Solar From The People. Check out the Energy Future Project recently launched and run by an Obama/SolarCity alumni with a focus on building out the support solar gets from the American people. I often write about the 80%+ support we get from both sides of the aisle and tapping into that is exactly what this group is working on. Great write up from Frank Andorka, who brings some great coverage to the solar industry every day.
Cost And Value. I empathize with the sentiment. If a City wants to have 100% renewables that don’t carry any long term fuel costs and volatility, how does it weigh the cost of the upfront switch with the longterm benefits. Entering into contracts with a 3rd party is one way to do this but existing assets are sometimes beyond their breakeven point and only have to cover their fuel costs. So here is a hypothetical for you. In a City within a competitive power market, how would you provide 100% renewable energy and what would it cost if they gave you a 20 year contract.
Handout. The complaints from local solar companies eludes logic for me. I know that Florida’s solar market has been tough for them and watching a 20mw solar farm be built is painful especially if you are trying to make a living selling 50kw to the local business. Aside from the new argument that community solar is competitive with self generation, solar farms are not a business model for small contractors to work on. Unless you have the bonding, balance sheet and safety records, you can’t compete with the general contractors that build these assets. This isn’t up to the IPP either, their lenders and tax equity investors require the contractor warranty to be something that can’t be found in a local contractor.
What The DPU. The DPU in Massachusetts is in the process of creating the new SMART program rules but is also tending to new business. Unfortunate to see Eversource ask for, and receive, demand charges for net metering customers. Step in the wrong direction according to policy advocates.
Storage In NY. Energy storage in New York is getting some traction in the news and legislation. Should it be part of the SolarWakeup Live! agenda? If so, what segment should be heard?
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Coming Up. Catch me in New York as I host SolarWakeup Live! on January 31st though I will be in town for a few days before and after. Two weeks later, I will be in DC for some solar startup activities. Where should the SolarWakeup Live! after New York go? Best ideas please.
Who’s Coming To Jacksonville. Last week the news came out that a manufacturer was looking to build a factory and hire 1,000 Floridians. A local Jacksonville outlet has it reported that the manufacturer could be Jinko Solar. I’ve been asked by many if this is due to the trade case but I generally remain skeptical that the trade case is causing a 20 year investment. Jacksonville is a strategic port for Europe and has daily arrivals from China as well. Land and labor in Florida is pentiful but the Speaker of the House is on a crusade against economic development and is running for Governor. I would like to see the manufacturer opine on the JEA net metering pullback however, that would be a great incentive for the local community.
SEIA Trade Case. The pro-solar members of the 201 testimony met with Secretary Wilbur Ross of the Commerce Department yesterday in DC. The amount of time that some executives have devoted to helping thousands of solar jobs is commendable and I hope to give you a behind the scenes of the entire process at SolarWakeup Live New York with one of the folks that has been at every meeting from the start. Ross is said to have asked good questions and listened to the solar industry make their case. Ross is a capitalist, dubbed the king of bankruptcy, who is likely to read right through Suniva/SolarWorld attempts to screw over the American public based on the financial state of those companies.
Cause of NOpr. The no on the NOPR came from the audacity of the ask. This wasn’t about policy but about political payback for a few donor companies. Case in point is the pushback by Corey Lewandowski who called the FERC commissioners part of the deep state.
Blame Anyone. I don’t publish much from the Washington Examiner but they have a somewhat entertaining editorial about the 201 case. They call for Trump to reject the tariff (I agree) because SolarWorld is backed by a Democratic megadonor. Much like the Hannity ad, I don’t care what the argument is that gets through to Trump. I only care that the right side prevails, which is no tariffs.
NJ SREC Bill. With the NJ solar market reaching its solar goal a decade early, the legislature pushed for bigger goals in a bill that has now passed the legislature. While Phil Murphy will be inaugurated on January 16th, solar advocates are asked Chris Christie to sign the bill ASAP.
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New Pod. See and hear my interview with Axios Reporter, Amy Harder. Amy is the author of the column, Harder Line which covers all the most relevant energy topics. She’s not a focused solar reporter and wasn’t afraid to give the feedback to the solar industry we need to hear. I asked her if the job data matters to politicians, what is going on with the coal tax credit and if the Goldman Sachs contingent in the White House would help solar in the trade case. Listen or watch the interview by clicking here and sharing it far and wide!
FERC Takes No From NOPR. You’ve probably already seen the headline and good news is that nothing will change. Nobody really knew how it would have played out if FERC went with the NOPR. On the other hand you can see how we want to cover the news over at SolarWakeup. When I read articles, I tend to get the first paragraph and move you. You aren’t much different from how you click on stories, especially when I summarize them. Everyone has a short circuit on patience to read even 300 words. I would love your feedback on the SolarWakeup View format.
Storage Data Nonsense. Solar and storage are different. Solar is easy to simply to per watt/per acre/per kWh and compare and contrast. Solar plus storage is completely different. The number of hours, cycle utilization, ratio to size of solar plant are just some of the variables that change the kWh rate. There will never be a cheapest storage cost equivalent to the cheapest solar cost headline. Reporters that don’t get this will keep writing it but nonetheless don’t buy into the simplicity that it intends to create. Storage is complicated because it is.
Two Weeks Out. SEIA sent a message out yesterday to its membership that it had met with the Trade Representative and senior White House advisors. All reporting is making it sound like a decision is coming soon, maybe before the January 26th deadline. Some have asked what happens if no decision is made by the deadline and I don’t have the answer to that.
Cost of Inaction. The cost of natural disasters is rising. Inaction is costly.
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By Yann Brandt
What: Axios Energy and Climate Change Reporter, Amy Harder, Joins SolarWakeup To Talk Politics and Energy Markets
Summary: Amy Harder joined Axios from the Wall Street Journal and writes the Harder Line, part of Axios’ coverage of the energy space. Amy is well versed on the politics of energy and has been based in DC for over 10 years. She joins Yann in this recorded interview from SolarWakeup Live! to talk about coal and nuclear bailouts, COP proceedings in Bonn and impacts of jobs in the solar debate.
By Yann Brandt
What: Axios Energy and Climate Change Reporter, Amy Harder, Joins SolarWakeup To Talk Politics and Energy Markets
Summary: Amy Harder joined Axios from the Wall Street Journal and writes the Harder Line, part of Axios’ coverage of the energy space. Amy is well versed on the politics of energy and has been based in DC for over 10 years. She joins Yann in this recorded interview from SolarWakeup Live! to talk about coal and nuclear bailouts, COP proceedings in Bonn and impacts of jobs in the solar debate.
Related: Audio Podcast / Video Recording
Please review the podcast on itunes.com/energywakeup
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zrAUDXnp70&t=61s