Today’s news are filled with solar politics, which seems to be the season for it. Much like our push for ITC extension, it is important to look at the numbers behind our industry to understand what is going on. For example, in 2012 the cost of the ITC was around $3 Billion. We have yet to see the cost impact for 2013 but agree that it will be higher but far less than what politicos make it seem to be. We also look at the Vivint IPO filing and give you all of the numbers you need to know about the company. Some great insight for everyone.

News

• SolarWakeup: All The Numbers Of The Vivint Solar IPO You Need To Know
• Breaking Energy: Energy Quote of the Day: ‘Grid Jihad’
• Bloomberg: China Policy Spurs Rooftop Solar in World’s Top Market
• CleanTechnica: Saudi Arabia Solar Jumps On Diesel-Killer Bandwagon
• PV Magazine: Activ Solar rejects Crimean government claims
• MSNBC: Hillary Clinton’s hard choices on energy
• PV-Tech: Brazil presidential race is solar opportunity
• Fox: Solar firms, Hawaii Electric blame each other for delays in connecting solar

Opinions

• CleanTechnica: Utilities Scared of “Green Governor” Crist Returning in Florida

Have a great day!

Yann

Content matters, that is what I tell many of the readers that email me a piece that wasn’t featured in the SolarWakeup rundown. Writing an article is a great first step, but spending the time writing it and then adding self promoting content is a waste of time. Don’t sell yourself in an article other than establishing that you know what you are talking about, and definitely don’t sell yourself by getting the facts wrong. That will backfire in a big way because not only did the article go to waste but someone is going to call you out about your mistakes.

News

• Solar Power World: New Solar Fire Regs Discussion Heats Up
• NY Times: Interest in Solar Water Heating Spreads Globally
• Reuters: German utilities eye solar leasing to help turnaround
• PV Magazine: European Council ups 2030 renewables target to 30%
• Bloomberg: Delhi Plans to Spur Rooftop Solar With U.S.-Style Policy
• MW Energy: Despite lack of deployment, solar tech thrives in Michigan
• Energy Collective: Will US Utilities Offer an Electricity Triple Play?
• Solar Industry: As Coal Dims, Solar Will Catch Fire… Eventually

Opinions

• Paula Mints: The Inevitability of Solar

Have a great day!

Yann

Last Friday, the Utah PSC turned down the Utility’s (Rocky Mountain Power) request to charge solar homeowners $4.65 per month. This is another big win for the solar industry and the advocates that fought hard to make sure the charge would be turned down. At times it is hard to draw the line between your business and public policy, so turning down requests for help (financial and otherwise) happens, especially when times are tough. Unfortunately, policy decisions create a real impact on your business so if you can help, do. If you can and don’t then you become a policy freeloader.

News

• Think Progress: Solar Mfg. Wants More Tariffs As Punishment For Cyber-Attacks
• Forbes: Solar Energy Revolution: A Massive Opportunity
• Newsday: Yes, solar is booming, but …
• AL.com: When it comes to renewable energy, is Alabama closed for business?
• CleanTechnica: Rarely Tapped City Strategy for Boosting Local Renewable Energy
• PV Magazine: New UK funding scheme will hit solar hard, says industry
• Bloomberg: Shunfeng Talks to Banks With Aim to Become Solar Giant
• Solar Industry: O&M Providers Have Health Of Solar In Their Hands

Opinions

• SL Tribune: Editorial: Utah PSC was right to deny solar power surcharge

Have a great day!

Yann

I am a big fan of the IHS Research data in today’s post in CleanTechnica. There is not going to be a shortage of panels. There probably will not even be a jump in pricing. Pricing (globally) will stabilize as manufacturers stop selling panels at little to no margins. Much of the US market is shielded from this anyways at this point. At least, I have not encountered any US based projects buying panels at sub-$0.60/watt pricing.

News

• Salt Late Tribune: Utah commission rejects proposed fee for solar homes
• CleanTechnica: No Solar Panel Supply Shortage Coming
• PV Magazine: Arizona, Hawaii lead the U.S. in per-capita solar
• Yahoo: Florida power utilities fear return of ‘Green Governor’ Crist
• PV-Tech: LDK Solar founder and chairman steps down
• Scientific American: Solar Becomes a ‘Default’ Generation Resource
• CleanTechnica: China Could Reach 100 GW Of PV Capacity By 2018
• Motley Fool: Corporate America Is Betting Big on Solar Energy

Opinions

• USA Today: You can’t have solar without silver

Have a great day!

Yann