The latest renewable energy news includes announcements on US Hybrid, Lancaster Hydrogen Vehicle Factory, Lightstar Renewables, Northern Sun Energy, and others.
US Hybrid Plans Lancaster Hydrogen Vehicle Factory With 1,200 Jobs and FPH₂ Fuel Supply
US Hybrid Corp. will establish its headquarters and OEM manufacturing operations in Lancaster, California, under a public-private partnership with First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH₂). US Hybrid will manufacture hydrogen-powered buses and trucks and convert existing fleets to fuel-cell propulsion, while FPH₂ will supply hydrogen for the vehicles. Operations are expected to start in 2027, creating around 1,200 skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs. The agreement is among FPH₂’s first commercial hydrogen offtake partnerships and is described as one of California’s largest hydrogen-mobility commitments. US Hybrid already supplies equipment operating at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The integrated manufacturing-and-fuel model aims to reduce one of hydrogen transport’s biggest obstacles: aligning vehicle deployment with dependable fuel supply.
Lightstar Wins 27.3 MW of New Jersey Agrivoltaic Awards Across Eight Solar Projects
Lightstar Renewables has received eight conditional awards totaling approximately 27.3 MW under New Jersey’s first Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program. The projects span Monmouth, Salem, Warren and Cumberland counties and will combine photovoltaic generation with continued agricultural production. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved 16 projects totaling 52.06 MW statewide from 33 preliminary proposals representing roughly 140 MW, making Lightstar responsible for more than half the capacity selected in the inaugural round. Approved sites will combine solar with crops, hay, grains, fruits, vegetables and livestock grazing. Projects must complete regulatory and environmental requirements during a 36-month development window. New Jersey’s pilot could ultimately inform a permanent agrivoltaics program reaching around 200 MW over three years.
Northern Sun Starts Construction on 23 MW of New York Community Solar for Seaboard Northern Sun Energy has begun construction of two community solar projects for Seaboard Solar in Waterford and Boonville, New York, with combined capacity of 23 MWdc. Both projects are supported by NYSERDA grants and are using local construction labour. The Waterford development required special logistics because site access is limited by a bridge with a 20-ton weight restriction, while Boonville required redesigned structures to meet some of the country’s highest updated snow-load standards. Northern Sun worked with GameChange Energy on the racking engineering needed to keep construction on schedule. The projects extend a partnership between Northern Sun and Seaboard dating to 2017. Northern Sun’s team brings more than 2 GW of collective solar and storage industry experience.
