This is your SolarWakeup for March 23rd, 2016
Let’s call it a rebirth, not a death, of our peer Sunedison. I don’t think that this is good for our sector, it surely isn’t good for our colleagues that are employed there but sometimes a restructuring is what’s best for the company. So as Sunedison goes to negotiate with its creditors, and there are quite a few, the company has to try and keep the pieces together. I am surprised at the staying power of the CEO, still behind on the SEC filings and sitting at the helm of the recent decline.
News
1 Greentech Media:
SunEdison Shares Plunge as News of Debt Restructuring Leaks
2 PV-Tech:
Net metering - Industry slams California grid operator’s ‘economic justice’ attack
3 Bloomberg:
Rooftop Solar Booms in Japan as Market Moves Beyond Rich Nations
4 Grist:
How California got way ahead of the rest of the world in fighting climate change
5 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Increasing Home Value Through Home Energy Upgrades
6 Utility Dive:
5 maps that show where the action is on solar policy
7 Boston Globe:
Newton mayor asks legislators to keep solar incentives
8 Press Herald:
Anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist supports Maine bill to increase solar power
Opinions:
9 Miami Herald:
We’ve got the sun — now let’s go solar!
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 22nd, 2016
Those of us in the solar industry know we can get to 100% renewables, and we know solar will play a key role. But how do we get the message to the public, and get people to take action? Look at most any solar company’s website, and the main message you’ll see is how much money you can save. Do we need to focus instead on the benefits to health and the environment? Or the appeal of energy freedom to many demographics? In solar, you don’t have to pick one. In fact, recent research suggests that the most powerful persuasion combines these messages with a focus on leaving a legacy. And when you provide positive solutions like solar power, you have a winner. So let’s work on honing our solar marketing with these principles in mind -- and hasten the transition we all know is coming.
News
1 PV-Tech:
Terraform Global cancels 326MW deal
2 Las Vegas Sun:
Lawsuit seeks to overturn ruling on rooftop solar rates
3 PV-Magazine:
New Jersey Senate passes 80% renewable energy mandate
4 Greentech Media:
Utilities See Growing Opportunity in the Community Solar Market
5 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Market Price Risk and the “Hockey Stick PPA”
6 Bloomberg:
China to More Than Triple Solar Power Capacity in Five Years
7 Utility Dive:
Leading edge - Hawaii utilities push storage, solar integration for 100% renewables mandate
8 Telegraph:
UK solar sector handed stay of execution over VAT threat
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
How Electricity Storage Could Make Or Break Power Utilities
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 21st, 2016
I enjoy reading about statistics and admittedly bad at doing it myself. So I have some appreciation for the data breakdown that Lawrence Berkeley Lab did on some utility scale projects. They also provided a neat video explanation which is a handy way of not having to read the actual report. Data is becoming more evident in our sector especially given that we are almost at 1 million systems around the Country.
News
1 Clean Technica:
Utility-Scale PV Projects - First US Statistical Performance Analysis
2 PV-Tech:
California utility SDG&E responds to protests regarding net metering reversal
3 Think Progress:
Solar Advocates Have Their Eyes On Low Income Communities
4 Greentech Media:
The Trump Energy Policy in Tweet Form
5 Rocky Mountain Institute:
5 Reasons Community-Scale Solar is a Multi-GW Market Opportunity
6 Greenbiz:
5 truths about our relationship with energy
7 Bloomberg:
Cameron Faces Rebellion by at Least 16 Tories Over Solar Tax
8 Utility Dive:
Nevada PUC Commish stands by net metering decision
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
Vivint Solar - Huge Potential After The Broken Deal
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Wall Street Journal:
Ivanpah Solar Plant May Be Forced to Shut Down
2 New York Times:
The Financial Alchemy That’s Choking SunEdison
3 Think Progress:
Rubio Rejects Plea From Republican Mayor Of Miami To Accept Scientific Consensus On Climate Change
4 Bloomberg:
$2 Billion Loss for Generators as a Million U.S. Roofs Get Solar
5 USA Today:
SunEdison identifies 'weaknesses' in accounting
6 Greentech Media:
Next Step Living, Out of Cash, Is Shutting Its Doors This Week
7 PV-Tech:
SolarWorld downplays US$770 million lawsuit as Hemlock files for summary judgment
8 Ecowatch:
Duke Energy vs. Solar Energy - Battle Over Solar Heats Up in North Carolina
9 Seeking Alpha:
Bleak Future For Vivint Solar After Acquisition Termination
10 Forbes:
SunEdison Offers Another Excuse For Its Missing Financials
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 March 18th, 2016
This has been percolating for a few months but I'm glad to see it coming to a head. When hemlock filed its lawsuit against SolarWorld, it caused a ripple effect that made the trade negotiations come back to life. The key now is that Hemlock wins the lawsuit summary judgement causing SolarWorld to accept a trade resolution resulting in a lump sum cash settlement so they can pay the judgement. Following? End result is that a settlement can eliminate the tariffs and maybe some minimum price but that's to be determined. Karma is a bitch as we know and I hope it's finally reaching an end!
News
1 PV Tech:
SolarWorld downplays US$770 million lawsuit as Hemlock files for summary judgment
2 Greentech Media:
Next Step Living, Out of Cash, Is Shutting Its Doors This Week
3 NY Times:
Once a Darling, Spanish Solar Company Abengoa Faces Reckoning
4 Investors:
Could Blistered SunEdison Yieldco TerraForm Power Face Delisting?
5 CleanTechnica:
Germany Uses 0.07% Of Its Area For Solar
6 Bloomberg:
Massive California Solar Plant Gets More Time to Avoid Default
7 GreenBiz:
How energy economics could help electrify public transit
8 RE World:
When is Energy Storage Eligible for the 30 Percent ITC?
Opinions:
9 Utility Dive:
Can performance-based regulation unlock the utility of the future?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 17th, 2016
Today is National “Thank a solar policy professional and solar grassroots supporter” day, otherwise known as Vote Solar Equinox Party day. I am in San Francisco for the day to participate in the fundraiser. It doesn’t matter how you participate in policy, through time or money, but hopefully you are doing at least one. The threats don’t stop, won’t stop, and the battles continue. As an industry we are lucky to have dedicated women and men working on policy. Join me at Vote Solar Equinox tonight, come up and say hello.
News
1 USA TODAY:
SunEdison identifies 'weaknesses' in accounting
2 Forbes:
SunEdison Offers Another Excuse For Its Missing Financials
3 Renew Economy:
Barclays - German coal generation to be worthless by 2030
4 Think Progress:
Surging Renewables Keep Global CO2 Flat As Economy Grows
5 Greentech Media:
Utah Passes a Major Clean Energy Bill That Elicits ‘Mixed Feelings’
6 GreenBiz:
Report Report - A business guide to the energy revolution
7 Utility Dive:
Ohio's new clean energy ballot initiative sparks concern among utilities
8 Wall Street Journal:
Ivanpah Solar Plant May Be Forced to Shut Down
Opinions:
9 Press Herald:
Republican initiative casts shadow over solar power bill
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 16th, 2016
Seems like there could be a bit of movement in Massachusetts. For the most part the net metering caps have been met for virtual net metering which has been one of the key drivers for growth in the C&I space. Much like the community solar discussion, virtual net metering gives a credit default buffer if the offtaker goes away with the term. Also one of the most expensive markets to work in, it needs a robust system in order to make sure solar keeps growing.
News
1 Boston Globe:
Solar debate heats up as two-thirds of Mass. House push for pro-solar bill
2 Think Progress:
U.S. Electricity Sales Dropped In 2015 For Fifth Time In 8 Years
3 GreenBiz:
Residential solar's new boom market? Not wealthy enclaves
4 PV-Magazine:
Calls for UK renewable energy policy reform before the release of the budget
5 Renewable Energy World:
Germany Sparks Opportunity for US Exporters of Renewable Energy
6 PV-Tech:
Australian renewables jobs still decreasing due to employment efficiencies and policy attacks
7 New York Times:
The Financial Alchemy That’s Choking SunEdison
8 Bloomberg:
$2 Billion Loss for Generators as a Million U.S. Roofs Get Solar
Opinions:
9 Los Angeles Times:
Solar powering your home? An accountant and an economist weigh in
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 15th, 2016
The Low and Medium income solar customer is the new frontier and community solar can lead the way. LMI, as goes the acronym, is reached by community solar by taking away the credit risk. It also allows renters to take advantage of the low cost of solar for whatever time they are in the area. This concept is part of where solar really should be going because the overall concept of selling a 20 year contract is going to be outdated. Imagine if AT&T only sold cell phone for a 20 year contract.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Making Community Solar Work for Low-Income Customers
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Securitization Deals Picking Up, Poised to Top 2014 Record
3 Renew Economy:
New modelling shows renewable-based system cheaper than fossil fuels
4 Think Progress:
Kasich Bashes Clean Energy And Climate Action At Ohio Town Hall
5 Solar Industry:
Ontario Reveals Winning Bids Under Large Renewable Procurement
6 Utility Dive:
New Hampshire House passes bill to raise net metering cap to 100 MW
7 BBC:
World Business Report - Solar power 'can compete' with conventional electricity generation
8 WWLP:
New guide aims to help steer solar energy into low-income communities
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
Bleak Future For Vivint Solar After Acquisition Termination
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for March 14th, 2016
Tomorrow is election day in Florida. One topic that is getting a lot of local and some national press is climate change. Local politics in Florida is highly partisan but when you look at climate change it is becoming less partisan which I see as a good sign. Marco Rubio is having a tough time juggling both sides of this debate and keep his South Florida supporters happy while maintaining the right GOP tone on a national basis.
News
1 Think Progress:
Rubio Rejects Plea From Republican Mayor Of Miami To Accept Scientific Consensus
2 Forbes:
When You Spring Forward For Daylight Saving Time, It's All About Energy Policy
3 PV-Tech:
US, Canada reaffirm commitments to renewables during Trudeau’s visit to White House
4 Boing:
USA uses TPP-like trade-court to kill massive Indian solar project
5 NRDC:
Oregon's Groundbreaking Clean Energy Bill Becomes Law
6 Renewable Energy World:
Argentina Preparing Law to Boost Consumption of Clean Energy
7 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Renewable Transitions for Mines, Industrial Facilities, and the Military
8 Ecowatch:
Duke Energy vs. Solar Energy - Battle Over Solar Heats Up in North Carolina
Opinions:
9 Huffington Post:
Only Renewable Energy Revolution Can Reverse Runaway Climate Change
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Greentech Media:
SunEdison - A Timeline of the Biggest Corporate Implosion in US Solar History
2 Desert Sun:
Edison, PG&E, SDG&E take another crack at rooftop solar
3 Forbes:
Vivint Solar Cancels $2.2 Billion Sale To SunEdison, Claims Breach Of Contract
4 Fortune:
Why Big Retailers Are Going Solar
5 The Hill:
Solar industry predicts ‘staggering’ growth this year
6 Pensacola News-Journal:
Gulf Power offers solar offset program
7 Boston Globe:
Want to run the country’s biggest solar company? You better know politics
8 Think Progress:
Canada And The U.S. May Be About To Do Something Big On Climate
9 EDF:
New York Moves to Properly Value Clean, Distributed Energy
10 Renew Economy:
Want more renewable energy? Put more women in power
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
