Political Strategy. We discussed this on EnergyWakeup, that the solar policy teams and politicians that support solar don’t push the envelope hard enough. It doesn’t mean that you have to get that ideal outcome on day one, but it makes the forward progress seem like a negotiated settlement. It’s crucial that with the public support the industry gets, that we help politicians file bills that go above and beyond today’s standards.
Today’s Newsletter is sponsored by Conductive Capital, a distributed generation platform with tax efficient capital looking to acquire your projects.
Tax reform. I asked Conor McKenna from CohnReznick this exact question because tax reform can throw a solar model sideways for tax equity investors. This should impact ITC except reducing future demand for the credits. The main cause of discomfort is the cash value of the depreciation if the tax rates are reduced. Keep watching this space, Speaker Ryan says that tax reform is going to be taken up late spring and summer of this Congressional session.
The Path for Utilities. Who knew? It would take Kansas City Power & Light is putting in 1,000 EV charging stations across its service area. Kansas regulators declined the request to ratebase the $20million investment and Missouri has yet to rule but the utility appears to move forward regardless. This is a smart use of shareholder capital because they already have the credit and collection mechanism to charge users for the energy and growing sales will mean more ratebase investments for power plants or infrastructure once everyone drives an EV.
Sponsor the next newsletter. You can now sponsor the newsletter with in line text. Get in touch with the solar industry through the newsletter that everyone reads.
- PV-Magazine: Nevada bill would raise RPS to 80% by 2040
- Utility Dive: How federal tax reform could complicate prospects for renewable energy
- CleanTechnica: Kansas City Power & Light Installing 1,000 EV Charging Stations
- Greentech Media: US Solar Market Grows 95% in 2016, Smashes Records
- Think Progress: Despite all signs to the contrary, Trump voters think the president will lead on clean energy
- PV-Tech: Consolidation in the solar industry? Think again!
- Renew Economy: Why is Labor so hopeless at defending renewables policy?
- Forbes: In Energy Forecasting, Listen To Frankenstein, Not Twain’s Cat
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann