Community Solar Goes Big Time. New Mexico passes policy in the house and brings it to the Senate. Florida files a bill and Pennsylvania is expected to be right behind it. That’s what was in my inbox today, all about community solar. This is an interesting twist on policy as I did not expect the market to lean in on community solar but I understand why it is the perfect blend for legislators. It is also a great topic to solve financing for solar in an era where capital may not trust utility contracts for the next 20 years given the PG&E bankruptcy. Part of the unknown is how to execute on the projects and that is why I am interviewing two leaders in the space at SolarWakeup Live! in Boston. Check out the agenda and get your tickets right now!
Solar Consumers Go To The Capitol. This is primarily a California story but it could come to a State near you soon. The Solar Rights Alliance is working to make consumers the central advocates for solar policy and they have unveiled the Solar Bill of Rights in Sacramento yesterday. Instead of solar pros in yellow shirts, it was everyday consumers advocating for their right to go solar. As we all learned a long time ago, you’ve got to fight, for your right, to go solar.
FERC Wants Last Say. In a court filing in bankruptcy court, FERC lawyers made the case that they will seek to have the last say to approve any changes to PPAs signed by PG&E after PG&E has convinced the bankruptcy courts that they should be allowed to cancel them. Solar will be watching this closely.
Harder Line On Shell. In a related note from my writeup yesterday, Amy Harder from Axios is looking at Shell from the other angle. A view from the companies future decisions about policy advocacy, trade associations and how it behaves in an era where it looks to be involved in a hybrid world of clean tech and oil. Becoming a tradition industrial for the 21st century may take a wide view and could require advocacy decisions that choose next decade over next year.
- EarthJustice: New Mexico House Of Representatives Passes Legislation Authorizing Community Solar Program In The State
- Utility Dive: FERC reasserts authority over PG&E contracts in bankruptcy court filing
- Axios: Shell leads big oil in clean energy shift
- Renewable Energy World: Residential PV + batteries as wholesale energy market suppliers are just the ‘tip of the spear’
- Bloomberg: Tesla Batteries in Short Supply for Many Solar Installers
- Vox: No, the Green New Deal won’t threaten the grid
- Energy News Network: Solar advocates look to repeal Maine’s ‘fundamentally unjust’ solar rules
- GreenBiz: Corporate neighbors in Pennsylvania share solar power, courtesy of blockchain
Opinion
Have a great day!
Yann