This is your SolarWakeup for November 17th, 2020

Big Rundown, Highlights. The news are deep today, so let’s do some quick summaries of what you need to know today. Starting off, not solar related but you’re running a business in the strangest times ever. There are now two vaccines likely to start circulating in the near future. How do you plan on managing your business through the current spike of the virus and do you expect to ask your employees to get the vaccine, if so in what situation? What would you do if your employer asks you to get vaccinated? This isn’t a political statement, I’m going to ask you to give me feedback so that others may learn from your responses. 

It’s Growing, Fast. 2021 and 2022 are likely to grow at greater than 25% while 2020 will end with 15% growth according to the panelists in the last Roth Capital market call. The next call will take place in mid-December.

Utilities Saved By Renewables. EDF and RWE are some of the largest utilities in Europe that are largely calling themselves clean companies and saving their shareholders with growth in renewable energy. Not much different here in the US. This will arrive at the oil majors as well. 

Mainstream Solar Fights. We talk about regulatory fights in the solar industry all the time on SolarWakeup. Last night, the Property Brothers took up the issue with their documentary that ran on PBS. Catch a rerun in the link.

The IPO That Put Solar On Stage. Array Technologies caught the capital markets by surprise, revenue with growth, amazing EBITDA and a pipeline that can be described without non-GAAP addendums to the financials. It also put solar on the stage while creating the first solar billionaire. In a few hours, Flex, the company that acquired NEXTracker, is being interviewed in the RBC investor day. RBC asked the first question at the last Flex earnings call and asked if Flex was considering a spinout of NEXT given their global market share leadership. I have a guess to what the first question is going to be, and maybe what the first headline of the Wakeup will be tomorrow.

The Magnetar Trade. One of the smartest shops on Wall Street has acquired the Lendlease development platform that already has 3GW+ in the pipeline. 

Tesla Joins SP500. In case you’re wondering why Tesla stock is through the roof today. They will join the S&P 500 in late December.

Bezos Look At Solar. I’ve said it before, solar goes farther with policy dollars to solve climate change than any other dollar invested in policy. Bezos could and should put 9 digits into groups like Vote Solar and you’ll cut the half life of natural gas generation in half.

Spotlight On Community Clinic. This 412 kW-DC solar carport installation at Vista Community Clinic (VCC) will provide long term renewable energy for the sustainability-driven healthcare facility. M Bar C Construction, CollectiveSun, and VCC leadership joined together in bringing this system from funding to design to installation. Solar energy produced from the installation will free up facility resources allowing VCC to continue to serve their patients and the surrounding community while setting a powerful example of their commitment to renewable energy. 

Opinion

Best, Yann