximizing benefits to the environment and local community

With proper planning and land management, solar farms can increase biodiversity and improve local ecosystems. A long-term environmental action plan is underway for Ventress Solar that aims to maximize local sustainability benefits through habitat creation and co-located agriculture to farm the land while also harnessing solar energy.

CustomerFirst Renewables and 3Degrees, representing McDonald’s and eBay respectively, partnered to advise the buyer aggregation during the transaction, and Ballard Spahr led negotiations on behalf of the buyers.

About Lightsource bp

Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects, and a 50:50 joint venture with bp. Our purpose is to deliver affordable and sustainable solar power for businesses and communities around the world. Our team includes over 500 industry specialists, working across 15 countries. We provide full scope development for our projects, from initial site selection, financing and permitting through to long-term management of solar projects and power sales to our clients. Lightsource bp in the U.S. is headquartered in San Francisco with development offices in Denver, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Austin. Since late 2017, the team has developed a pipeline of more than 8 gigawatts of large-scale solar projects at various stages of development across the United States with over 2.7 gigawatts of contracted assets representing more than $2.2 billion in potential investment. For more information please visit lightsourcebp.com.

About McDonald’s

McDonald’s is the world’s leading global foodservice retailer with over 39,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 93% of McDonald’s restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook. www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

About eBay

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects millions of buyers and sellers in 190 markets around the world. We exist to enable economic opportunity for individuals, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations of all sizes. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world’s largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2020, eBay enabled $100 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.

Advisory Practice Enhances Full Suite of Global Solutions to Support Net Zero Goals

3Degrees, a firm that helps organizations around the world achieve renewable energy and decarbonization goals, today announced that it is restructuring its Energy and Climate Practice into two teams, Climate Strategy and Power Markets, and adding several new leadership roles. 

The move comes at a time when the company is experiencing a record number of requests to assist organizations around the world with their net zero commitments, and is designed to ensure the Energy and Climate Practice is increasingly well positioned to offer a full suite of global solutions tailored to every stage along each organization’s decarbonization journey — whether that customer is just getting started and needs assistance setting climate goals, has purchased global EACs to address its Scope 2 emissions and is now ready to enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA), or is interested in developing a new carbon project as part of its Scope 3 emissions reduction strategy. 

Climate Strategy Team

Sak Nayagam has joined 3Degrees as Senior Director in the Energy and Climate Practice and will head up the Climate Strategy team. In this role, Sak leads a group of seasoned advisors who help organizations set and meet their global climate goals, including net zero, carbon neutrality, and science-based targets. Prior to his arrival at 3Degrees, Sak most recently held senior positions in energy technology with Baker Hughes, where he was the Global Marketing Director for a digital technology joint venture together with C3.ai. He has also worked as a Consulting Partner with EY in Southeast Asia, and was Head of Climate Change for Accenture across Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Sak is based in London, England, and will play a key role in supporting 3Degrees’ European clientele. 

To further enhance the Climate Strategy team’s capabilities, Katherine Canoy is joining 3Degrees as a Director in the Energy and Climate Practice. Katherine has significant experience in the energy, sustainability, and climate industries, including more than a decade with the Walmart energy division. While at Walmart, Katherine led teams of internal and external stakeholders to manage greenhouse gas reduction projects as part of the company’s goal to reduce supply chain greenhouse gas emissions by 20 million metric tons (a precursor to its well-known Project Gigaton), awarded 420 MW of renewable energy contracts, and managed a portfolio of 154 MW of installed onsite solar. Most recently, Katherine was at C2 Energy Capital, a distributed generation solar developer and investor.

Together with Kelly Rytel, a Director in the Energy and Climate Practice, and the rest of the Climate Strategy team, Sak and Katherine will help expand 3Degrees’ global consulting capabilities, providing support for customers who range from the early to more mature stages of the net zero journey, with services that include:

• Goal setting, pathway development, and implementation around net zero, carbon neutrality, and science-based targets
• Renewable energy options assessments
• Scope 1 and 3 emissions reduction strategies and solutions, including carbon and supply chain engagement initiatives 
• Carbon strategy, origination, and procurement
• Fleet decarbonization, electrification, and transportation strategy
• Innovative global projects in renewables and carbon

Power Markets Team

The Power Markets side of the practice will be led by 3Degrees veteran Tyler Espinoza, Senior Director in the Energy and Climate Practice. During his tenure with the company, Tyler has enabled over 2,400 MW of renewable energy through his work on power purchase agreements (PPAs), retail electricity supply, utility green tariffs, and onsite solar and storage solutions for 3Degrees’ customers worldwide. Tyler and Lauren Tatsuno, a Director in the Energy and Climate Practice, will lead the evolution of the Power Markets team as it expands its capabilities to offer tailored renewable energy solutions to meet customers’ global climate goals, including: 

• Corporate PPA procurement 
• Renewable retail electricity supply procurement
• Renewable energy aggregations
• Utility green tariff program evaluation and design
• Onsite solar and energy storage

“We are thrilled to welcome Sak and Katherine, congratulate Tyler, and announce these exciting changes to support the continued evolution of our Energy and Climate Practice,” said Rebecca Sternberg, VP, Energy and Climate Practice at 3Degrees. “With the addition of these new leadership roles, 3Degrees’ ability to meet the needs of our growing global customer base is stronger than ever. Our team’s collective expertise is a huge asset as we deliver on customers’ increased demand for comprehensive, tailored solutions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.” 

Check out the following resources to learn more about the Pathways to Net Zero Emissions, and how 3Degrees has assisted leading companies with their global renewable energy strategy, PPA, and renewable energy aggregation needs.  Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to keep up to date on the latest news and industry insights from 3Degrees, or follow us on LinkedIn. 

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3Degrees today announced the addition of energy industry expert April M. Salas to its Board of Directors, as well as the formation of a strategic Advisory Board. 

“We are so pleased to welcome April to our Board of Directors,” said Dan Kalafatas, Chairman of 3Degrees. “She has deep global experience in the public and private sector, where she has worked to transform the energy landscape toward a cleaner, equitable, and more resilient energy future. As 3Degrees enters into a next phase of growth, April’s contributions will help support our global expansion into new markets, products, and services, enabling us to partner with even more companies as they take urgent action on climate change.”

April brings nearly 20 years of public and private sector experience in global and domestic energy markets, rooted in energy systems analysis. Her broad industry knowledge covers a range of energy domains, including electric power, liquid fuels, natural gas, energy finance, distributed energy resources, technology integration, resilience, cyber security, energy equity, and sustainability. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Revers Center for Energy at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business. 

Previously, April directed the White House’s Quadrennial Energy Review Task Force Secretariat, publishing more than 70 recommendations for the future of the nation’s energy system. She has also served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Energy, including Director of the State Energy Assurance Program, where she worked with industry, state, and local energy officials, regulated utility commissioners, and state emergency management directors. In addition, April served as Chief of Planning and Analysis for all federal energy emergency responses with FEMA, including emergency response around the globe, and held roles at the United Nations, UNESCO, in corporate social responsibility, and in energy finance consulting. She has represented U.S. government interests at NATO, is leading dialogue on emerging technologies and society with the National Academy of Sciences Arab-American Frontiers program, and is presenting at the International Energy Agency on the role of behavioral change in the energy transition.

April holds four Master’s degrees — an MBA from Cornell University; an MBA in International Business from Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business; an M.A. in International Affairs, Conflict Resolution, and Civil Society Development from American University of Paris; and an M.A. in International Security and Economics from L’Institut Catholique de Paris, focused on energy poverty and development. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she speaks Arabic, French, and Spanish. April has worked or lived in over 65 countries. 

“I am delighted to be joining the Board of Directors for 3Degrees, a true industry thought leader,” said April Salas. “I look forward to supporting the important work the company is doing to help companies and utilities decarbonize in ways that are transformative for the climate and the communities they serve.” 

In addition to expanding its Board of Directors, 3Degrees also announced the formation of an  Advisory Board. This Advisory Board will engage with the Board of Directors and executive leadership of 3Degrees in shaping its strategic direction. The inaugural members of the new group are executives Gilbert G. Campbell III, Britt Ide, and Luke Schneider, who will bring their substantial collective expertise in the renewable energy, mobility, grid electrification, utility, and energy equity spheres.

“I am pleased to welcome Gilbert, Britt, and Luke to the 3Degrees Advisory Board,” said Steve McDougal, CEO of 3Degrees. “Together they have decades of experience leading and advising transformational organizations along their decarbonization journeys. As 3Degrees rises to the urgency of this moment — marked by the accelerating climate crisis and a rapidly evolving energy landscape — their guidance will help us find new ways to serve our customers and maximize our impact.”

3Degrees Advisory Board members:

Gilbert Campbell is a leading voice in energy equity and the Co-Founder and CEO of Volt Energy, a national minority-owned renewable energy firm that finances and develops utility-scale, distributed generation, and community solar projects, electric-vehicle charging stations, and energy storage solutions for commercial, government, educational, and non-profit institutions. Gilbert serves on the Board of Directors at Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), and is a Founding Member of Renewables Forward. Gilbert graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.B.A in Finance from Howard University and received the White House Champions of Change Award from the Obama Administration in advancing climate change equity.

Britt Ide has deep expertise on ESG in board governance and the utility of the future. Britt sits on the Board of Directors of NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE), serving on its Governance and Innovation and Audit committees, and is also President of Ide Energy & Strategy, where she consults on energy, sustainability, climate, and ESG. Britt has over 25 years of experience as an engineering, legal, and business leader working on all sides of energy issues including with associations, industrial users, large commercial users, utilities, non-governmental organizations, developers, and regulators. Britt holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. in Environmental Engineering, and a Juris Doctor and serves on the Board of the Coalition for Green Capital, which creates green banks across the world to leverage public funding with private investment for climate solutions, and is an ambassador for the US Secretary of Energy’s Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment (“C3E”) program.

Luke Schneider has broad C-level experience at the forefront of next generation mobility. His experience includes guiding companies, ranging from start-ups to large enterprises, through major business milestones to scale. Currently the CEO of Refraction AI, a company building and deploying autonomous robotic platforms for last mile delivery in urban areas, Luke previously served as CEO of Silvercar, COO of wejo, Ltd, CTO at Zipcar, CTO at Flexcar, and has held various roles at Ford. Luke holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and an MSIA (MBA) in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon. Luke currently serves on the board of directors of Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ:PLUG), a hydrogen fuel cell company, and Iteris (NASDAQ:ITI), a smart mobility technology company.

San Francisco, CA —  3Degrees today announced that it will sell verified emissions reductions (VERs), also known as carbon offsets, from Electrify America, tapping into revenue from its voluntary carbon customers to help fund upkeep of Electrify America’s expansive, ultra-fast  electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the U.S.

3Degrees is the exclusive offtaker of the first VERs from Electrify America’s national fast charging network in voluntary carbon credit markets, which is being verified under the internationally recognized Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).  3Degrees will market and sell these VERs to prospective buyers, with the first transaction expected in the second quarter of 2021. The Electrify America project was launched as the world’s first validated carbon offset project for electric vehicle chargers earlier this year.

Electrify America has more than 500 EV charging stations with over 2,200 DC fast chargers operational today across the U.S., and plans to have approximately 800 stations with about 3,500 DC fast chargers by December 2021. The 3Degrees project currently incorporates charging sites deployed up through the end of 2020, and will include additional chargers in future verifications.

As more companies establish carbon neutrality or net zero goals, an increasing number of 3Degrees customers are seeking innovative ways to address shipping and other transportation-related Scope 3 emissions.

“This project is a perfect fit for our customers seeking to reduce transportation-related emissions,” said Mark Mondik, Vice President, Carbon Markets at 3Degrees. “Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. and most of our customers don’t control the fleets used to move their goods or people around. Helping to fund the build-out of national EV charging infrastructure is an impactful way that companies can directly address this issue in the near term. We see a lot of appetite for this.”

“This project offers important benefits, including reducing the impact of fossil fuels on our environment and creating opportunities for growth in the electric vehicle industry due to more attractive investment economics,” said Wayne Killen, Director of Infrastructure Planning and Business Development at Electrify America. “We’re thrilled that the first credits from the project will now benefit customers who are exhibiting climate leadership and looking to address their transportation emissions.”

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About Electrify America

Electrify America LLC, the largest open DC fast charging network in the U.S., is investing $2 billion over 10 years in Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure, education and access. The investment will enable millions of Americans to discover the benefits of electric driving and support the build-out of a nationwide network of workplace, community and highway chargers that are convenient and reliable. Electrify America expects to install or have under development approximately 800 total charging stations with about 3,500 DC fast chargers by December 2021. During this period, the company will be expanding to 29 metros and 45 states, including two cross-country routes, delivering on its commitment to support increased ZEV adoption with a network that is comprehensive, technologically advanced and customer friendly. Electrify America’s Electrify Home® offers home charging solutions for consumers with flexible installation options. Electrify Commercial® provides expert solutions for businesses looking to develop electric vehicle charging programs. For more information, visit www.electrifyamerica.com and media.electrifyamerica.com.

For Immediate Release

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The first-ever Peace Renewable Energy Credit (P-REC) transaction has been executed by Microsoft with Energy Peace Partners (EPP) and project developer Nuru. In the agreement, Microsoft is purchasing P-RECs issued by EPP from a new solar project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which will directly finance the installation of streetlights in a recently electrified neighborhood of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. The streetlights are connected to the same solar-plus-storage system which generates the electricity associated with the P-RECs. The transaction was facilitated by renewable energy, transportation decarbonization, and climate solutions specialist 3Degrees.

P-RECs are international renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) with a supplementary label from issuer EPP certifying the co-benefits associated with the new renewable energy generation. P-REC projects are located in countries that are characterized by high risk of conflict, high vulnerability to climate change, low levels of electrification, and limited access to renewable energy finance. The agreement with Nuru requires that the majority of funds from the sale of P-RECs support a project that creates social and economic co-benefits in that community. Microsoft is the first company to execute a P-REC transaction.

The P-RECs purchased by Microsoft will be issued by EPP from Congolese solar developer Nuru’s newly commissioned 1.3 MW commercial solar-plus-storage project in Goma’s Ndosho neighborhood. Goma is located in conflict-affected eastern DRC, where only 3% of residents have access to electricity in many neighborhoods. Microsoft’s P-REC purchase allowed Nuru to fund the construction of mini-grid-connected streetlights in Ndosho, a community impact project co-designed with local stakeholders. Installation of the streetlights was completed earlier this year and has already improved nighttime road safety and neighborhood security, allowing businesses to stay open later at night, and reduced reliance on diesel generators, which are both expensive and highly polluting, in an area that has never had grid infrastructure.

“We developed the P-REC in order to support new renewable energy projects in fragile, energy poor regions of the world,” said David Mozersky, President, Energy Peace Partners. “With this inaugural P-REC purchase, Microsoft is demonstrating that corporate renewable energy procurement can be high impact by making a difference in communities like Ndosho, where increased access to sustainable and affordable power will be transformative. Energy Peace Partners is proud of this groundbreaking collaboration with Microsoft, 3Degrees and Nuru.”

“We applaud Microsoft’s innovative approach to its renewable energy and community development goals, and their willingness to lead with this inaugural purchase of P-RECs,” said Steve McDougal, CEO, 3Degrees. “This unique transaction unlocks a new energy attribute option that other organizations can now leverage to drive renewable projects in underserved communities around the globe. It’s been an honor for 3Degrees to partner with these three pioneering organizations to help bring this first-of-its-kind project to life.”

“Nuru is thrilled to be working with Microsoft, Energy Peace Partners, and 3Degrees to launch the P-REC in eastern DRC,” said Jonathan Shaw, Co-Founder and CEO, Nuru. “This bold, forward-thinking commitment is exactly what is required to unlock the human potential of complex, challenging contexts like eastern Congo. Thousands will benefit from this initiative, and we could not have asked for more committed and innovative partners throughout the process.”

“With P-RECs, companies like Microsoft that are looking to procure renewable energy can invest in regions that are the most impacted by climate change and that are currently deprived of access to modern energy,” said Vanessa Miler, Director, Energy Innovation and Impact, Microsoft. “Companies can maximize the impact of their investments not only from a carbon reduction perspective but also from a climate equity perspective.”

Read the case study to learn more.

About Energy Peace Partners
Energy Peace Partners leverages climate finance solutions to support peace in places affected by violent conflict. We believe that a paradigm shift toward climate-sensitive development can deliver enduring benefits to the planet’s most vulnerable populations. The Energy Peace Partners team brings together expertise in international peacebuilding, renewable energy, and climate security. Our efforts create an enabling environment for introducing renewable energy that can serve as the building blocks for peace.

About Nuru
Nuru is a company dedicated to enhancing connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nuru deployed Congo’s first solar-based mini-grid in 2017 and most recently deployed a 1.3 MW commercial solar-plus-storage hybrid site in Goma, North Kivu—one of the largest off-grid mini-grids in sub-Saharan Africa. Nuru, meaning “light” in Swahili, encapsulates our vision to inspire and catalyze the incredible human potential in Congo by providing 5 million delighted clients with world-class connectivity by September 24, 2024.

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Media Contacts:

Sherwin Das, Energy Peace Partners
[email protected]

Kyle Hamilton, Nuru, 1.225.456.6680
[email protected]

Rachel Fagan, 3Degrees, 1.512.402.8683
[email protected]

Photo courtesy of Nuru