This is your SolarWakeup for June 23rd, 2015
I am really enjoying what Senator Bernie Sanders is up to. He is making climate change an issue but more importantly he is showing that it is an issue that candidates can get the valuable young voters with. He may even be drawing some conservatives with whom the Pope’s message is resonating with. I don’t know if Senator Sanders has the ability to get into the polls against Hillary Clinton but I can almost guarantee you that he is helping John Podesta getting the topic into issue meetings and I would not be surprised if GOP polling is showing that climate change isn’t just a lefty issue. Tom Steyer may have been 2 years early with the push for climate change as an election issue but 2016 will definitely show the signs of what is to come.
News
1 Utility Dive:
America's Power Plan - The top 5 trends in the US energy transformation
2 MarketWatch:
What it’s like to use an off-grid solar-and-battery system in your home
3 PV-Tech:
UK installed more than 2.5GW of solar in Q1 2015
4 Renew Economy:
Abbott’s big push for solar as Coalition blows hard against wind
5 Energy Collective:
Opening the Small Commercial Solar Market
6 Grist:
Bernie Sanders tells Bill Maher - Climate change is young people’s issue, and mine, too
7 CleanTechnica:
A Public Rooftop Revolution In Pictures
8 PV-Magazine:
SoftBank to launch USD20 billion SBG Cleantech
Opinions:
9 David Crane:
A Spiritual Awakening About Climate Change
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 22nd, 2015
The naked roofs of the buildings we see when landing at the next airport. That’s the opportunity ahead for the solar industry and the words of Billy Parish. I couldn’t have said it better myself as it represents the future of the solar industry. Not only because the roofs are so wide open but also because that real estate has not better use than having solar put on it. That’s what it was all about yesterday. It was Father’s Day but it was also the Summer Solstice and therefore the day we celebrate #PutSolarOnIt. From The President of the United States to movie stars, everyone around the world found a place that should #PutSolarOnIt.
News
1 Bloomberg:
First Solar and SunPower’s 8point3 Energy IPO Nets $420 Million
2 Vox:
Why wind and solar power are such a challenge for energy grids
3 Forbes:
$8B-$16B Investment Could Double Solar Market
4 USA Today:
SolarCity reaches out to rival utilities
5 Salon:
The energy revolution that has 1 percenters shaking in their boots
6 Utility Dive:
North Carolina solar activists file TPO financing test case with state regulators
7 Motley Fool:
Solar Boom-Global Solar Market Could Triple in 5 Years
8 Topeka Capital-Journal:
Solar advocates concerned about Westar Energy plan
Opinions:
9 Billy Parish:
Why We Launched #PutSolarOnIt
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 CNBC:
The sleeping giant of the solar industry - Florida
2 Slate:
The Real Solyndra Scandal
3 Wall Street Journal:
Filed Sunrun IPO Plans Close to Emerging Publicly
4 Forbes:
Minnesota Is Where You Will Find The New Solar Gold Rush
5 IREC:
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back for North Carolina Solar
6 Marketwatch:
High-tech solar projects fail to deliver
7 Business Journal:
Tesla snaps up former Solyndra building in huge Fremont expansion
8 Clean Technica:
Dear Hawaii - Read Your Mail Before Your Utility Sells Out
9 The Vatican:
Encyclical Letter, Laudato-Si, of the Holy Father Francis
10 Jim Rogers:
Making the business case for solar in NC
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 June 19th, 2015
The Pope has come out with Laudato Si, the encyclical calling for care of our common home. It is an impressive document rooted in reality of our times. I highlight the most relevant items related to energy but I recommend a read.
News
1 The Vatican:
Encyclical Letter Laudato SI' Of The Holy Father Francis On Care For Our Common Home
2 Huffington Post:
Laudato Si' and Water - The Vatican's Encyclical Letter and Global Water Challenges
3 Fortune:
China is utterly and totally dominating solar panels
4 The National:
Dewa set to award consultancy contract for latest solar park phase
5 Utility Dive:
Inside the renewable energy battles shaping North Carolina's future
6 Renew Economy:
Rooftop solar to cut total grid demand to zero in South Australia
7 PV-Magazine:
Mercom tips 2016 global PV market to reach 57.4 MW
8 Huffington Post:
Wind and Solar Power Are Taking the Lead
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Pennsylvania Gives Clean Energy Not One, but Two Boosts
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 18th, 2015
We knew it was coming and it’s big news. The Sunrun S-1 IPO filing has found its way into the hands of the Wall Street Journal. It was confidentially filed earlier this year and now the 2nd largest residential solar company will make its rounds to the investors that will buy the company stock when it goes public. With almost twice as many contracts as Vivint Solar, Sunrun makes the case for an ever expanding residential solar market, most recently announcing its entry into South Carolina. Notably, SolarCity and Sunrun have the most amazing public policy teams and can be credited for many of the net metering victories that keep solar alive around the Country. Best of luck to the Sunrun team and stay tuned for more as the news comes out
News
1 Wall Street Journal:
Filed Sunrun IPO Plans Close to Emerging Publicly
2 Breaking Energy:
Mobilizing $4 Billion In Private-Sector Support For Clean Energy Innovation
3 IREC:
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back for North Carolina Solar
4 Utility Dive:
Report - Telecoms investing heavily in distributed energy
5 Forbes:
Minnesota Is Where You Will Find The New Solar Gold Rush
6 Energy Collective:
6 Reasons Why Penetrations of Renewable Resources are Becoming Attainable
7 Grand Forks Herald:
N.D. utility regulators reject Xcel Energy’s solar energy application
8 Think Progress:
India Just Upped Its Solar Target Five-Fold, Will Install More Solar This Year Than Germany
Opinions:
9 Arizona Daily Star:
TEP’s solar plan hurts working class
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 17th, 2015
It has been fun watching certain political candidates explain their way around the climate change debate since the Pope has come out with rather strong words warning about climate impacts caused by society. Rick Santorum actually said we should listen to scientists and not the Pope about climate change. Jokes aside, what is becoming more common is deflecting the debate of whether it is man-made or not and discussion how to deal with adaptation which could make climate change a discussion about solutions instead of doing nothing. A step in the right direction…
News
1 NY Times:
Pope’s Views on Climate Change Add Pressure to Catholic Candidates
2 Grist:
This power plant slurps up water for Arizona — and burns 15 tons of coal a minute
3 Utility Dive:
Most states on track to meet EPA Clean Power Plan, but political & legal contention remains
4 Think Progress:
Opposition Is Piling On A Proposal To Increase Access To Solar Power In Florida
5 Greentech Media:
Survey - 1 in 3 Corporate Investors Plan to Back Their First Solar Project in 2015
6 Renewable Energy World:
EU Raises Concern That UK, France Won't Meet Renewables Goal
7 CleanTechnica:
California Becomes First US State To Surpass 10,000 MW Solar Mark
8 PV-Magazine:
NREL partnerships to help the grid accommodate more renewable energy
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Two Scenarios That Could Lead To Significant Upside For Trina Solar's Stock
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 16th, 2015
Every time a power plant is brought by a regulated utility to the public service commission, a full life cycle cost analysis needs to be presented. In the case of natural gas power plants for example, the utility has to include a cost curve for natural gas fuel costs looking out many years. It doesn’t actually have to pre-purchase the natural gas (the price would be too high) but it has to present a forecast. Since solar offers a guaranteed fuel cost, wouldn’t it make sense that natural gas power plants also have to shelter ratepayers from ALL deviations from the fuel cost forecast and the investors of the utilities should bear the risk?
News
1 CleanTechnica:
Dear Hawaii - Read Your Mail Before Your Utility Sells Out
2 EDF:
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly When Oil Giants Shift to Natural Gas
3 PV-Magazine:
US - 16 GW of 32 GW utility-scale solar pipeline to be completed by ITC deadline
4 Grist:
You probably missed this climate change promise hidden in Clinton’s speech
5 Vox:
Every country is now pledging to tackle CO2 emissions. It's still not enough.
6 Business Journal:
North Carolina holds on to fourth place in new solar construction for Q1
7 Utility Dive:
How utilities are finding new revenue streams to combat stagnant load growth
8 Bloomberg:
JA Solar Forms Committee to Evaluate CEO’s Buyout Offer
Opinions:
9 Jim Rogers:
Making the business case for solar in NC
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for June 15th, 2015
Every Saturday, Bloomberg New Energy Finance sends out a newsletter commenting on a current highlight in the energy space. This Saturday, I was very much surprised with the message contained in the newsletter. I have asked for clarification and don’t fully understand what the basis for the commentary is but here is the key comment that I am very much at odds with; "Archaic net energy metering (NEM) policies in the US are currently overgenerous for distributed generation.” With the consensus on the topic from impartial 3rd parties being that solar net metering is a financial benefit to all ratepayers, I fail to understand what is meant by the statement. More to come…
News
1 Slate:
The Real Solyndra Scandal
2 CNBC:
The sleeping giant of the solar industry
3 Vox:
This Nevada company wanted to break up with its electric utility. The government said no.
4 Utility Dive:
Florida utilities, AG want state Supreme Court to block solar ballot initiative
5 Business Journals:
Exclusive - Tesla snaps up former Solyndra building in huge Fremont expansion
6 Marketwatch:
High-tech solar projects fail to deliver
7 Energy Collective:
Energy Storage is Critical Issue at Utility Industry's Conference in New Orleans
8 Quartz:
Japan is building huge solar power plants that float on water
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Can the pope move the needle on climate change?
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Forbes:
Tesla's Battery May Not Destroy Utilities, But Utilities May Destroy Tesla
2 Energy Collective:
The IMF Just Destroyed the Best Argument Against Clean Energy
3 Motley Fool:
Solar Boom - Why Residential Rooftops Are Only the Beginning
4 Sacramento Bee:
How much will solar dim after tax credits expire?
5 Think Progress:
Why You Should Be Paying Attention To The ‘Other’ Form Of Solar Power
6 Renewable Energy World:
The Real Price of Free Solar
7 Denver Post:
Cost of solar power vexing to Colorado system owners, electric co-ops
8 Fortune:
The U.S. solar industry is shifting toward consumers
9 CNBC:
Elon Musk's biggest challenge yet - Recharging Buffalo, NY
10 Think Progress:
Lindsey Graham Calls Out Fellow Republican Candidates Over Climate Change Views
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 June 12th, 2015
We are hitting some nice milestones here at SolarWakeup. This month, we are now tracking to reach over a million views in the next year. When I started this newsletter it originally went out to 30 of my colleagues and today is read by thousands every day of the week. Some of you read every day, some come for the blurb and most for a quick glimpse at today’s news. You can find SolarWakeup on Twitter @SolarWakeup and Facebook. So keep on sharing with your friends, coworkers and your boss but most of all keep advocating for solar. Thanks to all of you for being part of the SolarWakeup family.
News
1 CNBC:
Elon Musk's biggest challenge yet - Recharging Buffalo, NY
2 EDF:
Residential Electricity Pricing in California - We Need an Overhaul, not a Tune-Up
3 Utility Dive:
Inside Georgia Power's move into the residential solar market
4 Renewable Energy World:
The Real Price of Free Solar
5 PV-Magazine:
Solar PV could reach 12% of total EU electricity production by 2030
6 Huffington Post:
Solar Jobs - Growing at the Grassroots
7 Grist:
McKibben to Obama - You still have time to be a climate champion — but not much
8 Bloomberg:
Can Solar Panels Help Solve California's Drought?
Opinions:
9 Yale:
Despite Hurdles, Solar Power in Australia Is Too Robust to Kill
Have a great day!
Yann
