This is your SolarWakeup for February 29th, 2016
Over the weekend, Berkshire Hathaway’s Chairman, Warren Buffett, released his annual letter to shareholders. Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) is quite diversified in terms of utilities but it is solar and wind that is making the dent on both sides of the argument. The group now owns 7% of US wind and 6% of US solar capacity but at the same time calls it Federally-subsidized with tax credits. This goes to the argument that Buffett enjoys renewables as long as its utility owned aligning him with the likes of EEI. Read the important page of the letter here.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Buffett - Wind and Solar Power Competition Challenges Utilities
2 Vox:
Rural electric co-ops, traditionally bastions of coal, are getting into solar
3 AEE:
NEWS - Solar Plus Storage Goes Small – and Big
4 Greentech Media:
Nevada Solar Ballot Initiative Faces Utility-Backed Legal Challenge
5 Post-Bulletin:
Solar boom is boon for Minnesota landowners
6 Boston Globe:
Solar advocates tell lawmakers inaction clouds future of sector
7 BBC:
Is the US undermining India's solar power programme?
8 St Augustine Record:
'Solar Priest' challenges church to lead way in use of renewable energy
Opinions:
9 Greenbiz:
With the Clean Power Plan stalled, go regional on renewables
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 David Crane:
The energy world's 50 shades of brown
2 USA Today:
Utilities get aggressive against solar industry
3 Fortune:
Here's Why SunEdison's Stock Is Jumping 30%
4 Bloomberg:
Sunrun More Likely Solar Buyer Rather Than Seller, CEO Says
5 Think Progress:
How Clean Energy Became A Code Word In Washington
6 Fortune:
How a Single Tax Credit Dominates U.S. Solar
7 New York Times:
Bill Gates’s Clean-Energy Moon Shot
8 PV-Magazine:
New report finds net metering under attack across the United States
9 EDF:
Despite Overwhelming Support for Clean Energy, Poll Shows Disconnect
10 Greentech Media:
Negative Prices Require Positive Changes in Community Solar
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 February 26th, 2016
Big news is that a judge cleared the way for the Vivint acquisition by Sunedison to proceed. If you recall, this was challenged by Hedge Fund Manager David Tepper. The Vivint shareholders led by majority shareholder Blackstone quickly approved the deal causing Sunedison stock to rise on the news. The next step is the drop down of those project assets into Terraform which may or may not be easier than it sounds or originally intended. The solarcoaster continues for the companies as the public markets create more pressure.
News
1 Fortune:
Here's Why SunEdison's Stock Is Jumping 30%
2 Bloomberg:
Judge Clears Way for SunEdison's $1.9 Billion Vivint Deal
3 EDF:
Regulators Take First Step to Ensure New York’s Distributed Energy Future is Clean
4 PV-Magazine:
Update - Foxconn deal for Sharp delayed, tolls death knell for its solar business
5 Renew Economy:
The 40 Australian towns that could, and should, quit the grid
6 Greentech Media:
46 States Took Policy Action on Solar in 2015
7 Utility Dive:
Compromise in Mississippi partially restores state regulators authority over co-ops
8 VICE:
The US Said India's Solar Power Plan Discriminates Against American Companies — And the WTO Agrees
Opinions:
9 Portland Press Herald:
Ratepayers save big, jobs triple under dramatic solar plan for Maine, advocates say
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 25th, 2016
I’ve been waiting for today for some time. Ever since David Crane was announced as having a column about power on greenbiz.com, I have been waiting for the column. 50 shades of Brown is a nice pop culture reference to the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. With NRG in mind, what can the new CEO do if ‘going green’ is not an option. "So if green is out at NRG, then the color of its new strategy will fall somewhere within the range of 50 shades of brown.” As a big producer of greenhouse gases, I am saddened by this reality and hope that David is right in the shade of brown the company picks going forward.
News
1 David Crane:
The energy world's 50 shades of brown
2 Greentech Media:
McBee Insists a Next-Generation Energy Provider Is Coming to Market, NRG Notwithstanding
3 Rocky Mountain Institute:
DERs Find a Market Opportunity in Texas Through Locational Pricing
4 Fortune:
How a Single Tax Credit Dominates U.S. Solar
5 Think Progress:
Oregon Set To Pass One Of The Most Ambitious Environmental Bills In Decades
6 PV-Tech:
Nevada governor brings back New Energy Industry Taskforce
7 Utility Dive:
Washington state solar incentive bill set for Senate hearing after House passage
8 Huffington Post:
The WTO Just Ruled Against India's Booming Solar Program
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Protect Our Families - Bring Back Ohio’s Clean Energy Standards
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 24th, 2016
NREL is out with a new report on the expected benefit from the ITC extension. It is no surprise that at least 20GW of additional solar will be built by 2022 which would not have happened without the ITC. Without data on my end, I think that number may be quite light considering where the report saw LCOE for solar in 2020 ($50/Mwh). Research has a difficult time understanding the pressures of competitive markets at times and solar is quite competitive these days.
News
1 PV-Tech:
NREL - Solar tax credits to boost US deployment by up to 20GW
2 PV-Magazine:
New report finds net metering under attack across the United States
3 Seeking Alpha:
Reports Of Solar Demise Are Exaggerated, Utilities Remain Big Buyers
4 Bloomberg:
Sunrun More Likely Solar Buyer Rather Than Seller, CEO Says
5 Solar Industry:
Trina Solar Acquires Cell Factory In The Netherlands
6 New York Times:
Bill Gates’s Clean-Energy Moon Shot
7 Arizona Central:
APS, solar group spar in testimony filed in rural utility rate case
8 The Guardian:
Nevada's solar workers and customers reel as new rules 'shut down' industry
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Solar Showdown In The Nevada Desert - Warren Buffett Vs. Elon Musk?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 23rd, 2016
The data is in. 2015 was a great year for solar in the US with 7.3GW installed. Over half, 4GW, came from utility scale but residential picked up some traction exceeding 2GW for the first time. The top 10 States made up 87% of the capacity, which again shows that the US may be a single Country but made up of many different markets across the Country. After the top 10, the data is essentially negligible which means a lot of upward momentum is capable. Staffing will be a key for companies in 2016, as our growth will need new people to come work in our industry.
News
1 PV-Tech:
US installed 7.3GW of solar power in 2015, says report
2 PV-Magazine:
City of Palo Alto considers solar power contract at under $37/MWh
3 The Hill:
Federal study - Tax credits will cut emissions, add new wind and solar power
4 EDF:
Clean Energy Can Help Tackle Rural Poverty
5 Greentech Media:
SunPower CEO - ‘Fundamentals for Solar Have Never Been Better’
6 Salt Lake Tribune:
Bill advances to allow new way to buy solar power
7 Utility Dive:
Taming the Wild West - CAISO begins study of a full regional electricity market
8 Bloomberg:
Japan Clean-Energy Panel Proposes 11% Solar Tariff Cut in 2016
Opinions:
9 Solar Power World:
Five strategies to help installers build a solar workforce
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 22nd, 2016
The top two stories today are related. EDF has a story on the polling that continues to show that Americans favor more government support of actions that stop climate change and pushing for more renewable energy. The number is 59% of Americans are more likely to support a candidate that supports these topics versus 9% that few it negatively. That’s why it makes sense that Republican Jay Faison has started a $5million Action PAC to push GOP Congressional candidates to support common sense policies that bend down the carbon curve. Conservation is part of the GOP DNA, let’s make it part of the fundraising as well.
News
1 Think Progress:
How Clean Energy Became A Code Word In Washington
2 EDF:
Despite Overwhelming Nationwide Support for Clean Energy, Poll Shows Personal Disconnect
3 Renew Economy:
Wind and solar replace coal in South Australia. But will the lights go out?
4 Utility Dive:
Is a national high voltage transmission system the cheapest way to cut emissions?
5 Renewable Energy World:
Now is the Wrong Time for States to Reduce Solar Incentives
6 PV-Magazine:
World’s largest coal producer to tender additional 800 MW of solar
7 Greentech Media:
Negative Prices Require Positive Changes in Community Solar
8 New York Times:
In Britain, a Green Utility Company Sees Winds of Change
Opinions:
9 USA Today:
Utilities get aggressive against solar industry
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 MIT:
Suddenly, the Solar Boom Is Starting to Look like a Bubble
2 Think Progress:
Sanders And Clinton Offer Different Solutions For Nevada’s Sabotaged Solar Industry
3 The Hill:
Sanders calls out Warren Buffett over solar energy
4 Huffington Post:
Target, Do Solar Like You Do the Grammys
5 Motley Fool:
5 Facts You Didn't Know About Solar Energy
6 Greenbiz:
Why community solar is becoming big business
7 Greentech Media:
Utilities See Distributed Generation as a Challenge—and Owning It as the Solution
8 CleanTechnica:
To Lease or To Own - Simplified Solar Calculator
9 Fortune:
Here's Why Shares of SolarCity Are Soaring
10 Bloomberg:
SunEdison Missed Deadlines on Solar Farms It Plans to Unload
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 February 19th, 2016
Moody’s says that 2016 will have $50billion in green bonds issued. Apparently in 2015, the total was over $42billion which is a stat that I would not have expected. Apple issued a green bond of $1.5billion this week in order to invest in projects like solar for their data center. The green bonds have a voluntary disclosure addition to otherwise standard corporate bonds and are tracked by the Climate Bonds Initiative. Their goal is to get to $100billion per year in green bonds.
News
1 Grist:
Apple issues $1.5 billion in “green bonds” for clean energy projects
2 Greentech Media:
Utilities See Distributed Generation as a Challenge—and Owning It as the Solution
3 NRDC:
Oregon's transition to clean energy - Cutting coal, building a renewable future
4 PV-Tech:
Scaling up solar after Paris
5 Energy Collective:
Electricity Regulation Is Back at the Supreme Court, Again
6 Renewable Energy World:
New Developments in Brazil’s Solar Power Sector
7 Bloomberg:
SunEdison Missed Deadlines on Solar Farms It Plans to Unload
8 Utility Dive:
A rational look at the value of solar
Opinions:
9 Arizona Central:
Rural utility's case could have big impact on rooftop solar fees
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for February 18th, 2016
Corporate solar is a big deal. Companies have been selling to the big box stores for years but now there are some metrics. A report came out that analyzed 96,000 stores and found 4 billion square feet of usable space that could save those companies over $8 billion dollars per year. Put that together with how many corporates are becoming buyers of solar energy and the cross learning that is occurring between corporations. The Department of Energy has a great program that swapped energy managers at Whole Foods and Hilton, see story #3.
News
1 Huffington Post:
Target, Do Solar Like You Do the Grammys
2 Rocky Mountain Institute:
First-Time Buyers Are Dominating Corporate Renewable Purchasing
3 Bloomberg:
Can a Reality TV Show Help Cut America's Power Bill?
4 Greenbiz:
Why community solar is becoming big business
5 PV-Magazine:
17 U.S. governors sign clean energy accord
6 Fortune:
Elon Musk Buys Up SolarCity Shares, Stock Jumps
7 Reuters:
Unclear if U.S., India can reach solar settlement
8 Business Journals:
Hawaiian Electric cancels SunEdison's 3 Hawaii solar farms
Opinions:
9 Portland Press Herald:
As solar power grows in Maine, so does tension over its future shape and direction
Have a great day!
Yann
