These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Motley Fool:
Are These Two Solar Stocks About to Explode?
2 TechCrunch:
How Solar Software Can Save The World
3 Yahoo:
Einhorn's Greenlight seeks sale of solar company SunEdison
4 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar Files Its Proxy Statement For The SunEdison Acquisition
5 New York Times:
California Votes to Retain System That Pays Solar Users Retail Rate for Excess Power
6 Treehugger:
1.2-million sq. ft. solar panel 'Gigafactory' in Buffalo almost ready, will make 1 GW/year
7 New York Times:
Under Pressure, SunEdison Gives David Einhorn’s Fund a Board Seat
8 Bloomberg:
California to Decide Fate of Solar in Biggest U.S. Market
9 Vox:
How big a deal was Congress extending the renewable energy tax credits? A very, very big deal.
10 San Francisco Chronicle:
How much is your solar power worth? The fight over solar’s future
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 January 29th, 2016
There you have it. By a 3 to 2 vote, the California PUC revamped the net energy metering policy. NEM 2.0, as its known, will feature a few common sense adaptations including a preset interconnection fee for residential, a time of use factor and adjustment for some societal benefits chargers paid by all consumers. The known benefit of distributed solar will continue in California so that homeowners can save money and other consumers benefit from a more stable energy system. As the CPUC said, the vote means more choice, more control and more responsibility over energy issues.
News
1 New York Times:
California Votes to Retain System That Pays Solar Users Retail Rate for Excess Power
2 Los Angeles Times:
California solar owners face new fees, utilities say costs should be higher
3 PV-Tech:
Solving the soft-cost puzzle
4 Solar Industry:
Solar-Plus-Storage Market Poised To Reach $8 Billion In 2026
5 Utility Dive:
Ohio Gov. Kasich pledges to reinstate clean energy standards if lawmakers try to cut them
6 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Spark - New Report - Financial Benefits of Home Energy Upgrades
7 Fast Co.Exist:
If The Price Of Solar Falls As Fast As Other Technologies, The World Can Breathe Easier
8 Bloomberg:
Doing the Math - Why China's Exports Aren't Adding Up
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
Senate Energy Bill Makes Important Steps Forward But Still Has Problems
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 28th, 2016
The SunEdison topic continues to be in the news and I am rooting for the great team to work themselves out of the issues they are going through. There are good people at the company that we share an industry with. About a year ago, a David Einhorn powerpoint made the rounds that spoke about the great business model and growth of the company. Yesterday, the company and hedge fund agreed to some corporate governance and board seat. Vivint Solar also filed the proxy for the sale to SunEdison and assets to Terraform.
News
1 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar Files Its Proxy Statement For The SunEdison Acquisition
2 New York Times:
Under Pressure, SunEdison Adds David Einhorn to Board
3 Vox:
How big a deal was Congress extending the renewable energy tax credits? A very, very big deal.
4 Greentech Media:
What’s at Stake in California’s Coming Net Metering 2.0 Decision
5 Bloomberg:
California to Decide Fate of Solar in Biggest U.S. Market
6 NRDC:
K-Solar Lets the Sunshine In
7 Renewable Energy World:
Coalition of States Asks US Supreme Court to Stay Clean Power Plan
8 Nasdaq:
Coal Will Struggle To Survive Australian Solar Surge
Opinions:
9 Utility Dive:
How utilities and regulators differ in their approaches to distributed energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 27th, 2016
Keep your eyes out for stories from California as the CPUC could vote on the NEM 2.0 rules this week. If you are in CA, make sure to get involved in rallies and calls to action. This week, IREC and Vote Solar released their annual Free the Grid Report. The report does a great job of showing the success of solar throughout the Country so take a look in today’s top link.
News
1 IREC:
IREC and Vote Solar Release 2015 Freeing the Grid
2 San Francisco Chronicle:
How much is your solar power worth? The fight over solar’s future
3 Huffington Post:
Supreme Court Rejects Fossil Power's Effort to Stifle the Clean Competition
4 PV-Magazine:
Egypt preps tender for 30 GW of energy projects
5 Grist:
How to tell the story of climate change, in photos
6 CleanTechnica:
US Could Cut Energy Production Emissions By 78% In 15 Years, Says NOAA
7 Greentech Media:
From Narcos to Natural Gas, a Solar Developer Considers the Risks of Mexico’s Solar Market
8 Zacks:
How to Add Solar Energy to Your Portfolio
Opinions:
9 Think Progress:
Florida Mayors Want To Give Bush And Rubio A Climate Science Lesson
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 26th, 2016
I've been pondering the question asked by GTM's CEO yesterday. What if other States retroactively changes their net metering policies. Then I naturally took it a bit further. Why does it stop with solar policy? Why can't regulators change the rules on other energy topics, like lower the return on capital to utilities retroactively 5% which is nothing compared to changing the NV policy. This power move by NV Energy should send shivers down the Berkshire Hathaway spine. Wells Fargo, Geico, NetJets, and Mid American are all highly regulated entities that operate under the purview of regulators. If a regulatory body is willing to change a solar rule, they would be willing to change something else. And that's a scary thought.
News
1 Greentech Media:
What If Nevada’s Solar Regulators Came to Massachusetts?
2 Motley Fool:
Are These Two Solar Stocks About to Explode?
3 Albuquerque Journal:
Solar industry urges extension of New Mexico tax credit
4 Treehugger:
1.2-million sq. ft. solar panel 'Gigafactory' in Buffalo almost ready, will make 1 GW/year
5 CleanTechnica:
Global Revenue From Solar PV Installations Expected To Reach More Than $1.2 Trillion
6 PV-Magazine:
It’s official - China has the most solar PV installed globally
7 Utility Dive:
10 state rooftop solar debates to watch in 2016 and beyond
8 Yahoo:
Einhorn's Greenlight seeks sale of solar company SunEdison
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
U.S. Supreme Court Decision - Demand Response Forces Awaken
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 25th, 2016
Jake Saper, an energy SAAS VC, delivers a good segue on the next big thing in solar. Emily Kirsch was on This Week in Startups with legendary angel investor Jason Calacanis last week as well to talk about the emergence of solar software. I'm excited to see how many of these companies grow, hopefully within solar, to a point where they show that startups can thrive in our energy vertical. It has a long way to go from here but it can happen.
News
1 Techcrunch:
How Solar Software Can Save The World
2 Gizmag:
Plant openings signal "birth of large-scale solar in Australia"
3 Newsobserver:
Vermont solar growth slowed for now as utilities hit limit
4 Sacbee:
California should resist utility attacks on rooftop solar
5 Chinadaily:
Chinese solar panel makers shift to Thailand for growth
6 Las VegasSun:
Consumer watchdog raises questions about rooftop solar rehearing
7 PV-Magazine:
Too big to fail? Yingli confirms debt restructuring
8 Greentech Media:
Breaking Down DOE’s New $220M Grid Modernization Plan
Opinions:
9 Renew Economy:
Germany says solar and wind have won technology race
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 New York Times:
Proof That a Price on Carbon Works
2 Grist:
Rooftop solar isn’t quite as great as you thought it was (but it’s still pretty great)
3 Washington Post:
This technology may be the future of solar energy
4 Greentech Media:
The Solar Tax Credit Extension Will Make Net Metering Battles Much More Intense
5 News & Observer:
Solar panels permanently ‘ruin’ farmland, NC senator says
6 Forbes:
The Two Things To Note In The DOE's Solar + Storage Initiative
7 Greentech Media:
Utilities, Regulators and the Solar Industry Actually Agree on Net Metering
8 Dallas Morning News:
Solar power starts ascent in Texas
9 Vox:
Nevada’s bizarre decision to throttle its own solar industry, explained
10 PV-Magazine:
California regulators may consider utility proposal for net metering 2.0
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 January 22nd, 2016
A few days ago the Sunshot team added a new goal to their list or at least announced winners of grants to achieve the goal. The goal is simple, bring solar + storage to under $0.14 per kWh. Storage in the home is coming. Storage in your driving is coming. Just wait until all of this works in conjunction with your smart home and more intelligent energy efficiency. Sunshot is good at what they do, their success rate is high and their secondary funding channel is great. DOE is a well oiled machine so I look forward to not only seeing the goal met but seeing how fast it happens.
News
1 Forbes:
The Two Things To Note In The DOE's Solar + Storage Initiative
2 Bloomberg:
New York Governor Cuomo Pledges $5 Billion for Clean Energy Fund
3 Think Progress:
What Will It Take For America To Go 100 Percent Renewable?
4 Rocky Mountain Institute:
How Much Does Storage Really Cost? Lazard Weighs In.
5 Greentech Media:
Nevada PUC to Reconsider Grandfathering Rooftop Solar Customers In New Net-Metering Policy
6 Los Angeles Times:
Utilities push a solar pricing proposal they say is fairer for non-solar users
7 PV-Tech:
Top 10 solar module manufacturers in 2015
8 PV-Magazine:
Africa - Djibouti announces 300 MW solar project as part of 100% renewable future goal
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
Utilities Exert Influence Through Universities to Sway Regulatory and Political Debate
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 21st, 2016
California is easily the largest market in the US but that doesn’t mean we should take if for granted. Solar adds tremendous value to the grid and its operators, even though nobody is doing a good job of tracking the amount that is actually being produced or asking for it to be counted towards the RPS. The value it creates has been documented in thesis and we know from other States that solar is more valuable to the grid than any perceived costs. The NEM battle continues and solar pros in the California should not take it for granted. Get involved and make your job known to regulators.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
California regulators may consider utility proposal for net metering 2.0
2 Greentech Media:
SunShot Program Seeks to Lower Solar-Plus-Storage Costs to 14 Cents per Kilowatt-Hour
3 PV-Tech:
SolarCity CEO vows to fight Nevada net metering decision
4 Utility Dive:
REV in 2016 - The year that could transform utility business models in New York
5 Renewable Energy World:
Wind, Solar Secure $11.5 Billion in Tax Equity Deals in 2015
6 Renew Economy:
When will private sector learn that age of fossil fuels is over?
7 Vox:
Nevada’s bizarre decision to throttle its own solar industry, explained
8 Los Angeles Times:
Op-Ed Smug about your solar roof? Not so fast.
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
Circuit-Breaking Net Metering Policy for Rooftop Solar Will Leave Everyone in the Dark
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for January 20th, 2016
The New York Times editorial board takes a swing for Carbon Taxes. Society has a long tradition of taxing things it wants people to use less of or get manufacturers to be more efficient for. Cigarettes are a good example of a tax that is meant to save people lives, of course this is a behavior that is self inflicted but can also create bystander harm. The gas tax is meant to pay for infrastructure and get manufacturers to make more efficient cars, thereby saving people money and spewing less emissions, that’s why all those people bought Volkswagens. Carbon taxes work, they are generally growth neutral and make companies more conscious of their energy use.
News
1 New York Times:
Proof That a Price on Carbon Works
2 Greentech Media:
Survey - Utilities, Regulators and the Solar Industry Actually Agree on Net Metering
3 Fortune:
Angry Nevada Solar Customers Sue Over New Fees
4 Dallas Morning News:
Solar power starts ascent in Texas
5 Grist:
Rooftop solar isn’t quite as great as you thought it was (but it’s still pretty great)
6 Solar Server:
Berkeley Lab researchers pinpoint drivers for low-priced solar PV systems in the U.S
7 Energy Collective:
DOE Announces Grid Modernization R&D Projects, Partners, and Funding
8 PV-Tech:
How Dubai will deliver sub-6¢ solar
Opinions:
9 Los Angeles Times:
Op-Ed Bill McKibben - How to drive a stake through the heart of zombie fossil fuel
Have a great day!
Yann
