Powerhouse Ventures. A great day for solar startups. Powerhouse, the incubator we all know and love, is out with a venture fund. CEO, Emily Kirsch, teased the venture at the Powerhouse fundraising event months ago but now the news is official. The startup fund will invest in 30+ startups over the next 5 years and has some notable names as investors. It has already invested in several startups to get itself started on the right path. Congrats to all involved.
Making Bank On Climate Change. At first look, the headline would appeal to those of us in the solar space. With further investigation it seems that corporations are finding ways to make money from the impact of climate change, not to alleviate the ongoing climate crisis. One company (Merck) even said, “As the climate changes, there will be expanded markets for products for tropical and weather related diseases including waterborne illness.” For solar it continues to mean the need for capital at all stages and the appetite to own long term operational assets with long term contracts and those operating on trading platforms.
Safe Solar. Congrats to Conti Solar and many of the other solar installers that had a wonderful and safe 2018. I am continuously amazed at the work this industry can create while also providing a safe and enjoyable work experience (muddy/rainy days aside). I have rarely been at a solar farm or on a home when installers weren’t enjoying the work they were doing which makes me feel great about the industry that we are in.
New Mexico Community Solar. New Mexico is trying to jump on the community solar bandwagon. With a new bill filed, HB210, NM could create the opportunity for solar to be a reality for those that either rent or live in a home that isn’t an ideal candidate for solar. “It’s time for all New Mexicans to have access to the benefits of our solar,” said Art Terrazas, Interior West Director at Vote Solar. “Community solar means that all New Mexico families and tribes, regardless of income or any other factors, can save money from our state’s plentiful sunshine.” Let’s see that Facebook comes aboard the policy push and help get it passed.
Boston Wakeup. You can now get your tickets to SolarWakeup Live! Boston which is our first repeat city in the series. If you’ve been to a recent event, please come again. With SMART in full effect, we will have the top investors in the room with term sheets in hand. The deals and money will be flowing and so will the news. As always, you will get the most relevant update to the market regulations. If you want to sponsor or have a great idea for a speaker, reach out by hitting reply to this email.
- Greentech Media: Cleantech Incubator Powerhouse Launches Seed-Stage VC Fund
- Bloomberg: Corporate America Is Getting Ready to Monetize Climate Change
- Solar Builder: Conti Solar recognized for its outstanding safety record
- Reuters: Google signs its first solar purchase deal in Asia to power data centre
- Chicago Tribune: With little space for solar farms, suburbs are finding creative ways to embrace renewable energy
- Utility Dive: Minnesota study finds it cheaper to curtail solar than to add storage
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann