Growing Power Demand (Finally). PG&E is out with the goal to install 7,500 EV charging stations in their service territory. EVs are the gift to utilities around the Country that have been losing power demand to LED lightbulbs. Utilities make their money by building more infrastructure to keep up with more energy demand and if the demand doesn’t grow neither does a utility’s rate base. 7,500 level 2 chargers are a drop in the bucket, just wait until utilities propose 100,000 fast charge stations at 100kW+ each.
Christie Out. Murphy In. After a bill to keep the NJ solar market going passed the legislature, Chris Christie decided he was done working for the people of New Jersey. He put the bill away and killed the bill with a pocket veto. The new Governor, Phil Murphy, was inaugurated and now the bill has to go through the legislature once again. Good news for NJ however as Murphy is making quick work on energy and appointments to the DPU.
Making A Deal And A Plea. Various reports will come out until the White House issues a ruling. Here’s a scenario that will keep people hopeful even after a ruling. A straight tariff doesn’t really do anything for Suniva and SolarWorld, because they wouldn’t access of that cash. All it does is increase the market price and that isn’t really their problem, they need cash. Additionally it would likely result in more tariffs against American goods by China. The ideal scenario for everyone is a deal that drops the initial trade tariffs and removes the barrier for Hemlock to sell silicon to China once again. Ideally the deal then results in tariffs to be charged on imports that create cash for US manufacturers. This is a simple fix for this problem and I’m a bit surprised it hasn’t happened yet. Maybe someone call tell me what the barrier is.
Play With PACE. How many of you have used PACE for a solar project? What were the barriers you were able to overcome by using PACE? Now that more than just California is getting into the game and SEIA is mainstreaming the PACE plus PPA, I can see more contractors leveraging this standardized solution. I’d love to hear from you on this topic.
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- San Jose Mercury News: PG&E launches electric vehicle charging network with 7,500 stations
- NJ Spotlight: Murphy Names Fiordaliso To Head Bpu Christie Pocket Vetoes Solar Bill
- Greentech Media: Solar Trade Case Settlement Deal and Exemptions May Still Be in the Works
- PV-Magazine: Report – Connecticut, Minnesota follow California as top C-PACE states
- Utility Dive: California regulators broaden rules for energy storage
- Rocky Mountain Institute: Report Release – Reimagining the Utility to Bring “Utility of the Future” Debates Down to Earth
- The Wire: With Flickering Solar Policies, Modi Government Could Erase Gains Made So Far
- Bloomberg: Fossil Fuels Face a $1.4 Billion Solar Problem in Texas
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann