This is your SolarWakeup for December 3rd, 2015
The blockbuster tax deal is on deck. These things happen the year before elections as everyone goes home with something to show for. A small set of folks in solar have done the heavy lift with the voices of so many of you, and for that we need to commend ourselves. What we need to do now is keep up the pressure. The hype around the deal at COP21 is made possible by the price reduction and market expansion of solar because for the first time, clean energy is cheaper than volatile fossil fuel choice alternatives. So let’s redefine ‘alternative’ energy with strong tax and net metering policies, just like we pushed for through The Solar Pledge.
News
1 Politico:
Tax deal swelling into $800 billion blowout
2 Reuters:
U.S. solar industry in urgent push to extend tax incentive
3 PV-Magazine:
It's official - New York to get a 50% by 2030 renewable energy program by July 2016
4 Greentech Media:
Commercial Solar Rebounds - Large Corporate Installations Up 60% in 2015
5 New York Times:
Chasing a Climate Deal in Paris
6 Las Vegas Sun:
Solar advocates drop off 31k petitions at PUC
7 The Atlantic:
How Solar and Wind Got So Cheap, So Fast
8 Motley Fool:
Big Oil, Solar, or Wind for the Next Decade?
Opinions:
9 Barry Goldwater Jr.:
A Cap on Solar Is Not the American Way
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 2nd, 2015
I love the challenge that was presented by Bill Gates and other uber successful entrepreneurs. Take innovative technologies and deploy them! The reason for my enthusiasm is that I wrote about the need for early stake, technology agnostic capital a year and a half ago. And today, we have this challenge from the Energy Breakthrough Coalition, "private investors who will support companies that are taking innovative clean-energy ideas out of the lab and into the marketplace.” Either my blog made it up to Gates (I doubt it) or it’s just a great idea and an exciting day for every hardware inventor that sees some viable path out of the lab.
News
1 Bill Gates:
A Big Win for Cheap, Clean Energy
2 Greentech Media:
Goldman Sachs - Investors Should Be Focused on 4 Technologies for Maximum Climate Impact
3 Renew Economy:
Paris, COP21 - Poor countries want 100% renewables, not coal
4 Renewable Energy World:
Climate Finance Programs Reap $41 Billion in Pledges in Paris
5 PV-Magazine:
Massachusetts reaches nearly 15,000 solar workers
6 Utility Dive:
City of Las Vegas strikes deal for 100% renewables as casinos look to defect
7 New York Times:
A Path for Climate Change, Beyond Paris
8 PV-Tech:
73 companies join commitment to American Business Act on Climate Pledge
Opinions:
9 Quartz:
India’s “solar alliance” is a great idea with one fatal flaw
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for December 1st, 2015
Paris kicked off yesterday with speeches from world leaders and some new initiatives. Many of these centered around solar with India leading a global solar initiative (Go Modi!). One thing that separates Paris’ COP21 from previous conferences is the cost of solar. Making drastic investments (unsubsidized) into clean energy while realizing market rate returns is more possible today than ever before. Developing nations can participate without asking for handouts and that has a tremendous impact. Paris is different and should be the start of a new climate beginning. I will not be in attendance but my colleagues will be.
News
1 New York Times:
Citing Urgency, World Leaders Converge on France for Climate Talks
2 The Guardian:
India unveils global solar alliance of 120 countries at Paris climate summit
3 Financial Times:
COP21 Paris climate talks - US solar tax credit debate heats up
4 PV-Magazine:
Abengoa US yieldco faces uncertainty as parent company opens insolvency proceedings
5 Bloomberg:
The Silicon Valley Idea That's Driving Solar Use Worldwide
6 Greentech Media:
The Mercifully Short List of Fallen Solar Companies - 2015 Edition
7 Rocky Mountain Institute:
3 Ways Wind and Solar Can Continue To Grow In a 21st-Century Grid
8 CleanTechnica:
Net Metering Boost Takes Place In Brazil
Opinions:
9 Think Progress:
Can Bill Gates’ ‘Breakthrough Energy Coalition’ Become Truly Useful?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 30th, 2015
Consider me enthusiastically excited about the Gates (and many others) Breakthrough Energy Coalition. I’ve been outspoken that Gates needs to focus on deployment of technology and not R&D and here is the key passage that makes my excited, "private investors that will take the risks that allow the early stage energy companies that emerge from the research programs.” Gates is not alone in this endeavor, he is joined by Bezos, Doerr, Zuckerberg, Khosla and many others that bring a plethora of experience. Let’s see who runs it and where it goes, plus more coverage from Paris this week.
News
1 PBS:
Gates to announce multibillion dollar fund to develop clean energy tech
2 CNN:
World leaders arrive in Paris for climate conference
3 PV-Tech:
IDB approves US$450 million finance package for Latin American climate targets
4 PV-Magazine:
City of Las Vegas to get 100% of its electricity from renewable energy
5 Grist:
China is totally crushing the U.S. on renewable energy
6 Motley Fool:
Why Growth Is the Enemy of Solar Stocks
7 Forbes:
Dubai To Make Rooftop Solar Mandatory By 2030
8 New Republic:
How the 2016 Presidential Candidates View Climate Change
Opinions:
9 Los Angeles Times:
Op-Ed Bill McKibben - What the Paris conference on climate change can do for planet Earth
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 25th, 2015
I hope everyone enjoys their long Thanksgiving Weekend. Get outside and soak in the Sunshine away from the grind! I am thankful to each of you for reading SolarWakeup every day. The SolarWakeup family has grown to be the most read newsletter in solar and it is thanks to you. Happy Thanksgiving!
News
1 WRAL:
Google to buy solar power to run massive NC server farm
2 Rocky Mountain Institute:
An Innovative Business Model Makes Solar Accessible to All
3 PV-Magazine:
Solar O&M market to surpass 390 GW by 2020, says GTM
4 Lakeland Ledger:
Solar price plan to reduce hidden subsidy for Lakeland Electric customers
5 Vox:
Clean energy tax credits mostly go to the affluent. Is there a better way?
6 Utility Dive:
Some energy storage already cost competitive, new valuation study shows
7 ABC San Antonio:
State Sen. Rodriguez says El Paso Electric rate case 'discriminates' against solar
8 Miami Herald:
GOP lawmaker proposes plan to open solar market in Florida
Opinions:
9 NRDC:
Latin America Green News COP21 Edition - Latin America gears up for Paris
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 24th, 2015
Paris (COP21) is coming up and it’s going to be a big deal. We will be there to get the best view of all the events and talks that should shape the global climate and energy policies. We are seeing developing nations building out clean energy infrastructure, central and distributed. On Sunday night, 60 Minutes covered the distributed solar innovation around their local currency. Access to energy and economic development are clearly linked, let’s see what deal at COP21 gets inked. Are you going to Paris? Let me know.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
New York to get half its electricity from renewable energy by 2030
2 CleanTechnica:
Governor Sandoval Gambling His Vice Presidential Chances Away With Anti-Solar Record
3 Utility Dive:
Montana utility withdraws bid for residential demand charge for DER customers
4 PV-Tech:
Alberta’s new climate plan targets 30% renewable energy integration by 2030
5 Bloomberg:
Leapfrogging to Solar - Emerging Markets Outspend Rich Countries for the First Time
6 Renew Economy:
How Australia could reach 90% renewables by 2030
7 Christian Science Monitor:
What a Rwandan solar plant is teaching Africa about clean energy
8 NBC Oklahoma:
Experts say it’s only a matter of time before the “big one” shakes Oklahoma
Opinions:
9 Energy Collective:
Paris Can Be a Key Step
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 23rd, 2015
It’s an interesting time in solar from my seat. Capital continues to come into the sector, financing billions in corporate and project equities. For the first time in a while, there is a nice balance between capital looking for projects and projects looking for the right capital. A good sign of a healthy market is that investors are choosing the path that they prefer, not just pumping it in like 8 years ago to anything with the word solar, in other words quality and, more importantly, the right people matter.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Despite rapid growth, yieldcos face money troubles
2 Think Progress:
Ambassador Of Small Island Nation - It’s Critical For U.S. To Lead On Climate Change
3 Greentech Media:
Flying Robots Are the Future of Solar
4 Times Free Press:
TVA cutting back on solar incentives
5 Arizona Central:
Months before solar-rates case is heard, a fight for public support
6 Marketplace:
Tom Steyer talks climate change and the 2016 election
7 Grist:
Good news - Big companies are using a record amount of clean energy
8 Los Angeles Times:
How I Made It She leads the solar industry's expansion push in California
Opinions:
9 Motley Fool:
Solar Investors Beware - The One Thing That Could Make Or Break Solar Energy
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Greentech Media:
Here’s What It Would Take for Solar Installers to Adapt to a World Without the ITC
2 Wall Street Journal:
Will Solar Energy Plummet if the Investment Tax Credit Fades Away?
3 Greentech Media:
Solar Stocks Continue to Plummet in a ‘Bizarre Confluence of Contradictory Events’
4 Inc:
What SolarCity's CEO Really Thinks About Climate Change and His Cousin Elon Musk
5 Bloomberg:
Crashing Solar's Convertible
6 Seeking Alpha:
Increasing Uncertainty In Rooftop Solar's Long-Term Business Model
7 Washington Post:
Why leasing solar panels may not be a good idea if you’re planning a home sale
8 Boston Globe:
Business groups make last-minute lobbying push to limit solar incentives
9 USA Today:
White House pushes community solar power as rooftop alternative
10 Slate:
How Solar Installations Could Be the Barn-Raisings of the 21st Century
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 November 20th, 2015
Policy in solar has good days, and days where there is more work to be done. One of those days happened in Mass yesterday when the Senate and House couldn’t reconcile their bills. At the same time, after the PUC in Hawaii went awol and cut net metering. Now there is a public outcry for fairness. A new poll was released yesterday that showed 97% of Hawaii residents want more rooftop solar. When they were told about the PUC’s solar changes, 4 out of 5 respondents saw it negatively. These are battles in the ongoing fight for a fair energy market.
News
1 Mass Lives:
Senate compromise on Massachusetts solar bill fails to pass before winter recess
2 Hawaii Business Journals:
97% support more rooftop solar in Hawaii, new poll shows
3 Bloomberg:
California to Miss Deadline in Setting Home Solar Payments
4 Miami Herald:
A debate over how to brighten solar power’s future in Florida
5 Greentech Media:
Strong Funding for Solar Finance, Technology and Startups Despite Stock Market Carnage
6 Utility Dive:
The future of rate design - Why the utility industry may shift away from fixed charges
7 Clean Technica:
Australia Boosts Solar Financing To Scalable Levels
8 ILSR:
It’s not Doomsday, but Neither is Ending the Solar Tax Credit Good Policy
Opinions:
9 EDF:
Local Solar Can Be Good For All Neighborhoods
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 19th, 2015
It’s all about the public markets right now. Last week, I was ready to call a bottom and see the short squeeze kick in but hedge fund investors have been selling out some positions this week. Does anyone really know why there are currently more sellers than buyers in the market? I don’t. In a discussion with a public markets investor, there was a clear difference with other sectors because of the value of the assets on the companies’ balance sheets. All of this is made more convoluted by the yieldco ownership structures but we shall see how this plays out.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Solar Stocks Continue to Plummet in a ‘Bizarre Confluence of Contradictory Events’
2 Bloomberg:
Crashing Solar's Convertible
3 New York Times:
Silver Lake Is Said to Invest $100 Million in SolarCity
4 PV-Magazine:
Enel marks push into renewables with Enel Green Energy repurchase
5 Boston Globe:
Business groups make last-minute lobbying push to limit solar incentives
6 USA Today:
White House pushes community solar power as rooftop alternative
7 PV-Tech:
Intersolar India - Government to restore 30% rooftop subsidy after slow start
8 Renewable Energy World:
Carbon Rules Under Clean Power Plan Would Survive Republican President - McCarthy
Opinions:
9 Renew Economy:
Wind and solar beating conventional fuels on costs – Lazard
Have a great day!
Yann
