Continuing the trend from yesterday, catch the buzz words. PSC in Florida says NEM was meant to ‘prime the pump’ and MI utilities are ready to ‘develop subsidy free’ programs. But let’s get real about how solar impacts low income families. Solar creates price stability and lowers the cost of energy. More importantly, as the NAACP points out in their report, solar is a job opportunity for low and middle class families. Installation jobs are open all over the Country and have an average pay of over $23/hour. The NAACP is right, solar is good for families everywhere, something the author of the top article hasn’t studied quite yet.

News

• Atlanta Black Star: Net Metering and Its Impact on Low-Income Consumers
• WCTV: More Customers Using the Sun to Power Homes
• Crains Business: Utilities don’t have to expand solar incentive programs
• RE World: China Panel Makers Hire Private Association to Tackle Trade Wars
• Gigaom: This startup says it can make the world’s cheapest solar panels
• Motley Fool: 3 Reasons Why Solar Isn’t the New Subprime
• CleanTechnica: Residential Solar Cheaper Than Grid In 25 States
• RE World: The Rise of the Residential Solar PV Customer

Opinions

• GTM: 3 Signs Cleantech Is Booming in 2014

Have a great day!

Yann

For any of you fortunate enough to work on solar policy, your jobs are safe. The daily onslaught of regulatory filings against solar and utility commission (bought by the utilities) games is hard to follow. From the Florida PSC literally denying access to solar in a hearing, Louisiana PSC hiring a utility front for a study, Utilities buying commissioners in Arizona, it is a handful for everyone involved. I tend to track on the higher levels, but I would not have seen the 50 State battle lines in our future but that is where we are heading.

News

• Times-Picayune: Consultant tapped for solar study too close to utilities
• AZ Central: Solar Cos sue to stop property taxes on leased rooftop panels
• Red, Green, Blue: Can’t We Get A Restraining Order Against Xcel Already?
• Bloomberg: Georgia Coal-to-Solar Pivot Shows the Way on Climate Regs
• Portland Tribune: PUC releases report on state pilot solar incentive
• GTM: Where Solar, Storage and Microgrids Are Starting to Take Hold
• PV-Tech: Cost cuts will drive Europe to 60% renewables by 2030
• Fox News: Iran splurges on solar technology in bid to boost economy

Opinions

• Forbes: Solar Disruption Could Spell Trouble For Utility Investors

Have a great day!

Yann

I was intrigued yesterday when I read the SEPA blog for the first time of many that day. First reaction, SEPA put in writing exactly what we expected. They are pro-solar and pro-growth but also pro-utility. Utilities like solar in 2 cases, when they get to invest in it in 49 States they don’t operate in and as utility owned generation (UOG, remember this term) at home. Today is the time for SEIA to make their statement. SEIA has yet to sign the Solar Pledge, some State chapters have, but national SEIA has not. Today is the day that SEIA has to decide that they believe in the non-SEPA version of net metering, fair and open for ALL participants without preferential treatment for any incumbent parties.

News

• GTM: How Arizona’s Property Tax Ruling Will Affect State Solar Prices
• PlanetSave: Solar Leasing To Lose Ground To Solar Ownership In 2015
• Motley Fool: Solar Grew 33% in 2013, and There’s Plenty of Room to Run
• RE World: China Becomes World’s Largest PV Market
• CleanTechnica: Renewables Save Fortune 500 Companies Over $1 Billion
• Forbes: The Rise of Big Solar In Chile
• Think Progress: Investment In Clean Energy Could Spur A $12 Billion Market
• CO Independent: Controversial utility commission appointee never confirmed

Opinions

• SEPA: Net Metering: Many Directions For National Debate

Have a great day!

Yann

Solar is like a never ending roller coaster. We beat development records, open new markets, start new factories, invent new financial models while trillion dollar industries want to destroy us. Every victory comes with a new battle. Our forecast is sunny, very sunny, after some scatted clouds. Meanwhile Wisconsin Utilities are at it again, with a barrage of filings to eliminate any market presence of solar, more of the same you would say. In the meantime, check out my current state of solar column below.

News

• SolarWakeup: Solar Forecast: Sunny After Some Scattered Clouds
• Journal Sentinel: Growing amount of solar a concern for Wisconsin utilities
• RenewEconomy: Utilities move to kick rooftop solar off the grid
• CleanTechnica: Off-Grid, Clean Energy Access Market Valued At $12 Billion
• ABC News: Illinois Investing in Solar Power
• Energy Collective: How Solar Finance is Driving Solar Businesses to Change
• RE World: US Ex-Im Hangs in Balance as Chief Defends Bank Against Critics
• GTM: Will Homeowners Ever Be More Important Than Power Plants?

Opinions

• Bill Gates: We Need Energy Miracles

Have a great day!

Yann