Bipartisan ITC Bill Filed. A 5-year extension of the ITC was filed yesterday, in the Senate as well as the House of Representatives. 3 Congressman, two of whom are republicans, and Senator Cortez-Masto of Nevada filed the legislation that would change the sunset start from 2020 to 2025. The bipartisan nature of the bill in the House shows that there is traction for the standalone bill to be moved by the Speaker with sufficient votes. Policy advocates will have to get creative in the Senate where bipartisanship has been locked in the basement. However, the ITC has long benefited from bipartisan support in the Senate and with the right effort on our end, we will be successful.
Stay Here For ITC Forecast. Last Thursday I highlighted our success in working together. Alongside SEIA and other groups, the SolarWakeup group came out in force and sent a strong letter to Congress. Here was my prediction, “If my statement above is correct, I hope to see some action from Congress next week including potentially some legislation. Watch this space…” So keep watching this space for the next steps and actions you need to take on.
A Strong Message, Made East. I ️ MY
️ (I Love My Solar) is a new organizing effort brought to you by Vote Solar and Solar United Neighbors. The platform allows you and your customers to upload pictures of solar with people and send a printed postcard to members of Congress. Customize it to your message and everything is taken care of for you including the cost. Get your customers to do this right now, even those that already went solar. The link is itc.ilovemy.solar
Congressional Recess. Over the next month, your Representatives will be home for the August recess. Many of them will hold town halls and make themselves visible in the district. This is a great time to reach out, schedule a meeting or try to go and speak with them at a public event. Let them know what the ITC means to you and your employees in person and you will show the impact that the ITC has had in their district. Some members are secretive about their calendar so call their office and ask if they are hosting public events.
Solar Means Business. The corporate solar leaderboard is out and Apple is on top. Maybe next year we will see the first GW scale corporate?
- Greentech Media: Solar ITC Extension Bills Introduced in House and Senate
- TechCrunch: Apple leads corporate American solar energy usage
- Solar Power World: 252 mayors representing every state call for increased solar power
- Utility Dive: Chicago considers municipalizing ComEd
- PV-Tech: Global solar to smash goalposts with 2019, 2020 record roll-out
- Think Progress: Coal CEO hosts Trump fundraiser as industry’s hurdles mount and workers are left behind
- Grist: Frank Luntz, the GOP’s message master, calls for climate action
- ILSR: Customers Pay When Big Utilities Make Big Errors In Electricity Forecasts
Opinion
- SolarWakeup Live!: Engie Storage’s Marc Roper Talks About Energy Storage Business Models and Markets
Have a great day!
Yann