About 5 years ago, as solar modules cleared the $2/watt, I was speaking with some colleagues about the opportunity that the industry would have if modules went to $1/watt. Today’s top story talks about solar costs at $0.40/watt which allows the manufacturer to push some profits while the value chain becomes more competitive. It’s a great time to be in solar, teams are coming together with more capital and ITC runway. Point is, solar is in a good place and time for execution.
Opinion
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
In The Solar Industry, 40 Is The New 50
2 Huffington Post:
Civil War on Your Rooftop
3 PV-Tech:
SolarCity chief – California net metering decision part of new energy paradigm
4 The Energy Collective:
Using Clean Power To Get Off The Grid
5 PV-Magazine:
New York includes subsidies for nukes
6 Treehugger:
France to pave 1000km of roads with solar panels
7 The Guardian:
What is holding back the growth of solar power?
8 Motley Fool:
The Best Solar Stocks for 2016
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
The Net Metering Disconnect
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Motley Fool:
Are These Two Solar Stocks About to Explode?
2 TechCrunch:
How Solar Software Can Save The World
3 Yahoo:
Einhorn's Greenlight seeks sale of solar company SunEdison
4 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar Files Its Proxy Statement For The SunEdison Acquisition
5 New York Times:
California Votes to Retain System That Pays Solar Users Retail Rate for Excess Power
6 Treehugger:
1.2-million sq. ft. solar panel 'Gigafactory' in Buffalo almost ready, will make 1 GW/year
7 New York Times:
Under Pressure, SunEdison Gives David Einhorn’s Fund a Board Seat
8 Bloomberg:
California to Decide Fate of Solar in Biggest U.S. Market
9 Vox:
How big a deal was Congress extending the renewable energy tax credits? A very, very big deal.
10 San Francisco Chronicle:
How much is your solar power worth? The fight over solar’s future
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
There you have it. By a 3 to 2 vote, the California PUC revamped the net energy metering policy. NEM 2.0, as its known, will feature a few common sense adaptations including a preset interconnection fee for residential, a time of use factor and adjustment for some societal benefits chargers paid by all consumers. The known benefit of distributed solar will continue in California so that homeowners can save money and other consumers benefit from a more stable energy system. As the CPUC said, the vote means more choice, more control and more responsibility over energy issues.
Opinion
News
1 New York Times:
California Votes to Retain System That Pays Solar Users Retail Rate for Excess Power
2 Los Angeles Times:
California solar owners face new fees, utilities say costs should be higher
3 PV-Tech:
Solving the soft-cost puzzle
4 Solar Industry:
Solar-Plus-Storage Market Poised To Reach $8 Billion In 2026
5 Utility Dive:
Ohio Gov. Kasich pledges to reinstate clean energy standards if lawmakers try to cut them
6 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Spark - New Report - Financial Benefits of Home Energy Upgrades
7 Fast Co.Exist:
If The Price Of Solar Falls As Fast As Other Technologies, The World Can Breathe Easier
8 Bloomberg:
Doing the Math - Why China's Exports Aren't Adding Up
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
Senate Energy Bill Makes Important Steps Forward But Still Has Problems
Have a great day!
Yann
The SunEdison topic continues to be in the news and I am rooting for the great team to work themselves out of the issues they are going through. There are good people at the company that we share an industry with. About a year ago, a David Einhorn powerpoint made the rounds that spoke about the great business model and growth of the company. Yesterday, the company and hedge fund agreed to some corporate governance and board seat. Vivint Solar also filed the proxy for the sale to SunEdison and assets to Terraform.
Opinion
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar Files Its Proxy Statement For The SunEdison Acquisition
2 New York Times:
Under Pressure, SunEdison Adds David Einhorn to Board
3 Vox:
How big a deal was Congress extending the renewable energy tax credits? A very, very big deal.
4 Greentech Media:
What’s at Stake in California’s Coming Net Metering 2.0 Decision
5 Bloomberg:
California to Decide Fate of Solar in Biggest U.S. Market
6 NRDC:
K-Solar Lets the Sunshine In
7 Renewable Energy World:
Coalition of States Asks US Supreme Court to Stay Clean Power Plan
8 Nasdaq:
Coal Will Struggle To Survive Australian Solar Surge
Opinions:
9 Utility Dive:
How utilities and regulators differ in their approaches to distributed energy
Have a great day!
Yann
