Last year when the Mass. Solar bill proposal came out that eliminated the NEM cap, it was one of the stories that created the most pitching that came my way. Lobbying for this editorial space happens but the debate was intense and most likely very focused within the solar industry. For once the conversation didn’t really involve the outside world and I still don’t know who the winner was. Now with a new State Governor, let’s see how the NEM cap gets resolved going forward.
Yann
News
1 Utility Dive:
Mass. grapples with policy options as it hits solar net metering cap
2 Think Progress:
Hawaii Will Soon Get All Of Its Electricity From Renewable Sources
3 Renewable Energy World:
Shared Solar Could Open Path to 100 Percent PV Market Penetration
4 PV-Magazine:
5 takeaways from 2015 SNEC
5 Bloomberg:
Rooftop Solar in Brazil Can Reach 2 Gigawatts If Tax Is Dropped
6 EDF:
Creative Utility Accounting - Estimating the True Cost of a Subsidy
7 Washington Post:
Why the best place for solar panels may not be on your roof
8 USA Today:
Tesla home batteries could boost rooftop solar
Opinions:
9 Greentech Media:
Move Over, Mandates - Can a New ‘Personal Energy Independence’ Bill Entice Congress?
Have a great day!
Yann
Money and deals, the chase to attach one to the other is never ending in solar. Money looks for deals, deals look for money though most of the time the deals aren’t without issues and the money may not be 100% available. Let’s not bring up the requirements needed to get tax equity comfortable with solar deals. So what keeps the two sides from getting together? Is it a lack of communication or too little marketing? How can the local entities find the right partners that help make the deals move forward.
Yann
News
1 Renewable Energy World:
Unraveling Accelerates for EU-China Solar Tariff Deal
2 Charlotte Observer:
Duke Energy should stop fighting solar as a choice
3 Energy Collective:
Is the Future of Electricity Generation Really Distributed?
4 PV-Magazine:
Japan solar poised for cost-revenue parity, says JREF
5 Bloomberg:
Tesla's New Battery Doesn't Work That Well With Solar
6 Huffington Post:
Hawaii Legislature Passes $26 Billion Budget, 100% Renewable Energy Goal
7 Utility Dive:
Maine senator unveils unprecedented federal distributed energy bill
8 Wall Street Journal:
Chinese Solar Firm’s Stellar Rise Mints Millionaires
Opinions:
9 NY Times:
Germany, the Green Superpower
Have a great day!
Yann
Almost every day I hear from someone looking to buy or invest in projects. It goes hand in hand with the notion that there is much more capital than developed pipeline that isn’t bragawatts. That being said, having money is not everything for a solar deal. How to get the offtaker and tax equity comfortable with the development team and installing at the right price makes all the difference as well. I have a new rule that every project can get done, the variables just need to line up with the other inputs. Next week, we can discuss the new funding source of development capital.
Yann
News
1 Bloomberg:
EU Solar-Panel Industry Wins Review of China Price Pact
2 24/7 Wall Street:
Why First Solar YieldCo Will Dominate
3 Above The Law:
Electricity War Goes To The Supreme Court
4 Renew Economy:
Australia’s big fail on climate and energy policies
5 PV-Magazine:
Solar becoming 'least-cost option' for US utilities
6 E&E News:
Clean tech seen as game changer for women in energy sector
7 Greentech Media:
Ditching Net Metering Is in the ‘Best Interest’ of Solar, Say MIT Economists
8 Forbes:
Solar Power Poll Illustrates Industry's Desperation
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
Are We Sunk? The Electric Utility’s Titanic Problem
Have a great day!
Yann
Here we go again, the dreaded IPP earnings call. As SolarCity goes to the conference call it can speak to the various cash flow products that are now active in solar, all of which go to extend the length of the contracts. They can be in the lease, the PPA, loan, and now the Powerwall lease but it all comes together that the companies need investors to look past the earnings loss. The reason for that is you can’t be a for profit EPC and owner of SPVs at the same time. You have to pick your desired valuation metric
Yann
News
1 Investors Business Daily:
SolarCity To Announce Q1 Results Tuesday
2 Boston Globe:
Solar industry in limbo after task force’s divided report
3 Reuters:
Solar energy enjoys a glowing outlook
4 PV-Magazine:
Australia- Stars aligning for RET compromise
5 Greentech Media:
Developers Upset With Xcel’s Decision to Limit Community Solar Projects in Minnesota
6 Huffington Post:
Adding Solar Panels to Your Home
7 Solar Novus:
Nine NEC Code Updates for Solar Installations
8 Nasdaq:
Is Solar Energy Ready To Compete With Oil And Other Fossil Fuels?
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Matching Veterans with Solar Jobs
Have a great day!
Yann
