This is your SolarWakeup for November 18th, 2015
During the panel yesterday, I asked each of the panelists if solar was mainstream already. To my surprise, 50GW annual market does not give them the comfort that the industry is “mainstream”. Here’s my takeaway, especially after listening to last week’s GTM podcast about the Keystone pipeline. Solar is mainstream, not because of the market size but because of the size of our labor and advocacy force. Much like the NoKXL movement, solar is able to fight against the anti-competitive market makers and negotiate a fairer marketplace. Top article today shows what has to be done to overcome a drop in ITC and it doesn’t look good, so call your Senator today!
News
1 Greentech Media:
Here’s What It Would Take for Solar Installers to Adapt to a World Without the ITC
2 Mother Jones:
The Republican Wall of Climate Denial Is Starting to Crack
3 Washington Post:
Why leasing solar panels may not be a good idea if you’re planning a home sale
4 Renew Economy:
Australia open to 1.5 °C climate target, “carbon neutral” in 2050
5 New York Times:
Summit in Philippines Sets Stage for Climate Action in Paris
6 PV-Tech:
SolarWorld and REC Solar reports suggest collapse of UK solar market in 2016
7 Energy Collective:
If You Like Your Time-Invariant Electricity Price, You Can Keep It
8 PV-Magazine:
Australia - Clean energy funding program attracts 2 GW of applications
Opinions:
9 Treehugger:
Solar bicycle lane's first year is "a great success"
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 17th, 2015
I’m on my way to Boston to lead a set of panelists to discuss investing in solar. Massachusetts has been debating the net metering cap allocations and a set of rhetorical questions meant to challenge the logic used in public debate. The logic I want to challenge is that putting solar on my roof is subsidized by my neighbors without solar. Here are two questions for you and others to answer. I use 30-50kWh a day to charge my electric car, by using that much more energy, am I not subsidizing the grid for my neighbors that don’t have an EV? Should my utility be collecting gas tax now that more and more people are using electric vehicles? Aren’t gas users subsidizing the roads for me and other EV owners?
News
1 Wall Street Journal:
Will Solar Energy Plummet if the Investment Tax Credit Fades Away?
2 PV-Magazine:
India's Modi puts solar firmly on G20 agenda
3 Inc:
What Solar City's CEO Really Thinks About Climate Change and His Cousin Elon Musk
4 Vox:
It's easy to buy "green power." Making a difference is a little harder.
5 Utility Dive:
Why clean energy advocates are challenging SCE's historic storage buy
6 Energy Collective:
Will the Paris Agreement Be a Legally Binding Treaty?
7 Greentech Media:
6 Key Takeaways From an Upbeat Analyst Day at SunPower
8 ABC Las Vegas:
Dozens speak up against changes to net metering rates for solar
Opinions:
9 Renewable Energy World:
Ode to US Market Risks as Paraphrased from Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven'
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 16th, 2015
Apple is really going for it. First a massive California deal, followed by China and now in southeast Asia. There is a common thread here. Apple originally went big with self-owned assets ON site at the NC data center. But every big deal since has been OFF site and 3rd party. Having participated in several panels on this topic, there is a trend here. Apple and other corporate executives can easily see their company 20 years in the future but don’t have the same ability with real estate assets.
