Conference Keynote From Rhone Resch. Yesterday, in his first keynote appearance since leaving SEIA, Rhone gave the keynote interview at the Midwest Solar Expo. It was largely tame and focused on his current work to find disruptive technologies in the disruptive solar market, but here are some highlights. Rhone mentions that more trade uncertainty could be on the way including the tariffs on $100billion worth of Chinese imports. He says “solar is getting its butt kicked in DC” and shouldn’t have been “playing defense” while a major tax reform and spending bill were passed, both presenting opportunities for solar to gain. When it comes to the 201 trade case result, he cautions a need to temper the enthusiasm for the 30% result. “This wasn’t a victory”.
More Solar For Florida. You heard it here first. Sources close to Sunnova are telling SolarWakeup that they will be entering the Florida market. This comes behind the positive statement from the PSC for Sunrun on the fixed price lease. While the PSC statement is specific to Sunrun, I don’t expect others to follow suit and request PSC to bless theirs as well. Here is our coverage.
Spruce Exits Loan Business. Yesterday, a well written commentary on Linkedin explained that Spruce had exited the loan business. It mentioned several reasons for the exit which may leave Spruce as a company largely holding a software as its biggest asset. Word has it that an email went out to staff and a few minutes later the portal was shut down to the partners. The finance business can be as tough as the other segments and this shows the results of harsh competition.
Solar Gains More Roots In Minnesota. A 42MW portfolio of solar assets is being marketed to the residential consumers in Minnesota. Resi off takers offer the combination of highest credit values and the benefit of a FICO score. The reason this is news is most have not focused on residential because of the issues related with having this many customers and the cost to acquire them. I expect more retail energy companies to be in this space, surprised we haven’t seen this already.
- SolarWakeup: BREAKING – Sources Say Sunnova Is Heading To Lucrative Florida Market
- Greentech Media: Spruce Finance to Exit Solar Loan, PACE Origination Business
- Public Radio: New project expands solar offerings for Minn. residents
- Think Progress: States sue EPA over plan to weaken vehicle emissions standards
- Rocky Mountain Institute: When Cheap Doesn’t Cut It – Why Energy Buyers Should Look at Value, not Just Cost
- Post and Courier: Let S.C. solar industry grow in way that helps customers
- Reuters: U.S. moves up to second most attractive renewables market after China – report
- Bloomberg: Tesla’s the `Biggest’ Reason Why Rooftop-Solar Leasing Is Fading
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann