By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

What Happened:

• Enphase requested an exemption from the ridiculous Section 201 tariffs President Trump imposed last month.
• The inverter is attached to modules abroad and imported as a combined product making it subject to 201 tariffs.
• They hired a high-powered K-Street lobbying firm to lead their, well, lobbying efforts.

Solar Wakeup’s View: Enphase has been working to turn itself around after management shakeups and hiring of management consults. While focusing on internal issues, Enphase was caught in the middle of the 201 tariff without ever thinking they would be subject to it. Now the inverter manufacturer has to fight its way out of a 30% increase in their cost, which is already well above string inverter costs.

First, they get credit for being the first non-module manufacturer to get actively involved in this fight. The fact they hail from another industry segment means the solar industry is coming to the realization that attacks on solar are attacks on all of us. Between this move and SEIA’s purported new direction, maybe the solar industry is finally going to fight back against those who want to destroy it.

Secondly, Enphase’s decision to enter the fray emphasizes that a global settlement on this tariff issue is becoming ever-more critical. This is not a U.S. industry, or a Chinese industry or an Indian industry; this is a global industry. Therefore, the knuckleheaded decisions of one country can send shockwaves through the industry around the globe. Meanwhile, these tariff fights between countries distract us from focusing on the essential task for spreading the solar gospel around the world and trying to stop the planet from burning to a crisp. Well, that and there’s a lot of money to be made the bigger we get. Let’s not discount that.

Lastly, Enphase has struggled in recent years to find its footing after competitor SolarEdge came into the market with a bang. I’ve always thought their response was timid. This news, coming as it does on the heels of a strong financial showing last quarter, means CEO Badri Kothandaraman is up for a good fight – and that could be good news for the company’s shareholders.

More: Another U.S. Solar Company Seeks Exemption From Trump’s Tariff (Bloomberg)

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Good morning, everyone. I’m Frank Andorka, and I’ll be your new senior correspondent here at SolarWakeup.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’ve been in the solar industry now for seven years now, first as the founding editor of Solar Power World and most recently as a correspondent for pv magazine USA.

But at various times during my glorious time in this industry, I’ve worked with the proprietor of this news analysis site and have enjoyed every minute of it. So when Yann Brandt asked me if I’d ever consider joining his team at the ever-expanding Wakeup Media, well, how could I possibly say no?

There’s one thing you need to know about me straight off: I don’t hold back. I don’t pull punches. And I’m pretty opinionated. So when there’s an issue facing the solar industry that I feel passionately about, you can rest assured I will share it with you first.

More importantly, however, I’ve been a reporter for more than 20 years. I love breaking news and sharing it with my readers. And what I’ve always loved about SolarWakeup in general – and Yann in particular – is the context in which he puts solar industry news.

Based on my knowledge of what has happened in the industry over the past seven years (and the people I know who can tell me what it was like before then), I will be helping Yann put the news in the proper context for you – how it will affect you and your bottom line.

Because after all, any publication worth investing my time in should strive to serve its readers first. It should be the industry’s advocate when possible, its conscience when necessary and a place to have a little fun along the way.

You can reach me at frank@solarwakeup.com or hit me up at 216-272-2885 (I text at that number, and that’s probably the best way to reach me after email).

I look forward to helping Yann continue the important mission he has committed to at SolarWakeup, and I look forward to getting to know all of you, too. Thanks for reading.

Frank Andorka is a senior correspondent at SolarWakeup. You can reach him at frank@solarwakeup.com

By Yann Brandt

What: President of NY Green Bank, Alfred Griffin, Talks Solar Capital and Green Bank Success

Summary: During an interview at SolarWakeup Live! New York, Alfred Griffin, the President of the New York Green Bank, gave an overview of the type of work that the Green Bank has been undertaking. The active pipeline is in excess of $500 million and is meant to create a level of comfort with the types of transactions for private capital. Griffin goes into detail on how the bank operates and how solar developers, investors and market participants can take advantage of NY Green Bank’s offerings.

SolarWakeup View: The NY Green Bank is one of the highest profile attempts by a Governor to bring capital to the solar market. In 2018, the NY Green Bank is on track to be cumulatively cash positive, meaning the tax payers are off the hook on the overhead expense to running the bank. Griffin makes some news at SolarWakeup Live! when I asked him whether other States should do this as well. The NY Green Bank is on track to offer its services to other States and leverage the experience and overhead expense across State lines.

Yann Brandt is the CEO of Wakeup Media and Managing Editor of SolarWakeup