I am heading to the Utility Solar Summit later today in San Diego where once again the topic of the day will be the ITC. Plenty of subsidy talk in the news today from around the world but I will highlight the Texas story for you to read. I doubt anyone in ERCOT assumes a tax credit exists for solar in 2030 but the operator still sees an enormous growth of solar in the state. I continue to see interesting projects that we would invest in through the step down. The issue about calling the ITC a subsidy is that it assumes no other energy source gets a subsidy. Leaving solar without the ITC would make it the least subsidized energy source in my opinion.
Yann
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Texas grid operator predicts 50-fold increase in solar by 2030
2 PV-Tech:
Californians reject roll back of solar net metering in poll
3 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Hawaii just ended net metering for solar. Now what?
4 Forbes:
Solar Trade Dispute Is Turning Nasty In Taiwan
5 Greentech Media:
Two Chinese Billionaires Plan $5B Investment in India’s Solar Market
6 NJ.com:
Stevens wins U.S. Solar Decathlon with hurricane-resistant shore house
7 Worcester Telegram:
Net metering cap slows solar installation for Central Mass. utility
8 Motley Fool:
Solar Subsidies Matter - Where Solar Companies Want Washington's Help
Opinions:
9 The Guardian:
Solar subsidies are slashed, but the sun always seems to shine on nuclear
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Greentech Media:
Sunrun - Conservative Support for Solar Puts ITC Deal Within Reach This Year
2 Motley Fool:
The Biggest Threat Residential Solar Has Ever Faced
3 PV-Magazine:
Hawaii shuts down net metering to new customers
4 New York Times:
Oil Exports Should Be Paired With Clean Energy Tax Breaks
5 The Guardian:
Leading solar entrepreneur to put business into liquidation
6 ABC:
The death of solar in Hawaii?
7 Huffington Post:
12 Special Interests Waging Shady Campaigns Against Solar
8 Greentech Media:
Getting to $1.00 per Watt - What Tricks Do Solar EPCs Have Left in the Bag?
9 Tech Insider:
The US is about to hit a big solar energy milestone
10 Rocky Mountain Institute:
The Economics of Battery Energy Storage
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 review the politics of this week. The House passed a bill that would lift the ban of oil exports. Oil exploration can largely be rooted back to the oil fields of Bakersfield in California. Bakersfield is also the home of Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the majority leader and almost Speaker of the House. Why is all of this important? Kevin McCarthy has more solar in his district than any other congressman. Farmers have been using solar to lower the cost of food for hard working American families. So I say, let’s make a deal. We need more solar, we can make it cheaper for all Americans by extending the ITC.
Yann
News
1 Solar Server:
Bakersfield is first U.S. city to pass resolution urging extension of Federal Solar Tax Credit
2 ABC:
The death of solar in Hawaii?
3 Texas Tribune:
Austin Council Votes to Boost Solar Power
4 Christian Science Monitor:
Making cheaper solar panels by making less waste
5 Think Progress:
Even Fossil Fuel Companies Support An International Climate Agreement
6 Renew Economy:
Solar fuels could be Australia’s biggest energy export
7 Breaking Energy:
California’s Clean Energy Bill Could Serve As A Template For National Energy Policy
8 The Guardian:
Government blamed as third UK solar power installer goes bust
Opinions:
9 Grist:
What would President Sanders or Clinton be able to do on climate?
Have a great day!
Yann
First the great news. I will be speaking at the Solar Capital Markets conference today in New York and China is shooting for 20GW per year for the rest of the decade. But here’s the bad news. Regulators have done it again, this time in Hawaii. The Hawaii PUC, without as much as cost hearings with the public and industries, has decided to end net metering. It doesn’t take a genius to know why, the PUC has gone against the legislators and Governor to do what NextEra wants. Just this week, you had the Florida counterpart come out against solar net metering in a State that has no penetration. Time for solar to really get involved in the PUC elections.
Opinions
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Hawaii shuts down net metering to new customers
2 Huffington Post:
12 Special Interests Waging Shady Campaigns Against Solar
3 Renewable Energy World:
Chinese Solar to Jump Fourfold by 2020, Official Tells Xinhua
4 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Residential Energy+ and Transparency - Making value visible
5 Think Progress:
Want To Know How Sea Level Rise Will Impact Your Hometown? There’s A Map For That
6 Bloomberg:
Barclays to Follow Goldman in Arranging Solar Bonds in Japan
7 Tech Insider:
The US is about to hit a big solar energy milestone
8 Grist:
How solar power can make affordable housing more resilient
Opinions:
9 The Guardian:
Leading solar entrepreneur to put business into liquidation
Have a great day!
Yann
