Passion is what makes us stay in solar and that we are all 21st century gold prospectors.  While Gigaom covers the flight from Cleantech venture capital, I think that angel/seed investors are coming towards us because while they may not believe that big factories are the answer, they know that a group of solar pros with passion is hard to stop. We may have hit a few bumps in the road but we are moving forward…what’s next!

News

• Gigaom – The problems with righteous investing
• HuffPost – Jewell’s Energy Strategy: Pledges Balanced Approach
• BizJournals – Sunrun lawsuit questions popular solar leases in AZ
• Forbes – Dow Chemical buys NuvoSun for making solar shingles
• Greentech Media – Project Developers See Solar as Easier Than Wind
• SolarWakeup – Project Pricing Index for March 2013
• BizJournals – Sky’s the limit for solar in Texas
• Bloomberg – China Drives Solar Growth Becoming Biggest Market

Opinions

• NY Times – Hicks Nix Climate Fix

Have a great day!

Yann

Wakeup Thoughts: The tale of the solar world in today’s SolarWakeup.  Solar’s largest IPP struggles to deliver profits, utilities feel the threat but don’t act, voters support solar (as always), and emerging markets are all the rage.  

News

• Bloomberg – U.S. Had $1.63 Billion Clean-Energy Surplus With China
• Greentech Media – SolarCity: Strong Growth But Firm Loses $91.5M
• KCET – Top Energy CEO Eyes Rooftop Solar As Threat, Opportunity
• NY Times – Solar Panels Rare Amid the Steeples
• Solar Industry – NC Voters Overwhelmingly Support Solar Energy
• HuffPost – Lancaster, CA: Solar On All Homes Will Be Required
• AOL Energy – Emerging Markets: Opportunities for Energy Innovation
• Bloomberg – Mexico’s Solar-Power Capacity May Treble This Year

Opinions

• David Bornstein – Crowdfunding Clean Energy

Have a great day!

Yann

Wakeup Thoughts: The solar industry is an industry of passionate professionals.  We strive to create sustainable profits for our companies and ourselves while advancing the industry.  In an effort to help everyone, SolarWakeup will be launching a job board…companies can post jobs and you can find opportunities, more networking and helping each other.

News

• Greentech Media – Tier-One Panels Aren’t Necessary for Projects
• AOL Energy -Pace of Transmission Investment Soars at Utilities
• Bloomberg – Suntech’s Former Chairman Shi Shocked
• Vote Solar – Residential PACE conclusion postponed
• Solar Industry – Unlocking A New Source Of Solar Project Capital
• Bloomberg – EU to Register Chinese Solar Panels
• Duluth News – Bills would expand Minnesota solar electricity

Opinions

• Adam James – The Angels and Demons of Cleantech Investment
• Tor Valenza – 12 Things You Can Do in One Day to Market Solar

Have a great day!

Yann

Wakeup Thoughts: Dr. Moniz, sequestration, solar airplanes and US Treasury letterhead (lack thereof). As we usher in a new Secretary of Energy, we have the opportunity to build on the successes (and failures) of the advances we made in recent years. Join me in wishing the best of luck to Dr. Moniz and the DoE team.

News

• CleanTechnica – Obama’s EPA & DOE Nominations Get Support
• US Treasury – Message on Sequestration
• RE World – How to Follow Renewable Energies into Emerging Markets
• AOL Energy – Solar Powered Airplane to Fly from California to NY
• Greentech Media – How Much Renewable Energy Can Grid Handle?
• U-T San Diego – Environmentalists challenge federal solar plan
• NPR – Solar Stuggles to Shine in Deregulated Texas Market
• Fortune – SolarCity CEO talks the future of solar power

Opinions

• Chris Minott – California’s Solar PV Rebates Nearly Over: Good News?

Have a great day!

Yann