This is your SolarWakeup for October 5th
New Boots on the Ground, now shorter. Abby and I trimmed the format down to make it more listener-friendly. Have you noticed the difference? solarwakeup.com/boots to get all the links.
Win and Fail? What is your win and fail from the last week in solar and storage?
Permitting Reform. Are you in or are you out? Because it’s not quite so clear even though trade groups what you to think so. Certainly environmental advocates are whipping votes against the bill, some are saying that utilities and data center companies could hate it and those that think they’ll be in charge post midterms want everyone to slow their horses. Meanwhile supporters are betting on this being the best deal that they can get and are looking to get it done regardless of opposition and who they have to cross. Question is, why were the groups ready to check their own home before making this the entire bet heading into the end of the year? Seems messy to me at best.
Wires. I’ve been in solar for a long time and it’s interesting what people have categorized as commodities versus value products. I will die on the hill that the most valuable attribute in product procurement is certainty of shipment and delivery. The products have largely been commoditized top to bottom, even those that shouldn’t be (most shouldn’t be). The one that is the most incredible is a low Capex item in wires and connectors. Failure rate is incredibly high if the quality is not there and could spell catastrophe for a site that experiences issues, why have we commoditized this?
RE+. I’ll be at RE+ and assume you will also. What should I see? Who should I meet? Where should Abby and I record podcast episodes? Should we interview anyone interesting?
Subscribe to the SolarWakeup Daily Brief at solarwakeup.com/join — and we’re taking a few more sponsors for Boots on the Ground, hit reply to learn more.
News
1 Heatmap News:
The Senate Permitting Deal Contains a Data Center Double Tap
2 Latitude Media:
The permitting reform battle lines are being drawn
3 PV-Tech:
Best of the Week
4 Axios:
What to watch in the Supreme Court's big climate case
5 Energy Storage News:
India approves US$19.3 billion Green Energy Corridor Phase III with 50GWh BESS
6 PV-Magazine:
How California’s latest climate and energy bills reshape the grid
7 Solar BUilder:
Aurora Solar launches quarterly residential solar ‘trust tracker’
Opinions:
8 REuters:
The energy transition is starting to feed itself
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for October 2nd
New Boots on the Ground, now shorter. Abby and I trimmed the format down to make it more listener-friendly. Have you noticed the difference? solarwakeup.com/boots plus the Florida Panthers won their season opener, time to raise the cup!
Permitting Reform. Senate and White House come to a deal, my thoughts in today’s Wakeup Daily Briefing, why haven’t you joined yet?
Don’t Mess With Solar. Tom with help from his friends is going into the general election for the midterms against 7 candidates that voted against solar. The group went 6 for 6 in the primaries, will they get some hits in the midterm?
PJM Mess/Opportunity. PJM has delayed its capacity auction after falling short on their need driven by the data center requests. How many data centers are going to fix their own needs with side deals? Is there enough gas to drive power to on site generation?
RE+. I’ll be at RE+ and assume you will also. What should I see? Who should I meet? Where should Abby and I record podcast episodes? Should we interview anyone interesting?
Subscribe to the SolarWakeup Daily Brief at solarwakeup.com/join — and we’re taking a few more sponsors for Boots on the Ground.
News
1 New York Times:
Renewable Energy Super PAC Targets 7 Republicans With $15 Million War Chest
2 Reuters:
US senators hit deal on energy project permitting bill, vote after midterm elections
3 PV-Tech:
US planning reform bill gets mixed response from clean energy groups
4 Utility Dive:
FERC chair slams PJM ‘mess’ as country’s largest grid operator delays power auction
5 Solar Builder:
Linxon, Hitachi, and FTC partner for utility-scale acceleration
6 Canary Media:
The USDA just made it way harder for farmers to get grants for solar
7 Solar Power World:
California governor signs bills approving virtual power plants
8 Energy Storage News:
Volkswagen’s new LFP battery JVs with Gotion will adjust EV and BESS cell production split based on demand
9 Heatmap News:
Exclusive - Stellantis-Backed Geothermal Startup Prepares to SPAC
10 PV-Magazine:
U.S. small-scale solar adds 1.6 GW in Q2 2026 as fossil fuel capacity surges
Opinions:
11 Axios:
Renewables boom faces a Trump-era cliff
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 30th
New Boots on the Ground, now shorter. Abby and I trimmed the format down to make it more listener-friendly. Have you noticed the difference? solarwakeup.com/boots
Speed to power is the real bottleneck. Oracle had every permit in place and still couldn't build — because there wasn't enough power to the site. How many other projects are sitting in that same spot right now?
Rack density is about to 10x. Today's chips run around 130kW per rack; in the 2030s we're talking one megawatt. What does that do to solid-state transformers, DC architecture, and storage?
>Trump treats permitting like a trade. Stalled solar and wind projects, in his view, are the price Democrats pay for gas and oil permitting wins. What else is actually in that bill and how does it get done? Abby and I discuss on the podcast
Permitting reform won't happen before the election. After November, expect a budget deal, tax extenders, and maybe the Defense Authorization Act to move in the lame duck.
Want the full story on all of this? Subscribe to the SolarWakeup Daily Brief at solarwakeup.com/join — and if you or your company want to sponsor the newsletter or Boots on the Ground, reach out. We're looking for a few great partners.
News
1 Canary Media:
The Senate wants to pass a permitting reform bill. So what’s the holdup?
2 Bloomberg:
Trump’s Offer for More Solar Comes With a Catch
3 Heatmap News:
Which AI Models Use the Most Energy?
4 Reuters:
Exus acquires large US solar projects from ibV Energy in data center hot spots Louisiana and Wisconsin
5 Axios:
Tesla Semi meets $6 diesel
6 Solar Builder:
Energy Vault adds gigawatt-scale BESS acquisition to portfolio | Projects Weekly
7 PV-Tech:
Anti-stockpiling rules ‘critical’ ahead of Section 232 tariffs on polysilicon imports to the US
8 Energy Storage News:
‘Huge pipeline of opportunities’ as Middle East energy storage financing seeks bankability, revenue certainty
9 Latitude Media:
Does the market finally have an opening for solid-state transformers?
Opinions:
10 PV-Magazine:
Homeowners are now slightly less mistrustful of solar companies, report claims
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 28th
Who’s Going to Yotta? Should I go? I’m considering heading to Vegas for the expo.
Clearing up my data center stance. Under 1% of voters will decide their ballot on this issue per a New York Times poll, but the pricing flexibility and multiples it's driving for solar are real. What happens to both if the hype turns into a bubble?
Oracle files force majeure in New Mexico. Fully permitted, ready to build — except they can't get gas pipeline approval to fuel it. Is power access, not construction, becoming the real bottleneck for AI everyone should be watching?
Module pricing jumps roughly 40%. Modules prices are going up, but how much? With FEOC, the executive order, 232, and domestic inverter costs stacking up, where does that get absorbed if not offtaker pricing?
News
1 Solar Power World:
Power Electronics building 40 GW manufacturing campus in Houston
2 Yahoo Finance:
Why Oracle's force majeure notice is freaking out AI bulls
3 Los Angeles Times:
Lithium-ion battery fire disrupts another California community, raising questions about storage, safety
4 Reuters:
Data center IPO hopefuls brave tougher market as investor scrutiny grows
5 PV-Magazine:
Anza expects at least a 40% spike in solar module prices after Section 232
6 PV-Tech:
The US plug-in solar divide - A state-by-state race to unlock the market
7 Politioc:
EU Commission calls on countries to cut energy demands as costs surge
8 Energy Storage News:
ESR to acquire Aquila Clean Energy APAC in Asia-Pacific renewables and energy storage consolidation
9 CNBC:
ESR to acquire Aquila Clean Energy APAC in Asia-Pacific renewables and energy storage consolidation
Opinions:
10 Canary Media:
The challenges and opportunities of clean energy in rural America
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 25th
Boots on the Ground is trying to hit #1. Abby and I are around #3 right now — a follow, review, or LinkedIn post genuinely helps. Are you subscribed on your podcast app and YouTube yet?
News
1 Reuters:
Senate inches closer to US infrastructure permitting reform bill
2 Bloomberg:
Trump Hints Solar, Wind Permitting Offer Could be Revoked
3 New York Times:
A Spirited Battle Over Data Centers
4 Heatmap News:
How AI Split Climate Tech in Two
5 BBC:
How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom
6 Politico:
The unlikely agency serving as Trump’s China bad cop
7 Utility Dive:
Advanced transmission projects get $1.9B in DOE funding
8 Solar Builder:
Anza data shows spiking solar prices following Section 232 decision
9 Energy Storage News:
Data centre buildout uplifting US BESS market outlook, Wood Mackenzie says
10 Latitude Media:
Most new US power is clean — but utilities are choosing gas for data centers
11 PV-Magazine:
Nvidia launches BESS qualification program for AI data centers, names just Tesla, LG, Hitachi
Opinions:
12 PV-Tech:
To track or not to track
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 24th
New Boots on the Ground is coming from construction sites. Abby and I are planning in-person interviews as we head into RE+. Want to be part of one?
News
1 New York Times:
Rooftop solar is slumping right now, but Mary Powell sees a bright future.
2 Reuters:
India's Waaree Energies to merge Indosolar into company in near-$100 million deal
3 Utility Dive:
Efforts to curb data center speculation gain ground across the US
4 Bloomberg:
NYC Pensions Eye Private Markets in $5 Billion Green Allocation
5 Axios:
Chicago mayor proposes 12-month moratorium on new data centers
6 PV-Tech:
Price of US solar module imports up more than 40% since Section 232 tariffs
7 Energy Storage News:
How transferability and US-China tensions are transforming US BESS and renewables financing
8 Latitude Media:
Exclusive - Heinrich proposes 30% credit for long-haul transmission
9 PV-Magazine:
How to make renewables auctions resilient to supply chain shocks
Opinions:
10 Heatmap News:
What’s a Utility to Do When Everyone Is Mad at Them?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 23rd
New Boots on the Ground. Abby and I would love your feedback and a LinkedIn post to help spread the word. solarwakeup.com/boots
News
1 Utility Dive:
California tightens oversight of data center energy use, grid costs
2 PV-Magazine:
IRA-stimulated U.S. solar manufacturing capex to reach $12.2 billion by end 2026
3 Canary Media:
Duke Energy wants to build a new gas plant. Regulators said not so fast.
4 New York Times:
A Departing U.N. Chief’s Dire Warning on Climate Change
5 Axios:
Trump backs ban on diesel exports
6 PV-Tech:
Madison Energy launches 1GW DER community initiative
7 Energy Storage News:
Sunrun and Tesla deliver record 580MW to California grid amid heatwave
Opinions:
8 Reuters:
What is in Brussels' 'Made in EU' law and why is Britain worried?
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 22nd
New Boots on the Ground is live. Abby and I recorded Monday morning, covering diesel costs and the political battles shaping this week. Catch it now at solarwakeup.com/boots
News
1 PV-Magazine:
U.S. solar module production reaches historic 100 GW landmark
2 Utility Dive:
Texas PUC adopts softened rules on data center interconnection
3 Energy Storage News:
Fluence and Eve Energy agree 206GWh battery supply deal
4 Canary Media:
Vistra’s Moss Landing grid battery is on fire yet again
5 Axios:
Exclusive - How Sen. Schatz is talking about climate in an affordability crisis
6 Bloomberg:
Where to Invest in Climate as AI Trade, High Rates Dominate
7 Reuters:
Virginia tightens data center restrictions amid political backlash
8 PV-Tech:
US judge overturns EPA cancellation of US$7 billion Solar for All programme
9 KQED:
Here’s What California Is Learning From Solar Panels Built Over Irrigation Canals
Opinions:
10 Heatmap News:
A Big Battery Relief in New York
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 17th
New Boots on the Ground is live. Abby and I dig into vehicle-to-grid, and it's already looking like we know what we’re talking about: today's headlines bring school bus fleets into the VPP conversation. Catch it now, and check us out on YouTube too. solarwakeup.com/boots
News
1 Utility Dive:
Utilities, schools see growing value in electric buses for virtual power plants
2 Axios:
AI environmental concerns build as lawmakers grapple with tech panic
3 VOx:
The hidden $350 surcharge on American households
4 Fast Company:
This startup just raised $32 million to build solar farms using robots—and much less land
5 PV-Tech:
Over 90% of solar professionals report growing project deployment pipeline in latest PVcase report
6 Solar Power World:
First Solar ends Sec. 337 investigation into competitors allegedly infringing on TOPCon patent
7 Energy Storage news:
FCC inverter ban poses greater threat to US renewables than FEOC compliance, industry experts warn
8 Canary media:
Newsom’s last chance to tackle California’s electricity costs
9 PV-Magazine:
SEIA announces plan to absorb the Coalition for Community Solar Access
Opinions:
10 Reuters:
Why the next industrial race will be won on electricity
Have a great day!
Yann
This is your SolarWakeup for September 16th
New Podcast Is Out! Solar’s record quarter and so many other fun topics. Many of you are waiting to listen to your first episode, make today the day! Subscribe on Youtube or find Boots on the Ground in your podcast app. solarwakeup.com/boots for all the links and post about it on Linkedin. This episode is sponsored by Cleantech Industry Resources
News
1 Bloomberg:
US AI Boom Needs $110 Billion of New Power Plants, Moody’s Says
2 Reuters:
SB Energy to sell up to $500 million in shares to Japan investors as part of US IPO
3 Utility Dive:
EPA scraps Biden power plant GHG rules, moves to eliminate other standards
4 PV-Magazine:
Americas to lead $60 billion global microgrid market growth through 2030 as reliability demand mounts
5 Axios:
Record diesel prices squeeze food, transport
6 Solar Builder:
East Point Energy completes Texas storage site | Projects Weekly
7 Energy Storage News:
US energy storage companies secure financing and launch compliance services amid regulatory shifts
8 Canary Media:
An Idaho county banned renewables. It’s having second thoughts.
Opinions:
9 PV-Tech:
NZIA ‘too slow’ to revive European solar manufacturing, says SolarPower Europe
Have a great day!
Yann
