SEIA Broadens Its Reach By Making It Easier For Rank-And-File Installers To Join
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent In the past, some installers have grumbled that the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is in thrall to installers and manufacturers who have big money to spend and that it didn’t care about the little guy. They would then point to the dues structure and suggest one of the reasons they refused to join was the expense was beyond what their bottom lines could handle. Well, I’m here to say that SEIA must have heard the criticism, and it’s making changes to accommodate more of the rank-and-file installers that said they couldn’t join before. SEIA … Read More
This is your SolarWakeup for September 27th, 2018
SPI Day 2. Tomorrow I will be walking the floor after a busy week of meetings. The message thus far is that the event is busy and well attended. Glad to see the positive vibes moving throughout the solar industry. It may be quite a change from this busy Anaheim event to Salt Lake City next year.
AZ SEIA Backs RPS. Frank has the story on AZSEIA getting involved. More importantly this ballot initiative will be a great indicator of where Americans are on the RPS question.
SMART Coming up. About time and great news for the MA solar community. Let’s get some solar done!
More Infra Money. One investor looking for 2GW of solar. The interesting notion here is that infra funds are hiring bankers to do solar development and while I like many bankers, buying solar project is a bit different. That being said, I’m a fan of what the Statkraft message sends to the industry.
Join Us In Jersey City. Great agenda with knowledgeable speakers and wonderful sponsors. Not too late to join the team and get your name in the SolarWakeup. solarwakeuplive.com is the place for all the info.
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Yann
Nevada PUC Sets Grid Guidelines To Encourage Distributed Energy Additions In Future
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent For all of Nevada’s struggles with solar energy – the inexplicable, precipitous shutdown of net metering that destroyed the rooftop industry for almost two years comes to mind – they are trying hard right now to bring about its renaissance. First, they reinstated net metering. Now they’re on the verge of increasing the state’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) through a well-funded, seemingly popular ballot initiative. And today, the Public Utilities Commission (NPUC) adopted a framework that will require investor-owned utilities (IOUs)to create Distribution Resource Plans (DRP), which will determine what resources and grid upgrades the … Read More
Arizona SEIA Endorses Proposition To Increase The State’s RPS By 35%
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent As the battle rages in Arizona over the future of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which currently stands at just 15% by 2025, the pro-solar forces aiming to raise that by 35% gained a staunch ally yesterday as the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association (AriSEIA) has announced its support for Proposition 127, which would increase the amount of Arizona’s power that comes from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030. Proposition 127 has been the subject of great contention within the state. Proposed by California progressive billionaire Tom Steyer, the proposition received more than the … Read More
This is your SolarWakeup for September 26th, 2018
Have a great day!
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Yann
New Website Aims To Bring Job Seekers, Job Providers Together In Easy-To-Use Platform
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent As the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. economy, the solar industry is hiring people at an ever-increasing rate – and as solar adoption continues to expand, the need for qualified workers will continue to grow, too. But here’s the challenge: Even though well-paying jobs in the solar industry exist – today – the industry hasn’t yet tackled the challenge of putting the necessary job applicants with the job providers. Until now. [wds id=”3″] At Solar Power International this week, the Solar Training Network announced the launch of AmericanSolarWorkforce.org, a comprehensive online platform to help solar … Read More
Shocking News (Not Shocking): Americans Prefer Solar As An Electricity Source
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent For years, the poll everyone cited had 90% of Americans supporting solar. But that poll is now a few years out of date, and the energy source is is more pervasive than ever. So what if you took a poll now – would those numbers remain so high? Well, now we have the the answer from the most recent The Global Strategy Group poll released today at Solar Power International – and the answer is yes. 91% of Americans prefer solar as a source of electricity, and 76% want their utilities to acquire more solar … Read More
This is your SolarWakeup for September 25th, 2018
Go Deeper. The permit topic, aka SolarAPP, will be a continuing topic here for a few reasons. First, don’t underestimate how much better we can be doing with quality in solar. Creating a uniform path that expects code compliance will make sure that installers are doing it the right way and you won’t be put into a position bidding against those that cut corners. Second, consumer protection rules will have to be enforced and reviewed by those with knowledge of solar, the overlap of electrical, output, financial and other aspects of solar require industry specific knowledge. This is the early stage in this process and I will keep you updated on the topic.
More Utility In Solar. EDF is entering into another partnership in the C&I space with EnterSolar. It is becoming clear to me that utilities are playing the long game and focusing on the relationship with energy users.
Vogtle Debacle. It seemed like the last nuclear plant under construction almost died yesterday but may see another day. Interestingly, after a letter from DOE saying it would go after the loan guarantee payments if the plant was canceled, the utilities may have had additional motive to not formally cancel the project.
Suck The CO2. What would happen if a technology could ‘suck’ CO2 out of the atmosphere? That would be something really great for the planet but who would pay for it? If nobody is apparent in answering that question, then why would anyone work on this big problem?
Tesla Roof, Less Sketpical. Count me in as less skeptical than I have been in the past. As time passes, I see a market for Tesla roof to make some inroads, not large scale yet but who knows what the future holds.
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Yann
SEIA, The Solar Foundataion Attack Permitting Costs Head On
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent With cost being wrung out at every level of the solar installation, whether it’s module, inverter and racking prices, installation labor and even operations-and-maintenance. Yet the stubborn issue of exorbitant soft costs continues to plague the industry and keep prices artificially high. Numerous studies have been done to determine the best way to bring those costs down, but they still remain high – at least until the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and The Solar Foundation (TSF) decided to do something about them. To that end, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and The Solar … Read More
Powerhouses Join Forces To Provide Services To C&I Solar Segment
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent It’s common knowledge that the commercial & industrial (C&I) segment of the solar industry historically has struggled to find financing and put together projects. The reasons for the struggles are myriad, but mostly it has to do with banks not being sure what to do with commercial properties and how to securitize them. Now two industry powerhouses are joining forces in the hopes of relieving some of that pressure. EDF Renewables North America (EDF Renewables)and EnterSolar announced a strategic partnership whereby EDF Renewables will acquire a 50% interest in EnterSolar that will allow the company … Read More