News
1 Straits Times:
Apple plugs into solar power in Singapore
2 Utility Dive:
Pot power - How utilities and regulators are dealing with the budding marijuana industry
3 Renew Economy:
Home battery storage market expected to “explode” in Australia in 2016
4 Hartford Courant:
Connecticut State Government Failing To Use Solar To Cut Electricity Costs
5 Greentech Media:
More Than Half of US States Are Studying or Changing Net Metering Policies
6 Slate:
How Solar Installations Could Be the Barn-Raisings of the 21st Century
7 All Africa:
Kenya - Why Solar Energy Is the Next Big Thing in Kenya
8 Seeking Alpha:
Increasing Uncertainty In Rooftop Solar's Long-Term Business Model
Opinions:
9 EDF:
What One Conservative Texas Think Tank Doesn’t Want You to Know about the Clean Power Plan
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Bloomberg:
SolarCity - Solar Energy’s Uphill Battle
2 Fortune:
This is Why Solar Panels Will Boom Early Next Year
3 Forbes:
The Biggest Solar Breakthrough You've Never Heard Of
4 News & Observer:
David and Goliath struggle over solar power
5 Bloomberg:
SolarCity Says You Shouldn't Need Great Credit to Get Panels
6 PV-Magazine:
Solarcity lawsuit against Arizona utility to go forward
7 Motley Fool:
Solar Energy Shakeup - What We Learned From This Quarter's Earnings
8 Miami Herald:
Donations pour in to utility-backed solar initiative
9 Greentech Media:
Rooftop Solar Brings Higher Home Appraisals
10 Solar Novus:
Grid Alternatives Announces Veteran's Training Program for the Solar Industry
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 13th, 2015
Credit for off-takers is one of my favorite topics. It spells the best market expansion in residential and C&I by growing the share of customers that can qualify for no upfront cost solar. But from a sales and development standpoint, credit expansion is even better. Underwriting goes faster and adoption grows exponentially. With the network effect that happens after someone goes solar, more installs means more sales which means more installs which means faster growth. Get the drift?
News
1 Bloomberg:
SolarCity Says You Shouldn't Need Great Credit to Get Panels
2 Business Journals:
Solar PV permits on Oahu rise nearly 40% in October
3 Greentech Media:
Rooftop Solar Brings Higher Home Appraisals
4 PV-Tech:
California Renewable Energy Conservation Plan finalised
5 Christian Science Monitor:
How solar is turning American energy on its head
6 Breaking Energy:
Utilities Look For More Nimble Regulatory Practices As Electric Industry Evolves
7 Solar Industry:
Do Your Past Commercial Solar Projects Qualify For An Unused Tax Deduction?
8 Milford Daily News:
Solar, business groups battle as they wait for House bill
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
The Biggest Solar Breakthrough You've Never Heard Of
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 12th, 2015
I’m shocked, shocked to hear that the solar feud in Florida is funded by investor owned utilities. I can’t believe that a group of utility execs would use their war chest to push propaganda around an intellectually dishonest debate. Personally, I find the whole constitutional amendment process in Florida a bit silly. Service agreements go a long way here and raising the issue on the solar front seems a bit ahead of its time. That being said, the utilities are trying to memorialize a kill shot to net metering in their process. When organizations like Grid Alternatives is trying to help bring veterans into solar, I can only imagine how many opportunities are being crushed by big utilities.
News
1 News & Observer:
David and Goliath struggle over solar power
2 Miami Herald:
Donations pour in to utility-backed solar initiative
3 Greentech Media:
Tom Steyer Calls On Activists to Push for Clean Energy Solutions Post-Keystone
4 PV-Magazine:
UK - Energy Secretary comes clean about missing renewable energy target
5 Bloomberg:
SolarCity - Solar Energy’s Uphill Battle
6 Utility Dive:
How California is bringing DER aggregation to wholesale markets
7 Treehugger:
1000 US veterans to receive solar job training through Troops To Solar initiative
8 Las Vegas Review Journal:
Poll shows strong support for existing rooftop-solar program
Opinions:
9 Energy Collective:
Historic Opportunity to Reduce Global Fuel Subsidies
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 11th, 2015
One of my favorite parts of the US solar industry is the opportunity to work together with our veterans. After doing the hardest job of all, it’s great knowing that solar can become a home for all interests. Whether the focus is finance, install, engineering or policy, our industry is growing on all fronts. So take time today and thank a veteran for their service and dedication. Most of all, if you see the opportunity to hire a veteran, take it!
News
1 Solar Novus:
Grid Alternatives Announces Veteran's Training Program for the Solar Industry
2 Utility Dive:
Coming soon to affordable housing - Solar-plus-storage?
