See more on the Suniva manufacturing announcement that follows the SolarCity/Silevo manufacturing announcement a few weeks ago. Expect that Suniva will be up and running in the near future on this plant however.
Money and more of it continues to pour into the solar market. While this is not a headline in and of itself it is interesting to note the changing landscape of solar funding. For example, GTM Research in its update on residential solar financing includes a Property Accessed Clean Energy (PACE) firm for the first time in my recollection (feel free to let me know otherwise). Nicole Litvak includes Renewable Funding, Cisco DeVries’ firm who pioneered PACE and recently plunged back into the residential sector. Renewable is now chasing Renovate America’s HERO program in the resi space. HERO who has brazenly pioneered hundreds of millions of dollars in residential energy option upgrades despite Fed level chagrin is notably missing in the GTM taxonomy. (Note: they just raised another $50M in equity funding). Take note of another nod to potentially more of this to come, the inclusion of deregulated energy marketers, Viridian (SolarCity) and Choose Energy (OneRoof Energy) on the GTM report. These models bundle solar in an “energy choice” consumer discussion which one could see as giving it a strong context. In the case of the Viridian/SolarCity deal the leverage is a personal connection via direct sales. Makes one wonder who will Ambit Energy partner with on the solar side? A takeaway and job security for solar sales reps: With all the technology in the world we still buy from people we like and trust.
News
Opinions:
Have a great day!
Yann
The yin and yang of solar related messages in our highlighted headlines is intriguing and points to the industry’s growing clout. “We couldn't figure out why not to do it.” “It’s a no brainer.” Consumer voices heard in mainstream media are mirrored by financial recommendations for buying into the solar sector. Swinging to a perceived dark side of the solar value proposition is angst about glare from California's Ivanpah installation causing problems with area flights and leasing contracts stymieing home sales. We as an industry are not on the sidelines of energy generation any longer. We are in the proverbial “ring.” As Ucilia Wang reports in Forbes, it’s a bullish outlook for the U.S. solar market. With the limelight of becoming a major player, we also shoulder the insults and incoming tomatoes. Let’s make sauce.
-Glenna Wiseman in for Yann Brandt
News
Opinions:
Have a great day!
Yann
Our solar opponents often want to get solar to get sidetracked by answering their asinine commentary from paid for legislators. More importantly, they hate good news like the IPO for a solar specific yieldco, TerraForm, released by SunEdsion. SunEdison has come a long way from its start thanks to working with new management and activist investors. This success led to raising the range of the IPO price, and that's great news for everyone in solar.
Programming note: I will be taking off from SolarWakeup next week, but you will be not miss any solar news action, but that is why you're getting a bonus edition today. Glenna Wiseman of Identity3, SolarChat and Women4Solar will be pinch hitting for me. She will pick the stories and write the blurb. You can still email stories my way and I will pass them along.
News
Opinions:
Have a great day!
Yann