This is your SolarWakeup for August 25th, 2014
It's a testy Monday. As we grow, there are more partnerships and acquisitions but also some elbows. I have no problem with elbows as long as they come with facts and opinions that are well reasoned and measured. Feel free to have a disagreement with 'experts' and share it with the class anytime. To lead off tonight, our good friend Chip Martin gives us his view of the ongoing SolarWorld trade cases.
News
1 SolarWakeup:
Oh, For God’s Sake, SolarWorld, Shut The Hell Up
2 Solarlove:
Sunpower CEO Says Grid Independence Is Naive
3 PV-Tech:
SolarCity expects Silevo 1GW fab to cost up to US$450 million
4 Energy Collective:
Finally, Good News Out of Washington
5 PV Magazine:
SolarWorld points to installation errors in product recall
6 Forbes:
Why Countervailing Trade Duties And Tariffs Are Immoral
7 LA Times:
DWP is still slow to turn on home solar energy systems
8 Motley Fool:
What You Need to Know Before You Invest in Solar Energy
Opinions:
9 Forbes:
Solar Executive Tries to Intimidate Bill Gates Into Opposing Fossil Fuels
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Fast Company:
America's Great Solar Boom--In 6 Encouraging Charts
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Boom Driving First Global Panel Shortage Since 2006
3 Seeking Alpha:
SolarCity
4 CleanTechnica:
How One Wonky Court Decision Could Unlock Our Energy Future
5 PV-Tech:
1.5 million SolarWorld modules affected by ‘recall’
6 Scientific American:
Booming Rooftop Solar Power Suffers Growing Pains
7 NY Times:
Easy on the Environment, but Not Necessarily the Eyes
8 CBS:
Solar plant's downside? Birds igniting in midair
9 Slate:
America is making lots of solar. What’s holding it back from making panels?
10 Think Progress:
Businesses Are Getting Hit With A $500 Fee Designed To Kill Solar
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 22nd, 2014
Legislatures and public service commissions in Wisconsin and Nevada are debating the fight against solar. A message to remember that solar is still being viewed as a threat by the status quo. Let's help support the teams at work in those States in any way possible. Make sure to follow their progress on Facebook or Twitter and make sure to sign the #SolarPledge.
News
1 FastCo:
America's Great Solar Boom--In 6 Encouraging Charts
2 PV Magazine:
Bill to streamline solar permitting passes the California legislature
4 Reno Journal:
Rooftop-solar advocates lobby against possible higher rate class
5 PV-Tech:
1.5 million SolarWorld systems affected by ‘recall’
6 CleanTechnica:
Americans & Australians May Disagree On Solar Leasing
7 Bloomberg:
Sunrun to Buy Up to 100 Megawatts of REC Solar Panels
8 Solar Industry:
New York Launches Revamped Solar Incentive Program
Opinions:
9 Think Progress:
Homeowners Fight Rules Saying Solar Is Too Ugly To Install
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 21st, 2014
Less than a week to primaries across the Country, including Arizona. The Tucson electric article clearly points out what is at stake here. The Arizona electric utilities want the ratepayers to pay for solar while giving no more than 15% savings to the customers that host solar on their roofs. The key is that the utilities across the Country want to control the fuel hedge that solar gives them, paid for by the consumers.
News
1 PV Magazine:
U.S. lowers anti-dumping tariffs on Taiwanese solar cells, modules
2 Utility Dive:
Tucson Electric Power proposes new utility-owned rooftop solar program
3 WREG Memphis:
Mississippi Public Service Commission
4 Bloomberg:
Solar Energy Less Dangerous to Birds Than Cats or Cars
5 CleanTechnica:
How One Wonky Decision Could Unlock Our Renewable Future
6 RE World:
NRG Just Purchased a Consumer Solar Gadget Company
7 MW Energy News:
Advocates
8 AZ Central:
Corporation Commission must force APS to come clean
Opinions:
9 Vote Solar:
Florida Power & Light’s Half-Baked Solar Program Moves Forward
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 20th, 2014
My dismay yesterday about product scarcity was with the potential comeback of take or pay contracts. These contracts pray on the positive hopes of companies assuming all things go well, but the take or pay also killed a solid amount of good solar companies. Let's be clear about something. Solar markets in the US will not have a product scarcity issue. Top tier products are getting the best price globally in the US and therefore will always move product Stateside if the demand is there. Don't be fooled by sensationalized headlines.
News
1 PV-Tech:
Beijing officially asks US to begin talks on solar trade suspension deal
2 Seeking Alpha:
SolarCity
4 PV Magazine:
California's utility-scale solar generation hits new peak of 4.8 GW
5 Renew Economy:
Australia's new attack may spark another solar boom
6 Solar Industry:
China Set To Reform DG Solar Policies To Boost Installations
7 MW Energy News:
After a slow start, PACE getting off the ground in Missouri
8 NASDAQ:
Unlikely Bedfellows
Opinions:
9 Dallas Morning News:
The Stupidity of Stopping Solar in Plano
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 19th, 2014
The Bloomberg headline gives me chills. Over the past decade, every time there is a panel 'shortage' it begins the talk of the "take-or-pay" contract. Doubtful that it will come up again but having seen it take down giant companies, the discussion is frightening by itself. That being said, panels are cause for delayed projects as we are already seeing this. How far the suppliers push deposits to lock in a shipment is another question.
