The solar industry has grown tremendously once again, almost 20% to 142,000 solar professionals.  Now is the time to figure out how to sustain the growth and size of the industry.  We all know that politics are not a spectator sport, so the individuals and companies in solar need to put together a real war chest to fight the solar battles. In 2012, SEIA operated a budget just shy of $10million while the marketing arm of the Natural Gas industry spent $70million. See their non-profit filings here and compare their spending and staffing.

SEIA Form 990

ANGA Form 990

News

• GTM: Why Did Installer-Financier Vivint Solar Buy Solmetric?
• Bloomberg: U.S. Solar Jobs Grow 20% to More Than 142,000 Last Year
• CleanTechnica: Cost Of Solar 2 To 100 Times Lower Than You Think
• Charlotte Observer: Critics attack Duke Energy on solar prices
• EarthTechling: For US Solar, It’s Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs
• Breaking Energy: Renewables Scramble in Shadow of Baucus Tax Proposal
• GTM: The Secrets of Selling Solar: Drivers of REC Solar’s Strong Growth
• RE World: Today’s Top 10 Must-Have Solar Content Marketing Channels

Opinions

• ILSR: Who’s Your Energy Daddy?

Have a great day!

Yann

A story getting little attention in energy so far is the natural gas pricing over the past month. A lot can be attributed to the cold weather but as utilities transitioned to natural gas, consumers were promised low prices and large inventories.  You will hear a lot about pipeline restrictions, but let me be another person to tell you, ratepayers are being taken for a ride by regulators and utilities.  Spot natural gas pricing at retail went over $80/mmBtu and Hub pricing is over $5/mmBtu.  Keep an eye out.

News

• HuffPost: China ‘Seriously Concerned’ About U.S. Investigation Of Solar Imports
• NY Times: Fissures in G.O.P. as Some Conservatives Embrace Renewable Energy
• GTM: China May Have Deployed More Solar in 2013 Alone Than America
• SolarPowerWorld: Vivint Solar Acquires Solmetric Corporation
• Breaking Energy: Making Energy Funding and Financing Opportunities Easier to Find
• National Journal: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Natural Gas
• Bloomberg: Solar Mergers Likely to Accelerate, Trina Founder Says
• Memphis Daily: Sharp’s Exit From Solar Part of Industry Trend

Opinions

• SolarCurator: A solar power cuppa tea

Have a great day!

Yann

Let me connect the dots for you on the ITC topic that is trending this week.  One of the first supporters of sunsetting the ITC was Duke Energy Renewables, stating the ITC “has met its objective.” Yesterday, Duke Energy began its attempt to kill net metering as we know it in NC.  In case you are wondering, Duke is also a monopoly in South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida.  They are the largest utility in the United States.  Reducing the ITC make solar even more vulnerable.  As you Shout Out for solar, make sure to let everyone know that you support extending the ITC as it stands.

News

• Charlotte Observer: Duke to seek reduction in payments to NC homes with solar
• Solar Server: U.S. initiates anti-dumping investigations of solar PV from Asia
• Bloomberg: China Installed a Record 12 Gigawatts of Solar in 2013
• GTM: Internet and Cable Giant Comcast Will Soon Sell Electricity in Pennsylvania
• RE World: Coordination is California’s Least Cost Path to a Clean Energy Future
• PV-Tech: Sharp’s outsourcing strategy reinforced with closure of US solar plant
• Greencar: Electric Cars & Solar: Will They Make Gasoline & Utilities Obsolete?

Opinions

• EDF: PACE 2.0: CA Leading the Next Evolution in Clean Energy Finance
• Chicago Tribune: China’s solar rebounds, but will boom-bust cycle repeat?

Have a great day!

Yann