This is your SolarWakeup for May 28th, 2015
New markets are always intriguing. Mostly because it means that a small team worked on a new idea and was able to execute. It also means that the majority of the market isn’t there yet. We’ve all seen it, the morning email chain where internal talk is asking how it was done, is it for real and can we do it as well? Lots of that happening today which will be recapped tomorrow with the coverage. But keep in mind that every market, every state and all customer types will have access to solar at or below the grid rates in the near future.
News
1 Huffington Post:
The Economics of Renewable Energy - Falling Costs and Rising Employment
2 Energy Collective:
What Put California at the Top of Residential Solar?
3 Clean Technica:
Solar Co-Ops Growing In West Virginia
4 Business Journal:
SCE&G reaches settlement on $37M program to expand solar projects in South Carolina
5 Inside Bay Area:
Berkeley lab unveils new solar energy center aimed at producing fuel from sunlight
6 Renewable Energy World:
Powering African Mines - What Role Will Renewables Play ?
7 Utility Dive:
Buffett's BHE Renewables buys 655 MW of wind, 7 solar projects
8 Orlando Sentinel:
Duke Energy building solar facility at Disney World
Opinions:
9 CBS:
Pa. Official Says Gov. Wolf is Sold on Value of Solar Energy Industry
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 27th, 2015
If you have ever played in a poker tournament, you know the most important rule. Stay alive. Making the next hand, the next table keeps your chance at placing or even winning a possibility but if you go all in early on, you never get to play again. Same thing in politics and that is why the deal in Nevada is great for solar. The cap may be low (for now), the rules may be somewhat grey (for now) and utilities feel like they won (for now). Solar gets stronger, more support and cheaper with time, time being the keyword that we should always remember.
News
1 PV-Magazine:
NV Energy and The Alliance for Solar Choice announce net metering compromise
2 NY Times:
Fire at Giant Apple Plant in Arizona Quickly Controlled
3 The Hill:
Obama administration pumps $32M into solar industry
4 CNBC:
Ground zero in the solar wars - Nevada
5 Greentech Media:
California’s Major Residential Rate Reform - The Solar-Friendly Alternative
6 Renew Economy:
AGL targets 400MW rooftop solar in push into New Energy
7 Bloomberg:
Solar as Fastest Growing U.S. Power Source Rivals Shale Boom
8 Good Magazine:
California Plans to Offer Free Solar Panels to Its Poorest Citizens
Opinions:
9 Breaking Energy:
EIA on Clean Power Plan - Coal Down, Renewables Up, Bills Stable
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 26th, 2015
Arizona, Nevada and Utah all make the highlight reel today. First, Arizona’s conservative AZ Republic comes down with a challenge to the ACC: “show Arizona that you are not being told what to do by the utilities.” Second, in Nevada, the legislature has passed the baton to the utilities commission to determine if the net metering cap needs to be raised. Last but not least, in Utah, where another Berkshire company is fighting against personal property rights of the residents. 50 states, 50 utilities commissions, that’s where the battles are fought.
News
1 AZ Central:
The Corporation Commission needs to earn back our trust
2 Las Vegas Sun:
NV Energy fights to keep rooftop solar from cutting into its profit
3 Salt Lake Tribune:
Op-ed - Utah caught in larger battle of Berkshire Hathaway vs. citizen solar
4 Renewable Energy World:
Quantifying Returns - Does Energy Storage Coupled with PV Offer Big Savings?
5 Breaking Energy:
US Solar Adoption Pretty Dismal, Closer Look Reveals
6 Greentech Media:
Update - Hanergy Thin Film CEO Shorts Stock Days Before Price Plummets
7 Gizmodo:
You Can Take this Little Wind and Solar
8 CNN:
Solar plane delays attempt at most challenging leg of epic journey
Opinions:
9 Renew Economy:
Solar energy needs smart solutions, not dumb economics
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Utility Dive:
Democratic US rep. files bill to extend solar ITC for 5 years
2 Forbes:
The 5 Solar IT Startups You Should Know
3 Wall Street Journal:
The Hole in the Rooftop Solar-Panel Craze
4 Investopedia:
5 Thought-Provoking Statements From Solar City
5 Time:
This May Be the Future of Solar Power
6 CNBC:
Solar CEO - This is our next big growth area
7 NY Times:
What Do You Really Get for a $7,000 Tesla Home Battery?
8 Bloomberg:
Warren Buffett Is Sending Mixed Messages on Green Energy
9 Forbes:
Yingli In Trouble
10 Fusion:
Solar power advocates are ‘the enemy,’ says utility in America’s sunniest state
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 May 22nd, 2015
The ITC. One of the most important parts of the solar business and the reason we are here today as an industry. It created the basis for third-party ownership, lowered the cost of solar for ratepayers and solar homeowners around the Country, but most of all got us to 200k jobs. It essentially ends next year but an extension is 100% achievable. As an industry we can pass the extension by putting our voice, money and customers advocacy in front of Congress. It will not be easy but if you are ready to stand up and help move solar forward, let me know.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Democratic US rep. files bill to extend solar ITC for 5 years
2 Forbes:
Hanergy Solar Collapse - Looks Like A Tale Of Irrational Exuberance
3 News & Observer:
NC House votes to keep solar energy tax credits
4 Think Progress:
California Agriculture To Face Strict Mandatory Water Cuts, Officials Say
5 PV-Magazine:
Germany - First PV tender round closed
6 Bloomberg:
Yingli Set to Get Lifeline From Chinese State-Run Solar Partner
7 Greentech Media:
Strategies for Fairly Pricing Community Solar Programs
8 CleanTechnica:
Two Items Will Decide Where Solar Is In 2020
Opinions:
9 Harvard Business Review:
Is Rooftop Solar Finally Good Enough to Disrupt the Grid?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 21st, 2015
I’ve touched about the importance of water in the past. I want to make the financial case for solar on why we should never exclude water from our value proposition. Fossil fuel and nuclear power plants are very heavy users of water, in many cases using water that can also be used for drinking supply and possible near 1 gallon per kWh. Much of our bottled water comes from our aquifers and is sold to us for $3+ per gallon. My tap water costs me much less about $0.01 per gallon but alas significant from a solar standpoint. So it’s time that we start using firm values for water when we discuss solar, ratepayers are already using and paying for it.
News
1 Miami Herald:
FPL needs more water to run Turkey Point
2 Vox:
Nevada’s big utility is about to strangle the state’s rooftop solar program
3 PV-Magazine:
US - SEIA backs ITC extension proposal
4 US News:
Obama calls climate change an 'indisputable' reality that threatens American national security
5 EDF:
We Need to Support All Types of Solar - Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Community, and More
6 Renew Economy:
Morgan Stanley sees 2.4m Australia homes with battery storage
7 NY Times:
What Do You Really Get for a $7,000 Tesla Home Battery?
8 Bloomberg:
A 24-Minute, $19 Billion Wipeout Threatens a Chinese Company's Solar Dream
Opinions:
9 CleanTechnica:
Why Texas Could Be Next In Electricity Market Reform
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 20th, 2015
Jobs, jobs, and jobs. 7.5million of them, 2.5million in solar which is absolutely amazing. Over 60% of those jobs are in China which lines up with the support of the central bank for projects and Province governments for manufacturing. At roughly $6billion dollars of ITC in 2015, I wonder why anyone in the US would question the math to support the 200,000 high paying solar jobs. Alternatively, I don’t understand how Solarworld can argue dumping when they took Oregon incentives for the factory when China is really doing the same thing. It’s all about the jobs!
News
1 PV-Tech:
Jobs in renewable energy reach 7.7 million worldwide
2 Greentech Media:
Edison Electric Institute - Utilities Are Eager for New Partnerships With Startups
3 PV-Magzine:
US - SEIA forecasts 25-50% solar market growth in 2016
4 Utility Dive:
Nevada senate unanimously passes bill to give PUC authority over solar rates, cap
5 NY Times:
'Sunshine State' or Not, Florida Badly Behind on Solar Power
6 The Guardian:
Solar industry attacks Coalition after bipartisan deal struck on RET scheme
7 Forbes:
Yingli In Trouble - The 'Number One' Curse In Solar Strikes Again
8 Bloomberg:
Get Ready for Solar Boom From China Plants as Asia Demand Swells
Opinions:
9 Baltimore Sun:
Now all Marylanders can have solar power
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 19th, 2015
Sometimes being big may not be good for business. While Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is out in the market acquiring solar and wind assets and outbidding the competition, it is making a long term bet on renewable energy. The holding company, NV Energy is now actively fighting solar and playing the rhetoric game to the extreme, some of the worst we may have seen to date. So the question for Mr. Buffett is, What side of the house are you going to stand with? Get the family in line!
News
1 Bloomberg:
Warren Buffett Is Sending Mixed Messages on Green Energy
2 Think Progress:
Nevada Solar Power Users Could Face New Fees This Summer
3 Greentech Media:
Facing Continued Losses, Yingli Solar Warns Investors About Its Ability to Operate
4 Investopedia:
5 Thought-Provoking Statements From Solar City
5 NY Times:
Shell Oil’s Cold Calculations for a Warming World
6 News & Observer:
Preventing solar power’s sunset in North Carolina
7 Breaking Energy:
Glass Coating Makes Solar Panels More Efficient
8 Time:
This May Be the Future of Solar Power
Opinions:
9 Utility Dive:
Why utilities should push for performance-based regulation
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for May 18th, 2015
While the ITC in DC discussion warms up, the battles for the future of solar remain in States. Take a look at the flat out rejection in New Mexico and today’s lead with the fight in Nevada. Outgoing Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, in a rare move is getting into the State policy and advocates for the raise in NEM cap. It goes to show that battles are won but the ongoing growth will only continue to drive the importance of public policy. The companies that invest in policy (it isn’t cheap) are seeing returns on that investment plus it is great marketing, given that ~80% of Americans love solar.
News
1 Las Vegas Sun:
Harry Reid - Raise the cap to allow more rooftop solar
2 Santa Fe New Mexican:
PRC rejects PNM rate-hike request
3 Forbes:
The 5 Solar IT Startups You Should Know
4 CNBC:
Solar CEO - This is our next big growth area
5 Utility Dive:
Messing with Texas - Can the state block the EPA's Clean Power Plan?
6 Fusion:
Solar power advocates are ‘the enemy,’ says utility in America’s sunniest state
7 WFTV:
9 Investigates - Solar energy debate casts shade on Sunshine State
8 Renew Economy:
Why Australia will lead the world in solar + storage
Opinions:
9 Wall Street Journal:
The Hole in the Rooftop Solar-Panel Craze
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 CleanTechnica:
How & Why Utilities Make Solar Look Expensive
2 Greentech Media:
Why Rate Reform Is a Better Solution to Distributed Solar Than Eliminating Net Metering
3 CNN Money:
5 solar stocks that should be on your radar
4 Renewable Energy World:
The Fantasy of Electric Rates - Time to Educate Ratepayers
5 Business Journals:
Gov. Deal signs bill letting solar installers offer customers third-party financing
6 Motley Fool:
Why Vivint Solar Inc's Shares Plunged 13% Today
7 FastCo Exist:
Forget Desert Solar Farms
8 Grist:
People can’t get enough of Tesla’s new batteries
9 CleanTechnica:
The Relative Cost of Capital Of A YieldCo - Analyzing A Recent Transaction
10 Climate Central:
‘Massive’ Solar Expansion Critical for Climate
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
