Sea Of Suits. If there is one legacy left behind from the solar industry, it’s the 3,500 navy blue suits that come together at the Infocast Solar + Wind (And Storage) Conference in Phoenix. For the veterans, this is the old Rancho Bernardo conference. It was great to catch up with so many of you that I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing in so long. It’s incredible that our industry drives this level of collaboration and investment, representing the $50billion market that we all created in 2023 and will continue to grow.
Opinion
News
1 Utility Dive:
US electricity prices outpace annual inflation
2 Politico:
Here comes $20B in climate finance
3 PV-Magazine:
Power Electronics plans 20 GW inverter factory in U.S.
4 Bloomberg:
US to Offer Record Loan for Lithium Americas Project in Nevada
5 Axios:
Biden targets freight emissions in infrastructure push
6 Financial Times:
US solar manufacturers in ‘dire situation’ as imports soar
7 Reuters:
E.ON hikes grid investments to $46 billion, gives bullish outlook
8 Renewable Energy World:
Pathways to procurement - Where public EV charging meets utilities
9 Energy Storage News:
Inflation Reduction Act doing well versus EU Green Deal because of ‘how easy it is to understand’
10 PV-Tech:
Sol Systems bags US$250 million for 189MW Illinois PV project
Opinions:
11 Canary Media:
Four ways virtual power plants can help the US grid keep up with demand
Have a great day!
Yann
Opinion
Best, Yann
News
1 Utility Dive:
Storage was solar’s co-star in 2023, a record-breaking year for both - American Clean Power
2 Axios:
U.S. widens its lead in fossil fuel production
3 Reuters:
Excelsior Energy sells solar assets from inaugural fund to BlackRock
4 Bloomberg:
Puerto Rico Power Authority’s Planned ‘Turbo’ Bonds Seen as Blueprint for Utilities
5 PV-Magazine:
A look at the great transformer shortage affecting U.S. utilities
6 Renewable Energy World:
White House - Good-paying clean energy jobs are on the rise
7 PV-Tech:
BrightNight and ACEN to develop 1GWac renewables portfolio in the Philippines
8 Solar Power World:
Shoals patent infringement complaints continue way through courts
9 Energy Storage News:
EU ‘stepping up its game’ on battery gigafactories in Europe
Opinions:
10 Grist:
The IRA has injected $240 billion into clean energy. The US still needs more.
Have a great day!
Yann
Politics And Pursuit Of None. I agree with Invenergy’s founder, Michael Polsky, that renewable energy would be better off without politics but the same could be said about most industries. Energy on the other hand is one of the most regulated industries because they are monopolies for most Americans and the trillions of dollars that exchange hands. So let’s agree that the energy markets will never exist without politics. Then agree on the next reality that is that in order to survive, grow and thrive, renewable energy markets need to win the politics of every moment. Not enough CEOs in our industry prioritize the public policy aspects of their jobs and the resources that need to be leveraged in order to advance our causes. We’ve come far, SEIAs budget is like 300x what it was 25 years ago for example and the public’s support of solar and storage is exceedingly high but when it comes to the regulators at local, state and federal levels, we are outnumbered by the incumbents that live in the nuance that is regulatory policies.
Subscribe. As you walk around the Biltmore this week in Phoenix, I thank you for telling your colleagues about SolarWakeup. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can subscribe at solarwakeup.com
Opinion
News
1 PV-Magazine:
The top five states for solar deployment in 2023
2 Axios:
What Biden's State of the Union revealed about his climate plans
3 Wall Street Journal:
He’s a Renewable-Power Billionaire, Not an Environmentalist
4 Utility Dive:
Federal lawmakers urge FERC to adopt ‘shared savings’ incentive for grid-enhancing technologies
5 Bloomberg:
China Coal Group Says Peak Demand Imminent as Clean Power Grows
6 Reuters:
Off-grid solar has the potential to transform healthcare delivery, so why is it in short supply?
7 PV-Tech:
Solar manufacturers responsible for module recycling in EU
8 Energy Storage News:
Developer NatPower claims 60GWh UK BESS plans
9 Canary Media:
Chart - US smashes record for climatetech investment in 2023
Opinions:
10 Renewable Energy World:
Renewable energy industry reacts to Joe Biden’s State of the Union address
Have a great day!
Yann
Phoenix Infocast. I’m coming back! I’ll be in Phoenix on Monday and Tuesday for the Infocast Solar + Wind conference. Would love to see many of you again, if you’re going reach out and say hello. Especially if you’re looking for some support on your energy storage projects!
Opinion
News
1 Washington Post:
Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power
2 Bloomberg:
Solar Panels Spread Across America's Heartland as Farmers Chase Stable Returns
3 S&P Global:
ISO New England forecasts about 3.5 GW solar output decline during April solar eclipse
4 Utility Dive:
MISO proposes up to $23B transmission expansion with 765-kV ‘highway’
5 New York Times:
Live Updates
6 Axios:
Podesta touts Biden's climate law, lays out COP29 vision
7 Reuters:
US solar wafer build stutters as Chinese surplus bites
8 Energy Storage News:
Regulator in Germany approves TSO Amprion’s decentralised grid booster BESS
9 Heatmap News:
Bitcoin Has a Feel-Good Energy Story
Opinions:
10 PV-Magazine:
Policy recommendations to support U.S. rooftop solar installation
Have a great day!
Yann
