#DefendTheITC
Show Me The Money. If the ITC drops by 4% that means investors will lose more than 5% of their capital stack. In most cases that number could be well over 7%. The same thing will happen again the following year meaning the value chain has to figure out how to find an extra 10%. For homeowners they will lose all of it in just a few years and that’s bad news for everyone.
Network Effect. I hear this often, utility-scale developers don’t think about the residential and DG market as it relates to policy. This is the most dangerous misconception. If homeowners can’t put solar on their home, solar gets the label of not working or being too expensive. If homeowners can’t get solar they are unlikely to call their politicians and ask for solar policies. You won’t get an RPS or grassroots support if you don’t have a viable residential solar market. Every utility scale developer should sponsor a residential solar installer to join SEIA or the State chapter. Like a big brother/big sister relationship that allows both segments to lean on each other.
Energy Fair Panel. Check out the latest SolarWakeup podcast. This was a great discussion between a developer, utility exec and advocate deep in the Wisconsin back country. We kept things flowing and lively. I hope you enjoy and share the episode with your friends.
- Wired: A Tax Credit Fueled The Solar Energy Boom. Now It’s In Limbo
- Greentech Media: US Solar Executives Break Down the Odds of an ITC Extension
- SolarWakeup Live: Future Of Solar In Midwest at MREA’s The Energy Fair
- Bloomberg: On the Brink of Blackouts, Texas Makes Case for New Plants
- Baltimore Sun: Maryland Gov. Hogan launches task force to tackle conflicts over solar, wind energy projects
- Renew Economy: Solar now ‘cheaper than grid electricity’ in every Chinese city, study finds
- Utility Dive: Xcel to expand Minnesota renewables program, add 230 MW new solar, wind
- Axios: Wind power is winning in the U.S. despite Trump’s critiques
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann