Energy
Tesla Megapack batteries to crush anti-renewables FUD in Canada’s oil province
Tesla Megapack batteries are about to make a notable and symbolic impact in Canada’s fossil fuel province, with Calgary-based TransAlta Corp. expected to flip the switch on Alberta’s first utility-scale battery storage installation. Known as the WindCharger project, the initiative involves using Tesla Megapack batteries to store electricity from the nearby Summerview wind farm and discharge it to the grid as needed.
The WindCharger project’s Tesla Megapack batteries are capable of distributing 10 MW and provide up to 20 MWh of storage capacity. The initiative cost about CAD 16 million to build, though it was also the recipient of a CAD 7.7-million grant from Emissions Reduction Alberta, which aims to determine if emerging sustainable technologies could be used on a commercial scale.
According to executives from Alberta’s largest power generator, the WindCharger project has massive potential. If the Megapack batteries and wind farm combination proves successful, it could be a legitimate “game-changer” for the country’s power industry. It could even crush the long-standing criticism of renewables which argues that solar and wind are not viable because the systems are compromised when the sun is not shining or when the wind is not blowing.
Quite remarkably, the Tesla Megapack batteries were installed rather quickly. Construction on the WindCharger project began this spring and the batteries are expected to go live later this month. This is quite impressive, especially considering the presence of the pandemic. John Kousinioris, TransAlta’s chief operating officer, expressed his optimism in a statement to The Vancouver Sun.
“It is really cool. It was put together in a matter of months, in terms of construction. It was great when we saw the batteries coming up from Tesla and in place. It’s an opportunity for us to match storage and our renewable wind power generation. When the wind is blowing or prices are really low, what we will do is take power from the wind farm to actually charge up the batteries. We charge them up and wait until they’re needed from a value proposition, and then we discharge them,” he said.
According to Sam Huntington, an associate director of energy storage with IHS Markit, battery storage projects like the WindCharger in Alberta are taking off as the energy industry leverages advancements currently being made in the electric vehicle sector. Amidst the rise of electric cars like Teslas, for example, battery prices continue to decline. These innovations could then be applied to grid storage installations.
“Grid batteries are really riding the coattails of the electric vehicle boom, so that is bringing costs way down and leading to a lot of innovation. We are about to hit this big boom and all these batteries will come on to the grid. We will learn a lot more about the economics of the projects,” Huntington said.
In a way, the installation of Tesla Megapacks in Alberta is a symbolic win for renewables in the country. Apart from having the potential to crush anti-sustainability FUD, the batteries also mark the territory of sustainable solutions in a location that’s widely considered as Canada’s fossil fuel province. Alberta, after all, is Canada’s largest oil and natural gas producer, being home to a significant part of the country’s remaining conventional oil reserves and oil sands.
Energy
Tesla Megapack Megafactory in Texas advances with major property sale
Stream Realty Partners announced the sale of Buildings 9 and 10 at the Empire West industrial park, which total 1,655,523 square feet.
Tesla’s planned Megapack factory in Brookshire, Texas has taken a significant step forward, as two massive industrial buildings fully leased to the company were sold to an institutional investor.
In a press release, Stream Realty Partners announced the sale of Buildings 9 and 10 at the Empire West industrial park, which total 1,655,523 square feet. The properties are 100% leased to Tesla under a long-term agreement and were acquired by BGO on behalf of an institutional investor.
The two facilities, located at 100 Empire Boulevard in Brookshire, Texas, will serve as Tesla’s new Megafactory dedicated to manufacturing Megapack battery systems.
According to local filings previously reported, Tesla plans to invest nearly $200 million into the site. The investment includes approximately $44 million in facility upgrades such as electrical, utility, and HVAC improvements, along with roughly $150 million in manufacturing equipment.
Building 9, spanning roughly 1 million square feet, will function as the primary manufacturing floor where Megapacks are assembled. Building 10, covering approximately 600,000 square feet, will be dedicated to warehousing and logistics operations, supporting storage and distribution of completed battery systems.
Waller County Commissioners have approved a 10-year tax abatement agreement with Tesla, offering up to a 60% property-tax reduction if the company meets hiring and investment targets. Tesla has committed to employing at least 375 people by the end of 2026, increasing to 1,500 by the end of 2028, as noted in an Austin County News Online report.
The Brookshire Megafactory will complement Tesla’s Lathrop Megafactory in California and expand U.S. production capacity for the utility-scale energy storage unit. Megapacks are designed to support grid stabilization and renewable-energy integration, a segment that has become one of Tesla’s fastest-growing businesses.
Energy
Tesla meets Giga New York’s Buffalo job target amid political pressures
Giga New York reported more than 3,460 statewide jobs at the end of 2025, meeting the benchmark tied to its dollar-a-year lease.
Tesla has surpassed its job commitments at Giga New York in Buffalo, easing pressure from lawmakers who threatened the company with fines, subsidy clawbacks, and dealership license revocations last year.
The company reported more than 3,460 statewide jobs at the end of 2025, meeting the benchmark tied to its dollar-a-year lease at the state-built facility.
As per an employment report reviewed by local media, Tesla employed 2,399 full-time workers at Gigafactory New York and 1,060 additional employees across the state at the end of 2025. Part-time roles pushed the total headcount of Tesla’s New York staff above the 3,460-job target.
The gains stemmed in part from a new Long Island service center, a Buffalo warehouse, and additional showrooms in White Plains and Staten Island. Tesla also said it has invested $350 million in supercomputing infrastructure at the site and has begun manufacturing solar panels.
Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight said the agency was “very happy” with Giga New York’s progress, as noted in a WXXI report. The current lease runs through 2029, and negotiations over updated terms have included potential adjustments to job requirements and future rent payments.
Some lawmakers remain skeptical, however. Assemblymember Pat Burke questioned whether the reported job figures have been fully verified. State Sen. Patricia Fahy has also continued to sponsor legislation that would revoke Tesla’s company-owned dealership licenses in New York. John Kaehny of Reinvent Albany has argued that the project has not delivered the manufacturing impact originally promised as well.
Knight, for her part, maintained that Empire State Development has been making the best of a difficult situation.
“(Empire State Development) has tried to make the best of a very difficult situation. There hasn’t been another use that has come forward that would replace this one, and so to the extent that we’re in this place, the fact that 2,000 families at (Giga New York) are being supported through the activity of this employer. It’s the best that we can have happen,” the CEO noted.
Energy
Tesla launches Cybertruck vehicle-to-grid program in Texas
The initiative was announced by the official Tesla Energy account on social media platform X.
Tesla has launched a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program in Texas, allowing eligible Cybertruck owners to send energy back to the grid during high-demand events and receive compensation on their utility bills.
The initiative, dubbed Powershare Grid Support, was announced by the official Tesla Energy account on social media platform X.
Texas’ Cybertruck V2G program
In its post on X, Tesla Energy confirmed that vehicle-to-grid functionality is “coming soon,” starting with select Texas markets. Under the new Powershare Grid Support program, owners of the Cybertruck equipped with Powershare home backup hardware can opt in through the Tesla app and participate in short-notice grid stress events.
During these events, the Cybertruck automatically discharges excess energy back to the grid, supporting local utilities such as CenterPoint Energy and Oncor. In return, participants receive compensation in the form of bill credits. Tesla noted that the program is currently invitation-only as part of an early adopter rollout.
The launch builds on the Cybertruck’s existing Powershare capability, which allows the vehicle to provide up to 11.5 kW of power for home backup. Tesla added that the program is expected to expand to California next, with eligibility tied to utilities such as PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E.
Powershare Grid Support
To participate in Texas, Cybertruck owners must live in areas served by CenterPoint Energy or Oncor, have Powershare equipment installed, enroll in the Tesla Electric Drive plan, and opt in through the Tesla app. Once enrolled, vehicles would be able to contribute power during high-demand events, helping stabilize the grid.
Tesla noted that events may occur with little notice, so participants are encouraged to keep their Cybertrucks plugged in when at home and to manage their discharge limits based on personal needs. Compensation varies depending on the electricity plan, similar to how Powerwall owners in some regions have earned substantial credits by participating in Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs.
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