By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

[caption id="attachment_10176" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] This is one of those times having a red flag waving in the wind is an unfortunate visual.[/caption]

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

The South China Morning Post reports a Chinese solar market in freefall after the government decided it would no longer fund new solar farms and slashed subsidies to solar electricity users by almost 10%. According to the paper, the government says the move is designed to wean the Chinese solar market off of government subsidies and put it on a more "sustainable path." The Post wrote:

A joint statement put out on Friday by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance and National Energy Administration said, "The measures are aimed at “promoting the solar energy sector’s sustainable development, enhancing its development quality and speeding up reduction of subsidies."

One observer of the U.S. markets wondered allowed if the U.S. market was ready for the onslaught of inexpensive panels that could flood the market as these Chinese manufacturers who are used to certain profit levels based on subsidies look to dump excess inventory into one of the world's expanding solar markets. "Watch the price dumping now," the observer said, speaking on anonymity to discuss trade policy freely. "They are going to deluge modules to the U.S. market and get us addicted to low-cost modules even more." Roth Capital Partners put out a warning to its investors, downgrading its advice on all Chinese-related solar stocks. "Our initial estimates suggest we are due for a potential massive 20 to 30 GW of annualized overcapacity in the coming months and quarters without a clear catalyst of rebalance," Roth's email said. "We expect to see a rapid deterioration in (average solar prices) through the entire supply chain - module all the way to poly silicon - while downstream players will benefit" What is unclear at this time is the effect that President Donald J. Trump's 30% tariffs, imposed in January, will be able to stop - or even slow - the onslaught into the U.S. market. Depending on how little the Chinese companies are willing to charge for the modules, they could in effect decide to work the 30% tariff into their prices. Though such dumping would be good in the short run for project developers in the United States, it would devastate what little module manufacturing is left here.

Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company and the Town of Bethel, are hosting a ribbon-cutting today at the Town’s capped landfill to celebrate the completion of the solar photovoltaic (“PV”) facility. The Town partnered with Ameresco to develop the solar PV project under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ameresco will operate and maintain the system for the term of the contract to ensure optimal energy production. “For years, Town leadership, staff, and community volunteers have been working diligently to identify and implement meaningful energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. With today’s ribbon-cutting, we celebrate another milestone in our journey to a more sustainable future,” said Matthew Knickerbocker, First Selectman, Town of Bethel. “This solar project represents a key piece of our overall community strategy to become more energy efficient and cost effective in our municipal energy operations.” “I’m pleased to participate today to help recognize the Town’s significant contribution towards environmental stewardship,” said Tracy Babbidge, Bureau Chief for Energy Policy at DEEP. “I congratulate Bethel’s leadership for their commitment to protecting natural resources and inventiveness in finding a sustainable solution to the siting and development of renewable power for the financial benefit of the Town.” Bethel’s solar farm is comprised of more than 2,900 photovoltaic panels totaling 947.7 kW DC and designed to generate over 1.2 million kWh of renewable electricity each year. The solar farm is connected directly to the local utility distribution system. The annual CO2 emissions reduction of 934 metric tons is equivalent to taking 200 cars off the road and annual electricity usage of 140 homes. “Ameresco is delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the Town of Bethel on this solar project,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “Renewable energy projects like this one directly benefit the Town. With 100% of the solar system’s energy generated used to power Bethel’s town buildings and operations, through virtual net metering, the Town’s consumption at key buildings is offset. Furthermore, it demonstrates the Town’s commitment to sustainability.” This project brought the Town landfill into compliance with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The Town of Bethel is now being supplied by green renewable power. Ameresco, Inc., a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company and the Town of Bethel, are hosting a ribbon-cutting today at the Town’s capped landfill to celebrate the completion of the solar photovoltaic (“PV”) facility. The Town partnered with Ameresco to develop the solar PV project under a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Ameresco will operate and maintain the system for the term of the contract to ensure optimal energy production. “For years, Town leadership, staff, and community volunteers have been working diligently to identify and implement meaningful energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. With today’s ribbon-cutting, we celebrate another milestone in our journey to a more sustainable future,” said Matthew Knickerbocker, First Selectman, Town of Bethel. “This solar project represents a key piece of our overall community strategy to become more energy efficient and cost effective in our municipal energy operations.” “I’m pleased to participate today to help recognize the Town’s significant contribution towards environmental stewardship,” said Tracy Babbidge, Bureau Chief for Energy Policy at DEEP. “I congratulate Bethel’s leadership for their commitment to protecting natural resources and inventiveness in finding a sustainable solution to the siting and development of renewable power for the financial benefit of the Town.” Bethel’s solar farm is comprised of more than 2,900 photovoltaic panels totaling 947.7 kW DC and designed to generate over 1.2 million kWh of renewable electricity each year. The solar farm is connected directly to the local utility distribution system. The annual CO2 emissions reduction of 934 metric tons is equivalent to taking 200 cars off the road and annual electricity usage of 140 homes. “Ameresco is delighted to have had the opportunity to work with the Town of Bethel on this solar project,” said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “Renewable energy projects like this one directly benefit the Town. With 100% of the solar system’s energy generated used to power Bethel’s town buildings and operations, through virtual net metering, the Town’s consumption at key buildings is offset. Furthermore, it demonstrates the Town’s commitment to sustainability.” This project brought the Town landfill into compliance with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The Town of Bethel is now being supplied by green renewable power.

