This is your SolarWakeup for August 31st, 2015
As you may have read last week, an IG report did not shed pretty light on the Solyndra management that pushed for the DOE loan guarantee. The interesting turn by the WSJ Editorial Board was to take the IG report on federal lobbying by a corporation and compare that to the non-subsidy of net metering. Apparently, the WSJ does not feel it to be appropriate for solar companies to try and make money, capitalism is apparently reserved for those that deplete resources. NV Energy is obviously not too pleased by their utility commissioners didn’t agree with their lobbying efforts and decide to go after a solar policy pro by name. A badge of honor in my opinion.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Big Solar’s Subsidy Bubble
2 Politico:
Warren Buffett vs. the greens
3 New York Times:
Obama’s Alaska Visit Puts Climate, Not Energy, in Forefront
4 Bloomberg:
Yingli’s Solar Margin Cut in Half by Higher Production Costs
5 Breaking Energy:
Solar Decathlon 2015 - Meet The Teams
6 Las Vegas Sun:
Why NV Energy needs to step up its solar-power game
7 The Guardian:
The government’s efforts to kill off the solar industry and lead us to fracking hell
8 TechCrunch:
How Technology Is Fueling The Push Toward Solar
Opinions:
9 Miami Herald:
Give consumers freedom to choose their solar providers
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 CleanTechnica:
PACE Will Be Available To US Single-Family Homes
2 Motley Fool:
What's Behind The Fall of Solar Energy Stocks?
3 Wall Street Journal:
Next Texas Energy Boom - Solar
4 New York Times:
Obama Flies to the Nevada Desert to Promote Solar Energy
5 The Olympian:
Nevada regulators vote to keep existing rooftop solar rates
6 PV-Magazine:
Idaho axes PURPA contract lengths in a bid to slow down solar
7 Renew Economy:
Citigroup sees $100 trillion of stranded assets if Paris succeeds
8 WUNC:
Solar's Future In NC Hangs In Balance Over Tax Credit
9 Yale:
In Clash of Greens, a Case for Large-Scale U.S. Solar Projects
10 Fast Company:
Use Google's New Mapping Tool To See How Much Solar Panels Would Benefit Your Home
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 August 28th, 2015
One of the advantages that the solar industry has is that we have a very diverse workforce. Diversity in the 200k solar pros represents the people, the type of work and geography. It’s an important part of growing an industry so while some statistics seem at or below economy average, we should continue to make sure that it is being improved upon. Most of all, the solar industry is a local, small business oriented industry that creates good paying jobs in local economies around the Country.
News
1 Greentech Media:
Diversity and Inclusion in Solar - What’s Good for Business Is Good for the Nation
2 Think Progress:
After 4 States Approved A Big Utility Merger, DC Shocked Everyone By Denying It
3 PV-Tech:
WTO ruling against India ‘won’t have long-term effect on Indian solar market’
4 PV-Magazine:
UK to propose drastic FIT cuts starting 2016
5 Renew Economy:
W.A. says solar is the future as it prepares to dump coal
6 Forbes:
Will China's Woes Impact Its Solar Industry?
7 Utility Dive:
Is variable pricing the way out of Hawaii's solar wars?
8 NRDC:
Preview for Obama-Modi Visit in September
Opinions:
9 Arizona Central:
Roberts - APS regulator nixes discussion of dark-money disclosure
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 27th, 2015
Oh Nevada. The net metering fight that had many flavors, most of them sour and bitter. In what ended up being largely a fight over what to do with the policies after NV Energy misled the legislature until the beginning of the year. The PUC did the right thing and voted to keep the existing policy in place until the commission figures out the next evolution of NEM. Looking at the details it shows what the value of policy continues to be, some companies left the State while others played the game of politics and stuck it out, then won. If your company doesn't invest in policy, figure out what you're doing. If you have good policy people, give them a raise, a big one so your company is protected.
News
1 The Olympian:
Nevada regulators vote to keep existing rooftop solar rates
2 Motley Fool:
What's Behind The Fall of Solar Energy Stocks?
3 EDF:
‘Eastside Sol’ gets L.A. Community Dancing to Solar Power
4 MIT:
DOE Attempts to Jump-Start Concentrated Solar
5 Washington Post:
Top leaders of Solyndra solar panel company repeatedly misled federal officials
6 PV-Magazine:
Brazil qualifies over 11 GW of solar PV projects for upcoming auction
7 Daily Camera:
PUC ruling - No changes on net metering in Colorado
8 Bush Institute:
Fixing the Grid and Improving Energy Policy
Opinions:
9 Al Jazeera America:
In Hawaii, rooftop solar panels threaten ‘utility death spiral’
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 26th, 2015
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. That was Ghandi’s quote which rings amazingly true today in solar. Idaho Power (IDAHO!!!) which has no solar policies or market to brag about is cutting the PURPA contracts from 20 to 2 years. Why? Because solar has gotten so cost effective and investable that even the PURPA rates in Idaho’s solar irradiance can make financial sense. That’s insane and true at the same time. Look at the rundown today, Idaho, NC, NV, SC and Australia are all fighting. Next stop, victory!
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Idaho axes PURPA contract lengths in a bid to slow down solar
2 WUNC:
Solar's Future In NC Hangs In Balance Over Tax Credit
3 CleanTechnica:
Nevada Ratepayer Advocate - Reject NV Energy Solar Plan
4 New York Times:
Obama Flies to the Nevada Desert to Promote Solar Energy
5 Las Vegas Sun:
Clinton’s campaign manager responds to Biden presidential bid, talks solar and emails
6 Renew Economy:
Citigroup sees $100 trillion of stranded assets if Paris succeeds
7 Post and Courier:
Santee Cooper’s solar power plan draws heat from opponents
8 Huffington Post:
Doubling Down on Clean Energy
Opinions:
9 The Guardian:
Canning byelection - solar industry urges voters to reject Liberals 'war on solar'
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 25th, 2015
This is President Obama’s clean energy week. Yesterday he announced a series of measures to help solar including that residential PACE will be cured from the regulatory threat by FHA. Even though residential PACE has done great work already, there was always the threat that something could happen. Now this is gone, taking away a major hurdle that was always challenged. The President will continue traveling this week to discuss many of the issues for solar and cleantech.
News
1 CleanTechnica:
PACE Will Be Available To All US Homeowners
2 New York Times:
Obama Flies to the Nevada Desert to Promote Solar Energy
3 Fast Company:
Use Google's New Mapping Tool To See How Much Solar Panels Would Benefit Your Home
4 Utility Dive:
NV Energy hits net metering cap ahead of schedule, adding fuel to solar debate
5 Renew Economy:
Why wind and solar are already better value than fossil fuels
6 Solar Server:
Coalition calls on British Prime Minister to support small-scale renewables, feed-in tariff
7 PV-Tech:
Chinese PV manufacturers targeting shipments to Japan, US and India - EnergyTrend
8 Yale:
In Clash of Greens, a Case for Large-Scale U.S. Solar Projects
Opinions:
9 Treehugger:
NYC rooftops could host 4.7 GW of high-yield solar projects
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 24th, 2015
Both of the top stories today are directly related. Wholesale DG and other wheeled power is taking big users off the grid managed by utility monopolies. Large scale solar is offering long term stable pricing that is at or below the cost of other power generation. Additionally, going out on their own, large users act on their own behalf and find the best deals for them as opposed to the best interest of the shareholders. In Nevada, 3 casinos are planning on leaving the grid and shed 7% of the total load provided by NV Energy. And the fight is over 235MW of residential solar???
News
1 Utility Dive:
Major Las Vegas resorts get price tag for grid defection
2 Wall Street Journal:
Next Texas Energy Boom - Solar
3 PV-Tech:
Solar project finance takes 20% of Q2 US clean-tech investment - PwC
4 Huffington Post:
Green Energy Is Generating Jobs
5 CleanTechnica:
Trade Partners Brazil & Germany Commit To Strong Climate Partnership
6 Solar Power Portal:
Trade associations chastise pre-accreditation proposals in DECC letter
7 PV-Magazine:
France doubles the size of its large-scale PV solicitation to 800 MW
8 Athens Banner-Herald:
Solar power ramping up fast in Georgia, but growth could slow
Opinions:
9 Staten Island Live:
Solar power - Is it worth the investment?
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Washington Post:
Power companies may have found a new way to crack into the booming solar business
2 Buffalo News:
Schumer to seek change in solar tax credit in SolarCity visit
3 PV-Magazine:
16 US states consider changes to net metering
4 Business Journals:
Solar installers ask Duke Energy CEO for help; Duke says no
5 Vox:
Are solar panels right for you? Google's new mapping tool can help you decide.
6 San Francisco Chronicle:
Danny Kennedy, public face of solar energy, jumps to S.F. venture
7 24/ Wall Street:
Are Solar Energy Yieldcos Worth More Than Investors Think?
8 Renewable Energy World:
Six Observations about the US Solar Industry Mid-2015
9 Las Vegas Review Journal:
GOP dares Hillary to talk net metering in Las Vegas
10 Reuters:
Solar is having a great year, except on Wall Street
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 August 21st, 2015
Today we get to congratulate a solar friend and a friend of SolarWakeup, Danny Kennedy. As many of you did, I received a note from him yesterday telling me about his next move, a move that continues his drive to expand the growth of solar. After building out Sungevity to a global solar company and getting Sfuncube off the ground, Danny is now heading to CalCEF as its Managing Director. CalCEF works to expand cleantech companies including solar startups. As some investors are afraid that Google is “killing” cleantech startups, others are going out and making it happen! Congrats to Danny on the move.
News
1 San Francisco Chronicle:
Danny Kennedy, public face of solar energy, jumps to S.F. venture
2 Renewable Energy World:
Six Observations about the US Solar Industry Mid-2015
3 PV-Magazine:
Federal regulators clear SunEdison to acquire Vivint Solar
4 Bloomberg:
China’s Wind and Solar Developers Hit by Subsidies Short of Plan
5 Utility Dive:
Arizona regulators push TEP's proposed net metering cut to 2016 rate case
6 Solar Industry Magazine:
IT Industry's Solar And Other Renewable Energy Procurement Set To Climb
7 Orlando Sentinel:
Sizing up dueling solar proposals - Front Burner
8 Charlotte Observer:
Duke Energy seeks S.C. solar projects
Opinions:
9 Grist:
U.S. taxpayers are getting ripped off by fossil fuel extraction
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 20th, 2015
Ebbs and flows. Yingli was put on notice to get the stock price over $1 within the next 6 months which shouldn’t be a huge problem considering solar stocks have been hit pretty hard recently. While companies bulk up to take advantage of what is to be a record year in 2016, some have issues getting deals to close and rumor has some big names hitting snags. These are natural events in a growing market (solar is growing incredibly fast) that has some uncertainty in the near future. Investors that take the right risks will be rewarded, who’s taking the solarcoaster ride?
News
1 Buffalo News:
Solar tax credits called key to industry growth
2 PV-Magazine:
Official NYSE-delisting notice for Yingli
3 Washington Post:
Power companies may have found a new way to crack into the booming solar business
4 Bloomberg:
Canadian Solar’s Profit Slumps 68% Amid Yieldco Transition Plan
5 San Diego Tribune:
SolarCity takes on California utilities
6 PV-Tech:
UK prepares for battle over changes to solar feed-in tariff
7 Business Journal:
Solar executives holding out hope for renewable tax credit extension
8 ABC:
APS rooftop solar fee hike moves forward - solar advocates disappointed
Opinions:
9 Renew Economy:
Why ‘God parity’ will be the end of centralised generation
Have a great day!
Yann
