Final Madness. We’re setup for a best of the rest heading into the Final Four. David Beech, Jon Abe, Sam Boykin and FTC’s own Brian DiDonato are going into the weekend setting up for a Michigan versus Illinois winner with an outside looking in for those that picked Arizona. Yours truly had one of the worst showings this year and I’m fully out of it with my Florida takes all pick.
The Volatility of Gas. This is an economic statement because economies require energy to deliver all other production. With the war in the Middle East, global gas supply is severely impacted, reduced and causing ramifications across the world. Germany is paying 4x for energy compared to France and India has to ration gas supply based on needs at home and in Factories. It’s a reminder that a fixed price contract for long term is a key value proposition for our industry.
News
1 New York Times:
This Is What Happens When the Gas Runs Out
2 Bloomberg:
India’s Gas Shortage Will Make Dal Compete With Data
3 Utility Dive:
Large load tariffs proliferate as states take more active role in data center regulation
4 Axios:
The race to build new nuclear reactors — fast
6 PV-Tech:
Philippines fast-tracks 1.4GW of renewables amid Iran energy price shock
7 Energy Storage News:
‘Do not overlook it at pre-construction’
8 PV-Magazine:
U.S. small-scale solar hit record 1.9 GW in Q4 2025
Opinions:
9 Canary Media:
Will California fund or kill its thriving virtual power plant program?
Have a great day!
Yann
Opinion
Best, Yann
News
1 Bloomberg:
JPMorgan’s Institutional Clients Are Asking About Climate Tipping Points
2 PV-Tech:
‘You’re going to see a lot more of these’
3 Utility Dive:
Utility-scale solar and wind hit a record 17% of US generation in 2025
4 New York Times:
Why the Iran War May Force Countries to Rely Less on Natural Gas
5 Reuters:
Iran war seen boosting renewable energy investment with focus on security, not climate
6 Energy Storage News:
'Absolutely bright’ future for battery storage in Ukraine
7 Canary Media:
The Iran war is driving a clean energy wake-up call
8 PV-Magazine:
U.S. ITC opens Section 337 probe into global TOPCon supply chain
Opinions:
9 Axios:
This man has a strategy for using Bezos' climate billions
Have a great day!
Yann
The EV Comeback. I may be biased because I’ve been driving electric since 2012 (Chevy Volt beta tester!). My reason for driving electric goes beyond that it’s a better car to drive, I get to plug in every night and start the day with a full tank of gas. Not going to the gas station is an amazing feeling. But it’s also because electricity tends to be FAR less volatile in pricing than gas, especially right now. This is the same thought process why corporations love solar, what other fuel can give you a 25 year contract with predictable contract costs. Imagine a gas plant locking in the cost of electricity (without fuel adjustments) for any period of time, let alone 25 years.
Political Payback. Fun article, you should read it.
News
1 Bloomberg:
The Solution to Soaring Gas Prices? For Some, It’s Going Electric
2 New York Times:
Wealthy Investors Are Targeting Foes of Clean Energy, and They Want Revenge
3 Utility Dive:
50 GW of data centers online at end of 2025, with MISO seeing strongest growth
4 Axios:
Energy execs say they're trying to address ratepayers' anger
5 Reuters:
Soaring AI demand spurs roll-out of long duration energy storage
6 PV-Tech:
SMA Solar losses exceed US$75 million in 2025
7 Solar Power World:
Report
8 Canary Media:
Virginia set to enact a flurry of laws boosting cleaner, cheaper power
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
California bill would unlock distributed energy participation in grid resource adequacy market
Have a great day!
Yann
Insurance Innovation Rewarded. Congratulations to the team at kWh Analytics, especially Jason Kaminsky and Richard Matsui who couch surfed their way to building an incredible business. A 14 year overnight success as they say, as kWh gets acquired by Beazley.
Digital Interconnection. Regulators tend to see trends a bit in the rearview mirror but using storage as an interconnection aide is an obvious one that the industry has been talking about and hoping that the market operators adopt at bigger scale. That being said, they also need to be looking ahead (and asset owners should self regulate) if they think that batteries can be operated with underdeveloped, subpar and offshore software controls. If we’re going to use batteries to interconnect America’s AI infrastructure, then we know what doing it right looks like.
News
1 Yahoo Finance!:
Beazley agrees to acquire US-based kWh Analytics
2 PV-Magazine:
California’s SB 886 could make storage a prerequisite for data center interconnection
3 Canary Media:
Suddenly, the US manufactures a ton of grid batteries
4 Axios:
Rare offshore wind reversal highlights shift under Trump
5 Bloomberg:
Expensive Oil Is EV Makers’ Best Sales Pitch
6 Reuters:
CERAWeek opens with protests as energy chiefs clash
7 PV-Tech:
Solar wafer origin could be ‘significant risk’ for US industry, lawyers warn
8 Energy Storage News:
Nebraska advances energy storage and data centre-focused bill
Opinions:
9 Solar Power World:
Aurora warns resi installers
Have a great day!
Yann
