This is your SolarWakeup for December 18th, 2015
It’s not done until it’s done. And it’s not done. You have to take your time today to make crucial calls to Congress and write your legislators to vote yes on the omnibus bill. I’ve pushed for this for almost two years and we can’t stop now. Our SolarWakeup community helped bring the solar industry together, made the calls and had an impact. Let’s push it over the edge and get this vote through Congress and to the President’s desk. Send this link to your colleagues and have them do the same.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Pelosi Questions Support for Deal to Extend Renewable Energy Tax Credits
2 Washington Post:
The budget bill will unleash wind and solar. Here’s what that means for the climate
3 PV-Tech:
Trina Solar splits downstream project business, CEO’s brother takes charge of China segment
4 Energy Collective:
Will Data Unlock Billions in Solar Investment for the Poor?
5 PV-Magazine:
Yingli announces 1/10 reverse stock split
6 EDF:
Tech Innovation in the Energy Utility Space
7 Renewable Energy World:
What Yieldco Managers Are Saying About The Market Meltdown
8 Bloomberg:
What Just Happened in Solar Is a Bigger Deal Than Oil Exports
Opinions:
9 Solar Industry:
ITC Extension Means The Sun Won't Set On America's Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 17th, 2015
I’ve been asking you for two years to take the ITC extension seriously and the finish line is in sight. Solar got a great deal and we have to push it full force over the finish line. Congress needs to vote on the bill as written and we have to make sure no changes are made. So let’s not rest now and make the calls that we still need to make. Go back to the Team Solar website and call your congressman and Senator, especially Democrats. Compromises had to be made so let them know that the compromise was worth it to you.
News
1 Fox News:
Congress won't vote on $1.1 trillion spending bill until Friday, forcing another stop-gap measure
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Companies Surge as U.S. Tax Credit Brings Early Holiday
3 Greentech Media:
Investment Tax Credit Extension Would Increase US Solar Installations 54% Through 2020
4 Renewable Energy World:
Making Sense of the Tax Credit Extensions for Wind, Solar (and Bioenergy, Too)
5 CleanTechnica:
How The Grid Works, & Why Renewables Can Dominate
6 Los Angeles Times:
California regulators propose new rooftop solar fees
7 PV-Magazine:
Brazil launches incentive program for distributed generation
8 PV-Tech:
MIP failings prove EU is being protectionist, says Chinese diplomat who negotiated solar deal
Opinions:
9 New York Times:
Expected Repeal of Oil Export Ban Unlikely to Have Immediate Impact
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 16th, 2015
It’s a great day! It looks like we have a deal, a 5 year extension on the ITC at 30%, congratulations to everyone in solar. We don’t have to agree on everything but we can always agree about two issues, a long term ITC and robust NEM policies. Ever since the Solar Pledge, we have come together, moved our associations to fight for our businesses and make an impact. Yesterday, the CPUC came out with a filing that makes CA NEM 2.0 look very strong, more work to be done. In D.C., congress looks like they came together on a bill that includes spending, tax extensions and the lifting of the oil export ban while giving us the ITC extension we needed. Go ahead and enjoy the day, you fought hard with your voices to get it done.
News
1 The Hill:
Spending deal to lift oil export ban
2 Bloomberg:
Solar, Wind Shares Jump as U.S. Nears Deal on Tax Credits
3 PV-Magazine:
BREAKING - California regulators propose to keep solar net metering, with modifications
4 Greentech Media:
Sungevity Raises Giant $600M Fund From Apollo to Finance Residential Solar
5 Renew Economy:
Paris deal - Great for wind and solar, and a $46 trillion hit to fossil fuels
6 Tech Insider:
Elon Musk just made a very important point about solar energy
7 Think Progress:
Marco Rubio - Paris Climate Deal Is An ‘Unfunny Joke’
8 Grist:
Will the financial world wake up to clean energy thanks to Paris?
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
West Virginia - An Unexpected Example Of Why Extending The Solar Investment Tax Credit Is So Important
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 15th, 2015
This year you get to buy your own Christmas present and you better because you will be paying for it. At over $1trillion, the spending bill may have a lift of the oil export ban included but it is what we can get in return that we have to call for. The ITC is a potential offset, politically, that the White House and Democrats could push for. Our job to make sure that they know we care so take the day off and make your calls to every office in DC that you can think of.
News
1 New York Times:
Congress Inches Toward Completed Spending Bill
2 Bloomberg:
Trina Founder Seeks to Take Biggest Solar Company Private
3 Greentech Media:
First Solar’s Cautious 2016 and 2017 Outlook in a ‘Defining’ Year
4 US News:
Yieldcos Offer a Bright Spot for Solar Investors in 2016
5 PV-Magazine:
Paris Agreement heaps pressure on UK solar approach, says industry
6 Grist:
North Carolina town bans solar for fear it will “suck up all the energy from the sun”
7 Zacks:
Why Are Solar Stocks Up Big Today?
8 Quartz:
Nigeria is betting on solar power to reach a million homes without access to the grid
Opinions:
9 Miami Herald:
Sign up for solar choice
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 14th, 2015
195 Countries came together and made a deal. What’s in the deal, what’s not, is a bit secondary in my opinion. You will read plenty in the analyst circles including some articles today. Sentiment is sometimes more important that facts, take the stock market as an example of things that are impacted by how people feel. Fossil fuels are clearly falling out of favor and solar is making headway around the world. Somewhat of an economically driven (moreso than morally driven) decision but that doesn’t bother me. This will be a good week.
News
1 Vox:
The world just agreed to a major climate deal in Paris. Now comes the hard part.
2 Greentech Media:
How the Paris Climate Agreement Could Impact the Global Solar Market
3 Wall Street Journal:
Obama Faces Political Fight at Home Over Climate Deal
4 Bloomberg:
Big Oil, Make Way for Big Solar. The Winners and Losers in Paris
5 PV-Magazine:
Chile's new 600km long transmission line can boost renewables
6 PV-Tech:
PV tenders in Germany oversubscribed again
7 Renew Economy:
How rooftop solar is causing big falls in peak demand
8 Herald Tribune:
Major utilities pour money into solar initiative
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
Work Starts Tomorrow, But For Today, Congratulations
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 New York Times:
Lawmakers Near Deal on Billions in Tax Cuts
2 Motley Fool:
Who Wins If Solar Subsidies Plummet in 2017?
3 Think Progress:
Did The Governator Just Come Up With A Republican-Proof Argument On Climate Change?
4 Greentech Media:
US Solar Market Prepares for Biggest Quarter in History
5 The Verge:
Google is now offering solar panel advice in nine states
6 New York Times:
Solar or Wind vs. Nuclear
7 KQED:
With Rooftop Solar Booming, California Utilities Want to Charge More
8 South Carolina Morning News:
Santee Cooper moves to crack down on residential solar users
9 Bloomberg:
Senate Passes Short-Term Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown
10 Reuters:
SunEdison's yieldco to pay less for Vivint Solar's assets
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 December 11th, 2015
It’s Friday and the date that the original $800Billion spending bill was supposed to be done today. It’s not going to happen today and it’s now over $1Trillion but who is counting anyways. Since I have said it every day this week, I will say it again. You can use all of these links to contact your representatives via phone or email. There is no limit to how many times you can do it (as my colleagues can attest to my nonstop badgering of Senate staffers) Click Here or Here.
News
1 KQED:
CPUC Considers Cutting Subsidies for New Residential Solar Customers
2 Washington Post:
Just in time for the Paris talks, the U.S. solar industry is having its biggest year ever
3 Solar Power Portal:
DECC silent over VAT implication on new feed-in tariff rates
4 Greentech Media:
Can the New York C&I Megawatt Block Solar Program Be Fixed?
5 PV-Magazine:
Mexico completes energy reform with passage of the Energy Transition Law
6 New York Times:
California and Germany, Opposites With a Common Energy Goal
7 Money Morning:
What Investors Need to Know About Solar and Renewables in 2016
8 The Verge:
Google is now offering solar panel advice in nine states
Opinions:
9 EDF:
FirstEnergy’s Bailout Isn’t Just Bad Policy – It’s Illegal
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 10th, 2015
The solar market in the US is in the last month of the biggest quarter ever. The growth is exponential from where we were the last time the ITC was a discussion point, even with an insane recession in the middle. The dark blue line in the bar graph referencing residential shows the value of monthly savings to homeowners and monthly payments to leasing and loan companies. Congrats to the solar industry and now pick up the phone and get the ITC extended!
News
1 Greentech Media:
US Solar Market Prepares for Biggest Quarter in History
2 Reuters:
SunEdison's yieldco to pay less for Vivint Solar's assets
3 PV-Tech:
SunPower seeks to raise US$350 million to power corporate strategy
4 Rocky Mountain Institute:
7 Reasons Businesses Should Accelerate Their Renewable Energy Strategy Now
5 Wired:
California Marches Into Paris to Fight the Climate Apocalypse
6 CleanTechnica:
COP21 Delegates Review Draft Text, Will Work All Night
7 Las Vegas Review Journal:
Solar company sues Sandoval's office over refusal to release text messages
8 NPR:
To Know the True Meaning Of Solar Energy, Ask A Powerless Rice Farmer
Opinions:
9 Think Progress:
Did The Governator Just Come Up With A Republican-Proof Argument On Climate Change?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 9th, 2015
Here’s your ITC update for today. The spending/tax bill was supposed to get done on Friday but it looks like negotiations will run over the deadline and a short term bill may have to get done first. This will push the ITC decision into next week and gives the solar sector a few more days to make calls. Keep up the pressure, it is working and giving our negotiators the leverage they need to make our case to Congress. Use this link to make it easy, it will connect you directly to the Senator’s office.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Short U.S. Spending Bill Needed to Avoid Shutdown, Ryan Says
2 Latimes:
California members of Congress urge regulators to protect rooftop solar program
3 ScNow:
Santee Cooper moves to crack down on residential solar users
4 Energy Collective:
Horizontal Integration in CleanTech
5 Huffington Post:
Canada's New Prime Minister Signals a Policy Shift on Climate Change at COP21
6 PV-Magazine:
GCL completes disposal of non-solar business
7 Greentech Media:
Mining Could Be a Key Sector for Solar-Plus-Storage in Australia
8 Grist:
The hopeful news about CO2 emissions and climate change
Opinions:
9 NY Times:
Solar or Wind vs. Nuclear
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 8th, 2015
Governor Brown took the stage at COP21 with investor/activist Tom Steyer yesterday. During the panel the Governor spoke about the leadership that California has shown to grow the clean energy sector with a large focus on solar. There was plenty of focus about the political rhetoric in DC but no discussion about net metering in California. South Carolina could end up with a better policy than California for solar NEM if utilities have their way and that doesn’t sound like something that Governor Brown wants now or what he wanted in the 70’s during his first term.
News
1 KQED:
With Rooftop Solar Booming, California Utilities Want to Charge More
2 Renew Economy:
Paris, COP21 - Ministers move in, as do the climate deniers
3 Greentech Media:
Mississippi Regulators Strive for Compromise With New Net Metering Rule
4 Energy Collective:
Follow the Money - The Role of Innovation in Climate Finance
5 New York Times:
Sanders Unveils Climate Change Plan, Rails Against Polluters
6 Gloucester Times:
Solar talks turn cold over winter recess
7 Forbes:
How The EU's Extension Of Trade Protections Could Impact Chinese Solar Companies
8 Reuters:
China's rooftops hold power to propel solar into the mass market
Opinions:
9 Arizona Central:
Robb - Burns isn't playing games with APS
Have a great day!
Yann
