This is your SolarWakeup for April 17th, 2020

Survey Is Back. This week brought us movement on three topics that allows this survey to give better insights. Companies know whether they are receiving PPP funds from the first tranche, how building departments are coping and how sales and leads are shaping up. Submit your input in this 4 minute survey available here. Please forward it to your trade association and other solar colleagues.

EEI Comes In For Strike. A small and unknown group called New England Ratepayers Association has filed a rather advanced docket with FERC. While the group spends about $40k per year on legal matters, this filing, seemingly prepared by an EEI associated lawyer, is seeking to put net metering under FERC’s jurisdiction. You read that right, in the middle of a pandemic, utilities are seeking to federalize state energy affairs. Harvard’s Ari Peskoe explains the filing in this twitter stream which is summarized in the article in the rundown.

FERC Says No Thanks. In case you were wondering how FERC was feeling with regard to renewable energy measures, the controversial MOPR was denied further hearings. While New Jersey is threatening to leave PJM due to the policy, renewable energy advocates had asked for additional opportunity to argue against the ruling but keeping coal plants operational won out. FERC could view this as a way to push their will on an issue largely considered out of their jurisdiction. I’d like to hear from SEPAs board, many of whom are EEI members how they feel about this filing and how it could affect a slew of other DER topics the group claims to support.

PG&E Sees No Pandemic. Many of San Francisco’s commuters live in lovely Marin County and while they are stuck at home due to stay at home orders, PG&E continues their network upgrade work. Imagine being stuck at home, working remote and losing power multiple times because PG&E can’t get their act together. At this point PG&E should give up residential service and pay for everyone to get solar with storage.

Talking Solar. Join me Wednesday, April 22nd at 10am EST, I will be speaking with Phil Shen from Roth Capital to update on the current trends in residential solar. You can register for that call here and you should join Phil’s mailing list by emailing him at pshen@roth.com. We’ll be discussing the results of the survey which opens today.

Solar Stimulus $0 Year 1 PPA. My friends over at Sustainable Capital Finance are offering an extremely beneficial financing option for businesses & non-profits looking to adopt solar. Their Solar Stimulus PPA offers a $0 solar energy spend for the first year of operation, helping organizations redirect those dollars towards payroll and other critical operating expenses. If you are a solar installer or developer whose potential clients have voiced concerns over COVID-19 in relation to adopting solar, this is a great solution for you. 

Opinion

Best, Yann