3 Forbes:
The Opportunities And Challenges In The Chinese Solar Market
4 Think Progress:
Going Off Fossil Fuels Would Boost Disposable Income And Create A Million Jobs
5 PV-Tech:
Canadian Solar making substantial manufacturing capacity expansion in 2016
6 PV-Magazine:
Report - Germany will miss 2030 RE targets unless current policies change
7 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Yahoo’s Pursuit - New Business Models Offer Companies Economic Alternatives
8 Greentech Media:
What Does the End of Net Metering Mean for Commercial Solar in Hawaii?
Opinions:
9 Climate Central:
New Fees Seen to Weaken Demand For Rooftop Solar
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 10th, 2015
Great job by the California solar industry and its supporters. Over 130,000 signed petitions were delivered to make sure that the CPUC does not break net metering in California. Individuals, businesses, farmers, solar professionals and even municipalities voiced their opinions. The fight is not over, not on the net metering issues or the ITC, so keep up the pressure. With Paris happening at the end of the month, politicians from around the world will voice theirs for climate and clean energy.
News
1 Utility Dive:
California solar advocates bring wheelbarrows of petitions to net metering fight
2 PV-Magazine:
New York leads coalition of U.S. states in legal defense of Clean Power Plan
3 The Hill:
Clinton promises to expand climate efforts - 'There is no Planet B'
4 Fortune:
This is Why Solar Panels Will Boom Early Next Year
5 Energy Collective:
Putting the UNFCCC to the Test
6 Renewable Energy World:
2015 Supply Side Update of Shipments, Inventory, Defective Modules & Prices
7 Vox:
RECs, which put the "green" in green electricity, explained
8 Think Progress:
After Endorsement From Oil Industry, Vitter Calls For End To Solar Tax Credits
Opinions:
9 Fox Business:
Big Solar Fight Breaks Out Between Utilities, Homeowners
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 9th, 2015
Something good happened on Friday, President Obama said no to the Keystone XL pipeline. This is no panacea to solve climate change but it shows a shift in politics around something that just a few years ago was a given. Also a positive is the traction that bills are getting in the House of Representatives. The Highway bill passed the house and needs a Senate counterpart for a conference to start. This is a really good chance to push for some form of ITC extension. Time to pick up the phone and call your Senator and ask for support on the ITC!
News
1 New York Times:
Citing Climate Change, Obama Rejects Construction of Keystone XL Oil Pipeline
2 PV-Magazine:
Solarcity lawsuit against Arizona utility to go forward
3 Forbes:
Solar + Storage May Be Energy's Holy Grail, But Will Regulators Aid The Quest?
4 PV-Tech:
Chinese FiT cuts won’t quell demand, says EnergyTrend
5 Renew Economy:
Solar energy costs continue to plunge across the world
6 Motley Fool:
Solar Energy Shakeup - What We Learned From This Quarter's Earnings
7 Solar Industry:
New York Makes $13M In Solar Incentives Available For Low- To Moderate-Income Homeowners
8 Tampa Tribune:
Tax credits, reduced costs make solar power options shine
Opinions:
9 USA Today:
Keystone pipeline obama rejection editorials debates
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Lawsuit threatens SolarWorld liquidity
2 Bloomberg:
Say Goodbye to Solar Power Subsidies
3 Forbes:
Solar's Future - Boom, Bust, Boom
4 PV-Tech:
SolarCity cuts cord on growth strategy as cost reduction becomes new mantra
5 Greentech Media:
Rhone Resch Outlines All the Ways the Solar Investment Tax Credit Could Be Extended
6 East Oregonian:
Wyden to address solar tax credit
7 Winston Salem Journal:
Duke Energy wants fines against Greensboro church's solar project
8 EDF:
These 3 States Have a Head Start on the Clean Power Plan. You'd Never Guess Who They Are.
9 Greentech Media:
Sunrun CEO - Saying the ITC Won’t Be Renewed Is a ‘Self-Fulfilling Prophecy’
10 Forbes:
Utilities And Solar Companies Jockey For Position As Community Solar Blooms
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
