Spotlight | Women in Energy | Annika Colston, President & Founder of AC Power
Annika Colston's Green Revolution
The energy sector isn’t short of trailblazing women driving innovation; Among them is Annika Colston, President and Founder of AC Power.
Colston’s journey in the energy space spans nearly two decades, having held leadership positions at PV Navigator and C2i Methane. AC Power, founded by Colston, is a solar development company that distinguishes itself by going beyond building solar farms. AC Power specializes in more challenging projects: redeveloping disturbed land (eg. closed landfills, *brownfields, **superfund sites) for solar energy generation. These sites, which often sit idle and are ladened with environmental challenges, are given a new life as solar energy hubs. This approach is not only innovative, but demonstrably smart.
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AC Power: Brownfields to Brightfields
AC Power boasts a portfolio of sites across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. Their team possesses extensive experience in landfill gas-to-energy & project development, which equips them to handle the unique complexities of these sites. The team navigates permitting, interconnection, and environmental factors to bring these projects to fruition.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that the US holds over 10,000 closed landfills with the potential to generate a cumulative 63 Gigawatts of power. This revelation underscores a vast opportunity for clean energy production and repositions disturbed land as valuable assets for environmental and economic revitalization.
This approach to energy generation not only ushers in a new era of renewable energy sources but also delivers significant economic benefits to local communities. AC Power fosters partnerships with local and regional organizations to train future workforce members, promoting a stable and secure future for local communities and contributing to grid resiliency.
Repurposing Land: Low-value land is remediated, generating clean energy while promoting land restoration.
Maximizing Resources: AC Power leverages existing infrastructure at these sites, streamlining the development process and making solar energy generation more efficient & cost-effective.
Environmental Benefits: Solar energy production reduces reliance on fossil fuels, leading to cleaner air and a lower carbon footprint. Covering landfills with solar panels also helps control methane gas emissions.
Community Solar: Community solar broadens access to clean energy as electricity generated at these sites can be sold to local residents at discounted rates.
Flagship Project: Old Bridge Township, New Jersey
A prime example of AC Power's impact is their groundbreaking project in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey. This project transformed a neglected superfund (EPA) site into a thriving 2.78-megawatt (MWac) solar energy plant, now powering ~400 homes. This remarkable feat underscores the transformative potential of brownfield redevelopment and solar energy production.
Previously a solid waste landfill, the site experienced a slope failure, which led to environmental pollution of nearby wetlands. Overcoming challenges related to ownership and site access, AC Power was able to secure the necessary rights to develop on the land, while also taking advantage of a key New Jersey incentive program, promoting community solar initiatives. In addition to environmental benefits, this project aimed to provide community solar offtake, where residents in the surrounding areas could subscribe to the solar farm and receive electricity generated there.
This once-contaminated landfill is now a beacon of clean energy, representing a remarkable turnaround from an EPA Superfund site. This project serves as a powerful testament to the potential of renewable energy to revitalize neglected areas.
Moving Forward
AC Power recognizes the untapped potential of low-value land for environmental remediation and community solar. This allows local communities to buy power from their local landfill, provides land owners with steady income streams, and gives investors motive to commit capital to build these projects. Additionally, it highlights the importance of incentive availability, which pushes people to think of innovative solutions to environmental issues.
AC Power's mission resonates beyond the realm of energy—it's a testament to the power of innovation and the impact women can have in building a more sustainable world. Annika Colston's visionary leadership illuminates a path forward, inspiring generations to become agents of change. As we embark on this Women in Energy series, Annika Colston's pioneering work sets the stage for a broader conversation on the role of women in shaping the future of energy.
Reference Links
AC Power: https://www.acpowerllc.com/
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): https://www.nrel.gov/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Repowering America Program: https://www.epa.gov/re-powering
*Brownfield sites: Land that is underutilized due to pollution from industrial use (eg. abandoned industrial and commercial facilities). Typical contaminants include hydrocarbon spillages, solvents and pesticides, as well as heavy metals like lead, asbestos, petroleum, etc. Cleanup does not involve the EPA.
**Superfund sites: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) involved sites on the National Priorities List (NPL), the nation's worst hazard sites.
