Get Ready To Play. I’m a big hockey fan and this weekend an amazing thing happened in the NHL. During every NHL game, there is a guy that sits in the stands. He has received free tickets and is getting a complimentary meal because he is at some level a good hockey goalie. Since NHL teams only travel with two goalies, there is a need for an emergency goalie just in case. Keep in mind, this almost never happens and when it does it rarely means that this person actually plays. On Saturday night, David Ayres, the professional zamboni driver from Toronto, had to suit up and play half an NHL game. The 42 year old has never played against professionals but here he was, ready to play. He got on the ice, let two goals in and then he turned into a brick wall stopping the remaining shots on goal. You never know when you’re getting called up to the big leagues but just like that, it may be your turn to step up.
Solar’s Time To Get In. I tell this long story because it’s our time as an industry to get in the game. The solar industry isn’t getting an explicit call but every signal is coming into our direction. The key is that we are ready to play, at every level, and to do so in a very focused way. 2020 is shaping up to be a political shit-show and as much as I try to keep my views on politics out of this newsletter it will get a bit more complicated.
State Issues, Federal Issues. Here is why politics matter and the election in November matters. When solar advocates and State regulators get on a page to move solar and energy storage forward, a market is created. Until now, there was little to no consideration given to the possibility that FERC would get involved and try to stop the State from moving forward. Solar is in the precarious position where some associations already try to do too much. While the focused groups do well, this is an example of why we also need FERC representation on a full time basis. More importantly, the regulators appointed need to be on our page which means the election matters.
Federal Goals, Local Examples. Senator Sanders floated the idea of turning utilities into public entities in order to achieve faster renewable deployment across the Country. With SMUD’s actions dividing the home solar mandate, TVA’s continued inability to do anything pro-solar and munis across the Country failing to think ahead, I see plenty of examples of why not to pursue that. At the same time, IOUs like PG&E and DTE aren’t the examples to strive after either.
- NRDC: FERC Excludes Clean Energy From NY’s Capacity Market
- PV-Magazine: Americans want renewables and are willing to pay for them
- Biz Journals: Energy Commission allows SMUD’s off-site solar to meet new mandate
- Utility Dive: Michigan finds ‘fundamental flaws’ in DTE’s resource plan, directs utility to pursue renewables
- Solar Power World: Sierra Club and solar advocates urge Maryland PSC to mitigate MOPR
- PV-Tech: SolarEdge expects further record momentum in 2020
- Greentech Media: First Solar Misses Profits in Q4, Explores Selling Development Business
Opinion
Best, Yann