Rivian & Pivot Energy Partner to Build Local Solar

Pivot Energy announces a partnership with EV maker Rivian on a total of 60 Megawatts (MWdc) of solar energy. Rivian has committed to purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated from 50 MWdc of solar and will subscribe to 10 MWdc of community solar from Pivot Energy for its Illinois manufacturing facility.

Impact REC agreements such as this one are designed to channel clean energy resources into regions poised for solar development and contribute to local community initiatives. Rivian’s partnership enables additional solar projects to be strategically developed in locations with few solar resources.

According to the EPA, the region of the electric grid where the solar projects will be located is 67% dirtier than the U.S. grid as a whole, meaning that the region emits two-thirds more greenhouse gases from fossil fuels than other areas. By supporting these new-build distributed solar projects through this REC purchase agreement and community solar subscription, Rivian will have an outsized impact on emissions reductions in this region. 

The new community solar projects are expected to generate an average of 79,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity per year, equivalent to powering 10,892 households annually.

The two companies will invest $5,000 per MW built in local community organizations. The donations tied to each MW constructed will go to support local community-based organizations working to reduce energy burden for low-income families, developing workforce development pathways into the solar industry for local residents and groups working at the intersection of agriculture and energy production.

Rivian’s decarbonization strategy includes plans to enable 2 gigawatts of renewable energy in support of EV charging – enough to power at least 7 billion miles of renewable driving with R1 vehicles every year.

“For Rivian, one focused pursuit drives both our business success and positive impact: accelerating the global transition to 100% carbon free transportation and energy,” said Andrew Peterman, Director of Advanced Energy Solutions at Rivian. “Our partnership with Pivot shows how we go one step further by investing in projects that not only deliver additional clean energy to the grid, but also drive positive benefits for communities, conservation and the climate.”

Pivot Energy is committed to the transition to clean energy and positively impacting local communities. By supporting clean energy projects and community impact, Rivian is demonstrating its commitment to renewable energy and sustainable operations in the automotive industry.

“We are committed to accelerating the energy transition by partnering with cutting edge companies like Rivian,” said Mat Elmore, SVP strategic accounts at Pivot Energy. “This marks a significant step in scaling up renewables nationwide by providing a blueprint for how the auto industry can expand their energy impact in areas that need it most.”