Tag Archives: Daily Rundown

This is your SolarWakeup for April 12th, 2019

Apple Pushes Suppliers. Apple is moving its suppliers to add renewable energy for at least the amount of energy used to make the parts that go to Apple. This is a great type of leadership, by creating a prerequisite to get some of the business. Other big buyers should follow their lead here. I’d be interested in knowing if Apple helps the suppliers accomplish the goals through expertise or even outsourced purchasing. 

Climate Politics Should Be Non-Compromising. There is some talk this week that the Green New Deal has accomplished its goals since some fringe republicans are coming out with their ‘climate’ plans. That is total nonsense, there is no sense in debating policy in public with other legislators or negotiating non existent bills. Also, the only person that should be negotiated with is Senator McConnell. Until then, make your case to the American public. 

Run On Climate. Tom Friedman of the NY Times is saying that politicians should run on climate and I agree, but so do the polls. It’s been true for awhile that climate change, clean air and clean water does really well with voters, especially independents. Even more, the pivot from jobs to solar is easy. The pivot from corporate monopolies (utilities poll terribly) to solar is easy. If you’re going to run on something, run on solar. 

Corporate Access To Lower Costs. More on the Apple comment from above. How can we make the access to solar easier and more standardized for other corporations? If a supplier is looking to have solar in order to make their company stand out, what is the cheapest way for them to accomplish that?

Question For You. Yesterday I wrote about the revenue put which made me ponder something. If your current debt is coming in at 1.3 DSCR and you can buy a product that gets you closer to a 1.1 ratio, what consideration would make you reject the higher debt level?

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann

 

This is your SolarWakeup for April 11th, 2019

Stop The BS. Sometimes I don’t point out articles that are filled with bias especially when a position of influence is used to portray a motive as an opinion. First, there is no reality where solar or wind are better off without the tax credit. Second, if you think that your sponsor capital will be cheaper without the tax equity structure, don’t use it. There are some in solar that think that the ITC going away will make financing easier, those people should go sell mortgages. Others are afraid that solar asking for the ITC and not getting the extension would be a failure. I look at it more pragmatically. I want the ITC to be as close to 100% as possible. I want it to last in perpetuity if I can influence that legislation. If I were writing an article purely based on motive, I would ask for a 50% ITC with a cap of $20k. It would shave the cost of the ITC by 90% to the taxpayer and residential would thrive. Except that this market requires us all to be on the same page, creating volume for the same supply chain and creating funding for the associations that lobby for our market to exist. If you have an urge to write an opinion piece on the topic, send an email to your college roommate that promptly throws it away. 

You Have To Fight, For Your Right. The California Senate passed the Solar Bill of Rights through committee by a vote of 11-0. The nice part about it is that the legislative support largely came from the homeowners that bought solar from installers. This is a proof of concept that could catapult the Solar Rights Alliance into great funding opportunities and more coverage across the Country. 

Cheaper Debt Is Good. Few things get me excited as much as lower coverage ratios. Every time I see debt closings use the revenue put from kWh Analytics I think of the other things that could also make solar projects get more capital efficient. 

MidWest Solar. Catch me at the upcoming Midwest Solar Expo where I’ll be sitting with  State PUC Commissioner, Katie Sieben and a great conversation with an executive from Xcel Energy. I will also be attending The Energy Fair for their 30th anniversary, this will be a special interview with a great speaker we will reveal soon!

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann

 

This is your SolarWakeup for April 10th, 2019

Absent a column today, check out these great solar communications jobs. If you are hiring, send the link to the job to me and I’ll give you a shoutout. 

Vote Solar

SEIA

ACORE

All three jobs have great teams and you get to advocate for solar!

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann

 

This is your SolarWakeup for April 9th, 2019

Quick recap today as the day job takes over my day today. 

Covering Climate Politics. Congrats to Julia Pyper of GTM who is venturing out to contributing editor and focus on her Poli Climate podcast alongside her co-hosts. They will be focusing on climate issues in politics leading up to the 2020 election. Supported by Schwarzenegger’s institute and Leonardo DiCaprio’s foundation, the podcast will be covering an important topic in an important time. 

I Lose You Lose. Duke wants ratepayers to pay for coal ash cleanup. I have a question about the regulated monopolies. Are there any costs that consumers shouldn’t pay for? At what point do shareholders bear some risk of capital loss? This can’t be a guaranteed growth of capital investment, that’s not a monopoly anymore. That’s privatized government. 

Grid Operators Speak Out. Interesting view on a renewable grid in the UK. National Grid is playing lots of cards in the energy deck on multiple continents, that could make for a fun board room at times. 

PURPA In Big Sky Country. No-one really wants to open up the PURPA law but maybe the decades old law needs to be reformed so that there is clarity and certainty across the Country. 

MD Win. The House in Maryland passed the 50% RPS yesterday. Ball goes to Governor Hogan, let’s see what he does. 

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann