Category: State Electric Co.

A novel Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network is in the works for the Midwest region. Five Midwest governors (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) comprise the Regional Electric Vehicle Midwest Coalition (REV Midwest), which is set to build charging stations across the five states.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by the five governors, expediting economic development for the Midwest region. Medium and heavy-duty electric trucks will be able to charge along with these stations as well.

To coordinate the efforts across state lines, a task force will be established. Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a plan for wireless charging in Michigan along with a statewide, state-funded EV charging network. In addition to creating jobs and improving public health, these Midwest states will also be more eligible for federal funding or private investment.

Despite being the hub of the United States auto industry, Michigan’s reputation has widely been slower on charging and supporting EVs. Michigan franchise law prevents Tesla from selling vehicles directly in the state. Daniel Crane, a law professor at the University of Michigan, called the bill “Corrupt politics at its worst. A real travesty.” Backed by GM, the law states that vehicles must only be sold through independently owned or franchised dealers.

REV Midwest follows the West Coast initiative by ten years.

Governor Whitmer said, “Today’s REV Midwest partnership is a bipartisan effort to build the future of mobility and electrification and connect our communities. Our partnership will enable the Midwest to lead on electric vehicle adoption, reduce carbon emissions, spur innovation, and create good-paying jobs.”

To schedule an installation for your EV charger, contact State Electric Company today.

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. State Electric Co. is also an exclusive distributor for Enel X JuiceBox EV chargers for residential and commercial use. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to install charging stations for homes, offices, hotels, and more. With our extensive knowledge in renewable energy, our team provides customers – large or small – with efficient electrical solutions. Contact us today to learn how we can safely and affordably meet your energy needs. 

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Power outages are becoming more of an increasing issue throughout the United States. Some factors contributing to the outages include an expanding population, higher electrical demands, and limited power grid capacities. To counterbalance the power struggles, commercial and industrial companies look to Demand Response programs.

Demand Response (DR) is also known as Demand Side Response (DSR) and functions to reduce demand on the utility suppliers during an emergency. By allowing the local electric utility (usually an Independent System Operator [ISO] or regional electric company) to spontaneously – and remotely – use onsite generators, some (or all) of the grid’s load can transfer to them. Load reduction can also be achieved by working with commercial and industrial automation systems. These systems work to reduce loads by minimizing lighting, HVAC, and other mechanical operations.  

On average, Demand Response is used up to four times per summer or four hours per emergency. The program allows organizations to set up a no-risk, no-cost opportunity to counterbalance the cost of a stationary generator. Those who choose to participate can save on energy costs, earn money, and help create reliable electricity throughout their city. In turn, this helps prevent black- or brownouts. 

By allowing their local electrical utility to curb their power consumption (when in high demand), Demand Response program participants receive recurring capacity payments in addition to additional energy payments based on their performance.

For example, a customer using a 300 kW natural gas generator could earn $4,000 during enrollment and up to $3,000 per year depending on peak energy they produce.

Natural gas generators are the best option as they are factory-certified to comply with the EPA’s standards and are allowed to be used in non-emergency situations. Since Demand Response qualifies under those regulations, the generator owner does not need to apply for a generator emissions certificate or obtain emissions testing.

For more information about implementing generators for Demand Response, contact State Electric Company today.

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. With our combined, extensive knowledge in renewable energy sources through solar and battery storage, the team at State Electric works together to provide customers, large and small, with efficient electrical solutions. We specialize in smart electrical panels, EV chargers, battery storage, microgrids, and emergency generators with automatic transfer switches to ensure that all your energy needs are affordable and safely met. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Recently, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) published the “Solar Futures Study,” which outlines how vital solar energy will be in the effort to decarbonize the power grid. By as early as 2035, solar energy can power up to 40 percent of America’s electricity. More than 1.5 million people could be employed through this new field, while the power grid is significantly decarbonized. Also, electricity prices would remain steady.

The Biden Administration has been taking great strides to halt the climate change crisis by swiftly increasing access to renewable power nationwide. The DOE’s study recommends a large-scale and unbiased distribution of clean energy sources.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, “The study illuminates the fact that solar, our cheapest and fastest-growing source of clean energy, could produce enough electricity to power all of the homes in the U.S. by 2035 and employ as many as 1.5 million people in the process. Achieving this bright future requires a massive and equitable deployment of renewable energy and strong decarbonization policies – exactly what is laid out in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda.”

A record number of solar panels were installed in 2020 throughout the United States, making up roughly three percent of the current electrical supply. The Solar Futures Study predicts solar energy could produce more electricity than consumed in all residential and commercial buildings statewide by 2050. Thanks to electrification in the transportation, building, and industrial sectors, as much as 3,000 GW of solar could be produced by that time.

Interested in clean energy and going green? Contact the solar panel experts at State Electric today!

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. With our combined, extensive knowledge in renewable energy sources through solar and battery storage, the team at State Electric works together to provide customers, large and small, with efficient electrical solutions. We specialize in smart electrical panels, E.V. chargers, battery storage, microgrids, and emergency generators with automatic transfer switches to ensure that all your energy needs are affordable and safely met. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Get ready, because soon, you’ll be hearing a lot of buzz about gallium nitride (GaN). With the silicon chip shortage affecting nearly every industry – including the automotive – a new technology is on the horizon: GaN. For the Electric Vehicle (EV) industry, GaN could spark sales by advancing range and charging experiences, making EVs more affordable for the average person.

According to Navitas Semiconductor, “The next generation (GaN) power semiconductor platform with up to 3x smaller, 3x lighter, 3x faster charging, and 40% energy savings, is positioned for market leadership in the $13.1 billion+ GaN electrification opportunity in mobile, consumer, enterprise, renewables/solar, and EV/eMobility.”

GaN is formed as a by-product of smelting bauxite ore (to create aluminum) or processing ore for zinc. GaN has a low extraction and carbon footprint due to the refinement process.

“Over 300 tons of GaN are produced every year, with over a million tons estimated in reserves around the world. As it is a processing by-product, it is relatively low cost at around $300/kg which is 200 times lower than gold at around $60,000/kg,” according to Navitas.

GaN is the force behind high-resolution televisions, phones, tablets, laptops, monitors, etc. due to its high-efficiency, high-voltage capabilities. Power conversion and battery charging in hybrid and electric vehicles also utilize GaN technology.

Since GaN lends way to higher charging efficiencies, more power is delivered to the battery. As the battery can utilize more power, it also charges faster.

Head of marketing at Navitas, Stephen Oliver, said the current silicon chip shortage is impacting the auto industry while the demand for vehicle electronics is simultaneously increasing.

Oliver said, “Along comes GaN, the next generation silicon, the new kid on the block. It operates 100 times quicker than silicon, doesn’t lose energy, and with its increased speed is lighter, smaller, cheaper. It’s now in its second revolution for phones and charges them three times faster, and soon electric vehicles, too. If you look at the manufacturing process, the chip is five times smaller and that means every time you make it a wafer, it is five times smaller; that means you get five times as many.”

To learn more about EVs or have a charger installed, contact the experts at State Electric Company today.

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. With our combined, extensive knowledge in renewable energy sources through solar and battery storage, the team at State Electric works together to provide customers, large and small, with efficient electrical solutions. We specialize in smart electrical panels, EV chargers, battery storage, microgrids, and emergency generators with automatic transfer switches to ensure that all your energy needs are affordable and safely met. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Within the decade, expect to see a more significant number of electric vehicles (EV) on the road. Thanks to the intensified global focus on sustainability along with incentives and policymaker encouragement, EVs could be substantially more popular.

We are all aware of the number of gas stations throughout the country, but EV chargers aren’t exactly on the same level. The demand for more charging stations will surely increase, as these will affect the viability of EVs. Without reliable chargers, EVs will not be a sustainable option to drive long distances and produce zero emissions.

“The United States is in the midst of a fundamental transformation of our transportation sector, with consumers, businesses, fleets, and automakers embracing the transition to EVs,” said Pasquale Romano, President and CEO of ChargePoint.

Research conducted by Coherent Market Insights showed the growth of EV sales would simultaneously increase the production of chargers across the automotive industry. The upward cadence of EV production (Tesla produced half a million units in 2020) shows that manufacturers are concentrated on trying to earn the attention of worldwide customers.

With the upward swing of EV production, charging stations are sure to follow. Public charging stations are evident in national parks, some big-box-store (Meijer) parking lots, rest areas, and more. In the future, more charging stations will surely be prominent near commercial office buildings, retailers, and such. During work or shopping, an owner’s car could be charging.

Dr. Charles Zhu, Vice President of sales and product development and head of automotive business for Delta Electronics, and principal investigator in the Department of Energy program, said, “We are excited to utilize the battery emulator to test all 400kW charging conditions with 200V – 1,000V charging voltage ranges that encompass all EVs currently in the market.”

To learn more about EVs chargers or schedule an installation, contact the experts at State Electric Company today.

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. With our combined, extensive knowledge in renewable energy sources through solar and battery storage, the team at State Electric works together to provide customers, large and small, with efficient electrical solutions. We specialize in smart electrical panels, EV chargers, battery storage, microgrids, and emergency generators with automatic transfer switches to ensure that all your energy needs are affordable and safely met. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has launched the Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+) tool to solve the problem of providing contractors with a standardized permit process. The program is a free, web-based platform that allows local governments to expedite their review and approval process pertaining to residential solar installation permits.

The SolarAPP+ initiative is a collaboration with key code officials, jurisdiction authorities, and the solar industry. The goal is to develop a standardized software that can perform compliance checks and process building permit applications to approve eligible applications for solar rooftop systems.

SolarAPP+ is presented with the following advantages:

• Integrates with existing government software
• Automated plan review, permit approval, and project tracking
• Standardizes up to 90 percent of system plans
• Inspection checklist verification and sign-off after installation

Solar customers, contractors, and local governments have all incurred heavy costs stemming from delays in obtaining rooftop solar installation permits. Some customers wait weeks or months to get approval.

SolarAPP+ provides a standardized, automated permitting process for residential installations across the country. Building code compliance is reviewed, and if the correct specifications are met, the permit is approved instantly. With this faster-paced technology, local governments can more easily process and issue permits. With help from programs such as SolarAPP+, governments have seen solar installations increase by 600 percent.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said, “We are fast-tracking America’s clean energy future by cutting red tape to make it cheaper and easier for homeowners to access power from the sun. SolarAPP+ will bust through bureaucracy to speed up permitting, helping homeowners more quickly add solar panels on their roofs, adding gigawatts of clean electricity to the nations grid, while creating good paying jobs.”

Interested in learning more about solar-powered energy? Contact the experts at State Electric Company today!

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. With our combined, extensive knowledge in renewable energy sources through solar and battery storage, the team at State Electric works together to provide customers, large and small, with efficient electrical solutions. We specialize in smart electrical panels, EV chargers, battery storage, microgrids, and emergency generators with automatic transfer switches to ensure that all your energy needs are affordable and safely met. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

State Electric Company has a new website! We plan to keep you up-to-speed with the latest news, tips/tricks, updates, and information on our blog. State Electric Co. is proud to be a full-service electrical contractor for residential and commercial properties. Our team consists of project managers, engineers, safety managers, quality assurance managers, and site supervisors, giving you an organized, efficient, and safe delivery of your electrical needs.

Check out some of our renowned services:

• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Install: Need an electric vehicle charger installed or want to purchase one? Unsure about the varying levels? Look no further! State Electric Co. is a certified installer for all available EV chargers on the market today. We’ve designed and installed EV chargers for many customers from municipal, commercial/industrial complexes, the hospitality industry, apartments/multi-unit housing, and residential homes.
• Solar Panel Install: going green? We can size and install a solar panel system that fits your budget. With the ever-changing needs for electricity on demand, solar energy can offset your costs and deliver consistent electrical power using solar panels and battery storage. At State Electric, our design team works with customers and provides solutions that will offset high electrical costs while meeting constant power demands. Whether it is rooftop, ground mount panels, or tied into battery storage and phased with a backup generator; we can provide options for your energy needs.
• Automatic Backup Generators: Standby generators ensure that you’ll never be without power. Get yours today! Mother nature and the increasingly high demand of the electrical grid causes inconsistencies in our power supply, usually in the least opportune time. The team at State Electric can provide solutions for backup generators and automatic transfer switches to provide a seamless transition when power is unavailable from the grid.
• Battery Powerwalls: Recharge and store extra solar power generated through your insolation panel system.
• Lighting: From parking lots to new construction lighting installation and upgrades, contact us for a job done right!
• Electrical Service Upgrades: Have an obsolete electrical system that keeps shorting out? We’ll modernize your components safely.
• Electrical Service & Repairs: Our qualified and fully insured electrical contractors prioritize safety and will put you at peace of mind.
• Security Camera Installations: Whether for a home, business, or municipality, our crew installs high-quality security camera systems.

Even more of our services include:

• Design/Engineering/Build
• New Construction
• Remodeled Homes and Businesses
• Smart Electric Tech Design
• Telephone/TV/Alarms, etc.
• Fire Alarms
• Panel Upgrades
• Data Lines
• Access Controls

To learn more or schedule an appointment for one of our services, contact State Electric Company  today!

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. With our combined, extensive knowledge in renewable energy sources through solar and battery storage, the team at State Electric works together to provide customers, large and small, with efficient electrical solutions. We specialize in smart electrical panels, EV chargers, battery storage, microgrids, and emergency generators with automatic transfer switches to ensure that all your energy needs are affordable and safely met.

Contact us today to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.