This is your SolarWakeup for February 10th, 2017

Going inside tax equity. In this EnergyWakeup episode we speak with Conor McKenna, Managing Director at CohnReznick Capital Market Securities. Conor advised a $78 million tax equity investment for the Crescent Dunes Solar Project by SolarReserve. The innovation here is that the Crescent Dunes solar project uses molten salt energy storage technology from the SolarReserve concentrating solar tower site. We couldn’t leave the interview without asking Conor about his thoughts on tax reform and how it could impact the markets.

The easiest way. When it comes to energy, not all things are created equal. Regulators are still failing to compare the power sources correctly, leaving out the usage of water or other societal costs. Also, the healthcare cost shouldered by taxpayers from the pollution of fossil fuel plants. That is why a flat carbon tax makes sense, it achieves what the market regulators are failing on. Pollution also doesn’t stop at State borders and doing it on a national or continental level can and should work.

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann