Evanston Becomes First City In Illinois To Commit To 100% Clean Energy

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Illinois is one of the hottest solar markets in the country, thanks in part to the Future Energy Act of 2016. Solar companies are flooding into the state, and many cities are clamoring to be part of the Solar Revolution in the state. And now at least one city has decided to take its devotion to clean energy that extra step by pledging to become the 102nd city in the United States – and the first in Illinois – to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. [wds id=”3″] Yesterday, the Evanston City Council … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for December 12th, 2018

Regulator Talks Policy and Climate Change. Here is the first of the conversations from our sold out event in New Jersey with the President of the BPU, Joseph Fiordaliso. In a conversation that was expected to focus on the regulatory activity in New Jersey (They are busy, and hiring), President Fiordaliso threw me a curveball by speaking in great detail about the reasons behind the important work he is undertaking, climate change. Moreover, he provides some feedback to the folks at DOE and FERC trying to prop up coal and nuclear power plants. Listen to the entire conversation here or on your favorite podcast streaming app. 
Q&A With Governor Inslee. The Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, is proposing a 100% RPS by 2045 and sees it as a legislative priority for the next legislative session. Frank had the opportunity to get some of the most relevant questions answered about the latest initiative to go 100% renewable. 
Big Day For Big Name. 8minuteenergy is one of the most well known names in solar development. From the day I started in solar, 8minute was out in California developing these unfathomably large solar projects. As the company puts together a new $200million fund with JP Morgan, I’d like to congratulate Martin Hermann for exiting from the company. His partner announced over the weekend that Martin has been bought out. When people ask me what I wish I’d done in 2006 when I entered solar, I look back at the things Martin was saying at solar conferences because he was more right than anyone else. 
Opening Energy Storage. FERC is receiving the filings from grid operators about the Order 841 filed early this year. ISOs and RTOs had to file their plans to implement the order which asked for the enablement of market participation by energy storage systems. More work needs to be done but you can see how this plays out over the next few years. 
Explorer, Escalade. Yes, an electric Ford Explorer would be great. Yes, I know that GM doesn’t own Ford. Yes, I got it wrong yesterday, I am sorry! I am glad to see many of you reading the column emailed me to point out my error. I would recommend GM to make an electric Escalade or Tahoe though!

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Have a great day!
Yann

Dusty Baker Wants To Diversify The Solar Industry Just Like SEIA

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent As most of you know, I’ve long been a crusader for diversity. I helped host the first diversity conference in the hotel industry back in 1998. I took the golf course maintenance industry to task for its lack of diversity in an article headlined, “Why Is This Industry So White?” And I sat on the Minorities in Pest Management committee when I wasn’t writing about cockroaches and bed bugs in the pest management industry. So diversity is kinda my thing, which is why I am thrilled with the Solar Energy Industries Association’s work on bringing … Read More →

Q&A: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Aims For 100% Clean Electricity By 2045

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced his aggressive plans to reduce the state’s carbon emissions. As part of those plans, he has pledged the state to get to 100% clean energy by 2045, following California and several other states who have decided to decarbonize tehir electrical systems. He talked with SolarWakeup about the decision. SolarWakeup: Where does Washington currently stand in its clean energy development? Washington Governor Jay Inslee: Washington’s electricity is about 75% carbon free, predominantly hydro. You can find more information here and here. [wds id=”3″] SolarWakeup: What first inspired you to decide to … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for December 11th, 2018

Opening Salvo, Permanent ITCs. Senator Schumer is making an opening statement to the Trump administration and it is both interesting and relevant to our work. Schumer may be in the minority but in order to pass any legislation over the next two years, Trump will have to negotiate with Schumer and Pelosi to get it done. Schumer is calling for a massive infrastructure bill with a heavy emphasis on clean energy. One of the specific issues is to make the solar and wind ITCs permanent, which is exactly what I’ve been calling for on SolarWakeup for a decade. More importantly this drives a legislative process where solar tax writers should allow for the ITC to taken against active income, exactly like oil and gas credits. Don’t get excited, this isn’t a bill yet but it means that New York, which is trying to get off the ground with renewables is telling their senior Senator that the ITC is important to them. (Hello from Wall Street)
Looking At Exxon. This is an interesting write up on the solar and wind deal that Exxon executed for their Texan operations. It digs into the ability to get enough renewable on a constrained grid and the competition between gas and coal. 
The Chevy Volt. In many ways, the Chevy Volt was the introduction of electric cars to the masses. I know this because it was my first electric car and I dreaded any day that I was driving more than 38 miles and would have to turn on the small engine. Last week, GM announced it was halting the production of the Volt as it is ending its entry level stance for electric vehicles. Yes, the Volt was the right car at the right time but now it’s time for GM to lean in and produce all electric vehicles and they should start with the Ford Explorer. Not all EVs need to be electric looking, let’s put a big skateboard of batteries under the existing chassis and give people what they want. 
Dominion Must Try Again. Dominion has been told by Virginia regulators that they need to resubmit their IRP after producing a filing that overestimated load and didn’t consider the impacts of State legislation. As you will hear in a podcast recording this week with the NJ BPU President, regulators are no longer rubber stamping the filings by monopolies and making sure that the policies are well implemented.

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Have a great day!
Yann

Massachusetts To Receive Influx Of Community Solar Projects

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Community solar is one of the fastest growing segments of the solar industry right now despite only 19 states having active governmental support through policies and incentives to encourage community solar projects. Massachusetts is one of those states, however, with its SMART incentive program having specific enticements to bring community solar to the Bay State – and it’s attracted one of the strongest national firms in the country to build a series of projects there. [wds id=”3″] CleanChoice Energy, a renewable energy company that provides wind and solar energy products to customers across the country, … Read More →

Where Is The $600 Million For Clean Energy Research? NRDC Wants To Know

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent While the rest of the world was trying to solve global climate change last week at the COP24 talks, the United States held a forum to discuss how the rest of the world should use more “clean coal” and nuclear energy. To say the current U.S. administration is skeptical of climate science (even when it’s produced by its own scientists) would understate the case by a factor of 200. But to date, the record on funding clean energy research appeared to continue apace. The Sunshot Initiative continues to release funds to research projects both on … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for December 10th, 2018

2019. I’ve decided that you’re early Christmas present is a binging of the SolarWakeup Live Jersey City conversations which will drop at some point this week. All 7 conversations will be available on the SolarWakeup Live podcast this week. More importantly, in 2019 I will be mixing my day job and SolarWakeup a bit more by opening the studio for conversations at the Quick Mount offices. I’ve been spending the past 6 months inviting solar leaders to our manufacturing plant and many are coming in the new year. At the same time we plan on recording those conversations on site. This is an exciting combination of both of my passions and look forward to hearing about the good ideas you have to discuss. Come visit me in Walnut Creek, California!
You Are Not Welcome. The US joined Russia, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia not to join the UN climate report at COP24. This is a statement of the era we are in that is hoping to return to the 20th century as opposed to the reality that is required for the rest of the 21st Century. 
No Clean Air For You. Newly situated EPA administrator, Andrew Wheeler, is doing the important work of lifting environmental regulations for coal plants. This is part of the Trump plan to bring coal back to life but in reality will do absolutely nothing to do such a thing given that the cost to operate coal plants is no longer viable. The EPA should ask this question to the VP’s staff with contacts in Indiana. 
GM Blowback. Trump tweeted last week that GM should lose its EV tax credits for closing the manufacturing plants. Last night, Elon Musk told 60 Minutes that he may be interested in acquiring those plants. Elon also spoke some hard truth to the SEC in this clip. 
PG&E Legislative Forecast. It is almost certain that PG&E will be in Sacramento this year asking for a bailout for the fires in Paradise/Chico which also caused my kids to visit the doctor. The more relevant question is what will the solar industry be asking for when PG&E advances their bailout bill. Our job isn’t to have a feeling for their ask but to put a price on the legislation for the solar industry. I have my price, would be interested to hear what you would ask for. 
Labor In Solar. Minnesota (and other States) solar companies are restricted in growth by their ability to hire qualified labor. It is a great opportunity to open the solar industry to others that are training or can be trained to be helpful to the solar industry. 
Facebook Not Building Community. Another sample of the corporate Facebook focus on their data center energy supply without growing the market where they are investing. More importantly, their employees aren’t increasing their ability to go solar while working at the local building either. 
Huawei Situation. Don’t under appreciate the impact of the Huawei CFO situation as it pertains to the trade negotiations between the US and China. There are very real tariffs on the table that are increasing the cost of your racking, inverter and modules supply. 
Diversify Now. Abby Hopper of SEIA is leaning in on diversity with good reason. While solar is doing a good job on diversity and veteran hiring, it could be doing so much better. More importantly, we are more open to being better than the status quo. I go back to the Vote Solar Equinox event in DC when a very non-diverse room welcomed speakers on the environmental justice topic. As the solar industry diversities it will also grow the market, both are undoubtedly linked. 

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Have a great day!
Yann

This is your SolarWakeup for December 7th, 2018

Have a great weekend, no column today as I hosted a Hannukah party last night and Decoy won out! See you on Monday. 
Make sure to check out the Q&A from Frank about the California solar home mandate and some of the top stories of the day!

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Have a great day!
Yann

Q&A: What Does The California Solar Mandate Mean And Where Does It Go From Here?

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent California has been working for nearly seven months on a plan to mandate solar on the roofs of all new-build homes starting in 2020. While the initial fanfare surrounding the bill took place in May, it didn’t become, in the words of Kelly Knutsen, “officially official” until yesterday. Knutsen, Director of Technology Advancement for the California Solar & Storage Association, agreed to talk to SolarWakeup about the mandate: what it means and where the California solar industry will go from here. SolarWakeup: We thought this was a done deal. What was the vote about today? … Read More →