These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Las Vegas Sun:
Warren Buffett discusses NV Energy, solar rates and Elon Musk in CNBC interview
2 Nasdaq:
NRG Energy Posts Hefty Loss, Reintegrates NRG Renew; Cuts Annual Dividend
3 Bloomberg:
Buffett - Wind and Solar Power Competition Challenges Utilities
4 Bloomberg:
Buffett's Cash Overshadows Solar
5 Wall Street Journal:
SunEdison’s Takeover of Vivint Solar in Jeopardy as Banks Balk
6 Fast Co Exist:
These Lego-Like Batteries Plug In To Store Solar Power At Home
7 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Top 10 Reasons Why Solar PV Has Reached Escape Velocity
8 Washington Post:
Solar energy is poised for an unforgettable year
9 Greenbiz:
Companies are getting creative about clean energy
10 Arizona Central:
Study says rooftop solar good for all utility customers
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
This is your SolarWakeup for March 4th, 2016
Unlimited cash is a good definition of where utilities stand today. I have to give that to Warren Buffett. I do however think that if utilities don't start thinking beyond resi solar and focus on stranded assets and EVs, the era of unlimited cash may end. The regulatory pressure that is on solar is also on utilities as state regulators have a hard time guaranteeing double digit returns to shareholders. Comments like making a profit on renovating offices and taking helicopter rides always make regulators uncomfortable.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Buffett's Cash Overshadows Solar
2 Greentech Media:
Grid Edge Customer Wish List - Solar, EV Charging and Intelligent Rate Design
3 Fast Co Exist:
These Lego-Like Batteries Plug In To Store Solar Power At Home
4 Deseret News:
As Utah coal slumps, solar energy booms
5 PV-Tech:
One in three off-grid households will use solar products by 2020
6 PV-Magazine:
Mexico remains the leading distributed solar market in Latin America
7 Renewable Energy World:
Jewell Pushes US Interior Budget that Stresses Renewable Energy
8 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Spark - 5 Ways to Sustain the Corporate Renewables Market
Opinions:
9 David Crane:
Trump goes to Paris?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 3rd, 2016
Money and people drive politics. We know that solar doesn’t spend a lot of money so we always have to rely on our people and the people that support us. The good thing is that our supporters are plentiful and carry no party labels because the industries that try to kill solar are stacked with money. My friend goes over the top hits of attacks against solar in today’s top story. Don’t be fooled, we win some battles because of our continued focus on bringing the people to the discussion.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Solar fight turns to presidential-style bare-knuckle campaign tactics
2 Wall Street Journal:
SunEdison’s Takeover of Vivint Solar in Jeopardy as Banks Balk
3 Washington Post:
Solar energy is poised for an unforgettable year
4 Bloomberg:
Almost 100 Million Homes May Run Only on Solar by 2020
5 Renew Economy:
“Base load” power - a myth used to defend the fossil fuel industry
6 Greentech Media:
Community Solar Versus YieldCos - What’s the Best Option for Investing in Clean Energy?
7 Sentinel Enterprise:
Solar advocates push for end to impasse in House and Senate on net metering
8 Arizona Central:
Study says rooftop solar good for all utility customers
Opinions:
9 Christian Science Monitor:
Can US solar energy survive without incentives?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 2nd, 2016
All those headlines about the Buffett vs Musk feud? They appear to have been correct. Musk called Buffett to go over the fiasco in NV. On CNBC, Buffett confirmed the call and went way over the line in my opinion. He needs to get the facts straight about what subsidy net metering is in NV. Moreover, the real subsidy is the guaranteed return that NV Energy gets from the consumers. Buffett is a true capitalist and is using his pedestal as the oracle to spew crap about our industry. I hope that Clinton and Podesta have something to say about this.
News
1 Las Vegas Sun:
Warren Buffett discusses NV Energy, solar rates and Elon Musk in CNBC interview
2 PV-Tech:
Internal investigation delays SunEdison annual results
3 Yahoo:
Future of U.S. solar threatened in nationwide fight over incentives
4 Gizmodo:
China's Wind and Solar Energy Capacity Is Soaring
5 Greentech Media:
US Utility-Scale Solar Market Fueled by Growth Beyond Renewable Portfolio Standards
6 PV-Magazine:
Chinese polysilicon imports hit a record high in January
7 Renewable Energy World:
Grading 2016 US Presidential Candidates on Renewable Energy Policies
8 CleanTechnica:
100% Renewable Energy
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Why Isn’t Texas Saving Energy and Water through Solar Floatovoltaics?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 1st, 2016
I really want to know if David Crane is happy, confused or upset. NRG Energy announces a whopping loss of over $19 per share or $6billion net loss. That’s a crushing blow to Crane’s portfolio of stock. My guess is that the following announcement may be even more confusing or upsetting. NRG Energy will be reintegrating NRG Renew into the company. NRG solar has large scale and distributed generation exposure. If going green was the plan, why was Crane fired; that’s the question I’d like an answer to now.
News
1 Nasdaq:
NRG Energy Posts Hefty Loss, Reintegrates NRG Renew - Cuts Annual Dividend
2 Bloomberg:
Tepper Seeks Fast-Track Trial in $1.9 Billion Solar Fight
3 Greenbiz:
Companies are getting creative about clean energy
4 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Top 10 Reasons Why Solar PV Has Reached Escape Velocity
5 Utility Dive:
Montana-Dakota Utilities drops demand charge push after deal with solar advocates
6 PV-Tech:
Parent company owes Hanergy Thin Film over US$630 million
7 Greentech Media:
Report - Consumers’ Growing Appetite for Solar, Storage and Bundled Home Energy Services
8 CleanTechnica:
MENA Region To See 4 GW Solar Power Tenders This Year
Opinions:
9 Vox:
Why America abandoned nuclear power (and what we can learn from South Korea)
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 29th, 2016
Over the weekend, Berkshire Hathaway’s Chairman, Warren Buffett, released his annual letter to shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) is quite diversified in terms of utilities but it is solar and wind that is making the dent on both sides of the argument. The group now owns 7% of US wind and 6% of US solar capacity but at the same time calls it Federally-subsidized with tax credits. This goes to the argument that Buffett enjoys renewables as long as its utility owned aligning him with the likes of EEI. Read the important page of the letter here.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Buffett - Wind and Solar Power Competition Challenges Utilities
2 Vox:
Rural electric co-ops, traditionally bastions of coal, are getting into solar
3 AEE:
NEWS - Solar Plus Storage Goes Small – and Big
4 Greentech Media:
Nevada Solar Ballot Initiative Faces Utility-Backed Legal Challenge
5 Post-Bulletin:
Solar boom is boon for Minnesota landowners
6 Boston Globe:
Solar advocates tell lawmakers inaction clouds future of sector
7 BBC:
Is the US undermining India's solar power programme?
8 St Augustine Record:
'Solar Priest' challenges church to lead way in use of renewable energy
Opinions:
9 Greenbiz:
With the Clean Power Plan stalled, go regional on renewables
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 David Crane:
The energy world's 50 shades of brown
2 USA Today:
Utilities get aggressive against solar industry
3 Fortune:
Here's Why SunEdison's Stock Is Jumping 30%
4 Bloomberg:
Sunrun More Likely Solar Buyer Rather Than Seller, CEO Says
5 Think Progress:
How Clean Energy Became A Code Word In Washington
6 Fortune:
How a Single Tax Credit Dominates U.S. Solar
7 New York Times:
Bill Gates’s Clean-Energy Moon Shot
8 PV-Magazine:
New report finds net metering under attack across the United States
9 EDF:
Despite Overwhelming Support for Clean Energy, Poll Shows Disconnect
10 Greentech Media:
Negative Prices Require Positive Changes in Community Solar
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
This is your SolarWakeup for February 26th, 2016
Big news is that a judge cleared the way for the Vivint acquisition by Sunedison to proceed. If you recall, this was challenged by Hedge Fund Manager David Tepper. The Vivint shareholders led by majority shareholder Blackstone quickly approved the deal causing Sunedison stock to rise on the news. The next step is the drop down of those project assets into Terraform which may or may not be easier than it sounds or originally intended. The solarcoaster continues for the companies as the public markets create more pressure.
News
1 Fortune:
Here's Why SunEdison's Stock Is Jumping 30%
2 Bloomberg:
Judge Clears Way for SunEdison's $1.9 Billion Vivint Deal
3 EDF:
Regulators Take First Step to Ensure New York’s Distributed Energy Future is Clean
4 PV-Magazine:
Update - Foxconn deal for Sharp delayed, tolls death knell for its solar business
5 Renew Economy:
The 40 Australian towns that could, and should, quit the grid
6 Greentech Media:
46 States Took Policy Action on Solar in 2015
7 Utility Dive:
Compromise in Mississippi partially restores state regulators authority over co-ops
8 VICE:
The US Said India's Solar Power Plan Discriminates Against American Companies — And the WTO Agrees
Opinions:
9 Portland Press Herald:
Ratepayers save big, jobs triple under dramatic solar plan for Maine, advocates say
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 25th, 2016
I’ve been waiting for today for some time. Ever since David Crane was announced as having a column about power on greenbiz.com, I have been waiting for the column. 50 shades of Brown is a nice pop culture reference to the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. With NRG in mind, what can the new CEO do if ‘going green’ is not an option. "So if green is out at NRG, then the color of its new strategy will fall somewhere within the range of 50 shades of brown.” As a big producer of greenhouse gases, I am saddened by this reality and hope that David is right in the shade of brown the company picks going forward.
News
1 David Crane:
The energy world's 50 shades of brown
2 Greentech Media:
McBee Insists a Next-Generation Energy Provider Is Coming to Market, NRG Notwithstanding
3 Rocky Mountain Institute:
DERs Find a Market Opportunity in Texas Through Locational Pricing
4 Fortune:
How a Single Tax Credit Dominates U.S. Solar
5 Think Progress:
Oregon Set To Pass One Of The Most Ambitious Environmental Bills In Decades
6 PV-Tech:
Nevada governor brings back New Energy Industry Taskforce
7 Utility Dive:
Washington state solar incentive bill set for Senate hearing after House passage
8 Huffington Post:
The WTO Just Ruled Against India's Booming Solar Program
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Protect Our Families - Bring Back Ohio’s Clean Energy Standards
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 24th, 2016
NREL is out with a new report on the expected benefit from the ITC extension. It is no surprise that at least 20GW of additional solar will be built by 2022 which would not have happened without the ITC. Without data on my end, I think that number may be quite light considering where the report saw LCOE for solar in 2020 ($50/Mwh). Research has a difficult time understanding the pressures of competitive markets at times and solar is quite competitive these days.
News
1 PV-Tech:
NREL - Solar tax credits to boost US deployment by up to 20GW
2 PV-Magazine:
New report finds net metering under attack across the United States
3 Seeking Alpha:
Reports Of Solar Demise Are Exaggerated, Utilities Remain Big Buyers
4 Bloomberg:
Sunrun More Likely Solar Buyer Rather Than Seller, CEO Says
5 Solar Industry:
Trina Solar Acquires Cell Factory In The Netherlands
6 New York Times:
Bill Gates’s Clean-Energy Moon Shot
7 Arizona Central:
APS, solar group spar in testimony filed in rural utility rate case
8 The Guardian:
Nevada's solar workers and customers reel as new rules 'shut down' industry
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Solar Showdown In The Nevada Desert - Warren Buffett Vs. Elon Musk?
Have a great day!
Yann