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

[caption id="attachment_10166" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]Milwaukee, Wisconsin[/caption]

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Get ready for 300 MW of solar projects coming your way, Badger State. Two of the state's utilities - Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) and WEC Energy Group (WEC), through its Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) - will be partners in two projects in the state. The projects will be developed Invenergy and NextEra Energy Resources, according to applications filed with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) at a cost of approximately $390 million. If approved by the end of 2018, construction of both projects is expected to begin by spring 2019, with both plants being operational by the end of 2020. WPS would own 200 MW and MGE 100 MW of the combined output at two locations. Each plant is 150 MW, In both cases, WPS will 100 MW and MGE will own 50 MW of the output. The Badger Hollow Solar Farm would be located in southwestern Wisconsin in Iowa County, and the Two Creeks solar project would be located in northeastern Wisconsin, near the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant. "This is another step forward as we move toward a more sustainable energy future and deep decarbonization," said Jeff Keebler, MGE president and CEO. "These projects align with MGE's short- and long-term carbon reduction goals. If approved, we look forward to the opportunity to grow cost-effective, clean energy to reliably serve our customers into the future." "Both of these projects represent opportunities for MGE to partner with proven solar developers with projects ready to begin the regulatory process," Keebler added. "Renewable energy has decreased in cost and increased in efficiency in recent years. As with our Saratoga wind farm project currently under construction, Badger Hollow and Two Creeks are economic projects that lower long-term costs for our customers while meeting their energy needs for decades to come." "Investing in these solar projects is the first step in our overall plan to add solar capacity to our generation portfolio and save WPS customers more than $100 million over the economic lives of the projects, as compared to projected prices in the power market," said Gale Klappa, CEO of WPS.

Iron Mountain® Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in storage and information management services, today announced two important environmental commitments that significantly advance the company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its usage of renewable energy around the world. Firstly, Iron Mountain is joining the RE100 initiative, a collaborative, global platform developed by The Climate Group, an independent, not-for-profit organization working internationally with government and business leaders to advance smart policies and technologies to cut global emissions and accelerate a low carbon economy. Iron Mountain joins more than 130 multinational corporations in committing to a shift to using renewable energy sources for 100 percent of its worldwide electricity. In doing so, Iron Mountain pledges to follow a rigorous standard for green power purchasing and achieving aggressive interim milestones on the way to a complete conversion by 2050. Secondly, Iron Mountain announced its commitment to set an aggressive science-based target for carbon reduction by the end of 2019. In doing so, the company will work with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which helps companies determine how much they must cut emissions to do their part to address climate change, to calculate and approve a reduction in carbon from current levels. This promise puts the company on a trajectory for decarbonizing its operations in line with the global goals of the Paris Climate Accord. "We applaud Iron Mountain for taking these important steps to address climate change," said Mindy Lubber, CEO and president of Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. "By committing to 100 percent renewable electricity and setting an ambitious science-based carbon-reduction target, Iron Mountain is joining a growing number of major companies that understand the huge economic benefits and clear competitive advantage of climate action." In Iron Mountain's recently released 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report, the company reports achieving an absolute reduction of 6.6 percent in year-over-year carbon emissions – even during a period of continued business growth and service expansion. Iron Mountain is also a member of several collaborative efforts to advance the use of renewable energy including the renewable energy buyer's alliance (REBA) a collaboration of World Wildlife Fund, World Resource Initiative, Rocky Mountain Institute and Business for Social Responsibility. The company is a signatory to the Renewable Energy Buyers Principals, a member of the EPA Green Power Partnership and recipient of the 2017 Green Power Leadership Award. "We're proud to be among the earliest adopters of renewable energy," said William Meaney, president and chief executive officer of Iron Mountain. "Understanding the impact of our energy usage has led to the adoption of energy and greenhouse gas reduction strategies that are helping the company save money, reduce environmental impacts and better serve our customers. In making these commitments today, we are setting aggressive public goals with the endorsement of well-respected non-profit organizations, accelerating our efforts to foster strong economic growth while operating as a responsible, ethical and sustainable company." Iron Mountain® Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in storage and information management services, today announced two important environmental commitments that significantly advance the company's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and increase its usage of renewable energy around the world. Firstly, Iron Mountain is joining the RE100 initiative, a collaborative, global platform developed by The Climate Group, an independent, not-for-profit organization working internationally with government and business leaders to advance smart policies and technologies to cut global emissions and accelerate a low carbon economy. Iron Mountain joins more than 130 multinational corporations in committing to a shift to using renewable energy sources for 100 percent of its worldwide electricity. In doing so, Iron Mountain pledges to follow a rigorous standard for green power purchasing and achieving aggressive interim milestones on the way to a complete conversion by 2050. Secondly, Iron Mountain announced its commitment to set an aggressive science-based target for carbon reduction by the end of 2019. In doing so, the company will work with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which helps companies determine how much they must cut emissions to do their part to address climate change, to calculate and approve a reduction in carbon from current levels. This promise puts the company on a trajectory for decarbonizing its operations in line with the global goals of the Paris Climate Accord. "We applaud Iron Mountain for taking these important steps to address climate change," said Mindy Lubber, CEO and president of Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. "By committing to 100 percent renewable electricity and setting an ambitious science-based carbon-reduction target, Iron Mountain is joining a growing number of major companies that understand the huge economic benefits and clear competitive advantage of climate action." In Iron Mountain's recently released 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report, the company reports achieving an absolute reduction of 6.6 percent in year-over-year carbon emissions – even during a period of continued business growth and service expansion. Iron Mountain is also a member of several collaborative efforts to advance the use of renewable energy including the renewable energy buyer's alliance (REBA) a collaboration of World Wildlife Fund, World Resource Initiative, Rocky Mountain Institute and Business for Social Responsibility. The company is a signatory to the Renewable Energy Buyers Principals, a member of the EPA Green Power Partnership and recipient of the 2017 Green Power Leadership Award. "We're proud to be among the earliest adopters of renewable energy," said William Meaney, president and chief executive officer of Iron Mountain. "Understanding the impact of our energy usage has led to the adoption of energy and greenhouse gas reduction strategies that are helping the company save money, reduce environmental impacts and better serve our customers. In making these commitments today, we are setting aggressive public goals with the endorsement of well-respected non-profit organizations, accelerating our efforts to foster strong economic growth while operating as a responsible, ethical and sustainable company."