DC Goes 100%. This has been talked about for some time but now it’s becoming law and it makes DC the 3rd State to go 100% renewables. DC has some limitations on how to execute on this but being in the PJM market it does have the flexibility, much like the deal for the solar output by George Washington University. The rooftops are not widely available but we saw a community solar project announced yesterday as well. Local sources sound optimistic about the opportunities in Maryland as well with a legislative path to an increased RPS. Frank speaks to MDV-SEIA’s executive director about the victory in DC. 
Empower Ratebase, Not Thoughts. I appreciate the sentiment from Rocky Mountain Institute in the 1st part of the 4 part serious about empower utilities to participate in the clean energy transition. The problem isn’t that they are against the clean energy transition, the problem is the lack of short term, quarterly profits within the current regulatory framework. Utility execs like other execs will tend to do what their compensation is aligned against. If utilities were to be told that they would make money to participate in the clean energy transition, execs would sing a different tune. The issue now is that the clean energy transition is trying to replace and eliminate utilities, not make them more money. 
In-no-va-tion. I meant to write about this last week but this is an important topic within the political conversation on climate change. Climate change is not a bi-partisan topic which originally was a hoax. When hoax stopped working with the American people, skeptics went with the unsettled science and not being scientists. The public has largely stopped buying the unsettled science line and we have advanced to the latest political talking point. “Climate change is here, it doesn’t matter who causes it but whatever we do can’t impact the economy.” Then, to buy time, politicians will pivot to the need to drive innovation within the demographic of their audience. Innovation is such a broad topic that clean coal and 50% efficient solar modules could fall into the category. Additionally, everyone loves innovation which gets listeners of the talking points to nod in agreement that we need to find more solutions. I call BS though, we need more execution and less talk about innovation because innovation is driven by larger markets and the hopes by people to disrupt the market with new products, services and ideas. 
Have a great weekend! Please send me a note when you travel to San Francisco, always great to meet you in person and stay tuned for great new podcasts dropping next week.

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Yann

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Earlier this week, Washington D.C. announced it had passed a law saying that it would produce all of its electricity from renewable energy by 2032. Though the bill still has to be passed on a second reading, signed by the mayor, approved by Congress and pro-coal President Trump - so who knows if it will actually get approved - it is the most aggressive 100% renewable energy mandate in the country. SolarWakeup decided to discuss the plan's chances with someone whose offices are right in D.C.'s backyard - David Murray, executive director of MDV-SEIA. Here are his responses. SolarWakeup: (SWup): What precipitated the decision to pass the 100% RPS mandate? David Murray: Starting in 2017, the District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) developed the Clean Energy DC plan, which outlines recommended steps for the District to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2032. The 100% RPS is one aspect of the Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018, which is largely based off of DOEE’s plan. After Councilmember Mary Cheh introduced the legislation, a coalition of business, social, and environmental advocates came together to support the bill. For the solar industry, a strong RPS is the main driver for strong investment and job growth. The 2016 50% RPS increase precipitated the District’s recent solar industry growth. Last year, we hit a milestone of over 1,500 solar workers here in DC, which marks a 33% increase in the last two years. A strong solar carve-out within the RPS is crucial to continue this job growth in coming years.

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SWup: Where is the city now, and how realistic is it to get it to 100%? David Murray: The DC Office of People’s Counsel (OPC) issued a study last year which estimated the technical feasibility of solar potential in the District at 2.4 GW, which does not include parking lots. The bill seeks to increase D.C.’s solar target from 5% by 2032 to 10% by 2041. Expanding solar capacity in the District to reach the OPC’s higher estimate of solar potential would result in 26 million tons of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emission reductions. The current target in the RPS of 10% by 2014 is certainly achievable, being on the conservative end of the OPC study estimate. SWup: What are the steps they will need to take to get there? David Murray: The comprehensive nature of the Omnibus bill is the right approach because a full transition to a low-carbon economy is going to need to come from emission reductions in several areas. Specifically, the transition to 100% renewable energy must include District ratepayers from all economic backgrounds. Solar energy is the only true form of local renewable generation in the RPS and it produces local benefits. The solar carve-out maximizes equity through programs like Solar For All, which benefit low-income residents by offering solar at no cost to homeowners who quality for the program. Reducing soft costs is another key priority: working in a heavily-trafficked city of just 68 square miles has a unique set of challenges. Thus, MDV-SEIA is engaging DOEE to streamline the permitting process, increase market transparency, and creditworthiness of solar installers. SWup: What role do you think solar will play in DC's transformation? David Murray: Solar has been a constant area of growth for the District’s energy portfolio. In addition to exceeding the goal of creating over 1,200 local jobs by 2020 three years early, D.C. based solar generation helped the District become the first city in the world to be certified as LEED platinum. Community solar, Solar For All installations, and public-private solar partnerships will only increase with the 10% standard. SWup: Are there any downsides to the potential transformation? David Murray: There aren’t many downsides to a cleaner energy economy but there are certainly opportunities. Our transmission and distribution infrastructure needs to be upgraded to the 21st century including increased distributed generation, battery storage, advanced metering, and electric vehicle infrastructure. These infrastructure upgrades yield long term payoffs in the form of a stronger, more resilient system and solar will play a huge role in a modern grid. SWup: Do you think Congress will allow this mandate to go forward? David Murray: The Congressional review process did not affect the 2016 RPS increase. It is unlikely federal lawmakers will challenge the merits of this legislation, either. SWup: How do the national politics affect the local politics? David Murray: No doubt the abdication of climate leadership from the federal government spurred local lawmakers to act. We are seeing it in the three other states MDV-SEIA represents: Virginia is poised to join RGGI, our 50% RPS bills in Maryland and Delaware are likely to pass next year as well. DC has always been progressive: it is no coincidence the City Council put forth a 100% RPS while the White House is looking to bailout coal and nuclear.

