How’s the new format? It’s been a few weeks since I added the summaries to the top. Are they helpful or do they get into the way of the articles that you want to read? What else would you like this publication to give you to make it even better? Reply to this email and let me know.
Solar likes a free market now. PV-Magazine has a good summary on a leaked memo on Trump’s energy policies written by former Koch lobbyist Thomas Pyle. One of the points speaks to getting rid of all energy subsidies so that the market can discover the true price. I’m all in on that, it was actually one of the best negotiating points during the ITC extension because the ITC is almost nothing compared to the rest of the energy sector. This is a fool’s errand by the way, oil and gas will never, ever let Congress get rid of their subsidies. EVER!
A windy Google search. Google announced yesterday that it reached 100% renewable energy in 2017, meaning it will get all of its electric needs from renewable sources. For Google that means over 2.6GW of power but it may be a bit unclear on how that power correlates to energy use and timing. This is almost all wind with some solar mixed in. Someone needs to get into Facebook and make them do a solar project.
The risky cost of inaction. Bloomberg, Steyer and Paulson have been running a project called the Risky Business Project. Outlining the economic risk to the US by unmitigated climate change, the analysis has transitioned from the cost of inaction to the benefits of action. Their point is that the action is now incredibly valuable for financial entities, one that is not lost to many pension funds across the globe or pretty much anyone except for the US Congress.
Mr. Trump, meet Elon Musk. During the debate, Donald Trump brought up Solyndra which means he has been briefed on the loan guarantee program. He would know that it is returning over $5billion in profits to the taxpayers and had a loan to Tesla repaid ahead of schedule. The story we know well, but the agreement on the domestic manufacturing issue is understated. Musk’s companies have created over 35,000 jobs and used State level economic development deals to do it, both a staple of Trump’s policies. We did have Elon Musk as the leading candidate for DOE Secretary in our brief last month.
- PV-Magazine: Trump DOE transition team issues vague threat to energy subsidies
- Google: We’re set to reach 100% renewable energy — and it’s just the beginning
- Rocky Mountain Institute: The (Least) Risky Business Case
- New York Times: Want to Bring Back Jobs, Mr. President-Elect? Call Elon Musk
- GreenBiz: Can venture capital ever propel cleantech?
- Think Progress: New York is bringing solar power to the masses
- Utility Dive: NRDC – US transition to renewables is ‘is irrevocably underway’
- Electrek: Tesla’s SolarCity starts hiring production workers at its ‘Gigafactory’ for solar panels
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann