The team at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), Morris, Minn., created a goal in 2013 to raise renewable electric energy generation on dairy farms by establishing a “net-zero” energy milking parlor.

Tetra Pak, Vernon Hills, Ill., joined RE100, committing to increase its use of renewable electricity from 20% today to 100% across all global operations by 2030.

2015 was a record year for renewable energy installations, according to the Renewables 2016 Global Status Report, produced by REN21, France.

The solar system is expected to provide the facility with nearly all of its daytime electricity needs and generate more than 82 million kilowatt-hours of power over the life of the system.

Herbold Meckesheim USA installed a rooftop solar energy system to provide electrical power to its 10,000-square-foot Smithfield, R.I., headquarters facility.

Golden State Foods (GSF), Irvine, Calif., adopted solar energy to power its pallet jacks and lift gates, thus extending the service life of lift gate electric batteries on their trucking fleet.

Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Washington, D.C., is investing $68 million in 540 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide.

First Solar, Inc., Tempe, Ariz., sold its 50 megawatt Macho Springs Solar Power Plant to Atlanta-based Southern Power and Turner Renewable Energy.

Mars, Inc., McLean, Va., partnered with Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, New York, to build a new 200MW wind farm that will generate 100% of the electricity needs of Mars’ U.S. operations.

Greensmith Energy Management Systems, Rockville, Md., launched a new line of energy storage software and integration services.