Do you believe in solar? Does Wall Street? To start your week, just read these words which summarize 60+ pages of research from banking giant UBS.
"We believe solar will eventually replace nuclear and coal, and establish as the default technology of the future to generate and supply electricity”
News
1 NY Times:
The Case for a Carbon Tax
2 Financial Times:
Solar panel theft on the rise in Germany
3 PV-Magazine:
Yingli pays off some debt, releases Q1 earnings
4 Bloomberg:
JA Solar Surges on CEO Proposal to Take Company Private
5 Energy Collective:
The IMF Just Destroyed the Best Argument Against Clean Energy
6 Utility Dive:
SDG&E forming coalition to back proposal for 550 car charging stations
7 Desert Sun:
California setting new solar records at rapid pace
8 Denver Post:
Cost of solar power vexing to Colorado system owners, electric coops
Opinions:
9 Vox:
Green living is often just for the wealthy. Portland wants to change that.
Have a great day!
Yann
A special message to my dear friends who are current Public Service Commissioners reading this morning. Please read the op-ed from the APS regulatory affairs team about how “normal” it is for you to be texting with the representatives of the companies you oversee. It’s also fine to call and write each other. However, it is not okay for the messages to be saved for public records so they can be reviewed by the ratepayers you are supposed to represent. Let’s make it very clear, APS is going out on a limb and is preparing to bungee jump from a tiny little branch. A move that is bad for the company, the shareholders and anyone that buys this messaging while serving their community as a PSC member may want to look for a new way to serve.
News
1 AZ Central:
Solar companies only lash out because they're losing
2 PV-Tech:
China poised to cut list of solar companies in EU price undertaking
3 Renewable Energy World:
The Big Question - What Is the Most Frustrating Part about Working in Renewable Energy?
4 PV-Magazine:
SunPower files lawsuit against SunEdison, former employees for poaching trade secrets
5 Grist:
You’re obsessing about the wrong home energy uses
6 Solar Industry:
Community Solar Has Dropped Barriers For Energy Providers And Consumers
7 Utility Dive:
Inside Minnesota's legislative battle over utility rate structures and solar
8 Think Progress:
Georgetown University Votes To Divest From Coal
Opinions:
9 Energy Collective:
What’s Good for the EV Is Good for the Utility
Have a great day!
Yann
Hats off to the team at DNV for putting on an interesting and thought provoking forum about the Utility of the Future. During our panel two items were highlighted that need further discussion: whether the utility death spiral is nonsense and how solar on the grid provides data that may be valuable to utilities. Today, let’s have the talk about utility death spiral first, is it non-sense? Or is there a reality in which utilities can create irreparable harm to their business model? Let me know your thoughts.
Yann
News
1 Utility Dive:
SDG&E microgrid uses solar, storage to avoid outage in small town
2 PV-Tech:
Musk defends SolarCity and Tesla support after LA Times criticism
3 Renewable Energy World:
Understanding the Yieldco Structure for Renewable Energy Project Finance
4 PV-Magazine:
Ambitious interconnection plans could transform Europe
5 Fox News:
Fossil fuel split - Oil and gas companies 'demonize' coal as climate deal nears
6 Bloomberg:
At OPEC the Saudi Oil Minister Mainly Wants to Discuss Solar Power
7 NY Times:
California Lawmakers Advance Aggressive Climate Change Plans
8 Time:
Why You Should Think Seriously About Going Solar
Opinions:
9 Hugh McColl:
Don’t give up our solar advantage
Have a great day!
Yann
Yesterday during the interview I was asked to list the markets in the US that were open to solar markets. From a fundamental standpoint, I had to answer that the list is more about the States that don’t want solar. With more solar and distributed generation coming online, it is clear that no matter how uneven the playing field may be, solar will be built. Tomorrow I join a panel to discuss how the advancement of solar affects the utilities of the future. I can only imagine that the utilities that don’t plan ahead will have trouble competing with solar, solar + storage, electric vehicles and the smart home.
News
1 Utility Dive:
How utilities can thrive through the 'all-encompassing evolution' of the grid
2 Good Magazine:
Pop Star Akon’s Ambitious Solar Plan Could Revolutionize Africa
3 Huffington Post:
Europe's Oil Giants Call For Carbon Pricing
4 PV-Magazine:
Hanergy delays release of info, SGM date
5 Denver Post:
The rooftops of municipal buildings could become solar power plants
6 NRDC:
Progress on Smart from the Start Solar in California and Nevada
7 Forbes:
Gizmo Cuts Cost Of Grid Interconnection For Rooftop Solar
8 Boston Globe:
Solar advocates fight to preserve incentives
Opinions:
9 Clean Technica:
Look Out Coal, Here Comes Fast-Track Solar
Have a great day!
Yann
