You’ve heard the saying, “All politics is local.” The Solar Foundation with the help of several entities including DOE’s SunShot Initiative launched SolSmart yesterday. SolSmart is about placing advocates for short term roles to advocate positive solar policies. Whether some codes or ordinances need to be adjusted or permitting sorted out, Advisors will be working to lower the soft cost barriers in their own backyard. I can’t think of a better way for excited solar advocates to advise their community leaders on how they can improve. Of course they will be doing this with a great support network behind them. Another great initiative by Solar Foundation and SunShot, two great organizations.
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Yann
“We have to focus on the grid of the future.” Talking points like this one, from AEP CEO Nick Akins, are exactly why solar can’t trust the utility sector. On one hand the utilities in Ohio pushed to freeze the RPS and kill the solar industry and on the other they want to develop solar farms (to put into ratebase of course). Then they want to charge DG customers for “using” the grid. This one is for anyone on the mailing list that is a Kasich voter, all two of you. For readers that work for utilities, that would be hundreds of you, get some internal input to stop the intellectual dishonesty from your bosses or stop doing it if you are the boss.
Wakeup highlight: On the site you will see a new ‘Tips’ link. Your guide to stories and scoops have made SolarWakeup the most influential site in solar. You can confidentially upload files or messages though an email address is helpful so that follow up can be discussed.
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Yann
Sunedison may have filed bankruptcy but the saga is just beginning. We get the first glimpse at the suppliers that are owed money. What is not yet entirely clear is if the creditors are global or just the US. Regardless, it is disheartening to see growing startups like NEXTracker and Grid Alternatives owed millions and taken advantage of. I can see the immediate reverberation in the sector coming in the forms of supply terms being tightened up.
Wakeup Highlights – David Crane, former CEO at NRG, has joined Pegasus Capital Advisors. A high profile addition for the mid-market private equity firm, maybe a sign of the sector they are targeting. Utilities apparently spent $400million in political influence. Nobody ever said that monopolies are cheap to maintain…
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Yann
Friday was Earth Day and 165 Countries signed the Paris Agreement which makes it a great day for everyone. Another report showed that energy use in the US went down, however slightly, but it went down. Some utility experts say that the primary reason that energy usage went down can be attributed to light bulbs. Seems simple enough and makes logical sense considering what installing LEDs does to energy demand. My guess is that this is a temporary effect because electric vehicles are right behind the LED trend. My concern along with others is how the energy is made because natural gas was up 3% last year which needs to be reversed right away.
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Yann