A year ago the Wisconsin PSC wanted to charge solar owners a fixed fee for net metering. The solar industry fought back and took the issue to court, with the decision coming back from the circuit court on Friday. The court struck down the charge due to insufficient justification for the charges. This is a big step for solar as the political fights from the regulators are going into the court system which should ultimately culminate in more case law. Good news to start the week!
Yann
News
1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Judge rejects We Energies plan to assess solar panel owners extra fees
2 PV-Magazine:
Separate utility rates for solar owners defeated in New Mexico
3 PV-Tech:
SolarCity cuts cord on growth strategy as cost reduction becomes new mantra
4 Greentech Media:
The World’s Biggest Companies on Why They Buy Renewables - Very Clear Economic Issue’
5 Grist:
Getting warmer - More Republicans are starting to take climate change seriously
6 Huffington Post:
The Key to Alternative Energy's Future - Better Batteries
7 New York Times:
Exxon Mobil Accused of Misleading Public on Climate Change Risks
8 Forbes:
Utilities And Solar Companies Jockey For Position As Community Solar Blooms
Opinions:
9 National Geographic:
Could Solar Energy Be California's Next Cash Crop?
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 SEPA:
What's Missing From Media Coverage Of Net Metering
2 Grist:
Elon Musk’s solar company used panels made by cheap prison labor for a big taxpayer-subsidized project
3 Renewable Energy World:
MEMC and SunEdison, a Tale of Two Companies
4 Miami Herald:
Mystery surrounds largest donor to Florida solar power ballot initiative
5 PV-Magazine:
New York State quietly lifts the cap on net metering
6 Media Matters:
Anti-Solar Op-Ed Writer Claims To Speak For Poor, Actually Works With Utilities
7 Seeking Alpha:
The End Of Investment Tax Credit For Solar Energy Will Not The Kill Solar Industry
8 Star Tribune:
State is set to make a big leap into solar
9 Lowell Sun:
House leaders preparing new solar-industry strategy
10 Motley Fool:
How Utilities Are Profiting From Solar Energy
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
While there are deadlines around solar regulations, the business impact is much sooner. One such example is the SDG&E expectation to hit the net metering cap early next year, which means that ahead of the ITC cliff, sales could crater making it very risky for people looking to go solar with regard to the ITC. The same holds for the farmers in central valley, California who have to wait 9-10 months to get interconnection approvals from PG&E. Utilities are very aware and may be hoping to create enough uncertainty to kill solar companies by making their sales halt a full year before the tax credit reduces. Shame on them for nefarious corporate behavior.
Yann
News
1 San Francisco Chronicle:
Gov. Brown should take a stand on California’s solar investment
2 PV-Magazine:
San Diego utility expects to hit net metering caps in mid-2016
3 Scientific American:
Republican Frontrunners Avoid Climate Change
4 Bloomberg:
First Solar Warns of $40 Million Tax Matter as Profit Soars
5 Greentech Media:
Billionaire Tom Steyer Calls on Candidates to Push for a 50% Renewables Policy
6 Seeking Alpha:
Implications Of A Growing Distributed Solar Opposition
7 Fox News:
Taxpayer-backed solar plant actually a carbon polluter
8 Forbes:
Strong Demand Strains Solar Supply Chain, Potential Wafer Shortage In 2016
Opinions:
9 Wall Street Journal:
Solar Power Has a Role in Helping the Poor
Have a great day!
Yann
Big news from me today. I am officially a candidate for the Board of Directors of SEIA. I think that it is important for all of us to be part of the industry beyond our individual companies and through this daily newsletter I feel motivated to do more. So today I ask for your help to put me on the Board and help advocate for our industry. If your company is a member of SEIA, please find the designated voter as they received an email from SEIA yesterday. You get to choose 5 candidates and I hope you vote for me as well.
Yann
News
1 Solar Industry:
IREC To Introduce New Solar Career Map At Webinar
2 Utility Dive:
FERC - Renewables account for over 60% of new generation in 2015
3 PV-Magazine:
Solar wins substantial contracts in Chile's energy supply auction
4 Bloomberg:
Brazil Seeks to Boost Solar Industry to Match Wind, BNDES Says
5 Think Progress:
Lindsey Graham - No, Accepting Climate Science Doesn’t Make Me A Democrat (WATCH)
6 Grist:
Elon Musk’s solar company used cheap prison labor for a big taxpayer-subsidized project
7 24/7 Wall Street:
Trina Solar Scores $1.57 Billion in New Financing
8 Lowell Sun:
House leaders preparing new solar-industry strategy
Opinions:
9 ARS Technica:
For the future of solar, we’ve got the tech—it’s the economics, stupid
Have a great day!
Yann
