Home Solar Moves Forward. California has moved the home solar mandate forward as they plan for the implementation. The Building Standards Commission has taken the necessary step to allow the rule to start on January 1, 2020.
Carbon Free, Not Clean Energy. Looking at the Xcel Energy announcement, my first two thoughts. 100% carbon free doesn’t mean 100% clean energy, Vox should know better to distinguish this. Secondly, what is the plan to execute on this? Is the hope that Xcel will own all of the assets or create an environment for distributed generation to thrive?
Behind the Scenes. Frank goes behind the scenes on the SESA PR and SEIA coming together with a Q&A with PJ Wilson to discuss the news.
Solar In DC. SEIA is hosting a summit in DC and interviewing members of Congress including Senator Whitehouse (D-RI). Reports from inside the room speak to the support that solar has at the baseline level across demographics and party lines. Many of the quotes do appear to make this a bit of the echo chamber except for the talk that solar should push for the ITC to be expanded to storage. I see this as a potential starting block for the ITC to be extended once again. More on that to come.
Huawei Breaking News. The news broke late last night that the CFO of Huawei Technologies was detained in Canada, potentially at the request of the US. Reports have it that the US is considering Huawei as a national security risk and could create a sub plot to the tariff talks and newly found truce. This isn’t a solar direct story but has enough potential impact that is a regulatory risk for the solar market participants.
- Greentech Media: California’s Rooftop Solar Mandate Wins Final Approval
- Vox: For the first time, a major US utility has committed to 100% clean energy
- SolarWakeup: Q&A With PJ Wilson of the Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico
- Solar Power World: SEIA’s inaugural Federal & State Policy Summit highlights solar potential in new split congress
- The Week: Huawei Technologies CFO arrested in Canada at request of U.S.
- ILSR: Three Questions about Xcel Energy’s Landmark Low-Carbon Announcement
- Utility Dive: PacifiCorp shows 60% of its coal units are uneconomic
- CNN: Trump promised to rescue the coal industry. But he can’t
- Energy News Network: Minnesota prison program aims to prepare inmates for solar jobs
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann