This is your SolarWakeup for November 6th, 2015
Crucial time to do what grassroot industries like ours do. Call Congressman, Senators and write op-eds. There is an unlimited support network to help you do this but we can’t do it for you. A small business meeting face to face with your Congressman has a legitimate affect on policy. You mean a vote and you provide meaning to the work that the representative does in DC. Here are the places you can use to help you push for this. Now is the time, because Congressional recess is the next few weeks. http://www.weareteamsolar.com and http://www.seia.org/support-seia-extend-itc
News
1 Fresno Bee:
Editorial - PUC shouldn’t blot out rooftop solar
2 Greentech Media:
Sunrun CEO - Saying the ITC Won’t Be Renewed Is a ‘Self-Fulfilling Prophecy’
3 Bloomberg:
Say Goodbye to Solar Power Subsidies
4 Sacramento Bee:
Big Oil dirties California’s politics and air
5 EDF:
These 3 States Have a Head Start on the Clean Power Plan. You'd Never Guess Who They Are.
6 Rocky Mountain Institute:
New DOE Definition of Zero-Energy Buildings is a Base Hit, Not a Home Run
7 Grist:
Can something called the cleanweb help fight climate change?
8 Utility Dive:
Hawaii PUC allows public utility alternatives to be considered in NextEra merger case
Opinions:
9 Discovery:
Could Europe Be Powered by African Solar Energy?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 5th, 2015
Let’s clear up some common misconceptions about solar because there is a lot of confusing and misconstrued news currently. First, the shorts have taken on the solar stocks. Stocks are momentary valuations of companies that have to show quarterly results but in solar’s case have a life cycle of 20, 30, or 40 years. Assets have value and when the value is less than the companies market cap then the short squeeze isn’t far away. Add the positive movement on the ITC topic and short sellers will be getting out because an extension will remove a giant cloud from our sector. Also some interesting movement on the trade topic but that’ll have to wait for later.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Rhone Resch Outlines All the Ways the Solar Investment Tax Credit Could Be Extended
2 PV-Magazine:
Canadian Solar to hold yieldco IPO
3 New York Times:
The Tough Realities of the Paris Climate Talks
4 Bloomberg:
Exxon Predicted Today's Cheap Solar Boom Back in the 1980s
5 AL.com:
Alabama PSC bashes Obama while approving solar projects
6 Forbes:
Solar's Future - Boom, Bust, Boom
7 CleanTechnica:
Three Ways Data Centers Can Use Solar Energy
8 Rocky Mountain Institute:
Report Release - Renewable Microgrids
Opinions:
9 Los Angeles Times:
Readers React Edison wants a thriving market for solar energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 4th, 2015
Today at 10:15 pacific time, you can find me talking about wholesale solar deals at the GTM Solar Summit. Livestream is available through GTM’s new premium content product online. Also, voting for SEIA’s board of directors is coming to a close, please remember to vote for me! Last but not least, check out the Solar Marketing Think Tank that Solar Fred has launched through Impress Labs, a great idea for collaborative discussions from within the solar sector.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Lawsuit threatens SolarWorld liquidity
2 Greentech Media:
New Research Shows Why Grid Defection Would Be a Bad Idea for the Average American
3 New York Times:
Obama Won’t Yield to Company’s Bid to Delay Keystone Pipeline Decision
4 PV-Tech:
Silver lining for Australian renewables despite steep drop in utility-scale investments
5 CleanTechnica:
Lancaster - The Leading Solar City? (Episode 23 of Local Energy Rules)
6 Bloomberg:
Contest to Cut Solar Cost Pits Companies Building Boxes of Wires
7 Vox:
Mitch McConnell's "just say no" strategy on the Clean Power Plan fizzles
8 Utility Dive:
The day after - How solar can thrive in the post-net metering era
Opinions:
9 San Francisco Chronicle:
New solar rates needed to modernize grid
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 3rd, 2015
More good news from DC today. Senator Wyden is bringing up the tax credit for the extenders bill that has been in discussion. Most likely this will be in the form of a commence constriction clause and will get investors appetite in US solar growing again. Thanks to a uniform chorus coming from the solar industry, Senator Wyden sees the merits of keeping the tax credit moving forward. The work is not done, together we have to keep pushing to get the language into the bill and passed.
News
1 East Oregonian:
Wyden to address solar tax credit
2 The Washington Post:
TransCanada asks U.S. to suspend Keystone pipeline application
3 Journal Now:
Duke Energy wants fines against Greensboro church's solar project
4 Technology Review:
Solar Thermal Power Heats Up Outside the U.S.
5 Orlando Sentinel:
Voters report confusion over solar amendment petitions
6 Utility Dive:
Arizona gears up for full cost-benefit solar value proceeding
7 Techcrunch:
Ev Williams’ Obvious Ventures Invests In Solar Software Company Sighten
8 PV-Magazine:
Indian solar tender to close with bids below 8 US cents per kWh
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Next Gen Electric Vehicle Chargers Balance Solar, Home Power Demand
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for November 2nd, 2015
A year ago the Wisconsin PSC wanted to charge solar owners a fixed fee for net metering. The solar industry fought back and took the issue to court, with the decision coming back from the circuit court on Friday. The court struck down the charge due to insufficient justification for the charges. This is a big step for solar as the political fights from the regulators are going into the court system which should ultimately culminate in more case law. Good news to start the week!
News
1 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Judge rejects We Energies plan to assess solar panel owners extra fees
2 PV-Magazine:
Separate utility rates for solar owners defeated in New Mexico
3 PV-Tech:
SolarCity cuts cord on growth strategy as cost reduction becomes new mantra
4 Greentech Media:
The World’s Biggest Companies on Why They Buy Renewables - Very Clear Economic Issue’
5 Grist:
Getting warmer - More Republicans are starting to take climate change seriously
6 Huffington Post:
The Key to Alternative Energy's Future - Better Batteries
7 New York Times:
Exxon Mobil Accused of Misleading Public on Climate Change Risks
8 Forbes:
Utilities And Solar Companies Jockey For Position As Community Solar Blooms
Opinions:
9 National Geographic:
Could Solar Energy Be California's Next Cash Crop?
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 SEPA:
What's Missing From Media Coverage Of Net Metering
2 Grist:
Elon Musk’s solar company used panels made by cheap prison labor for a big taxpayer-subsidized project
3 Renewable Energy World:
MEMC and SunEdison, a Tale of Two Companies
4 Miami Herald:
Mystery surrounds largest donor to Florida solar power ballot initiative
5 PV-Magazine:
New York State quietly lifts the cap on net metering
6 Media Matters:
Anti-Solar Op-Ed Writer Claims To Speak For Poor, Actually Works With Utilities
7 Seeking Alpha:
The End Of Investment Tax Credit For Solar Energy Will Not The Kill Solar Industry
8 Star Tribune:
State is set to make a big leap into solar
9 Lowell Sun:
House leaders preparing new solar-industry strategy
10 Motley Fool:
How Utilities Are Profiting From Solar Energy
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 October 30th, 2015
While there are deadlines around solar regulations, the business impact is much sooner. One such example is the SDG&E expectation to hit the net metering cap early next year, which means that ahead of the ITC cliff, sales could crater making it very risky for people looking to go solar with regard to the ITC. The same holds for the farmers in central valley, California who have to wait 9-10 months to get interconnection approvals from PG&E. Utilities are very aware and may be hoping to create enough uncertainty to kill solar companies by making their sales halt a full year before the tax credit reduces. Shame on them for nefarious corporate behavior.
News
1 San Francisco Chronicle:
Gov. Brown should take a stand on California’s solar investment
2 PV-Magazine:
San Diego utility expects to hit net metering caps in mid-2016
3 Scientific American:
Republican Frontrunners Avoid Climate Change
4 Bloomberg:
First Solar Warns of $40 Million Tax Matter as Profit Soars
5 Greentech Media:
Billionaire Tom Steyer Calls on Candidates to Push for a 50% Renewables Policy
6 Seeking Alpha:
Implications Of A Growing Distributed Solar Opposition
7 Fox News:
Taxpayer-backed solar plant actually a carbon polluter
8 Forbes:
Strong Demand Strains Solar Supply Chain, Potential Wafer Shortage In 2016
Opinions:
9 Wall Street Journal:
Solar Power Has a Role in Helping the Poor
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 29th, 2015
Big news from me today. I am officially a candidate for the Board of Directors of SEIA. I think that it is important for all of us to be part of the industry beyond our individual companies and through this daily newsletter I feel motivated to do more. So today I ask for your help to put me on the Board and help advocate for our industry. If your company is a member of SEIA, please find the designated voter as they received an email from SEIA yesterday. You get to choose 5 candidates and I hope you vote for me as well.
News
1 Solar Industry:
IREC To Introduce New Solar Career Map At Webinar
2 Utility Dive:
FERC - Renewables account for over 60% of new generation in 2015
3 PV-Magazine:
Solar wins substantial contracts in Chile's energy supply auction
4 Bloomberg:
Brazil Seeks to Boost Solar Industry to Match Wind, BNDES Says
5 Think Progress:
Lindsey Graham - No, Accepting Climate Science Doesn’t Make Me A Democrat (WATCH)
6 Grist:
Elon Musk’s solar company used cheap prison labor for a big taxpayer-subsidized project
7 24/7 Wall Street:
Trina Solar Scores $1.57 Billion in New Financing
8 Lowell Sun:
House leaders preparing new solar-industry strategy
Opinions:
9 ARS Technica:
For the future of solar, we’ve got the tech—it’s the economics, stupid
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 28th, 2015
Greetings from Mexico! One of the next emerging markets that many of us are looking towards. Clean energy and social good are synonymous in many ways. There is value in building a clean energy infrastructure or doing things like giving energy access to families for the first time. One of the groups that is leading the charge is Echoing Green which places fellowships for some of the most innovative social good endeavors around the world. They are out with their latest application round. While super competitive, I see many future solar leaders being a great fit. So if you have an intern or know a great candidate please pass long the application link (http://www.echoinggreen.org/apply) or let me know if you'd like an intro to the team.
News
1 Miami Herald:
Mystery surrounds largest donor to Florida solar power ballot initiative
2 Greentech Media:
Thinking Differently About Where to Deploy Solar-Plus-Storage
3 Treehugger:
UK government supports solar for Africa, slashes subsidies at home
4 Stat Tribune:
State is set to make a big leap into solar
5 Yale:
African Lights - Microgrids Are Bringing Power to Rural Kenya
6 Think Progress:
What Apple’s Solar Plans In China Could Mean For Tech Laborers
7 24/7 Wall Street:
Have Short Sellers Abandoned Solar, Alternative Energy Stocks?
8 PV Magazine:
Off-grid solar market worth $300 million annually
Opinions:
9 Seeking Alpha:
The End Of Investment Tax Credit For Solar Energy Will Not The Kill Solar Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 27th, 2015
Yesterday we looked at how utilities influence trade associations including those with solar in the name. Just look at the top story today to see what I mean. No doubt, when the membership is made up of utilities and the board that directs the public message is mostly IOUs, you see anti net-metering publications. Always framed as an educational piece, it isn’t overtly negative but the underlying arguments are clear as day. Keep in mind that this is solar’s partner in SPI claiming several millions in revenues.
News
1 SEPA:
What's missing from media coverage of net metering
2 CNN:
Dumping fossil fuels was great move for Rockefeller Brothers Fund
3 PV-Magazine:
Canadian Solar ups Q3 revenue and profit guidance
4 Renew Economy:
Australian rooftop solar PV cheapest in world, says IEA report
5 Motley Fool:
What to Look For When Solar Energy's Big 3 Report
6 Utility Dive:
Hawaii PUC chair defends landmark decision to end retail rate net metering
7 PV-Tech:
SunEdison using Solaria IP to produce 400W module
8 Media Matters:
Anti-Solar Op-Ed Writer Claims To Speak For Poor, Actually Works With Utilities
Opinions:
9 The Hill:
GOP rep - Congress should focus more on climate change
Have a great day!
Yann
