This is your SolarWakeup for October 2nd, 2018

Let’s Talk Illinois Policy. I’ve been saving the interviews from Chicago so that the live audience could get the heads up and it’s been a busy summer! After the much listened to interview with Jon Carson, here is the second interview with the director of the Illinois Power Agency, Anthony Star. Mr. Star is responsible for putting the wheels in motion and implementing the rules for the solar market that allow the market to flourish. If you are interested in working in Illinois this is an interview you will not want to miss. As always you can subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platforms and if you enjoy it, leave a review on iTunes. It’s always great to hear from you.

Second Chance In Power. In many ways the growth of the solar industry was missed by the incumbent and displaced market participants. You could also say that the early false starts caused many to take a step back too far. GE is a great example, they tried their hand in solar. With modules, with new technology investments, inverters and also financially with GE Current and GE Energy Financial Services offering tax equity. The financial divisions have done well but the technology has largely failed. That seems symbolic of the larger GE Power unit, where the division president was largely expected to be the next CEO instead the division didn’t elevate the CEO and it’s taking down the short lived tenure of the current CEO. Now the clean energy market is at a crossroads with solar and wind being the cheapest cost while EVs and storage are getting into the mainstream. GE, other industrials and oil majors need to get into the game and take another chance in power. My hope is that if they do, they don’t silo technology and financial services. Use the amazing access to low cost capital to drive the price of money down on technology deployment instead of thinking of both as different.

Come On Kansas. Demand charges are unfair to solar customers anywhere, but they are especially ill conceived when solar hasn’t had the chance to take off yet. You would think that a free market oriented market would think less of the monopoly than the consumer choice, energy saving solar installer but I guess that’s too ideological of me.

SPI Thoughts On Utilities In Solar. I always enjoy to hear what people are thinking about specific questions, I may even replicate this format. Here are 9 solar and storage pros commenting about the market and how utilities could improve. I’ll save you the number 1 improvement, work faster!

SEIA’s Thoughts On New Jersey. You’ll have to join me as I interview Abby Hopper on November 6th. Abby has been out in the open a lot more in her second year, making the rounds and working with the industry to get everyone into the advocacy game. We don’t agree on everything but that’s what makes this conversation fun and useful for the industry. Only the best interviews make it to the orange chair, this one is it.solarwakeuplive.com

Opinion

Have a great day!

Yann