Corporate Ventures. It is true that the most active investors in clean tech startups are the corporate venture arms. Utilities have historically been the most active in the space while oil majors have recently been very active, especially in solar. All of this activity is a positive sign not just for the funding but the inevitable stream of acquisitions that follow the successful ventures. A path to liquidity is what drives early stage capital so the industry needs as much of both as possible. 
100% RPS Plan. There’s been much written about the Gubernatorial races where the winning governor-elect supports 100% clean energy. It’s hard to put them all in the same bucket and when appropriate, the idea could be a good legislative plan. In other cases, depending on the State’s current success with solar, the goal should be to put the right market mechanics in place. Uncapped net metering and interconnection access may be more valuable to focus on. Keep in mind that very few States, given fair market access, have a negative financial return on rooftop solar. 
Utility Spiral. It’s been some time since we talked about the utility death spiral. This time I’m not bringing it up either, it’s a report based on utility executive sentiment talking about earnings pressure. At least they’re thinking about this 6 years in advance but if yesterday’s ACC vote in Arizona is a signal, it could come before. The ACC voted unanimously to study the idea of deregulating utilities and allowing retail energy choice. The effort is expected to be supported by corporations and opposed by the monopolies. 
NYTimes Analyzes. In only the way that national media can. States matter. Feds don’t. Carbon tax doesn’t work. Bipartisan support failed. That last one got me, Curbelo (from South Florida) didn’t fail to get re-elected because of his support for climate change reality. His district was the second largest margin of victory for Clinton in 2016. It also includes the Florida Keys and the results probably say that his acknowledgment and work on the climate change caucus kept him close. He even received an award from SEIA this year. It’s so easy to take solar and throw it into the blue bucket but then you’ll fail to acknowledge the political and market realities of SC, TX and FL. 

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Yann

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Managing Editor Yann Brandt has done a masterful job since the midterm elections of highlighting the victories clean energy advocates won around the country, and he has rightly suggested that the momentum for clean energy is becoming more overwhelming every day (except in places like Arizona, which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever). But an article from the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank, suggest the news might be even better than even Yann and I think it was. In the article, writer Christy Goldfuss highlights six new governors who campaigned strongly on dealing with climate change and won election. That's not even the most exciting part, however. What's most exciting to me is that three of those governors have pledged to work toward a 100% clean energy transition between 2030 and 2050 in their states. Currently, only two states (California and Hawaii) have 100% goals - but if the governors Goldfuss highlights stick to their pledges, that may not be the case for long. J.B. Pritzker, who won election in Illinois, comes into a good situation already. With the Future Energy Jobs Act already on the books and strong actions by the state's energy agency already to carve out a solar future, a 100% goal is certainly within reach. And with a new Democratic legislature in place, expect Pritzker to succeed in his goals. Here's hoping, anyway. Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan's newly minted governor elect, spent her campaign talking about setting up an Office of Climate Change to examine the effects of climate change on her state (something we need in my home state of Ohio, too) and has committed to a 100% clean energy transition as well. With utilities that have moved in the direction of shedding their coal generation by 2040, the state appears to be on the path to clean energy as well. Finally, Tony Evers, who unseated longstanding Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, has pledged to join the U.S. Climate Alliance, which is a group of states committed to upholding as many tenets of the Paris Climate Accords as possible. He, too, has committed to transitioning the state to 100% clean energy. From my perspective, he has the most uphill battle of any of the new governors. But given Wisconsin's progressive past, I'm confident he'll make it work. There's other good climate-related news in the article, too, but this post is getting too long. Go read Goldfuss' piece. You'll be glad you did. More: 6 New Governors Who Will Lead the Way on Climate Action

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

For those of us who love the solar industry, storage is the next frontier. If we can figure out how to marry solar + storage, then the rest of the market opens up and mass adoption arrives in a big green wave. But much like the solar module manufacturing segment of the industry, there are too many battery manufacturers out there in the market. To allow companies to make money and thrive - meaning keeping innovation and breakthrough ideas alive - consolidation is a critical part of that equation. So when a company like NantEnergy, which currently focuses on zinc-air batteries, purchases the lithium-ion technology arm of Sharp Electronics, some of us sign with relief and suggest that this kind of consolidation will actually move the industry forward rather than make it take a step back. What makes me even more sanguine about this purchase is that NantEnergy appears to be keeping the entire staff of Sharp's Energy System and Services Group on board, including its founder Carl Mansfield, who will join NantEnergy as a vice president. In other words, they have decided not to pretend they have all the answers and recognize that there is intelligence and innovation to be found in places other than within their insular four walls. Mansfield himself recognizes the importance of this approach, too. He's quoted in the release as saying this: “The SmartStorage team continually aims to make energy storage accessible, affordable and simple for our customers, guaranteeing that performance will be delivered,” Carl Mansfield said. “NantEnergy’s proven technologies will enable us to offer new SmartStorage products and expanded capabilities in the future. I have ultimate confidence in the direction and promise of SmartStorage and NantEnergy, and I look forward to working with a leadership team that shares my passion for growing and innovating in the energy storage market.” I have great hopes for this consolidation not only to work, but to thrive because NantEnergy isn't trying to put its own stamp on what had already been a successful business venture. Here's hoping they give Mansfield the autonomy necessary to continue growing this side of the business so all of us in the solar industry, including NantEnergy, can benefit from his expertise.

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The Wins. Solar was on the ballot in a couple of ways on Tuesday so I wanted to give you my initial thoughts. On the plus side, clean energy executive was a career that was embraced. Several candidates ran on their clean energy experience and a few won which means that there will be members of Congress that understand our work and provide some insight to our trade groups. The biggest win may have been the ballot question in Nevada which was a direct question of more solar for corporations. The voters supported the motion and will have to do so once more at a future election. Another notable plus is the number of Governors that won while supporting a 100% clean energy future, the list includes CO, OR, MI, WI, CA, IL, and ME.
The Losses. First, you have to note that the RPS in Arizona was overwhelmingly defeated and the eulogy on carbon tax may have been written in Washington State. Notable is the $23million spent by NextGen to push for the RPS in Arizona and I can only imagine the policy that could have enabled the market if solar advocates were given $23million into their advocacy platforms. I’ve said it before, solar advocates are some of the most effective advocates in the process and are largely hampered from being able to fight more fights by financial resources. The candidate for NC-9, Dan McCready, was as solar as a candidate that was running across the Country and he almost won his race, losing by less than 2,000 votes.
The Trends. Solar as a political issue continues to be non-existent, these political times mean that secondary issues get little focus. However, with the solar favorability index, it is important to let all legislators know the political reality of supporting or opposing the issues important to us. More trend discovery by GreenBiz in the rundown.
GE Sells Current. GE has sold their esco/lighting/sometimes solar business to an investment firm. The notable solar transaction was for Home Depot. Best of luck to the team.

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Have a great day!
Yann