A Fed Response. Looking at the policy landscape, especially on solar and renewables, I wonder how close folks have looked at what ESG first monetary policy would look like. Solar on a roof can be a $1,200 per year stimulus for those living in the house or similar benefits for community solar customers. All we’d have to figure out how to lower the cost of money to the point that the capex of the investment is offset by the cost of staying with the status quo.
Infrastructure Week. Joe Manchin, with a bright spotlight on him at the 50th Senator, is calling for a $4 trillion infrastructure bill. He’s not ready to jump into renewables head first but he also knows that infrastructure spending won’t be building new coal plants, he just can’t say it out loud.
Fixing RTOs. There is no doubt that the last four years of attempted Federal takeover of state and regional energy policy has caused problem. Starting with the MOPR, RTOs and ISOs have to come back to the starting block and then implement state by state energy standards and goals. Moreover, they are looking at an energy demand that has been turned on its head and now is very residential. And then you add the electrification of transportation as well as the money losing power plants that are closing and you realize that the energy markets have to figure out how to price signal to developers the value of DERs and other distribution level grid investments. This is an important time to be a regulator.
Solar For All. With everything that we are talking about, in the market and in policy rooms, we have to ensure that the access to solar and solar generated electricity isn’t just for those that own a single family residence with southern exposure. Renters, low income families, and others without access to onsite solar must have reasonable alternatives with similar benefits. Low income families spend a giant percentage of their income on utilities and it would be a bad signal by our industry and supporters to forget that.
A Supply Chain Mess. Solar is growing everywhere and the US market continues to be underestimated. With our path to 1million solar homes installed in a few years, Australia at over 25% penetration, suppliers are having a hard time keeping up with demand. The SolarWakeup Buyer’s Group was meant to not only lower costs but also increase access by consolidating demand amongst its members. We’re doing that now, reducing lead times and saving money. Get in touch with us through our portal or hit reply to this email.
- Axios: Yellen says Biden is “fully supportive” of carbon pricing
- Reuters: Renewables overtook fossil fuels in EU electricity mix in 2020 – Report
- Yahoo: Sen. Joe Manchin calls for up to $4 trillion in infrastructure spending as Democrats are poised to control Congress
- Utility Dive: PJM, utilities ‘messing with’ state sovereignty is ‘biggest threat’ to climate goals – Maryland commissioner
- Slate: The Biden Administration Should Spend $5 Billion to Bring Solar Energy to Low-Income Communities
- PV-Magazine: Virginia aims to make installing energy storage easier
- Solar Builder: Why ‘Maine won’t wait’ on climate action and what the rush means for solar developers
- Greentech Media: Australia Looks to Smart Inverters to Cram More PV Into World’s Top Solar Market
Opinion
Best, Yann