Now that SRP has essentially killed solar through regulations, let us look at how they did it and what concessions were made. SRP always used the $50/month charge for new solar users to remove incentive for solar savings. How those numbers could make sense (they don’t) is beyond me, no way that a few kW of solar can cost SRP infrastructure $600/year. SRP board did however give a 20 year grandfather instead of 10 on existing customers though there may be a distinction for leased systems and increased the demand charge calculation to 30 minutes from 15, a small but significant change. Not to forget that SolarCity has promised a lawsuit against the new charge, so much more to come.
Yann
News
1 Think Progress:
Arizona’s New Solar Charge Is ‘Unsupportable By Any Economic Analysis,’ SolarCity Says
2 PV-Tech:
Australian audits uncover no unsafe solar panels
3 Business Spectator:
Utility-solar gets a boost in the South
4 CleanTechnica:
Despite Net Metering Veto, West Virginia’s Solar Industry Close to Collapse
5 Tampa Tribune:
Utilities, group square off on solar power
6 Wall Street Cheat Sheet:
3 Reasons Why Solar Energy Is One of America’s Hottest Industries
7 Greentech Media:
SDG&E’s James Avery on the Promise of EVs and the Pitfalls of Solar
8 Utility Dive:
NY regulators approve state's first CCA program
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
PV Expo - Trina CEO says Japan key to “smart energy” rollout
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Forbes:
Solar Energy Delivers Too Little Bang For Billions Invested
2 Greentech Media:
Here Are 7 Ways the US Solar Market Will Change in 2015
3 NY Times:
Appraising Solar Energy’s Value
4 Renew Economy:
Solar at 2c/kWh – the cheapest source of electricity
5 Bloomberg:
First Solar and SunPower Plan to Form Joint-Venture Yieldco
6 CNBC:
Two industries are fighting over your power bill
7 Time:
See the World’s Largest Solar Plants From Above
8 Eco Watch:
Solar Industry Prepares for Battle Against Koch Brothers’ Front Groups
9 AZ Central:
SRP boosts solar charges amid threat of lawsuit
10 EDF:
Let’s Talk About Solar Power and Equity
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
A municipal utility should work for its ratepayers who also happen to be shareholders which makes the news out of SRP in Arizona all the more interesting. With so much heat on solar in Arizona and given how dirty it has been, it makes me wonder who got to the leadership at SRP. So now that a $50/month solar charge is getting implemented in SRP, let the investigative reporters do some digging into who really wanted to send the message to the solar industry. So many munis have been leaders on implementing solar with innovative structures, don’t expect SRP to be the standard going forward and don’t let it stand!
Yann
News
1 AZ Central:
SRP boosts solar charges amid threat of lawsuit
2 Grist:
What will a solar eclipse mean for solar power?
3 Forbes:
The Storage Industry Learns From Solar - Third Party Financing A Growing Trend
4 Time:
See the World’s Largest Solar Plants From Above
5 Renew Economy:
Big utilities charge into distributed energy, one step at a time
6 CleanTechnica:
Are Utilities or States the Leaders in Renewable Energy & Efficiency?
7 Greentech Media:
Where’s the Solar? How Los Angeles Can Utilize All Those Empty Rooftops
8 LA Times:
Google invests $300 million in fund for residential solar power
Opinions:
9 Utility Dive:
Why utilities and solar advocates can't agree on what solar costs
Have a great day!
Yann
Before you send me your email being upset about today’s leading story, hear me out. First off, not everyone likes solar. It is getting way too cost effective and has no fuel cost volatility that can be traded around. Folks like the Koch brothers just can’t handle that so what do they do? They help fund the misguided few to setup a cleverly named 501(c)(4) non-profit. In this case, they are paying David Williams to run the ‘Taxpayers Protection Alliance’ $120,000 and house him in the National Taxpayer Union building in Virginia. Well here is my offer to David Williams, come talk to me or many others in solar about the facts, because you have fallen off your rocker.
Yann
News
1 Forbes:
Solar Energy Delivers Too Little Bang For Billions Invested
2 Sun Sentinel:
Women in Solar Energy - Nonprofit pushes for greater role in industry
3 PV-Magazine:
Germany launches new solar farm incentive scheme
4 Solar Industry:
Mining Companies Find Value In Solar And Wind Generation
5 Bloomberg:
By the Time You Read This, They've Slapped a Solar Panel on Your Roof
6 PV Tech:
Opinion split on First Solar and SunPower yield-co
7 Tech Crunch:
Y Combinator-Backed Bright Aims To Bring Solar Power To Mexico
8 SolarServer:
100 MW of U.K. PV projects at risk as March ROC deadline looms
Opinions:
9 Grist:
California communities seize control of their energy futures
Have a great day!
Yann