News
1 Bloomberg:
Solar Boom Driving First Global Panel Shortage Since 2006
2 CBS:
Solar plant's downside? Birds igniting in midair
3 Wash. Post:
Old car batteries could make cheaper, more efficient solar panels
4 NRDC:
Order 1000 Upheld on Appeal
5 RE World:
The Power of Collective Energy Purchasing
6 Bloomberg:
Obama’s Green Dilemma
7 CleanTechnica:
Explosive US Solar Power Growth & Jobs
8 Scientific American:
Booming Rooftop Solar Power Suffers Growing Pains
Opinions:
9 NY Times:
Easy on the Environment, but Not Necessarily Neighbors’ Eyes
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 18th, 2014
Without data to back it up, it seems to me that the global solar industry is flattening. Globalization is becoming more and more apparent to me. Companies going overseas, expanding into new markets seems to be happening. However, the glory market remains the US, where residential rules the day but commercial remains an elusive goldmine waiting for someone to clear out.
News
1 Dallas News:
Texas law lets developers ban solar while subdivisions are growing
2 PV-Tech:
China to close polysilicon import loophole from end of month
3 Star Tribune:
Power surge in Minnesota's solar industry
4 Energy Collective:
New Report Finds California Solar Nearly Doubled in 2013
5 Think Progress:
Businesses Are Getting Hit With A $500 Fee To Kill Solar
6 RE World:
Utilities Should Take Advantage of the Transformation
7 Grist:
Meet the Wisconsin Republicans who love solar
8 Slate:
America is making lots of solar. What’s holding it back from making panels?
Opinions:
9 PV-Tech:
Trade spats continue but yield cos make everything better
Have a great day!
Yann
These are the top 10 most read solar articles by your peers this week!
News
1 Gigaom:
SolarCity lays out its path to make a profit
2 Wall Street 4/7:
Merrill Lynch Says Solar Demand to Soar Over Next 3 Years
3 Motley Fool:
Why Are These U.S. States Fighting Solar Power?
4 Motley Fool:
SolarCity Is Eyeing a New Solar Energy Market
5 Biz Journals:
Chevron putting solar projects at its Hawaii refinery on hold
6 Nation Swell:
These 10 States Are Leading the Way in Solar. What's Their Secret?
7 Grist:
No solar, please — we’re Florida
8 LA Times:
Rules prevent solar panels in many states with abundant sunlight
9 RE World:
The Massachusetts Solar Carve-Out
10 Solar Industry:
Own Or Lease? Think Of Rooftop Solar As A Car That Makes Money
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 15th, 2014
Thinking ahead to SPI and I found an incredible article from 2008. So today, begin your day with a look back in time to October 2008 and read, "10 Solar Startups to Watch at Solar Power International." A wonderful look back to a time when SolarCity ended up #3 on a list and touts an innovative 15-year financing structure. Some other cool names on the list like Sungevity and Solyndra.
News
1 NY Times:
(Flashback) 10 Solar Startups to Watch at Solar Power International
2 Solar Industry:
Own Or Lease? Think Of Rooftop Solar As A Car That Makes Money
3 Motley Fool:
Why Are These U.S. States Fighting Solar Power?
4 Watchdog:
Enviros unhappy as FL utility commission approves flawed solar plan
5 IREC:
The Proof of Interconnection Reform is in the…Data
6 Solar Power World:
NRG Energy Acquires Goal Zero
7 PV-Magazine:
Mexican energy reforms to benefit solar
Opinions:
9 Energy Collective:
How Much Longer Until Solar Eliminates the Utilities?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for August 14th, 2014
A few months ago, Bill Gates called for a clean energy miracle based on technology R&D. Having worked through "bankability" issues myself around technologies, I assure you that a clean energy miracle based on technology isn't the path to prosperity. You see, the term 'bankable' has been in use since 1818 and means 'acceptable to or at a bank.' I do see a way that Bill Gates can create a Clean Energy Miracle, my challenge to the world's richest person.
News
1 SolarWakeup:
A Clean Energy Miracle
2 RenewEconomy:
Citigroup
3 PV-Tech:
US solar tariffs prompt module quality warning
4 CleanTechnica:
Saudi Arabia Could Beat US To Low Cost Solar Punch
5 PV-Magazine:
Brazilian local content rules could spur domestic industry
6 KCET:
How Much Has The Dialog Changed on Desert Solar? Here's How Much
7 MLive:
Solar-maker Suniva finishing first round of hiring, starts construction
8 CleanTechnica:
US Clean Jobs Market Surges Past 2.6 Million
Opinions:
9 PV Solar Report:
Five Things To Keep In Mind About Solar Politics
Have a great day!
Yann
