The Weekend. A great week in New York and I head to San Francisco next week. The state of the solar industry is steady and resilient. Mentally prepared for anything that is thrown at the industry, most of you are doing a good job of taking things in stride. That being said, for all of you heading to Solar Power Northeast, I can only say one thing to you. Fly Eagles Fly!
State Job Losses. GTM is breaking down the impacts of 201 by State. While California may have the biggest impact, it will be felt less than Texas perhaps. The fringe PURPA States will simply not start up or continue to grow from a nascent state. That being said most of the Florida losses I don’t agree with. Most of Florida solar is built on the balance sheet of the ratepayer and therefore a cost increase is actually a financial improvement to the utility monopoly since it increases rate base.
South Carolina Pain. This likely spells the end of the SCANA acquisition by Dominion. SCANA was scheduled to bill SC ratepayers about $37million per month but the State legislature voted 119-1 against allowing SCANA to collect those payments. I know it seems obvious that the legislature would vote this way but I don’t underestimate the power of utilities in Southeast legislatures. This time, the right vote was taken, now to figure out the 1 person that voted for it. (Mr. I pushed the wrong button/Mr. I am termed out and need a job)
You Failed At Your Job. The US Government has an employee that describes his job this way. “I went to Washington, D.C., for one purpose and that was to help create coal jobs in the United States. That’s my total purpose for being there.” Once you pick your jaw up from the table, you should be comforted by the fact that he is going to fail in his one purpose. Also, how does he sleep at night?
My Lithium Ion 201 Testimony. Fast forward 5-8 years from today and someone in the US is crying that China owns the lithium ion battery manufacturing supply chain. If you look where US IP went post bankruptcy and where the investments in manufacturing are going right now, you will find much of it in lithium battery city. If the US wants to lead, do it now.
Presented by Mintz Levin. Mintz Levin is an Am Law 100 law firm with a nationally recognized Energy & Sustainability Practice that has completed more than 500 transactions across energy sectors totaling over $7.5 billion since 2006.
- Greentech Media: Forecast Shows How Trump Tariffs Will Hurt Solar Growth, State by State
- Post and Courier: S.C. House passes bill to halt nuclear-related payments to SCE&G, possibly dooming Dominion takeover
- Think Progress: Trump appointee tells coal industry that his job is to be ‘an advocate’ for coal
- Bloomberg: The Breakneck Rise of China’s Colossus of Electric-Car Batteries
- PV-Tech: Orsted eyeing solar PV, energy storage as drivers for long-term growth
- Desert Sun: In stunning reversal, Trump could open California desert to more solar and wind farms
- Fast Company: These Pro Athletes Are Raising Money To Bring Solar Power To Puerto Rico
- CleanTechnica: Pentagon – Half Of US Military Sites Threatened By Climate Change
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann