SolarWakeup Changes. In the seventh year of this newsletter, it has grown way more than I ever expected. With that growth comes some influence but it also creates costs of hosting, email services, social media and back office. As I look forward to creating a bigger family with more channels, more podcasts (Wakeup Podcast Network is coming), and bigger events, the newsletter has to become a premium product. You’ll still be able to see some of the top stories but the newsletter commentary will be sent daily to paying subscribers. It will be worth the small price and you can subscribe here.
Governor Newsom Speaks Up. Over the past few weeks PG&E has been making moves that very much differ from the goals I was hoping for. Turning down the slate of directors that could have messaged a future focused on safety and clean energy and floating the TVA CEO as the next CEO. California’s Governor wasn’t excited about these moves and in coordination with the CPUC chair sent that message loud and clear. Calling the recent moves “troubling” and focused on short term profits instead of safety and reliability.
Solar Battery Replaces Retiring Gas. Florida Power & Light will be adding a 2hour 900MWh battery to an existing solar farm in Florida. The flexibility will allow for the retirement of 2 end of life natural gas plants. The canary in the proverbial rate base mine.
SC Slow Solar Stall? The solar industry was heading to South Carolina last week with a rally and SEIA representation. Solar has a wonderful opportunity to be the anti-monopoly and anti-corruption market that benefits South Carolina. I hope the legislature can see that future and passes the bill.
LEGO Goes Solar. The family holding company of the toy company, LEGO, has acquired the majority stake of Enerparc US. Enerparc, which is based in my hometown of Hamburg Germany, is a large player in the European market and has been slowly making some moves in the US. I’m curious to see how LEGO sees itself participating in the US market as an investor or developer.
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Yann
What An Equinox. Hats off to the Vote Solar team for another great event in San Francisco. This is as important time as any to support Vote Solar. With team members across the Country opening up the markets you’ll be investing in a year or two from now.
Report From Hawaii. Engie is reporting live from the Hawaii Energy Conference in Maui, yesterday the HPUC and CPUC announced an official MOU to share resources. Picker and Griffin signed it on stage together. I hope the progressive HI commission will give a boost to our crusty one. Not sure of all the details but more to come...
What I’m Reading This Weekend. The GND ping pong continues on in DC and in the long run, the debate over 100% renewables is a good debate for solar. In the meantime, Idaho Power is crafting its own 100% RPS. Some pros in solar and renewables are making the NY Times because they have gone from fossils to renewables. One of them is the Sunrunner, Luis Davila. The corporates are coming together for a trade group to make offtaking renewables easier.
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Join Me At Equinox. The famous Vote Solar event is TONIGHT! Make your way to San Francisco and give to the cause that gives back to you. You can get tickets here, do it now.
Your ITC Feedback. Over 125 responses came back from the SolarWakeup readers on your thoughts for what the ITC means. Many of you jumped right into some of the ways to make it better but the overwhelming majority described what your business looks like without the ITC which for residential installers is just a few years away. Module prices are increasing and the 4% decline will hurt your market if you are in the edge markets that are just starting to bloom. Your fear is that it will never be able to go up again and it will take another 5 years to get your market back on its feet. The feedback also talked about the fairness of ITC having to compromise when oil and gas never seem to have to give their subsidy back. One feedback back to you is that while I share some of your sentiment and make it public, you need to be talking to people that have the ability to make this happen. SEIA may be reading these comments but you need to do the minimum and join at their new Basic Level for $750. This gives you the access and ability to make your voice heard at the national level.
ITC Reality. At the end of the year the ITC goes from 30% to 26% which for project financed projects reduces capital stack by about 5%. For homeowners, this means around $1,000 less from the tax credit. For both market segments, it is real money that causes some markets to fall out of favor. In less than two years, the reduction is double that amount before ultimately going to ZERO for homeowners and 10% for 3rd parties. This is an unacceptable standard of support given the impact solar has on the US economy and fighting climate change.
The Politics Of It. I am going to give you a few examples of the political landscape just this week. Representative Ocasio-Cortez went viral with 11million views on her speech about the immediate threat posed by climate change. I am sure if asked, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez would agree that solar plays a central role in her plan including the Green New Deal. Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, signed the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge for his run for the presidency. Not afraid to shun the money and speaking out forcefully for the need to fight climate change, a generational threat as he states. In the Senate, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii made note of the ‘jokes’ his colleague from Utah exhibited on the Senate floor. Climate change is no laughing matter and needs to be addressed immediately. My point is that we should be miles ahead of the politicians on this. I am used to having to drag politicians halfway to my position but in this case we are hesitant to leap with them on the issue of climate change as if solar is now too big to accept our place in the fight.
The Political Reality. When the ITC extension happened, the solar industry was overjoyed. It was a last minute deal in exchange for the oil export embargo ban. The ban was lifted for good and solar was extended with a step-down. But the following years were supposed to be for solar to grow and drive costs down. Instead the entire 2017 year was spent fighting 201 and then a 30% tariff on modules. On top of that the tariffs were placed on aluminum and steel. The solar industry wasn’t in a position to execute to our fullest extent and that is why the support needs to continue longer. The political reality is that many in Congress are expecting solar to play a large role in their fight against climate change and they need to hear from us what we need. The political reality is also that nuclear is out with big asks and oil/gas continue to get big tax breaks. There is plenty to trade in Congress to get solar the tax credit we’ve maximized the value of. It is the only tax credit that has become more efficient over time for taxpayers. In a divided Congress, our lobbyists should be supported by our industry making calls and standing by ready to act. My ask is simple, we need to stand up and say that solar is the industry that will move America forward and stand on the front line to fight climate change. We ask for continued support that we’ve enjoyed over the years and additional equity with other energy sources. Support of the ITC at the continued rate and equity with the rules used for oil and gas is the ask I would personally ask for.
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Join Me At Equinox. The famous Vote Solar event is this Thursday evening. Make your way to San Francisco and give to the cause that gives back to you. You can get tickets here, do it now.
Thank You! I want to thank everyone that attended SolarWakeup Live! and the amazing speakers at the event yesterday. With 10 interviews in 8 hours, the content was packed in tight and the audience had great questions. Please support the sponsors below for their generous support of SolarWakeup events.
This Is How You Lobby. The nuclear lobby is out of the gate and they are taking the climate change savior role. Days after receiving a $3.7billion loan guarantee on top of billions in early cost recovery, the nuclear lobby says that the world will end if State and Federal legislators act short-sighted and don’t give more to nuclear. That’s on top of free insurance and free waste management in addition to the cost recovery guarantees. Meanwhile the solar and wind industries are studying on what they want from Federal legislators and our message is being hijacked. Here is the quote from the nuclear lobby, “Now is the time for federal and state policy that values nuclear, that recognizes it for the reliable, resilient, and emissions-free source of energy that it is.” This message is ours, it’s solars to take and run with but while we are busy acting nice and standing in line, Vogtle nuclear power plant received a loan guarantee 7 times the size of Solyndra which kept solar handcuffed for years. Enough is enough, the climate change fight is too big and the solar industry is too strong to be afraid to stand up and demand our industry be supported. Two AD/CVD duties, one 201 tariff and steel and aluminum tariffs on top means that not only is out ITC declining but the headwinds are strong. Our jobs haven’t increased in over two years. SolarPledge 2.0 is coming your way, get your message in order!
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Yann