Wakeup Thoughts:  In the Solar Industry I often encounter people that are very knowledgeable and have a laser sharp focus on executing their expertise.  For a long time, I have been a fan of the Center for Environment Innovation in Roofing based in Washington D.C..  They developed initiatives like RISE, RoofPoint and I promised to plug their VP of Sustainability, Jim Kirby.  Follow him @JamesKirbyCEIR he is worth the follow.

News

• Forbes – Exciting Ideas In Solar Energy From ARPA-E
• Greentech Media – Analyst Alert: Solar PV Pricing On the Rise
• RE World – Fraunhofer Will Certify PV for “Technical Bankability”
• Solar Industry – After The First 400 MW: MA Makes Plans
• PV-Tech – China comes top on E&Y’s renewable energy index
• SF Chronicle – California solar rebates: going, going, almost gone
• Examiner – Obama’s ‘clean energy’ company ordered to clean up

Opinions

• Steve Geiger – Ernest Moniz Has the Right Stuff for the DOE Top Post
• NY Times – Limiting Carbon Dioxide Pollution by Power Plants

Have a great day!

Yann

Wakeup Thoughts: In 2008, the solar industry installed well under 1GW of capacity and 2012 has us right around 2GW.  Is there room for growth? Sure. Is it a reason to call the Secretary of Energy a disastrous pick? Absolutely not.  DOE serves a purpose in my opinion that includes R&D and helping put the pieces in place for the private sector to deliver deployment.  I respect Jigar Shah, but I do not agree with his opinion article.

News

• Greentech Media – Are Banks Backing Away From Solar Projects?
• Gigaom – Bringing a little cheer to energy innovation
• RE World – Boulder steps closer to creating clean energy-based utility
• AOL Energy – Big Solar Looks To Grow With Precise Cloud Forecasts
• Solar Power Portal – Only 40% of consumers trust energy suppliers
• Sacramento Bee – Brown fast-tracks review of Riverside solar plant
• RE World – Massachusetts Maps its Solar Energy Future
• Bloomberg – Uruguay Plans 200MW of the World’s Cheapest Solar

Opinions

• KCET – California Should Remove Limits on Net Metered Solar
• Jigar Shah – Pres. Obama Doesn’t Know How to Deploy New Energy

Have a great day!

Yann

.Wakeup Thoughts: Silicon Valley is looking for grid innovation…Sandy Utilities are spending billions in their areas.  Does anyone else feel like the two should be speaking? Or do the Utilities plan on rebuilding more of the same, maybe a few smart meters and elevated transformers?

News

• Bloomberg – Silicon Valley Shifting to Power Grid After Solar Sours
• AOL Energy – NJ Power Company Set to Spend Billions post Sandy
• CleanTechnica – 35X Increase For Solar In Argentina
• Daily Beast – Groups Target Ernest Moniz, likely Choice for Energy
• RE World – The Case for Solar REITs
• AOL Energy – Here Comes the Sun: Israel and Solar Energy
• CleanTechnica – Affordable Solar Power For The 99%

Opinions

• Solar Power World – Sec. Chu: We’re Reaching For The Sun
• Tor Valenza – Who’s Your Non-Solar Co-Marketing Partner?
• Billings Gazette – Obama targets oil, gas industries for new tax

Have a great day!

Yann

These are your top stories of the week! See what your colleagues read the most this week.

#1 @AOLEnergy – The Man With Money in His Voice: Richard Kauffman

#2 @SolarIndustry – LADWP Solar FIT Program Attracting Strong Interest

#3 @GreentechMedia – Solar Finance Innovations

#4 @REWorld – The Future of Electricity Markets

#5 @PaulaMints1 – Chasing Unicorns and Treasure Maps in Solar

#6 @SolarPowerWorld – Blog: 7 Myths About Solar

#7 @AOLEnergy – Three Ways for a Solar Energy Deal to Fail

#8 @PV_Tech – German governments reject renewables cap

#9 @SolarIndustry – Pennsylvania Bill Would Increase RPS

#10 @HawaiiReporter – University of Hawaii Solar Tax Credit Report

Have a great weekend!

Yann