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Nevada has long had a love/hate relationship with the rooftop solar industry. Despite having one of the highest insolation rates in the nation, it's rooftop solar segment experienced a near-death experience when the Nevada Public Utilities Commission (NPUC) decided to eviscerate net metering at a December meeting in 2015. After nearly killing off the segment, the legislature and governor came to their senses and reinstate net metering under a modified program, but serious damage was done - such damage, in fact, that the rooftop industry is still recovering from it. On the other hand, the populace overwhelmingly passed into law a constitutional amendment (which will need to be ratified again in two years) that would put the state on the path toward a 50% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2030. What that means, at least to most solar observers, is that despite hemming and hedging at the state government level, the people of Nevada overwhelmingly want solar energy. Which brings us to the latest PUC decision. According to the Nevada Independent, the PUC decided against opening a rulemaking exercise in the case of an apartment owner with more than 9,000 units in the state who requested the right to put solar modules on the roof of their buildings in an effort to supply their tenants with clean, renewable energy. Alan Molasky, which runs the property management firm Ovation MM, expressed his disappointment to the Independent: “I am disappointed that the PUC has denied our petition, but I do understand the reasoning,” he said in an email. “They are concerned that they have the statutory authority under Nevada law. Fortunately, this can be fixed. I know that many of our incoming legislators and our Governor-elect are very pro-clean energy, so I am hopeful we find a way to enable us with the authority to move forward soon.” Molasky says he had been prepared for this decision and is already trying to organize efforts to change the law that would allow the PUC to make decisions about such matters, which he rightly believes falls under their purview. But the decision is maddening. Here is a company that wants to do the right thing and provide clean energy to people who might not otherwise have access to it, and here's the Nevada PUC deciding to protect its own behinds by not making a decision. Their cowardice is multiplied by the fact that notoriously anti-rooftop-solar utility NV Energy brought its own pressure to bear on the PUC as this decision was being made. Here's hoping Molasky and his team won't stop fighting so they can get this ridiculous decision by the PUC reversed legislatively. More: Proposal extending rooftop solar to apartments rejected by utility regulators

Quick rundown today as it’s been a long week after the holidays and everyone wants their racking and mounting before the holidays. Don’t forget to check out all the fun stuff Quick Mount has to offer for your stockings this holiday season. 
More On SRA. Frank speaks with the Solar Rights Alliance’s Executive Director, Dave Rosenfeld. Check it out. 
The Future Of The CA Grid. Sunrun’s Chief Policy Officer, Anne Hoskins, a former utility regulator posts a really smart op-ed about the role distributed solar plays in the future where fires are bigger and badder. 
Big EV Infra Money. ChargePoint raises $240million and has now surpassed half a billion in funding. Some of the smartest names in solar are now at the competitor EvGo, some new interesting ones coming soon I think. I like watching this infrastructure race taking off. 
Solar Powered Oil. Orsted has done a 12 year deal with Exxon. This is likely through an energy forward contract of some sort and shows that shorter term contracts in tradable markets is the way to get deals done. Exxon is using solar to increase profits on oil, the irony. 
Slowing Militaries Resiliency. The military using solar, wind, energy storage and microgrids to make its facilities safer and less expensive to run is a good thing. Stopping that momentum is a bad thing. 
I’m All In On 180kWh Beast. This week at the LA Auto Show, a formerly stealthy company, Rivian, rolled out its 180kWh pickup and SUV trucks. I’m not saying I miss my F-250 but I’m all in on big electric trucks and the load they add to the grid that can be met with giant solar farms.

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Have a great day!
Yann