Yesterday we brought up the new battleground for ALEC’s fight against solar.  The best thing that solar can do to wage this battle is expand the levels of profitability in the solar value chain.  The more profits that flow through our companies, the bigger of the budgets of our industry advocates should become.

News

• NBC: Power play: Utilities want solar users to pay up
• Breaking Energy: What Can Investors Expect from 2014 US Renewable Markets?
• GTM: China Decides Which Solar Companies Live or Die
• Bloomberg: German Solar Installs Sink, Prompting Calls to Slow Subsidy Cuts
• Energy Collective: The Effect of Intermittent Renewables on Electricity in Germany
• RE World: Formal Rulemaking Process Begins for MA SREC-II Program
• PV-Tech: US solar FiTs under fire following Florida tariff suspension
• White House: New Steps to Strengthen the Nation’s Energy Infrastructure

Opinions

• AccuWeather: Are Solar Panels Usable in Snowy Climates?

Have a great day!

Yann

Pushing anti-solar policies and having utilities fight for them is one thing.  But the permanent placement of an ALEC legislator to the State Utilities Commission is something that solar cannot stand for.  Our battles will be fought and won or lost at State Utilities Boards.  The commissions and their staff make the decisions about projects, policies and the details of regulations.  Insurance requirements for net metered solar? PUCs. Application fees for residential solar interconnection? PUCs.  Everything goes back to PUCs.  This is our battle, commissions are our battleground.  We have to win here.

News

• Think Progress: CO Gov. Nominates Energy Official Despite Ties To ALEC
• PV-Tech: US government opens Chinese solar trade investigation
• Solar Industry: NREL Plays Matchmaker For Solar Start-Ups Seeking Capital
• NY Times: As Winter Takes Hold, Plunging Temperatures Test Utilities
• Forbes: Mosaic Plans Overseas Expansion With Its Solar Campaigns
• Business Insider: Here Are The Four Major Survivors Of The Great US Solar Cull
• NRDC: NY Governor Cuomo Pledges $1 Billion For Solar

Opinions

• Vic Shao: Five Reasons The Cleantech Industry Is Stronger Than Ever
• Michael Lynch: The Riskiness Of Renewable Energy Investments

Have a great day!

Yann

Germany produced almost 5% of its energy with solar and California peaked at 3GW of solar last year, neither grid broke, collapsed, or failed to do as expected.  Utilities will keep up the story about how bad it is and unfair solar is for the grid infrastructure.  At the same time, those companies will invest in solar projects at the lowest debt rates because of consumer guaranteed returns on investments.

News

• RE World: The Benefits and Likelihood of Solar Trends in 2014 and Beyond
• GTM: California’s Sizzling Solar Busts Through 3GW
• CleanTechnica: New Report Affirms Dark Money Lines Utility Pockets
• SolarServer: Germany meets 4.9% of electricity demand with solar PV in 2013
• EarthTechling: Solar Net Metering War: Casualty-Free, For Now
• RE World: Solar Popularity Continues to Grow in Massachusetts
• GTM: FERC’s New Rules Will Make Clean Energy Development Easier

Opinions

• PV-Tech: So long, and thanks for all the sunshine
• Jigar Shah: An open invitation to 60 Minutes to discuss energy

Have a great day!

Yann

At a certain point solar is going to cross the “surprise, there are good things happening in solar” threshold.  Goldman Sachs put SCTY on the conviction buy list and Deutsche Bank calls for the second solar gold rush.  Great things are happening in solar, write about it or pitch your story to a solar publication.  If you need help, let me know.

News

• CleanTechnica: China Withdraws Support For 75% Of Solar Manufacturers
• San Jose Inside: How Rooftop Solar Got Its Groove Back
• REnewEconomy: Deutsche Bank predicts second solar “gold-rush”
• Solar Industry: Venture Funding For Solar Down, Total Funding Up In 2013
• Solar Novus: The State of the Solar Industry in 2014
• GTM: Mexico as Bellwether for an Unsubsidized Solar Future
• Motley Fool: Here Are 3 Bright Reasons You Should Buy a Solar Panel Kit in 2014

Opinions

• Tina Casey: Wall Street Loves Solar, Just In Time For Efficiency Breakthrough
• Zachary Shahan: Did 60 Minutes Read “How To Write A Hit Piece On The Solar”

Have a great day!

Yann