A non-solar story to start your day and it’s pretty scary. According to a US Study, 4,000 people die every day in China due to pollution. That’s an insane number! Makes me reconsider if yesterday’s acquisition of Suniva by Shunfeng wasn’t about US tariffs or US content but about lowering the carbon cost of solar modules that travel the world by cargo ship. Think about it. Silicon is manufactured on one continent. Cells are made on another. Then transported to the next Country to be assembled into modules and then sold into the final market.
News
1 NBC:
Air Pollution Killing 4,000 in China a Day, U.S. Study Finds
2 Solar Power Portal:
Planning appeal outcomes could offer final hope for large-scale UK RO deployment
3 Huffington Post:
The Clean Power Plan - Let the Litigation Games Begin
4 PV-Magazine:
Australian commercial market hits new high
5 Vox:
California's plan to let solar panels Voltron together into a "virtual power plant"
6 Bloomberg:
Theft and Sabotage Belie India’s Buzz Over Solar Power
7 Las Vegas Sun:
As solar cap nears limit, PUC denies solar industry’s petition
8 The Atlantic:
Coal's Devastation
Opinions:
9 CNBC:
Will Greece be saved by… solar?
Have a great day!
Yann
Suniva sold a majority of its shares to Shunfeng Clean Energy. Shunfeng is the Hong Kong listed company that also purchased Suntech last year. Last summer, SolarWakeup broke the news that Suniva was opening a factory in Michigan making the modules very much US content compliant. With SolarWorld owned by Qatar, Suniva isn’t the first US solar module manufacturer that has an international owner but I think it is the first supplier with a Chinese owner. Let’s see how this evolves but congrats to the team and investors.
Yann
News
1 Reuters:
Shunfeng takes majority stake in U.S. solar manufacturer Suniva
2 Phys.org:
US distributed solar prices fell 10 to 20 percent in 2014, with trends continuing into 2015
3 Solar Power Portal:
RO uncertainty drives surge in solar farm planning applications
4 PV-Magazine:
US - Installed prices continue rapid descent
5 Vox:
Why Japan is bringing back nuclear power — four years after Fukushima
6 Las Vegas Sun:
Reid says NV Energy ‘violating Sherman Antitrust Act,’ blasts Koch brothers and Donald Trump
7 San Francisco Chronicle:
SolarCity lighting African schools with solar — free of charge
8 Economic Times:
SoftBank seeks major policy shift in global tenders for solar power
Opinions:
9 Renewable Energy World:
The Importance of “Switching Costs” to the US Residential Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
No issue has driven more comment from readers than last year’s net metering debate in Massachusetts. It appears that this may be true again. The Senate and the Governor have proposed plans which include a proposal to come up with a new program to replace the SREC incentive. The ITC cliff is ahead and many are banking on the market mechanism of the SREC to save the MA market even in a downturn of the ITC. Last year came down to the wire, but I would be surprised that the legislation doesn’t get a long term outlook on the solar market this year.
Yann
News
1 WWLP:
Critics argue Baker’s solar legislation will slow growth
2 Orlando Sentinel:
Florida's rival solar-energy initiatives report funds for ballot proposals
3 Bloomberg:
China Advised to Double Solar Goal to Fill Nuclear, Hydro
4 Des Moines Register:
Alliant reverses stance that hindered solar projects in Iowa
5 Renew Economy:
AGL says still not enough policy certainty for large-scale renewables
6 PV-Tech:
MNRE urges Indian institutions and government ministries to take up rooftop solar
7 Clean Technica:
Australians Prefer Renewables - 84% Say Solar Their Ideal Energy Source, 69% Wind
8 PV-Magazine:
Japan - First nuclear reactor gets turned back on
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
Understanding the EPA's Clean Power Plan
Have a great day!
Yann
Next Tuesday I will be speaking with a few hundred solar installers and manufacturers in Las Vegas for the Somo Conference. Somo stands for solar mounting, an interest of mine from my days in the roofing industry. Having the talk in Vegas is great timing given the tactics of NV Energy to kill solar in the State. Nevada currently represents one of the largest residential markets in the Country and I look forward to speaking with the group about the impacts this and the many other NEM battles have on their businesses. Come meet me and the many other solar folks at the show.
Opinions
News
1 Utility Dive:
How renewable energy can save utilities money
2 PV-Magazine:
USDA to invest $63 million in rural renewables
3 Reno Gazette-Journal:
Solar lobby in Darth Vader, other villain garb to protest NV Energy
4 Forbes:
Foxconn Could Make India Its Next Manufacturing Base After China, Investments Suggest
5 Architectural Digest:
These Colorful Solar Panels Could Be The Wave Of The Future
6 Journal News:
Bright idea? Clarkstown seeks solar regulations
7 Las Vegas Sun:
Solar company Sunrun signals lawsuit against state for public records
8 Clean Technica:
These 20 Cities Account For 6.5% Of US Solar PV Capacity
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
MLM And Rooftop Solar Sales Abuses, Lessons In Regulatory Capture
Have a great day!
Yann
