SPI or Bust. Busting My SPI Plans? Today’s top story could be a problem for all of us. If Hurricane Irma stays in the forecast cone, my travel plans to Las Vegas may be canceled which (I know) would be a big disappointment to all of you. Hurricanes a major PIA because they require days of preparation and labor. With 3 kids the whole thing is just made worse because electricity and water often go down for days or weeks if the storm hits your area. I’m hoping a change in direction but will keep you informed in case I need someone to take my room at the Mandalay Bay off my hands so the deposit is not lost.
Ratebasing Solar, A Solar Advocate’s Conundrum. I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit given the change in Florida where the utilities have taken their solar investments to a new level. I want more solar, much like all of us but have come to the conclusion that ratebased solar is not good for our industry. I base this decision on lack of price discovery and competition for the benefit of the ratepayer, the fact that the utilities don’t fully monetize the tax credit and MACRS, charging consumers a premium over the capital markets for the asset and not allowing competition for the same opportunity. Overall, consumers aren’t getting a fair deal and we have seen what happens in a market that has strong PURPA type offtake agreements which is what the competitive markets in Florida need.
Reimaging The Electric Monopoly. The above point makes me and many other people think that we have to review what the electric monopoly should do for consumers. I’ve said it before but it needs to be said. Connecticut and Texas don’t agree on much but they do agree that the monopoly should be a transmission company first and a retailer of last resort second. It should not be a generator. The responsibility to serve, Florida is a peninsula; these are talking points that will be used to stop the discussion from happening. But having banks control the power markets is not good for consumers so this is a discussion we need to have.
- New York Times: As Hurricane Irma Strengthens, Florida Braces for Possible Landfall
- Tampa Bay Times: Unprecedented solar push means Sunshine State may live up to its name
- Vox: The simple reason most power utilities suck
- Arizona Central: Roberts – More evidence that Arizona’s utility regulators are for sale?
- CleanTechnica: Vehicles & The Grid — Progressive Policies In California & New York
- NRDC: A Critical Clean Energy Decision for California and the West
- Greentech Media: 5 Ways to Take 100% Renewable Energy From Dream to Mainstream
- GreenBiz: Cities aspiring to 100-percent renewables share this in common
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann