In a teleconference to environment stakeholders in which SWu participated late Monday, senior White House staff outlined the Obama speech on climate change that will occur later today.  In addition to regulating CO2 emissions from all existing power plants, the administration will “double down” on the use of public lands for solar and wind development.  The administration will also outline strengthening the excellent work DOE is doing to innovate on financing structure for renewable energy and efficiency.  A climate action plan has been circulated and is available here

News

• CNN: Obama to tackle climate change in speech
• Gigaom: The future of solar financing
• RE World: Public Capital Vehicles Could Expand Renewable Energy’s Access
• Greentech Media: Washington, DC Signs Its First Major PACE Deal
• Grist: Celebrating Solar Power in North Carolina
• Solar Industry: New York Misses Deadline On Enacting Popular Solar Bill
• Desert Dispatch: Developer abandons Calico Solar Energy Project
• Forbes: China Escalates Solar War

Opinions

• Arizona Times: Cost shifts: The inconvenient truth of rooftop solar

Have a great day!

Yann

A weekend of innovation around the solar sector: new cleantech hub in Brooklyn, securitization of solar assets, more adoption of PACE policies, and utilities being challenged at the State level.  How important is innovation for your company and where does it occur?

News

• NY Times: [PACE] Tax Programs to Finance Clean Energy Catch On
• Think Progress: Obama Will Announce Regulation Of CO2 From Power Plants
• Greentech Media: The Continuing Saga of Solar Policy in Arizona
• Forbes: Securitizing Solar Assets Gets Serious
• Breaking Energy: New York City Becoming Haven for Energy-related Startups
• Business Week: China Moves Production Overseas to Avoid EU Solar Duties
• Atlanta Journal: Ga. solar panels show utility vulnerabilities

Opinions

• MIT: What Tech Is Next for the Solar Industry?
• David Burton: Solar REITs Unlikely to Win Favorable IRS Ruling

Have a great day!

Yann

A question about Distributed Generation, are building owners looking at DG to lower/fix costs or is it a greater goal to limit dependence on a central sometimes mismanaged system? Will be interesting to see how this plays out in the US and other areas.  Go Heat!

News

• Greentech Media: Module Cost Outlook: 36 Cents Isn’t As Low As You Think
• Solar Industry: Future Uncertain For Renewables Programs In Congress
• LA Daily News: DWP Ratepayer Advocate Fred Pickel thwarted on solar plans
• Long Island: LIPA Eliminated: Long Island Utilities to Be Privatized, Rates Frozen
• Bloomberg: Hawaiian Electric Looking to Fast-Track Wind, Solar Deal
• Forbes: Richard Kauffman Confirmed As Chair Of New York State’s Energy Agency

Opinions

• Solar Power World: What Is Congress Thinking? It’s Not As Bad As You Think
• RE World: Are Solar Utilities Obsolete?
• Greentech Media: Coming (Very) Soon: Obama’s Climate Strategy

Have a great day!

Yann