This is your SolarWakeup for March 27th, 2018

Corporate, Startup, Research Partners. Great coverage of a corporate incubator being run by Wells Fargo. Wells was one of the first and remains an active tax equity investor in the solar space. It’s a quiet group but they get their MW done year after year. This incubator has an interesting tweak. It provides a grant to startups, most of which is used to leverage the team at NREL to provide research to the startup. No equity exchanges hands and the side effect is revenue to NREL which is always suffering from potential budget cuts.

Net Metering Works?! During net metering fights, we present studies and engineering reports that show distributed generation helps lower costs to all ratepayers. Studies are one thing, reality is another. CAISO is canceling over $2.5billion in transmission based on efficiency and distributed resources like solar. This saves all consumers money and proves our point. This also shows by net metering is fought against because it stops utilities from investing more into the rate base.

States And Cities. You can make the case that even when the Federal government is on your side, the States make the markets. Within the States you can argue that the Cities decide how good the market can be. Whether the market is within an IOU or a City owned municipal power company. If the muni is pro-solar or decides to go the opposite route. That is why I always argue that solar needs to focus on legislators that go from County boards to State seats, or attempt to. If they get away with being anti-solar at the local level to make friends with corporate influencers, they’ll do it even bigger. I’ve mentioned reaching out to your legislator, this doesn’t have to be your Congressman. Go meet with your City council member or County Commissioner, they’re very accessible to you and love to learn about local businesses, your issues and how they can help.

Gas, A Hope Or Pattern? Sometimes I write based on personal thesis especially when the headlines match my macro themes. Taking a step back, when facts fall into place several times over a pattern emerges. Everything around natural gas is moving so quickly, California pushes back on replacing peakers, Arizona moratorium, and suits moving forward. This isn’t about making a prediction around timing but I’d be hard pressed to see a future where gas isn’t replaced by renewables. I hope the regulators pause and review the trends.

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Have a great day!
Yann

Will Natural Gas Lose Its Place As A Transition Energy?

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Our friends at the Environmental Defense Fund penned a fascinating blog post on the future of energy production in the Northeast, with particular focus on: whether the lack of natural gas pipelines in the area will harm fuel stability in the region, and outlines the challenges for regulators in the region as they look to keep their energy supplies stable. SolarWakeup’s View:  The central question facing the Northeast, at least according to N. Jonathan Peress of the Environmental Defense Fund is how the Northeast will continue to keep its fuel supplies secure if it … Read More →

CAISO Could Save $2.6 Billion Thanks (In Part) To Solar

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Thanks in part to solar penetration in Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) territories, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) proposed canceling $2.6 billion in transmission projects. The 39 cancelled projects in the two utilities’ service areas include transmission projects rendered unnecessary in part because of solar’s increased penetration in those areas. The 2017-2018 plan also includes special studies on the impact of a 50% renewable resources policy, the early retirement risks of the gas fleet and updates to previous studies on the benefits of large-scale storage. C … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for March 26th, 2018

In a rude turn of events, I have taken the lead in the SolarWakeup March Madness challenge. GE’s Ian Manchester and kWh Analytics’ Jason Kaminsky had a tough break with Duke’s loss. I am trailed closely by DSM Advanced Solar’s Nathan Arbitman and we have differing national champion selections.

Capital And Projects. Now that the uncertainty has been lifted from our industry from 201 and tax reform, I’ve been getting a lot of questions from you about project deal flow and seeking capital. Putting projects and capital together is the main way that this platform is able to sustain itself. If you are in the market for projects, some completely papered, or have projects looking for capital, then send me an email so I can try to connect the right people together.

SolarWakeup Live. Having met with the speakers from SolarWakeup Live! San Francisco last week, I am excited for the conversation. Marin Clean Energy is seeking more solar energy as well as storage contracts. CalCEF continues to create markets for innovative startups and giving them access to capital. Of course, CalSSA is hard at work to drive solar and storage policy forward in California. This is going to be a intimate gathering with California solar leaders that you don’t want to miss. Use WAKEUP20 as a way to get your ticket for 20% off. Register Here.

Are You In Illinois? Frank covers some of the Illinois news from Friday and I have the follow up. What are you focused on in Illinois? Grabbing land and securing interconnects? Working on the regulations for community solar? Or something altogether different? Help us guide the discussion about the market by letting us know.

EV Future. Most of the EV news have been positive, endless growth and investments. BMW is delaying their output however, which is likely just a bit of honesty in the cutthroat world of auto. Stay tuned for more podcast talk this week about electric vehicles.

A Right To Store. Congrats to the policy folks in Colorado for what I can only call the net metering of storage. More breakdown from Frank in the rundown.

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Have a great day!
Yann

Illinois Is Coming For You, Minnesota

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Illinois is inching closer to finalizing its Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan next month as the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) begins its final deliberations. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Manager for Clean Energy Regulatory Implementation Christie Hicks says could jumpstart renewable energy in the state. The Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan arose out of the Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016. Currently before the ICC, the final plan should be approved on April 3. SolarWakeup’s View:  When Illinois lawmakers, utilities and clean energy advocates joined forces in 2016 to sign the Future Energy Jobs Act into … Read More →

New Colorado Law Encourages Energy Storage

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 9, which explicitly provides the state’s citizens the right to install energy storage. It also calls on utilities to streamline the interconnection processes for adding storage to existing net-metered systems. It instructs the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create a regulatory framework surrounding such installations. Under the new legislation, Colorado utilities can’t require the installation of new meters to monitor energy storage. The law will go into effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns, which is expected to be on or about August … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for March 23rd, 2018

Get Your SolarWakeup Live! San Francisco Tickets

Vote Solar. Big congrats to the entire team at Vote Solar and thank you for everyone that came to the Equinox fundraiser. The solar champions will continue to speak up for our industry and we are lucky to have such great supporters in and out of our sector. Consider putting more policy in your schedule and budget. Your time and money is needed to achieve the 10 - 10 - 10 efforts that will make our industry sustain itself against all attacks.

Steyer’s Ballot Initiatives. Frank has a great story from Arizona about the RPS ballot initiative. APS is looking to preemptively cut the legs off the voters efforts to make their energy system more sustainable. Always sad to see the will of the voters reduced by a monopoly. Steyer is backing ballot initiatives in three States - NV, AZ and CO. I like this move and the timing is perfect.

All About Illinois. Together we will start the road to learn more about the Illinois market. We will be announcing great SolarWakeup Live! news including plans to head to the Land of Lincoln and site of a solar gold rush. Some news from my friends at EDF on the topic.

Now The 301 Tariffs. I can’t keep up with the near weekly trade tariffs on China from the Oval office. The 301 tariffs could impact the solar industry and I will reserve more comment and detail until an expert has given me the details.

Microsoft Solar Non-Resi Deal. Microsoft has signed a corporate off take agreement for 315MW of solar. Under the new SEIA solar market insight, I guess this is the Virginia version of community solar (the deal is likely under a contract for difference) since it sells energy to a corporate customer. Have a great weekend!

News

Have a great day!
Yann

Oregon Solar Installers Back Legend’s Customers

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Oregon solar installers are rallying around the their state’s Legend Solar customers, who could have faced an uncertain future after Utah-based Legend tumbled into financial freefall. Among the companies and organizations coming to the rescue are the Energy Trust of Oregon, the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association and Elemental Energy. The state’s installers have rushed in to make sure the entire solar industry doesn’t get a black eye from this high-profile bankruptcy. SolarWakeup’s View:  When one solar company stumbles, it’s up to the rest of us to make sure it doesn’t take the rest … Read More →

APS Is Trying To Kill Steyer-Backed RPS Initiative

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility, is again trying to stifle solar development in the state that has the most insolation in the country, because reasons. The utility behemoth, which wields enormous power in the state’s politics, is trying to kill a ballot initiative backed by progressive billionaire Tom Steyer that would raise the state’s RPS to 50% by 2030. To counter the measure, APS is pushing hard for a bill in the legislature that would make the penalty for not making the RPS goals almost laughably negligible – $1,000-$5000, a penalty APS … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for March 22nd, 2018

Short opening today, long day of meetings and jet lag are getting the best of me.

See You Tonight? Make sure you say hello tonight at Vote Solar’s Equinox in San Francisco. This is a great event to celebrate solar and those that fight on the front lines of the regulatory battles for us all. It is not too late to buy your ticket to the event and toast our industry.

Going For 100. Last year, California’s legislators got close to passing a 100% RPS. This year it could actually happen. 27 organizations including Vote Solar have banded together to push for the legislation to become law. Read Frank’s coverage here and look forward to more commentary as discussions begin.

Southeast Solar. The top story yesterday was the headline of more solar in the Southeast. This is the reminder that Florida has massive capacity growth with essentially no market. Only the IOUs are building substantial capacity and ratepayers are footing this bill with no transparency on how much it would cost if this was a competitive process instead of utility owned.

Wakeup Live. Get your tickets to our event. Hear my interview with the contract manager looking for solar projects in California.

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Have a great day!
Yann