This is your SolarWakeup for October 24th, 2014
The high level takeaways from SPI for me this week. As always the networking was the highlight. Both old friends doing great work in solar and new ones coming in and learning. The show floor was very long so the traffic looked really good up front especially at the stairs. Overall another win for the industry and organizers. But the biggest win of all goes to all of us with SEIA jumping on board with the extension of the ITC and I have a recommendation for the hashtag for the campaign. #SolarPledge
News
News
1 The Washington Post:
Why do people put solar on their roofs? Because other people put solar on their roofs
2 Solar Industry Mag:
SPI Roundup
3 Daily Caller:
Obama Administration Spends More Money Trying To Make Solar Energy Profitable
4 PV Magazine:
Spanish supreme court paves way for lawsuits against solar FIT cuts
5 Breaking Energy:
Pace yourself
6 Renewable Energy World:
SPI Slideshow Day Three
7 Solar Novus:
Department of Energy Funds to Create National Community Solar Platform
Opinions:
8 Renewable Energy World:
A Tale of Two Booths
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 23th, 2014
I don’t know about you, but SPI was great. As we go into the last day, make sure to reconnect with old friends. We may move around at times but all you have at the end of the day is the relationships with the good people of solar. We lose together and we win together, this week was a winner for each of us. On to the next year of the ride that is the solar coaster.
News
1 NY Times:
Home Solar Power Discounts Are Worker Perk in New Program
2 Clean Technica:
Net Energy Metering Debate Distracts From Bigger DER Opportunity
3 PV Magazine:
US Energy Secretary Moniz announces $53 million in funding for solar R&D at SPI
4 Biz Journals:
GSA aims to engage contractors on solar power for federal buildings
5 Solar Industry Mag:
SEPA Crowns Top Solar-Friendly Utilities Of The Year
6 Think Progress:
U.S. Solar Is 59 Percent Cheaper Than We Thought It Would Be Back In 2010
7 Forbes:
This Startup Gets DOE Grant To Create A Solar FICO Score Card
8 Reuters:
Big utilities pushing into booming home solar market
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 22th, 2014
First impressions are important and that's what drove the optimism walking into the SPI show yesterday. Things always change especially when we, as an industry, come together about a very specific goal. Earlier this year we gathered around two goals. Free and open net metering policies and a long term extension of the ITC. Net metering is strong and with the help of thousands of #solarpledge supporters, we created the basis for the argument to support the ITC extension.
News
1 Utility Dive:
Solar's tax credit fight could lead to 'Tomorrow Power & Light'—or 'World War III'
2 Slate:
Walmart Is Killing the Rest of Corporate America in Solar Power Adoption
3 Forbes:
Trends In Silver Demand By The Solar Photovoltaic Industry
4 Wwltv:
Future of solar power in La. may hinge on Nov. election
5 The Denver Post:
There are many ways to do solar right
6 Clean Technica:
Solar Installers Are Getting Around Utilities’ Restrictions
7 Tucson:
The dark side of residential solar tax credits
8 Smartgridnews:
Survey says the majority of Americans don’t know solar’s getting cheaper… yet
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Rooftop solar is just the beginning; utilities must innovate or go extinct
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 21th, 2014
I’ve been critical of SEIA in the past. Today, on the first day of SPI, I am happy to say I stand with SEIA and the call to renew the ITC before the sunset in 2016. Is it an uphill battle? Maybe. Is it impossible? Absolutely not. Is solar ready for 10% ITC? If it has to be. Visit the Solarpv TV panel in the Shoals booth at 1:30pm tomorrow to hear the leading solar companies discuss this topic. Yours truly will be there.
News
1 PV magazine:
SEIA calls for renewed effort to pass solar tax credit at Solar Power International
2 The Energy Collective:
Abandoned Solar Energy Project Highlights Pitfalls of Tax Uncertainty
3 CNBC:
Costs of solar key to growth
4 Bloomberg:
U.S. Solar Consolidation Seen Before Tax Credit Expires
5 Clean Technica:
The Future of Solar Economics and Policy
6 Renewable Energy World:
European Commission Studies Renewable Costs
7 Green Tech Media:
Will the Solar Industry Get Behind CPS Energy’s Alternative to Net Metering in San Antonio?
8 BBC:
Cheap African solar energy could power UK homes in 2018
Opinions:
9 PV Solar Report:
What Happens in Vegas? Solar Power International, That’s What
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 20th, 2014
The Las Vegas migration has begun. Surely the majority of you are heading to Las Vegas for our annual gathering at Solar Power International. Few notes this year. It’s in Vegas, so pace yourself. Don’t have too much solar fun the first day/night. Second, the hashtag is #SPIcon for your Facebook and twitter feeds. Third, if you see me, say hi. I always enjoy meeting readers in person. See you in Vegas!
News
1 Fortune:
Can solar bonds transform America's energy infrastructure?
2 Forbes:
Thanks To Solar Power, Georgia Utilities Find There's Life After Coal
3 Fool:
2 Ways You Can Profit From Saudi Arabia's $109 Billion Solar Boom
4 PV magazine:
Austin utility tries to water down solar commitment
5 Gigaom:
This startup is putting solar cells on a diet, because thinner is better
6 Renewable Energy World:
It’s Time to Ask the Wallflower Solar Markets to the Dance
7 Nasdaq:
Why Solar Panels Are More Important Than Ever
8 Ocregister:
Cheaper tech, changing rules drive solar gold rush
Opinions:
9 Sltrib:
Bloomberg Op-ed
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 PV-Magazine:
Blue chip companies in US increase PV deployment by 28%
2 io9:
Has America Been Installing Its Solar Panels Sideways For Years?
3 CBS:
Solar power is casting a bigger shadow
4 Vox:
Solar keeps getting cheaper — but not for the reasons you'd expect
5 NASDAQ:
The 2 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Today
6 PV-Magazine:
SCE launches solicitation for mid-sized behind-the-meter solar PV
7 Forbes:
SolarCity Offers Bonds, Wants Everybody To Invest In Solar
8 USA Today:
Can you go solar? Leases, loans make it possible
9 LA Times:
PUC President Peevey makes the right call, will step down
10 Next City:
Five Reasons Solar Will Power the Future
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 17th, 2014
As you all know, we have more fun in Florida. Even the debate for the Governor’s office had some fun over a fan. It gets hot in Florida, it’s the Sunshine State, and Charlie Crist loves his fan, always has and always will. If you wonder if Florida will have a future solar industry, it comes down to Charlie Crist winning. They even spoke about solar, take a look!
News
1 Vox:
Solar power keeps getting cheaper - but not for the reasons you'd expect
2 Nasdaq:
The 2 Best Solar Stocks to Buy Today
3 REneweconomy:
Regulator says Australia facing “prosumer” energy revolution
4 PV magazine:
Solar Energy UK examines adequacy of British grid
5 Bloomberg:
Europe’s Biggest Solar Bonds Downgraded on Italy’s Policy
6 Renewable Energy World:
Action in India
7 Solar Industry Mag:
After Massachusetts' 'Godfather Of Solar' Exits, Will The New Gov. Step Up?
Opinions:
8 Grist:
In Florida, it’s billionaire climate hawk vs. climate-denying governor. Who will win?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 16th, 2014
Yesterday was an interesting day in the market. The day started with a drop in 10 year bond yields to under 2% and the market reacted drastically. This means that you can get a 30 year mortgage for under 4% fixed interest which would be enticing for solar developers and probably expand more markets. At the same time, SolarCity released their crowd funding program, marketing their loans for between 2%-4%, that’s mass market if they can get it!
News
1 Forbes:
SolarCity Offers Bonds, Wants Everybody To Invest In Solar
2 PV magazine:
Blue chip companies in US increase PV deployment by 28%
3 Clean Technica:
Global Corporate Funding In Solar Power Jumps 55% To $9.8 Billion In Q3 2014
4 RE New Economy:
The guerrilla tactics allowing solar, storage to beat utilities
5 Breaking Energy:
Please! No More Solar! Japanese Utilities Want To Slow The Rush To Renewables
6 The Energy Collective:
Wisconsin
7 Renewable Energy World:
Germany’s Clean Electricity Costs Decline for First Time
8 PLATTS:
Georgia Power solar RFP yields 515 MW in power purchase agreements
Opinions:
9 Huffingtonpost:
The Sun Shines Brightly on Solar Energy
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 15th, 2014
Tell me your secrets! Okay, I am just kidding, tell all of us your secrets. Preferably in the form of data or a lesson you learned on a deal where you lost money. Help us, in turn we help you by sharing our lesson. Don’t worry about the competition because that will help all of us. The market is enormous and we need people to shop for solar not just get sold solar. If you are considering writing a blog and don’t know where to start, let me know and I’ll help you.
News
1 CBSNews:
Solar power is casting a bigger shadow
2 PV tech:
US duties prompt Chinese PV shipment surge - Solarbuzz
4 REneweconomy:
Nine out of 10 Australian households consider switch to solar
5 TheEnergyCollective:
Arizona Poised to Open New Market for Energy Storage
6 PV magazine:
Desertec consortium dissolves, morphs into service company
7 PVSolarReport:
Which Solar Loan is Right for You?
8 EEtimes:
Solar Rising in Village Microgrids
Opinions:
9 Grist:
Why are utilities trying to disconnect communities of color from solar?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 14th, 2014
Sometimes I get confused why it takes so long to find good solar content for you to read. Then it becomes quite apparent that so few solar companies publish good content from their experiences. I don’t mean blog posts that promote your latest technical feat or the new project you were a part of. Solar is beyond the first, largest, greatest, most innovative solar project that was installed. They want to learn from your mistakes, victories and market insights. Feel free to pass them along if you don’t know where to post them, we have a pretty cool new original stories page.
News
1 Forbes:
China Raises Taxes On Oil & Gas
2 LV Sun:
Net metering is fair, benefits all communities
3 Solar Server:
New analysis shows willingness to pay for renewables
4 PV Magazine:
UK solar and renewable energy associations go separate ways
5 Bloomberg:
China to Promote Utility-Scale Solar Power Projects
6 io9:
Has America Been Installing Its Solar Panels Sideways For Years?
7 Next City:
Five Reasons Solar Will Power the Future
8 Grist:
Why are black lawmakers fighting clean energy?
Opinions:
9 Tallahassee Dem:
Stu Dalheim
Have a great day!
Yann
