EEI (utility trade association) says “Vision without execution is just hallucination.” Let’s talk about their vision and execution because the execution shows that the vision seems to end at the next quarter. Over $100bb in grid investments per year and $90mm in EV fleet investments with a whopping 740 charging stations. That’s a 1000 to 1 ratio between betting against distributed generation and growing demand by competing with oil companies. So look at conglomerates like Berkshire that have fought distributed solar all over America including Washington, Utah, Iowa and Nevada. Let’s have a vision that helps consumers and doesn’t push ratebase up for the wrong reasons.
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
EEI - How investor-owned electric companies are delivering America's energy future
2 Renewable Energy World:
US Celebrates One Million Solar Installations
3 PV-Magazine:
GTM Research predicts 2016 market declines in China and Japan as India and the U.S. boom
4 Energy Collective:
Power Sector Coal Demand Has Fallen in Nearly Every State Since 2007
5 Fortune:
Vivint Solar's Chief Executive to Leave
6 EDF:
Texas Cities Lead on Solar, But Tapping The State’s Potential Has Just Begun
7 GreenBiz:
Community solar - An unlikely utility savior?
8 Fast Company:
New Apple campus drone fly-over video shows huge solar panels, theater
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
New York’s Clean Energy Commitment Is a Great Economic Strategy
Have a great day!
Yann
There is a trend in the utility sector. While NRG is not a typical utility, more of an independent power producer, it does have to make decisions on what type of power plants to invest in. David Crane has an interview with Greentech Media that touches on a few topics but emphasizes one point. Solar is the future and that is where he wants to be. Jim Rogers, former Duke Energy CEO, made similar comments after leaving Duke following the Duke/Progress merger. The question is, how does the market allow the difficult internal transformation of utilities going solar?
Opinion
News
1 Greentech Media:
A Conversation With David Crane on Getting Fired From NRG & What’s Next for His Energy Plans
2 PV-Tech:
Yingli Green delays financial reporting on liquidity issues
3 AZ Central:
Rooftop solar cease-fire takes ballot measures off table for now
4 PV-Magazine:
Mexico launches call for second electricity auction in September
5 CleanTechnica:
What Uses The Most Energy In US Homes? (Infographic)
6 Solar Industry:
Solar Policy Report Card - 10 Sunny States Fail
7 Vox:
Millennials love clean energy, fear climate change, and don’t vote. This campaign wants to change that.
8 Utility Dive:
Duke University backs push for third-party renewables sales in North Carolina
Opinions:
9 Motley Fool:
California Has Too Much Solar Power -- And That's a Good Thing
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Investor's Business Daily:
First Solar Q1 Torched On ITC Extension - SunPower, Sunrun Burned
2 PV-Tech:
SunEdison’s upstream suppliers hit hardest with US$321 million owed in bankruptcy
3 PV-Magazine:
Senate passes energy bill with benefits for solar and renewable energy integration
4 Fortune:
Startup That Provides Home Solar Loans Raises Big Cash
5 New York Times:
Renewable Energy Stumbles Toward the Future
6 Greentech Media:
Grid Alternatives Sues SunEdison for $2.3 Million in Unpaid Donations
7 SF Gate:
If you have solar panels in Oakland, Prince might have paid for them
8 EDF:
The True Cost of Electricity
9 Huffington Post:
Billionaire Has A $25 Million Plan To Get Young People Voting For Climate Action
10 USA Today:
Can N.Y. solar-electric deal recharge U.S. green-energy effort?
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
Let’s talk about headlines that release information that you didn’t even realize existed. Public companies have to release information to shareholders that affect the business. Sometimes PR professionals (some are very very skilled at this, trust me) bury the story in the lead and you don’t even realize it. The ITC extension for example had some serious effects on our sector because many companies never expected it to happen, surely not much more than commence construction. I was much more bullish but the corporate world wrote that off. Once the ITC was extended, companies had to reassess their 1 year plan and revise to a 7 year plan. This caused shifts that have effects, read the headlines more closely and I will point some out for you.
Opinion
News
1 Investor’s Business Daily:
First Solar Q1 Torched On ITC Extension; SunPower, Sunrun Burned
2 EDF:
The True Cost of Electricity - What we’re not paying for through our utility bills
3 PV-Tech:
A graduate’s view of the Solar Ready Vets training schools
4 Utility Dive:
Beyond pilots - Duke Energy looks to install storage in regulated market
5 PV-Magazine:
Maine legislators push to override veto of controversial solar policy
6 CleanTechnica:
Exploring How Cities Can Switch To A Low-Carbon Energy Grid
7 Tucson.com:
Measure would mean higher rates for Arizona solar customers
8 TechCrunch:
Solar startup M-KOPA leapfrogs Africa’s electricity grid
Opinions:
9 Senator Boxer:
Americans Want to Fight Climate Change — Let’s Give Them a Way to Help
Have a great day!
Yann
