This is your SolarWakeup for January 4th, 2016
Welcome to 2016 and the biggest solar year in the US. We should be on track to blow past 10GW this year which means a lot of work for everyone. As you get through your work, make sure to pull people along with you and help them out. It’s a small industry and we all need to be successful and this is the year to do just that. In the meantime, there will be some changes on SolarWakeup this month. Good for email subscribes as we will put the article links directly in the email so you don’t have to go to the website first. Enjoy the 2015 review articles today, hopefully the reporters will come back to work this week.
News
1 The Washington Post:
Wind, solar power soaring in spite of bargain prices for fossil fuels
2 Forbes:
Why 2016 Will Be Solar's Year Again
3 Las Vegas Sun:
Nevada should adopt, not marginalize, solar energy
4 EDF:
10 Clean Energy Trends that Prove 2015 was a Transformative Year
5 The National:
2015 in review - Solar power was region’s top alternative energy choice
6 Greentech Media:
Cleantech IPOs - Predictions Revisited, 2015 Winners, 2016 Picks
7 PV Magazine:
New York re-allocates $6 million in solar incentives
8 Grist:
Here’s why repealing the crude oil export ban wasn’t such a bad deal
Opinions:
9 Vox:
Electric car subsidies are hated by economists, loved by activists. Why?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 31st, 2015 – Happy New Year!
Here they are! As you go into your New Year's Eve celebration, you can make sure that you have the Top 9 stories of the year. The headlines are indicative of the big stories of the year, large M&A, ITC extension (and the PR war leading up to it), and big public solar company news. I want to thank you for being part of the growing group in solar that reads SolarWakeup. Have a Happy New Year!
News
1 The Street:
SunEdison/Vivint Solar Deal Up in Smoke, Shares Choke
2 Wall Street Journal:
Big Solar’s Subsidy Bubble
3 Forbes:
3 Things To Know About SolarCity's Financial Health
4 Politico:
Tax deal swelling into $800 billion blowout
5 Greentech Media:
Here’s What It Would Take for Solar Installers to Adapt to a World Without the ITC
6 New York Times:
Enemies of the Sun
7 CNBC:
The sleeping giant of the solar industry - Florida
8 PV-Tech:
ITC extension back on the cards, says Credit Suisse
Opinions:
9 Slate:
The Real Solyndra Scandal
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 28th, 2015
2015 was quite the year in solar, so this week let’s take a look back at the events that shaped our news. Over the year, we read some 2,000 articles and added over a thousand new readers. On Wednesday, I will publish the top 9 articles of the year. These articles aren’t my pick or that of the editors and publishers that are bound to advertisers. These are your choices and a small shout out to the editors ability to write good headlines. Enjoy the slow week!
News
1 Mother Jones:
The Solar Industry’s Christmas Miracle
2 Seeking Alpha:
Solar And Wind Are The Future Of Energy, And Fossil Fuels Are, Well, Fossils
3 Motley Fool:
Who Wins From the Solar Industry's $40 Billion Windfall?
4 PV-Tech:
SolarCity quits Nevada following ‘anti-solar’ decision
5 Energy Collective:
New York's Banner Year for Clean Energy and Climate
6 PV-Magazine:
Spain's Constitutional Tribunal gives a bitter Christmas gift to solar producers
7 Star Tribune:
Solar power boom in Chisago County creates winners and losers
8 Yahoo:
Morocco postpones opening of huge solar plant without explanation
Opinions:
9 Renewable Energy World:
How Hawaii Has Empowered Energy Storage and Forever Changed the U.S. Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 23rd, 2015
We don’t get good news everyday in solar, yesterday was one of them. Nevada PUC under the Governor’s appointment has come out with a complicated and unfair two-tier net metering replacement program. Recall that the Governor is already being sued for failing to release his text messages which fall under public record. The PUC also failed to follow the Nevada guidelines on pushing for more renewables and looking at the facts and evidence presented. Looks like Nevada will follow Wisconsin and have to defend its actions in court.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Nevada Regulators Eliminate Retail Rate Net Metering for New and Existing Solar Customers
2 ABC Nevada:
Public Utilities Commission Okays New Rate Structure for Rooftop Solar Owners
3 Politico:
Elon Musk vs Warren Buffet in solar title bout
4 PV-Magazine:
Vivint shareholders to vote on SunEdison acquisition
5 Reuters:
After Paris accord, most U.S. Republicans back action on climate
6 PV-Tech:
Public Utilities Commission Okays New Rate Structure for Rooftop Solar Owners
7 Investor’s Business Daily:
Appaloosa Demands SunEdison, Vivint Solar Books
8 Fortune:
Selling Solar to Rural Africa is Emerging as a Hot Market
Opinions:
9 Grist:
It’s hard out there for a clean energy startup
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 22nd, 2015
We are entering the weeks of Christmas and New Years. A full two weeks this year where nobody quite knows who is working and who is not. One thing is sure, reporters are writing less so SolarWakeup will enter a period of sporadic publication. If there are enough stories, I will get them to you, if things are slow, then I may skip a day. I hope you will enjoy this time off and get your 2016 planning in place. If you are like me, you are deep in business plan readjustment phase as we look into 2017 and beyond for plenty of growth. One thing is sure, stories like the one from Nevada will become hopefully not become a trend in 2016.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Buffett's Utility Wins as Sun Sets on Nevada Home Solar Subsidy
2 Las Vegas Review Journal:
PUC official opposes rooftop-solar change sought by NV Energy
3 Slate:
The Solar Industry’s Christmas Miracle
4 Renewable Energy World:
Obama Vetoes Resolutions Seeking to Block Climate Change Rules
5 Rocky Mountain Institute:
The Paris Agreement - 10 Key Takeaways for the Global
7 Renew Economy:
Ten big trends in solar, wind and storage to watch out for in 2016
8 PV-Magazine:
Australia reaches 4.59 GW of small-scale solar PV
9 Washington Post:
McAuliffe sets solar energy goal for Va. government
Opinions:
10 Miami Herald:
Sun setting on solar power campaign amid financial dispute
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 21st, 2015
As we enter the winter/holiday/christmas break, let’s take some time to reflect on why we do what we do. Foremost, we all think that solar is an industry where we can grow and take care of our families. Second, we have the opportunity to improve the planet for future generations by powering the planet with clean solar energy. A sustainable market is one where companies invest in their people and hope to attract new ones. One such was is the trend of holiday videos. I know of two this year that came from solar. The Conergy Corporate Holiday Video and SolarEdge Holiday Video
News
1 Las Vegas Sun:
State PUC chairman not a fan of solar energy
2 Greentech Media:
Congress Passes Tax Credits for Solar and Wind - ‘Sausage-Making at Its Most Intense’
3 CleanTechnica:
Boom Times Ahead For US Clean Power, Thanks To Oil Lobby
4 Think Progress:
The Surprising Winner Of Congress’ Budget Deal
5 Renew Economy:
UBS - Paris deal means most coal generation has to go
6 New York Times:
To Achieve Paris Climate Goals, U.S. Will Need New Laws
7 The Guardian:
Dark Christmas ahead for nearly 1,000 axed staff of solar panel company
8 Bloomberg:
How an Australian Mining Town Became a Solar Power Trailblazer
Opinions:
9 Renewable Energy World:
ITC Extension Levels the Playing Field
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Solar ITC extension approved in the U.S. Senate
2 Greentech Media:
Pelosi Questions Support for Deal to Extend Renewable Energy Tax Credits
3 New York Times:
Congress Inches Toward Completed Spending Bill
4 Bloomberg:
Solar, Wind Shares Jump as U.S. Nears Deal on Tax Credits
5 Tech Insider:
Elon Musk just made a very important point about solar energy
6 Greentech Media:
How the Paris Climate Agreement Could Impact the Global Solar Market
7 Bloomberg:
What Just Happened in Solar Is a Bigger Deal Than Oil Exports
8 The Hill:
Spending deal to lift oil export ban
9 Renew Economy:
How rooftop solar is causing big falls in peak demand
10 Bloomberg:
Big Oil, Make Way for Big Solar. The Winners and Losers in Paris
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 December 18th, 2015
It’s not done until it’s done. And it’s not done. You have to take your time today to make crucial calls to Congress and write your legislators to vote yes on the omnibus bill. I’ve pushed for this for almost two years and we can’t stop now. Our SolarWakeup community helped bring the solar industry together, made the calls and had an impact. Let’s push it over the edge and get this vote through Congress and to the President’s desk. Send this link to your colleagues and have them do the same.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Pelosi Questions Support for Deal to Extend Renewable Energy Tax Credits
2 Washington Post:
The budget bill will unleash wind and solar. Here’s what that means for the climate
3 PV-Tech:
Trina Solar splits downstream project business, CEO’s brother takes charge of China segment
4 Energy Collective:
Will Data Unlock Billions in Solar Investment for the Poor?
5 PV-Magazine:
Yingli announces 1/10 reverse stock split
6 EDF:
Tech Innovation in the Energy Utility Space
7 Renewable Energy World:
What Yieldco Managers Are Saying About The Market Meltdown
8 Bloomberg:
What Just Happened in Solar Is a Bigger Deal Than Oil Exports
Opinions:
9 Solar Industry:
ITC Extension Means The Sun Won't Set On America's Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 17th, 2015
I’ve been asking you for two years to take the ITC extension seriously and the finish line is in sight. Solar got a great deal and we have to push it full force over the finish line. Congress needs to vote on the bill as written and we have to make sure no changes are made. So let’s not rest now and make the calls that we still need to make. Go back to the Team Solar website and call your congressman and Senator, especially Democrats. Compromises had to be made so let them know that the compromise was worth it to you.
News
1 Fox News:
Congress won't vote on $1.1 trillion spending bill until Friday, forcing another stop-gap measure
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Companies Surge as U.S. Tax Credit Brings Early Holiday
3 Greentech Media:
Investment Tax Credit Extension Would Increase US Solar Installations 54% Through 2020
4 Renewable Energy World:
Making Sense of the Tax Credit Extensions for Wind, Solar (and Bioenergy, Too)
5 CleanTechnica:
How The Grid Works, & Why Renewables Can Dominate
6 Los Angeles Times:
California regulators propose new rooftop solar fees
7 PV-Magazine:
Brazil launches incentive program for distributed generation
8 PV-Tech:
MIP failings prove EU is being protectionist, says Chinese diplomat who negotiated solar deal
Opinions:
9 New York Times:
Expected Repeal of Oil Export Ban Unlikely to Have Immediate Impact
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 16th, 2015
It’s a great day! It looks like we have a deal, a 5 year extension on the ITC at 30%, congratulations to everyone in solar. We don’t have to agree on everything but we can always agree about two issues, a long term ITC and robust NEM policies. Ever since the Solar Pledge, we have come together, moved our associations to fight for our businesses and make an impact. Yesterday, the CPUC came out with a filing that makes CA NEM 2.0 look very strong, more work to be done. In D.C., congress looks like they came together on a bill that includes spending, tax extensions and the lifting of the oil export ban while giving us the ITC extension we needed. Go ahead and enjoy the day, you fought hard with your voices to get it done.
News
1 The Hill:
Spending deal to lift oil export ban
2 Bloomberg:
Solar, Wind Shares Jump as U.S. Nears Deal on Tax Credits
3 PV-Magazine:
BREAKING - California regulators propose to keep solar net metering, with modifications
4 Greentech Media:
Sungevity Raises Giant $600M Fund From Apollo to Finance Residential Solar
5 Renew Economy:
Paris deal - Great for wind and solar, and a $46 trillion hit to fossil fuels
6 Tech Insider:
Elon Musk just made a very important point about solar energy
7 Think Progress:
Marco Rubio - Paris Climate Deal Is An ‘Unfunny Joke’
8 Grist:
Will the financial world wake up to clean energy thanks to Paris?
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
West Virginia - An Unexpected Example Of Why Extending The Solar Investment Tax Credit Is So Important
Have a great day!
Yann
