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
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Washington Post:
Power companies may have found a new way to crack into the booming solar business
2 Buffalo News:
Schumer to seek change in solar tax credit in SolarCity visit
3 PV-Magazine:
16 US states consider changes to net metering
4 Business Journals:
Solar installers ask Duke Energy CEO for help; Duke says no
5 Vox:
Are solar panels right for you? Google's new mapping tool can help you decide.
6 San Francisco Chronicle:
Danny Kennedy, public face of solar energy, jumps to S.F. venture
7 24/ Wall Street:
Are Solar Energy Yieldcos Worth More Than Investors Think?
8 Renewable Energy World:
Six Observations about the US Solar Industry Mid-2015
9 Las Vegas Review Journal:
GOP dares Hillary to talk net metering in Las Vegas
10 Reuters:
Solar is having a great year, except on Wall Street
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 21st, 2015
Today we get to congratulate a solar friend and a friend of SolarWakeup, Danny Kennedy. As many of you did, I received a note from him yesterday telling me about his next move, a move that continues his drive to expand the growth of solar. After building out Sungevity to a global solar company and getting Sfuncube off the ground, Danny is now heading to CalCEF as its Managing Director. CalCEF works to expand cleantech companies including solar startups. As some investors are afraid that Google is “killing” cleantech startups, others are going out and making it happen! Congrats to Danny on the move.
News
1 San Francisco Chronicle:
Danny Kennedy, public face of solar energy, jumps to S.F. venture
2 Renewable Energy World:
Six Observations about the US Solar Industry Mid-2015
3 PV-Magazine:
Federal regulators clear SunEdison to acquire Vivint Solar
4 Bloomberg:
China’s Wind and Solar Developers Hit by Subsidies Short of Plan
5 Utility Dive:
Arizona regulators push TEP's proposed net metering cut to 2016 rate case
6 Solar Industry Magazine:
IT Industry's Solar And Other Renewable Energy Procurement Set To Climb
7 Orlando Sentinel:
Sizing up dueling solar proposals - Front Burner
8 Charlotte Observer:
Duke Energy seeks S.C. solar projects
Opinions:
9 Grist:
U.S. taxpayers are getting ripped off by fossil fuel extraction
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 20th, 2015
Ebbs and flows. Yingli was put on notice to get the stock price over $1 within the next 6 months which shouldn’t be a huge problem considering solar stocks have been hit pretty hard recently. While companies bulk up to take advantage of what is to be a record year in 2016, some have issues getting deals to close and rumor has some big names hitting snags. These are natural events in a growing market (solar is growing incredibly fast) that has some uncertainty in the near future. Investors that take the right risks will be rewarded, who’s taking the solarcoaster ride?
News
1 Buffalo News:
Solar tax credits called key to industry growth
2 PV-Magazine:
Official NYSE-delisting notice for Yingli
3 Washington Post:
Power companies may have found a new way to crack into the booming solar business
4 Bloomberg:
Canadian Solar’s Profit Slumps 68% Amid Yieldco Transition Plan
5 San Diego Tribune:
SolarCity takes on California utilities
6 PV-Tech:
UK prepares for battle over changes to solar feed-in tariff
7 Business Journal:
Solar executives holding out hope for renewable tax credit extension
8 ABC:
APS rooftop solar fee hike moves forward - solar advocates disappointed
Opinions:
9 Renew Economy:
Why ‘God parity’ will be the end of centralised generation
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 19th, 2015
Yesterday I told a story about a little blue truck. The little blue truck is a book I read to my kids but it's a lesson to be used in solar especially over the next year as we overcome some obstacles. The little blue truck drove through town and always said hello and waived to his neighbors he passed by. As the dump truck barrels through town he ignores everyone because he is so big and important. By chance, the dump truck got stuck in mud and needed help but nobody was there to help except for the little blue truck. When the little blue truck gets caught in the mud as well, all of his friends come out to help him which also helps the big dump truck. We may compete and try to beat each other in business but we have to do it in a way that when we need to, we come together as an industry. Solar won't out fund the utilities and anti-solar groups but we can show how big and strong we are as a group.
News
1 Las Vegas Journal:
Rooftop-solar coalition wants to keep existing rate through Dec. 31
2 The Buffalo News:
Schumer to seek change in solar tax credit in SolarCity visit
3 Business Journal:
Solar installers ask Duke Energy CEO for help - Duke says no
4 Michigan Radio:
Consumers Energy launching new solar energy program
5 Market Watch:
Opinion - Why Republicans can’t pit Hillary Clinton vs. Warren Buffett over solar
6 Bloomberg:
Chinese Banks Shunning Small Deals Pushes Solar to Crowdfunding
7 Power Mag:
Sites Shift from Coal Power to Solar Power
8 CIO:
Rain could make your solar panels dirtier, not cleaner
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Clean Energy Partnerships Grow between the U.S. Military and Rural Cooperatives
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 18th, 2015
While I seem to get involved in a lot of issues around the Country, it may have been noticed that I have stayed somewhat quiet in Florida about the dueling ballot amendments. While the solar groups have gotten framed into a false debate, their comeback today is great. Asking the utility backed groups to help the conservative energy groups get rid of Florida’s biggest corporate subsidy, early cost recovery for nuclear power plants. Florida ratepayers essentially loan the money to IOU shareholders with no recourse and also provide a costless hedge for natural gas costs long into the future. An interesting move for sure, let’s see where it goes.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Conservative solar leader plans to fight Florida utilities' 'early cost recovery' privilege
2 Arizona Central:
California utilities copy Arizona utilities’ solar-panel fees
3 Forbes:
5 African Cleantech Startups You Need To Watch
4 EDF:
Desperately Seeking Monopoly Protection
5 Vox:
Are solar panels right for you? Google's new mapping tool can help you decide.
6 PV-Magazine:
16 U.S. states consider changes to net metering
7 Energy Collective:
Understanding IRPs - How Utilities Plan for the Future
8 Palm Beach Post:
Duel of amendments clouds Florida’s solar future
Opinions:
9 Renew Economy:
Could the solar vote be Abbott’s undoing?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 17th, 2015
Nevada is in the news today. Vivint Solar had plans to expand its presence in the State and create hundreds of news jobs to add to the 6,000 already in the State. The plan is now put on hold due to the anti-competitive behavior by NV Energy. To show that the debate is bi-partisan, the local GOP is trying to get Hillary Clinton to chime in since NV Energy is a Berkshire Hathaway company. All of these topics need answers and that is why I am flying to Las Vegas tomorrow to give the keynote address at the SOMO Conference. I will be going through the top stories in solar today and what the impact to solar contractors is today and in the future.
News
1 PV-Tech:
Vivint Solar halts Nevada expansion after one month citing net metering uncertainty
2 Las Vegas Review-Journal:
GOP dares Hillary to talk net metering in Las Vegas
3 Energy Collective:
Renewable Microgrid Value Creation - A Real Estate Development Example
4 Clean Technica:
Brazil Will Contract 2–3 GW Of New Solar Energy Projects During Auctions In 2015–2018
5 PV-Magazine:
EU doubles duty levels on solar glass from China
6 24/7 Wall Street:
Are Solar Energy Yieldcos Worth More Than Investors Think?
7 Reuters:
Solar is having a great year, except on Wall Street
8 Arizona Central:
New Arizona utility regulators to face first APS case on solar rates
Opinions:
9 New York Times:
How California Is Winning the Drought
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Clean Technica:
These 20 Cities Account For 6.5% Of US Solar PV Capacity
2 Architectural Digest:
These Colorful Solar Panels Could Be The Wave Of The Future
3 PV-Magazine:
USDA to invest $63 million in rural renewables
4 Las Vegas Sun:
Solar company Sunrun signals lawsuit against state for public records
5 Phys.org:
US distributed solar prices fell 10 to 20 percent in 2014, with trends continuing into 2015
6 Boston Globe:
Governor Baker files bill to encourage expansion of solar power
7 PV-Magazine:
Installed prices continue rapid descent
8 WWLP:
Critics argue Baker’s solar legislation will slow growth
9 Las Vegas Sun:
Reid says NV Energy ‘violating Sherman Antitrust Act,’ blasts Koch brothers and Donald Trump
10 Seeking Alpha:
MLM And Rooftop Solar Sales Abuses, Lessons In Regulatory Capture
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 14th, 2015
A non-solar story to start your day and it’s pretty scary. According to a US Study, 4,000 people die every day in China due to pollution. That’s an insane number! Makes me reconsider if yesterday’s acquisition of Suniva by Shunfeng wasn’t about US tariffs or US content but about lowering the carbon cost of solar modules that travel the world by cargo ship. Think about it. Silicon is manufactured on one continent. Cells are made on another. Then transported to the next Country to be assembled into modules and then sold into the final market.
News
1 NBC:
Air Pollution Killing 4,000 in China a Day, U.S. Study Finds
2 Solar Power Portal:
Planning appeal outcomes could offer final hope for large-scale UK RO deployment
3 Huffington Post:
The Clean Power Plan - Let the Litigation Games Begin
4 PV-Magazine:
Australian commercial market hits new high
5 Vox:
California's plan to let solar panels Voltron together into a "virtual power plant"
6 Bloomberg:
Theft and Sabotage Belie India’s Buzz Over Solar Power
7 Las Vegas Sun:
As solar cap nears limit, PUC denies solar industry’s petition
8 The Atlantic:
Coal's Devastation
Opinions:
9 CNBC:
Will Greece be saved by… solar?
Have a great day!
Yann
