Tag Archives: Daily Rundown

This is your SolarWakeup for October 8th, 2018

NJ BPU President. The NJ BPU President, Joe Fiordaliso, is joining me at SolarWakeup Live! Jersey City on November 6th. He was appointed by Governor Murphy to the position earlier this year. President Fiordaliso has been on the BPU board since 2005. For more information and registration to the event go to solarwakeuplive.com, tickets are nearing capacity. 

Keeping Climate Change Contained. The IPCC is out with a report that should be taken seriously by everyone, and not just those in our industry. In order to keep the world at or below 1.5 degrees we need systemic change in our energy system which means we need wholesale change in our political system. This can be done if we have the will to have it be done. 

More Community Solar. Washington State is out with their first community solar rules and while not the home run market regulations you would want, it definitely sets the base for the market to start. I am a fan of community solar though I always thought that regional markets with clearing prices would be the method to this segment instead of a regulatory body. That being said, this may be the way to get it done in a way that consumers understand and trust. 

First Hand Notes. The clean energy retail company was founded when the CEO, Tom Matzzie, tried to put solar on his house and found it to be difficult. I recall putting solar on my home in 2011 and thought it was really hard as well. I know that things have gotten better but going through the consumer’s side of the deal gives us some perspective. This note about signing up for community solar highlights important lessons that can be improved on.

Wires R Us. Here’s a question for you, how long until today’s utilities are mostly wire companies and is this a future that is important to the solar market?

Solar Sentiment Survey. Don’t forget to have your voice included in the Q3 SolarWakeup Sentiment Survey. This takes less than 60 seconds and is anonymous. The results will be released at SolarWakeup Live! Jersey City. 

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann

 

This is your SolarWakeup for October 5th, 2018

Feel Good Story From Illinois. A legislator helps pass legislation that makes solar in Illinois take off, creating thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic development. Then he leads by example and puts solar on his home, with particularly good taste in mounting technology. Many thanks for the political leadership and leading by example for the neighbors. 

SunPower Takes Top Spot. Now that the acquisition is complete with SolarWorldUSA, it seems like the SolarWorld brand in the US will be eliminated by year’s end. SunPower will undoubtedly look to increase market share in residential solar while also having volume in the module manufacturing to keep the costs competitive. I look forward to seeing the next steps

Terminal Value Zero. At least one asset owner has decided that arguing the terminal value is annoying enough that giving away the energy is a better use. 

Q3 Sentiment Survey. Take the survey to help us get a pulse of the current mood in solar. This will take you less than 60 seconds to answer the survey

Sponsor SolarWakeup Live! Besides reading and passing this newsletter along, the best way to support the platform is to sponsor an event. In return you get amazing visibility to the email list and the live audience. Plus you ensure the continued operation of this platform. Check out solarwakeuplive.com on how you can get involved, no better market dollars to be spent in the industry these days. 

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann

 

This is your SolarWakeup for October 4th, 2018

Much Awaited Community Solar Rules. Few people cover community solar better than ILSR’s John Farrell and with the new rules from New Jersey being proposed, he gives you the breakdown of the good and the needs improvement. Community solar in New Jersey could be one of the most desired market changes in the past few years, there is no doubt that developers and customer signup teams will be flocking to this market. This will be a central conversation topic at SolarWakeup Live! Jersey City, get your ticket at solarwakeuplive.com so we can all talk about the community solar market together.

Governors Matter To Solar. Virginia is planning a bold solar future with 5GW of wind and solar. This is the plan proposed by Ralph Northam, the Governor. Much like many net metering, RPS and other solar friendly policies across the Country, it takes a leader in the Governor’s mansion to make it happen. Without that it becomes much harder to get things done. Elections matter and advocacy is a lot simpler if there are willing participants on both sides. We still need to show up and make our point but without a veto threat, solar can be a big winner.

Are You Feeling Good? Time to check in on the industry sentiment with SolarWakeup’s Q3 sentiment index. While 2018 has been a crazy solar coaster ride, it seems like more of a market than ever and I want to see what you think. The results of the report will be shared first at SolarWakeup Live! Jersey City on November 6th. Take the survey today!

Inverters Must Adapt. Most of the inverter companies plan to transition their manufacturing capacity out of China given the latest tariffs by the Trump administration. This may cause a bit of a product supply constraint when the changeover happens and the price is very likely to increase to the installers across the market. Just another example of costs going into the solar market that could be avoided.

The Hill Piece. is total crap. Starting out the conversation about net metering by saying that no-one argues that there is a cost shift on solar value to non solar customers means that the author assumes that solar customers are providing uncompensated value to the other customers but of course we know that’s not the case.

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann

 

This is your SolarWakeup for October 3rd, 2018

SunPower Closes On SolarWorld. Count me in as pleasantly surprised that the acquisition has closed. Nonetheless SunPower is already in process of putting new equipment into the Hillsboro manufacturing plant in Oregon. The plant will be producing P-Series cells and modules to be able to sell American assembled panels. The interesting side stories are now the relationship between Senator Wyden and SunPower, who were on opposite sides of the 201 arguments and how SunPower proceeds with the first two phases of the AD/CVD charges against solar imports. More to come I guess.

Another Day, Another Trade Group. During SPI there was a launch of the Solar Rights Alliance which is targeting the solar consumers to engage them for the policy battles across the Country. In many ways this is the actual implementation of the Solar Pledge which this platform launched to extend the ITC. The power of the crowd is real and SRA will likely be seen and heard from more going forward. Vote Solar is also activating the solar consumer with one of the best supporter lists in the industry. Lastly, you have a new group that aligns solar and wind industries at the trade group level. The Wind Solar Alliance will put the renewable energy giants in bigger rooms by merging the voice on some issues, I’d expect PURPA and FERC issues to be front and center for the group.

Industrials Unite In Storage. ConEdison and Johnson Controls are getting involved in energy storage together. Great headline but I am missing the key differentiator here. JCI is competent with energy savings contracts and ConEdison has tax equity/asset ownership capabilities plus a viable trading capacity. However, absent an acquisition for a real differentiator and pipeline, this may not be as groundbreaking as it is made out to be. Maybe an acquisition is in the works?

NAFTA -> USMCA = Where’s Climate? The headline says it all. Will see how Congress feels about USMCA.

Developing New Jersey. New Jersey is a State with both rural and urban centers and farm lands where the land is both sacred and valuable. Developing solar in New Jersey has a level of complexity unmatched across the Country. This is why we invited Jim Spano from Spano Partners to join me on stage at SolarWakeup Live! Jersey City. Jim has been as successful as anyone in New Jersey and has his finger on the political pulse. Join us on November 6th and register at www.solarwakeuplive.com 

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann