The tale of two Dukes, with the current CEO of Duke Energy making headlines this week. Just a week after the former CEO of Duke, Jim Rogers, came into the news by wanting to be in the rooftop solar business, current CEO, Lynn Good, sited solar in their portfolio. The truth behind the current Duke Energy business is that they are trying to kill solar net metering and their investment has been paltry. The solar industry sees through the largest utility’s talking points.

News

• CleanTechnica: New Ad Reveals Duke’s Monopoly Protection Plan
• EcoReports: Solar Module Yield Measurements Get Better Every Year
• CleanTechnica: Solar Leasing vs $0-Down Loan — Scenarios In 10 States
• GTM: Why Is EnerNOC Funding a Solar Software Startup?
• Forbes: IKEA’s Aggressive Approach To Sustainability Creates Opportunities
• RE World: The Right Risk Partner Makes the Difference in Renewable Energy
• CT News: Solar panels a hazard for firefighters
• Indiana Public: Duke Investing In Solar As Part Of Legal Settlement

Opinions

• Solar Power World: Solar Is NOT Maintenance Free: Growing O&M Market

Have a great day!

Yann

As you all know, I am a big believer that creating non-commercial content is the best form of marketing. To walk my talk, I have started writing some time-relevant market insight articles that I hope you have enjoyed and passed along. Some companies do very well with their content while others lag behind. In other cases, we even see solar books written that are a valuable insight to the solar market. I had the pleasure of reading a recent published book, The Real Estate Solar Investment Handbook by Aaron Binkley. Read my review here

News

• Cal ISO: Electricity conservation needed due to natural gas shortage
• Motley Fool: 1 Secret Sign Solar is Soaring
• PV-Tech: US trade case could see US factories make ‘Chinese’ solar
• GTM: Commercial Energy Storage Market to Surpass 720MW by 2020
• Bloomberg: German Annual Solar Installs Drop to Lowest Since 2008
• Forbes: Morocco Dismisses Challenges To Solar Goals
• NY Times: Caribbean Islands Agree to Swap Diesel for Renewables
• Bloomberg: Mosaic to Offer Retail Investments in Residential Solar

Opinions

• Fortune: 10 Questions: Todd Pedersen, CEO, Vivint

Have a great day!

Yann

Action Thursday is upon us, lots of tidbits that lead up to asking for your support of VoteSolar, one of the most important groups pushing our industry forward. APS is at it again, trying to kill more solar. Firefighter are fearmongering rooftop solar. Centralized power plant infrastructure appear to be threatened by snipers.

SAVE THE DATE! Vote Solar’s Equinox party & fundraiser – March 20, 2014 in San Francisco. Vote Solar throws of heck of a party. If you’re in the solar industry, one of the best ways you can support Vote Solar’s work is by sponsoring Equinox. Email rosalind@votesolar.org for sponsorship details. Otherwise, stay tuned for event details and ticket information.

News

• AZ Star: Arizona regulators consider dropping rooftop-solar mandate
  • SOLAR ACTION ALERT – STOP APS FROM KILLING SOLAR
• Oregonian: SolarWorld CEO urges Obama to oppose ‘unfair’ Chinese solar
• Gigaom: Snipers took down major grid systems in California
• CBS: Firefighters Warn Solar Could Prevent Homes From Being Saved
• GTM: 5 Different Ways to Invest in Renewable Energy
• RE World: Is the Pennsylvania Solar Market on the Rebound?
• SolarServer: EU Parliament calls for binding 30% EU renewable target
• Solar Industry: As North Carolina Steps Up For Solar, Controversy Follows

Opinions

• Solar Power World: Spend Your Solar Customer-Acquisition Dollars Wisely

Have a great day!

Yann