Schmoozing In Davos. The World Economic Forum starts today and climate change is going to be a central topic. The conversation between JP Morgan’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, and BlackRock’s CEO, Larry Fink, should go something like this. Climate change is a real problem but can you believe that we get to invest trillions of dollars to solve this for the world? Coal plants are not investable anymore and unless a regulator will guarantee a double digit return, I won’t even invest in a natural gas plant. The only thing worth anything on those plants is the interconnection so we can put giant batteries there.
In Reality. This is clearly the investment thesis that others are seeing. Bay Area VCs are hailing climate tech as the trillion dollar opportunity as well. On the other hand, we have’t gotten to that point yet, the conversations in Davos will be more scientific which isn’t necessarily a bad thing so that folks can be educated on the situation. That education will let deals get to the point of being seen. Once they are seen, investors will see the economic case without needing the environmental influence to say yes.
Without The Markets. One of the key regulatory intersections to deploy the capital into projects is the lack of open markets. Advocates are playing by the rules to try and make these markets more open but they are in a fight against well run monopolies that know not to give an inch. From a political standpoint, it creates a catch-22 for politicians that either want to see more renewables or those that favor free market capitalism.
What’s Next. What else do you want to see from SolarWakeup? Different type of content, events or medium? What has been published from this platform that you want to see more of? In the mood for some feedback and community brainstorming.
- New York Times: Climate Change Takes Center Stage in Davos
- Energy And Policy: Energy Choice Falls Flat at Florida Supreme Court After Utility Offensive
- Axios: Exclusive – IEA to track oil companies’ efforts on clean energy
- PV-Magazine: Arizona utility seeks 400 MW of solar power, 200 MW of it on Navajo tribal lands
- PV-Tech: LONGi guides doubling of net profits to new record for 2019
- Grist: Judge writes blistering dissent as kids’ climate lawsuit gets tossed
- Greentech Media: America’s Concentrated Solar Power Companies Have All but Disappeared
- CT Mirror: CT taking ‘a serious look’ at exiting regional power market
Opinion
Best, Yann