Home Solar Moves Forward. California has moved the home solar mandate forward as they plan for the implementation. The Building Standards Commission has taken the necessary step to allow the rule to start on January 1, 2020. 
Carbon Free, Not Clean Energy. Looking at the Xcel Energy announcement, my first two thoughts. 100% carbon free doesn’t mean 100% clean energy, Vox should know better to distinguish this. Secondly, what is the plan to execute on this? Is the hope that Xcel will own all of the assets or create an environment for distributed generation to thrive?
Behind the Scenes. Frank goes behind the scenes on the SESA PR and SEIA coming together with a Q&A with PJ Wilson to discuss the news. 
Solar In DC. SEIA is hosting a summit in DC and interviewing members of Congress including Senator Whitehouse (D-RI). Reports from inside the room speak to the support that solar has at the baseline level across demographics and party lines. Many of the quotes do appear to make this a bit of the echo chamber except for the talk that solar should push for the ITC to be expanded to storage. I see this as a potential starting block for the ITC to be extended once again. More on that to come. 
Huawei Breaking News. The news broke late last night that the CFO of Huawei Technologies was detained in Canada, potentially at the request of the US. Reports have it that the US is considering Huawei as a national security risk and could create a sub plot to the tariff talks and newly found truce. This isn’t a solar direct story but has enough potential impact that is a regulatory risk for the solar market participants. 

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Yann

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Yesterday, the Solar and Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico (SESA-PR) joined the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) as an affiliate member. We wanted to find out what role solar electricity is playing in rebuilding the island's electrical infrastructure after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria more than a year ago, and what inspired them to join SEIA as an affiliate. We talked with spokesman PJ Wilson to find out. SolarWakeu0 (SW): What role has solar played in restoring electricity on the island since Maria? PJ Wilson, SESA-PR (Wilson): Solar has played a role in Puerto Rico in a few important ways. Solar-powered water pumps and large-scale batteries provided water to many communities across the island. Solar and battery systems were able to restore power to many fire stations, clinics and hospitals. Municipalities installed solar-powered street lights. And during the blackout, more than 10,000 homes added solar and storage.

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SW: What do you think the future potential for solar is for Puerto Rico? Wilson: If we’re able to get effective policies, incentives, and financing mechanisms in place, then we’ll see billions of dollars in residential, commercial, utility-scale and microgrid solar projects over the next few years. The CEO of PREPA has announced a goal of getting to 40% renewable energy within five years, and last month the Senate passed a sweeping energy reform bill that would require Puerto Rico to get 100% of its power from renewables by 2050. SW: What led you to become a SEIA affiliate at this particular point in time? Wilson: Right now we’re on the cusp of a lot of different factors that could accelerate the solar + storage industry in 2019, and many of them have a lot to do with federal funding and federal agencies. While SESA focuses mostly on policy advocacy, local incentive program design, and facilitating actual solar projects moving forward quickly in Puerto Rico, our friends at SEIA are able to provide important insight to federal issues, which is their forte. SW: What do you think SESA-PR brings to SEIA? Wilson: Puerto Rico is an exciting Petri dish of what’s possible in the realm of utilizing solar and storage technology that’s more advanced and costs less than it ever has before. As the industry tries new approaches in Puerto Rico, lessons learned will be shared more broadly because of our affiliation with SEIA. SW: What can SEIA bring to you? Wilson: SEIA has a long track record of success nationally in fostering the solar industry, and they’ve also supported the development of many local affiliates around the nation. Their breadth of experience in both areas helps SESA develop more quickly and effectively. Also, Puerto Rico’s status as a U.S. Territory means that their relationship with the federal government is unique, so locally the affiliation adds a valuable badge of credibility to SESA. SW: What role will energy storage play in restoring power to the devastated Puerto Rican grid? Wilson: After Hurricane Maria, it because obvious that storage has become an essential component of any solar project on the island. While it will take years for the modernization of the overall electric grid, storage adds the element of converting solar power into a clean, reliable source of energy 24/7. Especially after experiencing the impacts of the longest blackout in the history of the nation, Puerto Rico homes, businesses, neighborhoods and entire towns are hungry to install solar systems with onsite storage that will keep the lights on during the next inevitable power outages. SW: What would you like the outside world to know about solar development in Puerto Rico? Wilson: The outside world should know that Puerto Rico is ready for the solar and storage companies on the island to keep blossoming, and that there’s plenty of room for new companies to enter the market. They should also know that SESA is here to help companies get established in the market.

