DC Goes 100%. This has been talked about for some time but now it’s becoming law and it makes DC the 3rd State to go 100% renewables. DC has some limitations on how to execute on this but being in the PJM market it does have the flexibility, much like the deal for the solar output by George Washington University. The rooftops are not widely available but we saw a community solar project announced yesterday as well. Local sources sound optimistic about the opportunities in Maryland as well with a legislative path to an increased RPS. Frank speaks to MDV-SEIA’s executive director about the victory in DC.
Empower Ratebase, Not Thoughts. I appreciate the sentiment from Rocky Mountain Institute in the 1st part of the 4 part serious about empower utilities to participate in the clean energy transition. The problem isn’t that they are against the clean energy transition, the problem is the lack of short term, quarterly profits within the current regulatory framework. Utility execs like other execs will tend to do what their compensation is aligned against. If utilities were to be told that they would make money to participate in the clean energy transition, execs would sing a different tune. The issue now is that the clean energy transition is trying to replace and eliminate utilities, not make them more money.
In-no-va-tion. I meant to write about this last week but this is an important topic within the political conversation on climate change. Climate change is not a bi-partisan topic which originally was a hoax. When hoax stopped working with the American people, skeptics went with the unsettled science and not being scientists. The public has largely stopped buying the unsettled science line and we have advanced to the latest political talking point. “Climate change is here, it doesn’t matter who causes it but whatever we do can’t impact the economy.” Then, to buy time, politicians will pivot to the need to drive innovation within the demographic of their audience. Innovation is such a broad topic that clean coal and 50% efficient solar modules could fall into the category. Additionally, everyone loves innovation which gets listeners of the talking points to nod in agreement that we need to find more solutions. I call BS though, we need more execution and less talk about innovation because innovation is driven by larger markets and the hopes by people to disrupt the market with new products, services and ideas.
Have a great weekend! Please send me a note when you travel to San Francisco, always great to meet you in person and stay tuned for great new podcasts dropping next week.
- SolarWakeup: Q&A With David Murray Of MDV-SEIA On DC’s 100% RPS
- Rocky Mountain Institute: Empowering Utilities to Participate in the Clean-Energy Transition
- Axios: Making energy innovation more than a buzzword
- SolarWakeup: Nevada PUC Denies Apartment Dwellers Rooftop Solar Access
- PV-Magazine: Canada’s regulator identifies profitable solar regions
- PV-Tech: Advantage Capital announces investment in residential PV company Momentum Solar in US
- Reuters: In Mexico, resistance to solar projects bodes badly for fast-tracking train
- Fast Company: This coal plant closed–now it’s being converted to a solar-powered neighborhood
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann