This is your SolarWakeup for September 3rd, 2015
Money, money, money. Imagine if solar spent more than the remaining energy sector on political wrangling. A phenomenon that is likely not to happen anytime in the near future and quote honestly, is unnecessary. The people are speaking up about it. Whether it is someone from the Tea Party in Georgia or Michigan, an environmentalist in Vermont or simply a capitalist in Arizona. The freedom to choose the enterprise to do business with is part of the debate. So the solar companies have no problem staying out of dark money elections in States like Arizona or fight the ITC battle with grassroots. The people have and continue to speak on the industry’s behalf.
News
1 Arizona Central:
Rooftop-solar group offers to stay out of elections
2 Civil Beat:
NextEra, Hawaiian Electric Make New Commitments in Merger Deal
3 PV-Tech:
Suntech’s solar module sales increasing but ASPs at heavy discount to major rivals
4 Renewable Energy World:
Lithuanian Net Metering Hits Snag from Outset
5 San Diego Union Tribune:
Sunny San Diego fights new utility charges on rooftop solar
6 Bloomberg:
Scott Walker's Record on Wind and Solar Power Leaves Renewables Industry Fuming
7 Grist:
How our screwed-up CEO pay system makes climate change worse
8 EDF:
Three Technologies that will Keep Energy Costs in Check
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
Solar ready to thrive without subsidy, says US Energy Secretary
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 2nd, 2015
An interesting report came out yesterday discussing the technical status of net metering programs around the Country. The downside of solar’s success is the fact that NEM caps are coming into play. Even the largest programs in the Country, like California, the programs are at risk. The IOUs continue to make rate proposals like demand charges and time of use pricing to reduce access to solar by homeowners. So the headlines may sound solar friendly, there are details to be concerned about. Not all things pro renewable energy are pro solar, more on this to come.
News
1 EQ-Research:
The Great Guessing Game - How Much Net Metering Capacity is Left?
2 Solar Industry:
Massachusetts' Virtual Net-Metering Policy - Key To Successful Community Solar Development
3 CleanTechnica:
Israel Plans Incentives For Solar Power Producers
4 EDF:
Four Things California Should Consider before Rolling Out Time-of-Use Pricing
5 Utility Dive:
AEP invests $5M in storage software company Greensmith
6 WRAL:
Group says IRS ruling could promote community solar projects
7 Forbes:
How China's Woes Can Hurt Solar Companies In North America And Europe
8 Reuters:
Florida Supreme Court weighs solar energy ballot initiative
Opinions:
9 Grist:
What can a president do to boost renewable energy? A lot
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 1st, 2015
This December some 190 Countries will be coming together in Paris to broker a new climate agreement. Paris is set up to be the greatest climate event in recent times especially as agencies like IEA come out with data showing solar and renewables beating out other power sources on cost. We already know this but now new markets, like Brazil, are able to bring solar energy to the grid at under $90/MWh with over 11.2GW of applicants. Imagine if all 190 Countries put a Government backed PPA on the table via an auction and how long until the first solar baseload RFP gets put on the street?
News
1 Bloomberg:
Fossil Fuels Losing Cost Advantage Over Solar, Wind, IEA Says
2 Think Progress:
Big Bank Says It’s Going To Cost A Lot To Do Nothing On Global Warming
3 Energy Collective:
The Paris Talks - Looking Behind the Scenes
4 Renewable Energy World:
Solar Shipments in Japan Drop First Time Since 2012 Incentives
5 PV-Magazine:
Hanergy to cut 2,000 jobs under restructuring plan, posts 90% net loss
6 US News:
In Alaska, Obama depicts stark future without action on climate change by US, other countries
7 Utility Dive:
Iowa co-op withdraws proposed $57.50 fixed fee for solar owners
8 Solar Love:
SolarCity Invites Utility Cooperation
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Finding a Balanced Solar Policy in Kansas
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 31st, 2015
As you may have read last week, an IG report did not shed pretty light on the Solyndra management that pushed for the DOE loan guarantee. The interesting turn by the WSJ Editorial Board was to take the IG report on federal lobbying by a corporation and compare that to the non-subsidy of net metering. Apparently, the WSJ does not feel it to be appropriate for solar companies to try and make money, capitalism is apparently reserved for those that deplete resources. NV Energy is obviously not too pleased by their utility commissioners didn’t agree with their lobbying efforts and decide to go after a solar policy pro by name. A badge of honor in my opinion.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Big Solar’s Subsidy Bubble
2 Politico:
Warren Buffett vs. the greens
3 New York Times:
Obama’s Alaska Visit Puts Climate, Not Energy, in Forefront
4 Bloomberg:
Yingli’s Solar Margin Cut in Half by Higher Production Costs
5 Breaking Energy:
Solar Decathlon 2015 - Meet The Teams
6 Las Vegas Sun:
Why NV Energy needs to step up its solar-power game
7 The Guardian:
The government’s efforts to kill off the solar industry and lead us to fracking hell
8 TechCrunch:
How Technology Is Fueling The Push Toward Solar
Opinions:
9 Miami Herald:
Give consumers freedom to choose their solar providers
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 CleanTechnica:
PACE Will Be Available To US Single-Family Homes
2 Motley Fool:
What's Behind The Fall of Solar Energy Stocks?
3 Wall Street Journal:
Next Texas Energy Boom - Solar
4 New York Times:
Obama Flies to the Nevada Desert to Promote Solar Energy
5 The Olympian:
Nevada regulators vote to keep existing rooftop solar rates
6 PV-Magazine:
Idaho axes PURPA contract lengths in a bid to slow down solar
7 Renew Economy:
Citigroup sees $100 trillion of stranded assets if Paris succeeds
8 WUNC:
Solar's Future In NC Hangs In Balance Over Tax Credit
9 Yale:
In Clash of Greens, a Case for Large-Scale U.S. Solar Projects
10 Fast Company:
Use Google's New Mapping Tool To See How Much Solar Panels Would Benefit Your Home
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 August 28th, 2015
One of the advantages that the solar industry has is that we have a very diverse workforce. Diversity in the 200k solar pros represents the people, the type of work and geography. It’s an important part of growing an industry so while some statistics seem at or below economy average, we should continue to make sure that it is being improved upon. Most of all, the solar industry is a local, small business oriented industry that creates good paying jobs in local economies around the Country.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Diversity and Inclusion in Solar - What’s Good for Business Is Good for the Nation
2 Think Progress:
After 4 States Approved A Big Utility Merger, DC Shocked Everyone By Denying It
3 PV-Tech:
WTO ruling against India ‘won’t have long-term effect on Indian solar market’
4 PV-Magazine:
UK to propose drastic FIT cuts starting 2016
5 Renew Economy:
W.A. says solar is the future as it prepares to dump coal
6 Forbes:
Will China's Woes Impact Its Solar Industry?
7 Utility Dive:
Is variable pricing the way out of Hawaii's solar wars?
8 NRDC:
Preview for Obama-Modi Visit in September
Opinions:
9 Arizona Central:
Roberts - APS regulator nixes discussion of dark-money disclosure
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 27th, 2015
Oh Nevada. The net metering fight that had many flavors, most of them sour and bitter. In what ended up being largely a fight over what to do with the policies after NV Energy misled the legislature until the beginning of the year. The PUC did the right thing and voted to keep the existing policy in place until the commission figures out the next evolution of NEM. Looking at the details it shows what the value of policy continues to be, some companies left the State while others played the game of politics and stuck it out, then won. If your company doesn't invest in policy, figure out what you're doing. If you have good policy people, give them a raise, a big one so your company is protected.
News
1 The Olympian:
Nevada regulators vote to keep existing rooftop solar rates
2 Motley Fool:
What's Behind The Fall of Solar Energy Stocks?
3 EDF:
‘Eastside Sol’ gets L.A. Community Dancing to Solar Power
4 MIT:
DOE Attempts to Jump-Start Concentrated Solar
5 Washington Post:
Top leaders of Solyndra solar panel company repeatedly misled federal officials
6 PV-Magazine:
Brazil qualifies over 11 GW of solar PV projects for upcoming auction
7 Daily Camera:
PUC ruling - No changes on net metering in Colorado
8 Bush Institute:
Fixing the Grid and Improving Energy Policy
Opinions:
9 Al Jazeera America:
In Hawaii, rooftop solar panels threaten ‘utility death spiral’
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 26th, 2015
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. That was Ghandi’s quote which rings amazingly true today in solar. Idaho Power (IDAHO!!!) which has no solar policies or market to brag about is cutting the PURPA contracts from 20 to 2 years. Why? Because solar has gotten so cost effective and investable that even the PURPA rates in Idaho’s solar irradiance can make financial sense. That’s insane and true at the same time. Look at the rundown today, Idaho, NC, NV, SC and Australia are all fighting. Next stop, victory!
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Idaho axes PURPA contract lengths in a bid to slow down solar
2 WUNC:
Solar's Future In NC Hangs In Balance Over Tax Credit
3 CleanTechnica:
Nevada Ratepayer Advocate - Reject NV Energy Solar Plan
4 New York Times:
Obama Flies to the Nevada Desert to Promote Solar Energy
5 Las Vegas Sun:
Clinton’s campaign manager responds to Biden presidential bid, talks solar and emails
6 Renew Economy:
Citigroup sees $100 trillion of stranded assets if Paris succeeds
7 Post and Courier:
Santee Cooper’s solar power plan draws heat from opponents
8 Huffington Post:
Doubling Down on Clean Energy
Opinions:
9 The Guardian:
Canning byelection - solar industry urges voters to reject Liberals 'war on solar'
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 25th, 2015
This is President Obama’s clean energy week. Yesterday he announced a series of measures to help solar including that residential PACE will be cured from the regulatory threat by FHA. Even though residential PACE has done great work already, there was always the threat that something could happen. Now this is gone, taking away a major hurdle that was always challenged. The President will continue traveling this week to discuss many of the issues for solar and cleantech.
News
1 CleanTechnica:
PACE Will Be Available To All US Homeowners
2 New York Times:
Obama Flies to the Nevada Desert to Promote Solar Energy
3 Fast Company:
Use Google's New Mapping Tool To See How Much Solar Panels Would Benefit Your Home
4 Utility Dive:
NV Energy hits net metering cap ahead of schedule, adding fuel to solar debate
5 Renew Economy:
Why wind and solar are already better value than fossil fuels
6 Solar Server:
Coalition calls on British Prime Minister to support small-scale renewables, feed-in tariff
7 PV-Tech:
Chinese PV manufacturers targeting shipments to Japan, US and India - EnergyTrend
8 Yale:
In Clash of Greens, a Case for Large-Scale U.S. Solar Projects
Opinions:
9 Treehugger:
NYC rooftops could host 4.7 GW of high-yield solar projects
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 24th, 2015
Both of the top stories today are directly related. Wholesale DG and other wheeled power is taking big users off the grid managed by utility monopolies. Large scale solar is offering long term stable pricing that is at or below the cost of other power generation. Additionally, going out on their own, large users act on their own behalf and find the best deals for them as opposed to the best interest of the shareholders. In Nevada, 3 casinos are planning on leaving the grid and shed 7% of the total load provided by NV Energy. And the fight is over 235MW of residential solar???
News
1 Utility Dive:
Major Las Vegas resorts get price tag for grid defection
2 Wall Street Journal:
Next Texas Energy Boom - Solar
3 PV-Tech:
Solar project finance takes 20% of Q2 US clean-tech investment - PwC
4 Huffington Post:
Green Energy Is Generating Jobs
5 CleanTechnica:
Trade Partners Brazil & Germany Commit To Strong Climate Partnership
6 Solar Power Portal:
Trade associations chastise pre-accreditation proposals in DECC letter
7 PV-Magazine:
France doubles the size of its large-scale PV solicitation to 800 MW
8 Athens Banner-Herald:
Solar power ramping up fast in Georgia, but growth could slow
Opinions:
9 Staten Island Live:
Solar power - Is it worth the investment?
Have a great day!
Yann