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Facebook has had some public relations setbacks lately, but one of the items on its long-term agenda that consistently gets it good press is the fact that it has started demanding clean energy - specifically solar - power its energy-intensive data centers. In Virginia, for example, Dominion Energy had to create an entirely new type of agreement and build several solar farms so the state would be considered as a potential site for one of the data centers. We've seen these developments across the country, and it's one of the unalloyed goods that Facebook has done. So the question becomes: Could Facebook spread the solar gospel to other southern states? A recent agreement in Georgia provides some evidence that the answer to the question could be yes. Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), a consumer-owned utility with a reputation for energy innovation, has executed contracts with two solar developers for three new solar projects as part of its agreement to supply 100 percent renewable energy for Facebook's data center in Newton County, Georgia. The collaboration is the largest solar development project in Georgia. Facebook chose Walton EMC as the power supplier for the Newton Data Center when it announced the 970,000 square foot facility in March. Silicon Ranch and Strata Solar will construct world-class solar power plants that will support the new data center. The facilities will be located in Southwest Georgia. "We are thrilled to be working with Walton EMC, Silicon Ranch and Strata Solar to bring more than 200 megawatts (mW) of new solar resources to Georgia," said Rachel Peterson, vice president of data center strategy for Facebook. "We are committed to supporting all of Facebook's operations with 100 percent renewable energy, and these new solar facilities will help us meet that goal for our Newton Data Center. Developing these resources within the same electric grid that supports our data center will bring even more investment to the region." The Newton Data Center is Facebook's ninth such state-of-the-art facility in the country. The centers are among the most advanced, energy-efficient facilities in the world. They use 38 percent less electricity than the average data center.

SEIA Adds Affiliate. SEIA has joined forces with SESA-PR, the solar and storage association chapter in Puerto Rico, as an official affiliate. This is largely different than many State chapter SEIAs that are not actually affiliated with the national group. Some however have taken strides to get closer to SEIA for various reasons. It makes me wonder if there is a purposeful move to join forces given there has been criticism of the relationship the national SEIA has had with some State chapters. Largely the relationships are fruitful and mutually beneficial but there are outlier cases where an affiliate status would allow some disagreements to be handled internally instead of in a public domain or filing. 
Maersk Abandons Fossil Fuels. The shipping giant is out with a pledge to cut emissions to zero by 2050. This is a giant statement given they transport 20% (1 in 5) sea going containers. Hard to imaging how this will be executed but you could imagine electric ships of some sort cruising the world’s oceans. Maersk’s COO tells the Financial Times, “We will have to abandon fossil fuels. We will have to find a different type of fuel or a different way to power our assets. This is not just another cost-cutting exercise. It’s far from that. It’s an existential exercise, where we as a company need to set ourselves apart.”
Xcel Sets Own RPS. The midwest utility which is known for its major coverage in Colorado and Minnesota is looking to be 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Short on details but highlighting the goal is intriguing given the potential for solar growth in Colorado and the hopes that Minnesota continues to grow. Becky Stanfield and Jessica Scott of Vote Solar react, “Showing the region and the nation that 100% carbon free is possible and the right choice for health, jobs and leaving a better world for our children. We look forward to working with Xcel and state regulators to help meet those bold but achievable targets in a way that is affordable, reliable and puts people first."
New Home Solar Means More Solar. Policies like California’s new home solar mandate would triple the residential solar market by 2045. The key is the customer acquisition and scale of construction. A home being built doesn’t have the same hurdle to sell through especially if the home is built with solar before anyone owns it. With homebuilders choosing top quality products and buying at scale, this drives the price down and makes the installation more efficient. Lastly, when the cost is put into a mortgage the payments are significantly lower than when solar is installed at a later date. 
Audi Joins EV Party. The company is investing $16billion to build out its electric and autonomous vehicle fleet. In other words, the company is ensuring survival by making cars that buyers/users will require from OEMs. I’m waiting for one of these firms to reach out of the auto market to invest in a solar type company, I think the day is coming. 

Have a great day!

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Have a great day!
Yann