Opinion
Best, Yann
News
1 PV-Tech:
US government to block solar imports linked to polysilicon providers
2 Axios:
Pelosi and Schumer agree to push Congress on climate crisis in WH meeting
3 Politico:
Wine, watermarks and a farmer’s nudge
4 Reuters:
California approves clean energy proposal to help respond to extreme weather
5 Energy Storage News:
Maine becomes 9th US state to adopt energy storage deployment target
6 Canary Media:
ESS is betting the world is ready for a billion-dollar battery disrupter
7 PV-Magazine:
National labs identify priorities in modernizing U.S. electricity markets
Opinions:
8 The Drive:
The National Guard Just Simulated A Cyberattack That Brought Down Utilities Nationwide
Have a great day!
Yann
News Of The Day. Bloomberg and Reuters are reporting that the US will start blocking polysilicon imports from the Xinjiang province and name specific companies. We’ll be following analysts’ coverage on the impacted companies and how this will affect the solar market. More to come…
Opinion
News
1 Bloomberg:
U.S. to Block Some Solar Goods Made in Xinjiang Region
2 New York Times:
A Shift on Climate for Some G.O.P. Leaders
3 PV-Tech:
Daqo New Energy set for IPO after clearing CSRC registration
4 Reuters:
U.S. solar developers see opportunity in America's post-industrial lands
5 Axios:
Fossil fuel subsidies fall but a rebound awaits
6 Energy Storage News:
Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent has 2.3GWh of US battery storage contracted or in construction
7 Canary Media:
Oregon bill targets 100% clean power by 2040, with labor and environmental justice on board
Opinions:
8 PV-Magazine:
ConEdison is developing a battery storage and EV charging facility
Have a great day!
Yann
Domestic Manufacturing. I got an interesting AMA question about domestic manufacturing, especially with the DC headlines this week about a tax credit for domestic factories. It seems to me that the best thing going for domestic content, cells and modules, is based on supply chain hiccups and cost. I.e. if the local cost of manufacturing can make the product more readily available and absorb the cost of offshore logistics, then more manufacturing will happen here. The best analogy is US made car manufacturing, cheaper to make them here than to offshore the manufacturing and ship the cars.
A Domestic Premium? Can domestic modules, inverters and BOS get a premium for being made in America? I wish I could say yes, but every time I’ve tried to sell the value of domestically made solar products, primarily my experience in racking, the answer was a hard no.
How To Fix. Manufacturing is good work, it has predictable hours, training for new employees and consistent ability to promote from within. The pressure to justify domestic manufacturing is complicated sometimes and in an economy driven by promoting goals through the tax code, here’s my fix for domestic manufacturing of all types. Unlike traditional labor expenses that are deducted from revenue, allow for direct shift labor expense in manufacturing to be a 2x or 3x deduction. That means that a $25 per hour employee which has a $5 tax benefit, would deduct at $16 per hour.
Opinion
News
1 Energy Storage News:
US energy secretary - ‘We need to act now to develop domestic lithium battery capabilities’
2 PV-Magazine:
SEIA has a ‘strong sense’ that U.S. solar supply chains are shifting, but hard numbers are scarce
3 Canary Media:
Used EV batteries could get a second life storing clean energy on California's grid
4 Reuters:
Falling renewables costs undercut new and some existing coal plants - study
5 GreenBiz:
GM plans to drive $35 billion into zero-emission vehicles
6 Solar Industry:
Work Under Way on New Utility-Scale Project in North Carolina
7 Utility Dive:
US grid needs overhaul to keep up with renewable revolution, says GE exec, Sen. Heinrich
8 Axios:
Why electrifying the light truck market could be tough
Opinions:
9 The Advocate:
'I thought we were an oil and gas state' - Solar developments in Louisiana draw increased scrutiny
Have a great day!
Yann
AMA. Let’s turn the table a bit as we wrap up Q2. Ask me anything about the solar market, energy storage or this newsletter. Mostly I’ll answer the email in private but any good questions will come out here. As always, you can hit reply to this email and reach me directly.
Opinion
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Solar manufacturing tax credit is introduced in the Senate
2 Solar Power World:
100+ organizations request 10-year extension and direct pay option for ITC
3 Utility Dive:
Bipartisan $973B infrastructure proposal alarms EV advocates with annual surcharge on vehicles
4 Axios:
St. Croix oil refinery shuts down "indefinitely" from financial restraints
5 Reuters:
Shortage of people, materials can slow energy transition - Enel CEO
6 PV-Tech:
Canada seeks dispute settlement over ‘unwarranted’ US solar trade tariffs
7 Energy Storage News:
Inside Europe’s newest frequency response opportunity for energy storage, aFRR
8 Canary Media:
7 cleantech segments beyond wind and solar that are luring investors
Opinions:
9 RMI:
Climate Finance - Between Promise and Delivery
Have a great day!
Yann
