I think it is time for the SFTA, solar free trade agreement. The global back and forth on trade issues is getting out of hand. Companies win some, lose some, meanwhile all markets lose. 4 weeks ago, 850 people went to the Sunshot summit and we talked about soft costs. I guess a CVD and the most probable imminent dumping tariff is a ridiculous example of costs that hurt our solar market. Any party trying to help the situation needs to realize that maybe they’re not cut out for it and let someone else in the game.

News

• Breaking Energy: US Steps Toward More China Tariffs – For Wrong Reason?
• Forbes: First Solar Could Benefit If India Imposes Duties On Cell Imports
• RE World: Google Aims To “Fundamentally Change the World of Power”
• CleanTechnica: Climate Change Denial Is Big-Ticket & Futile, Says Obama
• RMI: Why Barclays Downgrade of U.S. Electricity Means a Consumer Upgrade
• PV-Tech: TASC, local utilities, participate in MA solar policy briefing
• GTM: Germany’s Renewable Energy Law Is About to Look More American
• Think Progress: Extra Fees On Solar Customers Sparks Outrage In Utah

Opinions

• Energy Collective: Smart Investors, Not VCs, Are Funding Cleantech Startups

Have a great day! Yann

Nothing about solar is simple anymore. The complications about our industry are in the many levels of details that we have to operate in. Net metering and Interconnection can easily be manipulated by creating restrictions to reduce access to the policies. In Florida, for example, sale of electricity is reserved for utilities. The sale of electricity to one person is the sale of electricity to a market therefore requiring the seller to be a regulated utility. This cuts both ways as ideas like ratebasing solar assets by utilities couldn’t work in a PPA scenario. Sign the pledge and take a stand for open solar for all.

News

• Spark: Rock the Rooftop: Wellinghoff’s Plan to Set Solar Straight
• GTM: 5 Things You Should Know About China’s Cleantech Investors
• RenewEconomy: Rooftop solar now 2% of Australia’s total generation
• PV-Tech: Mexico and Malaysia likely locations for PV production 
• Bloomberg: Buffett Ready to Double $15 Billion Solar, Wind Bet
• Vote Solar: San Antonio Utility’s 2nd Power Grab
• MW Energy: Will report shine light on Michigan’s solar future?

Opinions

• Gigaom: Why Steve Jobs would hate the solar market
• RGB: Desperation, Is Thy Name Xcel Energy?

Have a great day! Yann

SolarWakeup readers are the best, your devotion to solar advocacy is incredible and your reception to the Solar Pledge has been much greater than expected. That said, we have work to do. Today’s news lead with PG&E looking to change the solar rules in California. Help get the word out about the Solar Pledge, it only works if we get together as a group and show legislators that solar support is greater than any check a big corporation can write. Post a #solarpledge image on your Linkedin, facebook or twitter account and spread the word (image 1, image 2, image 3)

News

• GTM: PG&E and Politicians Looking to Gut Utility Competition Law
• Motley Fool: Could the Cost of Solar Panels Go Up Following New Tariffs?
• Bloomberg: India Dumping Duties Risk Choking Modi’s Solar Revolution
• Grist: Four reasons to love Obama’s power rules, and three reasons not to
• Solar Server: Spain approves retroactive policy to replace feed-in tariff
• RE World: Program Solves the Stranded Solar Meter Problem for CA Farms
• WBUR: Solar Gives Hawaii Utilities A Run For Their Money
• SF Gate: Tariffs could dim solar energy’s rapid growth

Opinions

• PV-Tech: Trade duties will hurt Americans more than us, says JinkoSolar

Have a great day! Yann

Today is an important day for SolarWakeup and the solar industry. 2014 has already shown what is coming up for solar, attacks from many angles. Our industry has grown and we now have to play in the big leagues. Today we launch the Solar Pledge, a grassroots effort to support and advocate for distributed solar policies, namely net metering and the ITC. We already have some great support lined up but we need you, your company and colleagues. If you are in a group or association, we welcome the opportunity for their support as well.

News

• SolarWakeup: Stand For Distributed Solar, Take The Solar Pledge
• USA Today: Why Buffett, Apple, Google love solar power
• Bloomberg: Sungevity CEO Shocks Reporter With Solar Grid Parity (Video)
• Al Jazeera: Qatar sheds light on its solar-power future
• Think Progress: How Obama’s Climate Rule Could Change The Job Market
• RE World: Financing Europe’s Climate Goals
• Breaking Energy: Digging in to Walmart’s Green Power Numbers
• CleanTechnica: NY’s Community Solar Will Make Solar More Accessible

Opinions

• AZ Central: Solar law shouldn’t change with a wave of the wand

Have a great day! Yann