While the ITC in DC discussion warms up, the battles for the future of solar remain in States. Take a look at the flat out rejection in New Mexico and today’s lead with the fight in Nevada. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, in a rare move is getting into the State policy and advocates for the raise in NEM cap. It goes to show that battles are won but the ongoing growth will only continue to drive the importance of public policy. The companies that invest in policy (it isn’t cheap) are seeing returns on that investment plus it is great marketing, given that ~80% of Americans love solar.
Yann
News
1 Las Vegas Sun:
Harry Reid - Raise the cap to allow more rooftop solar
2 Santa Fe New Mexican:
PRC rejects PNM rate-hike request
3 Forbes:
The 5 Solar IT Startups You Should Know
4 CNBC:
Solar CEO - This is our next big growth area
5 Utility Dive:
Messing with Texas - Can the state block the EPA's Clean Power Plan?
6 Fusion:
Solar power advocates are ‘the enemy,’ says utility in America’s sunniest state
7 WFTV:
9 Investigates - Solar energy debate casts shade on Sunshine State
8 Renew Economy:
Why Australia will lead the world in solar + storage
Opinions:
9 Wall Street Journal:
The Hole in the Rooftop Solar-Panel Craze
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 CleanTechnica:
How & Why Utilities Make Solar Look Expensive
2 Greentech Media:
Why Rate Reform Is a Better Solution to Distributed Solar Than Eliminating Net Metering
3 CNN Money:
5 solar stocks that should be on your radar
4 Renewable Energy World:
The Fantasy of Electric Rates - Time to Educate Ratepayers
5 Business Journals:
Gov. Deal signs bill letting solar installers offer customers third-party financing
6 Motley Fool:
Why Vivint Solar Inc's Shares Plunged 13% Today
7 FastCo Exist:
Forget Desert Solar Farms
8 Grist:
People can’t get enough of Tesla’s new batteries
9 CleanTechnica:
The Relative Cost of Capital Of A YieldCo - Analyzing A Recent Transaction
10 Climate Central:
‘Massive’ Solar Expansion Critical for Climate
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
So SRP in Arizona, which created a $50/month fee for solar homeowners recently, spent $1.7million to ‘educate’ the community on the impacts of solar. Remember that SRP is a public entity, not an IOU, that is supposed to serve its members decided at the executive level to essentially lobby and create a level of rhetoric to drive the opinion of solar. It is mind boggling that this is allowed by the bylaws of the company let alone legal. I hope that the customers of SRP don’t let this happen.
Yann
News
1 AZ Central:
SRP ads, PR for solar rate hike topped $1 million
2 Utility Dive:
Utah high schoolers petition PSC to block Rocky Mountain Power solar fees
3 EDF:
Adding to the Clean Energy Chorus - Voices of Faith
4 Think Progress:
BREAKING - Duke Energy Pleads Guilty To Nine Environmental Crimes, Agrees To Pay $102 Million
5 Renew Economy:
Australia could reach 100% renewables by 2040
6 PV-Tech:
India plans 10GW solar allocation this year
7 PV-Magazine:
Deutsche Bank - yieldcos driving bullish solar outlook
8 Bloomberg:
Solar Market Suffering ‘Hangover’ After Brazil Currency Slumps
Opinions:
9 Greentech Media:
The Next Opportunity for Utility PV Cost Reductions - 1,500 Volts DC
Have a great day!
Yann
Here is how you can tell that solar is not quite mainstream yet. When Vivint Solar’s stock goes down 13% and the reaction is due to larger losses than expected. At the same time, installations and bookings grew. It is clear to me that the solar IPP model has not been understood quite yet. As SolarCity’s CFO used to say, we don’t view losses as a bad thing, we see them as the investment in assets we need to make. Meanwhile, SolarCity may be on plan to install 1GW of solar in 2015, just in time for the Buffalo manufacturing plant.
Yann
News
1 Clean Technica:
How & Why Utilities Make Solar Look Expensive
2 Solar Love:
SolarCity Could Install 1 GW Of Rooftop Solar In 2015
3 Marketwatch:
If more people go solar, what will happen to the grid?
4 Renewable Energy World:
From Finance to Customer Acquisition, Catalyst SunShot Finalists Compete to Launch Big
5 SC Now:
Duke Energy to offer customers more solar options, grow capacity
6 Utility Dive:
NV lawmaker wants PUC, not legislature, to have net metering reform authority
7 PV-Magazine:
Commercial rooftop sector gets unexpected budget boost
8 Salt Lake Tribune:
Proposed surcharge on Utahns with solar panels is back for Rocky Mountain Power customers
Opinions:
9 Motley Fool:
Why Vivint Solar Inc's Shares Plunged 13% Today
Have a great day!
Yann
