The Arizona Attorney General told the Utilities Commission that a single Commissioner had the authority to subpoena a utility. In this case, Commissioner Burns has been asking APS/Pinnacle West to disclose its lobbying expenditures and political donations to campaigns and non-profits. Burns is trying to identify or confirm that APS/Pinnacle West were behind the dark money that went to support anti-solar commissioners that ultimately won the elections. APS/Pinnacle West response is nothing short of arrogant and abrasive, they moved to cancel the subpoenas and asked for Burns to pay for their legal fees. Last week the Commission voted to allow Burns to hire an outside lawyer to fight this. Keep in mind that the FBI is still investigating and the US Attorney has issued grand jury subpoenas as well. This story keeps getting better and I will keep writing about it to show you what happens at these State level Commissions. This may sound crazy and uncommon but you will find this to be much more common across the Country than it should.
Have a great day!
News
1 Arizona Central:
Utility regulators approve money for APS fight
2 PV-Tech:
Solar to be pillar of GM’s commitment to 100% renewables by 2050
3 Think Progress:
Los Angeles City Council backs planning for 100 percent renewable energy
4 Forbes:
Clinton, Trump And The Future Of The U.S. Solar Industry
5 PV-Magazine:
Solar Power International 2016 - Five key takeaways
6 New York Times:
WTO Rules Against India Barrier to Imports of US Solar Gear
7 Fortune:
Why Nevada Brought Back Favorable Rates for Existing Solar Customers
8 Chicago Tribune:
Solar rooftop revolution fizzles in U.S. on utility pushback
Opinions:
9 Inc:
How This Bill Nye-Endorsed Startup Plans to Upend the Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Live @SPI2016 with Enphase, Inovateus, Vizn and Energy Toolbase
2 Think Progress:
Donald Trump filled out a survey about science and it is amazing
3 Bloomberg:
Solar Rooftop Revolution Fizzles in U.S. on Utility Pushback
4 PV-Tech:
SPI 2016 - Time for solar energy industry to grow up
5 Motley Fool:
Solar Energy Faces a Rocky Road Ahead
6 Reuters:
SolarCity raises $305 million in deal advised by Soros' firm
7 CleanTechnica:
SEIA Releases Updated “Guide To Federal Tax Incentives For Solar Energy”
8 PV-Magazine:
DOE announces $107 million in funding for solar technologies
9 Fortune:
Here's Why Solar Farms Are Booming in the U.S.
10 Solar Power World:
11 don’t-miss events at SPI
The Top 10 is ranked by the number of SolarWakeup.com readers that clicked on the news article during the previous week. It is the poll of the most relevant solar news of the week as judged by your colleagues and competitors.
Have a great day!
Yann
No national press is covering this but it’s becoming the biggest story in regulated power. If you recall complaints that APS was acting during the last Arizona Commission’s election, especially about answering questions about funding dark money groups, you will like this update. The FBI has been investigating and the prosecutors have convened a grand jury to go over some subpoenas. In Parallel, a single Arizona Corporate Commissioner has asked for further information about the utility’s funding of elections through dark money groups. The utility is hitting back at the commissioner and the entire accusations, which text messages released to journalists appear to be confirming. In short, there’s some crazy stuff happening in Arizona and the solar industry has been right about how they were being treated unfairly. Stay tuned for more…
Have a great day!
News
1 Arizona Central:
Does APS have this much to lose?
2 PV-Magazine:
Projects, Supplier Deals, Strategic Ties Flourish at SPI
3 Renewable Energy World:
#SPIcon Panel - Community Solar Offers Alternative That Utilities Like
4 GreenBiz:
Meet the ex-White House official growing the market for community power
5 PV-Tech:
Solar zombies to be squeezed out by price cuts and tech trends in 2017, say module makers
6 Motley Fool:
Solar Energy Faces a Rocky Road Ahead
7 Bloomberg:
First Solar’s New CEO Details Plan to Challenge Chinese Rivals
8 Wall Street Journal:
Lawmakers Probe Tax Incentives Received by Solar-Energy Firms
Opinions:
9 SolarWakeup:
Live @SPI2016 with Energy Toolbase and Inovateus Solar
Have a great day!
Yann
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