A Big Market, Gets Bigger. This is the + decade. Solar+, that is. At the core is that the energy transition is happening, in real-time, in front of our eyes. There are still drivers that determine how big, how fast and how beneficial but now SEIA has a forecast for that. SEIA expects that over 324GW of solar will be installed this decade. That’s a lot and the reality is that we will build all of that and much more. We can be happy with that number but never satisfied and thus we need to continue to push the envelope and against any force that is attempting to slow the growth.
Not All Love. I’ve highlighted some of the early work on NEM 3.0 in California and now the utility joint proposal has been published, let’s just say that not everyone is on board with more solar.
Trust The Process. The filing caused market pressure on solar stocks yesterday. On day 1 of the process, we don’t know how it is going to play out and if we are passive in this then it will not be good for solar. This is not just a DG versus central discussion either, this is about controlling the benefit of the generation away from the market and consumers. But if we recognize that political involvement means more value to solar and clean energy companies, involvement that is both people power and dollars for advocacy, then the process should result in a fair outcome because that is what the people want.
Not For Spectators. A lobbyist told me in my very early years in solar that politics is not a spectator sport and it’s full contact, no light days on the Capitol. Ask yourself this, no matter your company, what are you doing to participate in the process?
Bracketology. The most important SolarWakeup day of the year is here, time to join this year’s March Madness bracket. As always, the winning bracket gets to write the column for a day. So head to ESPN Fantasy and look for the ‘SolarWakeup 2021’ group and use password solar to join. Feel free to invite your friends and colleagues to join the fun.
A Product Showcase. In two weeks, join CALSSA and the dozens of manufacturers in a product showcase. This is a free event if you register in advance, you can do that here. Absent in person events and a desire to stay in front of a computer all day, CALSSA brings you the best way to learn about the latest and greatest.
- PV-Magazine: U.S. solar industry comes ‘roaring back,’ breaks multiple records in 2020
- PV-Tech: Solar campaigners hit back at California utilities’ net metering proposals
- Barrons: Solar Stocks Sink on Proposed California Rule Changes. Why Utilities in Other States May Wage Similar Battles.
- GreenBiz: Who wants to be a climate-tech billionaire?
- Utility Dive: Taking Charge – Commissioner Clements on FERC’s ‘make or break’ role amid the energy transition
- Axios: SEC inches closer to new climate disclosure regulations
- Reuters: Invest $131 trillion in clean energy by 2050 to hit climate goals, agency says
Opinion
Best, Yann