This is your SolarWakeup for May 4th, 2018

I hope you have a great weekend. Stay tuned for info about SolarWakeup Live! Chicago, the event you will not want to miss. A full day conversation about the hottest market in solar development..

New Podcast, Live! From Midwest Solar Expo. I speak with Greg Ridderbusch, the CEO of Connexus Energy, one of the largest utility cooperatives in the Country. If you want to learn more about the value proposition coops are looking for, listen to this conversation..

South Carolina Turn Around. Looks like SC is going to get a NEM cap increase. Great that it is happening and shows the legislative skills of the solar folks on the ground there. Hopefully it makes it through the State Senate. May the fourth be with us!.

Connecticut NEM Drama. There is very little outrage about this CT NEM attack from the solar industry. The policy is part of the Governor’s plan so if you are hoping for a veto, that is unlikely to occur..

Tariffs Suck. There seems to be a shift in messaging about the tariffs coming from the national trade association. During a panel with SEIA CEO, Abby Hopper, in San Diego this week, a panelist went unchallenged about the tariff impacts. A panelist said the tariffs have caused no disruption to the business but was not asked what could have happened if we were able to buy modules at the global pricing levels. A facebook post by SEIA yesterday did show some pushback about the tariffs and the issues they cause to the industry.

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Have a great day!
Yann

SolarWakeup Live!: CEO Of Connexus Energy, A Co-Op That’s Saving Money With Solar And Storage

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By Yann Brandt, Managing Editor What Happened: In this episode of SolarWakeup Live!, taped live at the Midwest Solar Expo, I speak with the CEO of Connexus Energy, Greg Ridderbusch. Connexus Energy is one of the largest utility cooperatives in the Country and serves over 150,000 members in Minnesota. Connexus is building a 10MW solar farm which will be integrated with an AC coupled energy storage system. This project was done under a PPA and energy storage agreement which work to save money to the members. The conversations shows the power of solar for utilities around the country and we end … Read More →

South Carolina Tries, Tries Again To Reach Solar Compromise

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: After utilities snuck in the back door and stabbed a bill that would have eliminated a nonsensical net metering cap to death, solar advocates are trying one last Hail Mary in an attempt to save solar jobs in the Palmetto State. As you know (if you read SolarWakeup, anyway), South Carolina’s House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor a bill that would have eliminated the state’s insanely low 2% net metering cap. Then the utilities did the aforementioned stabbing, lobbying for (and getting) the bill to be changed into a “tax increase,” which … Read More →

Connecticut Catastrophe, Part 2: Solar Consumers Are NOT Utilities

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Yesterday, I promised you more information on why pending legislation in Connecticut that would eliminate net metering would be a disaster for the solar industry. Yesterday, we dealt with the idea of “simultaneous consumption” argument (a compensation scheme so complicated you need an accounting degree to figure it out). Today, we’ll deal with the idea that solar consumerss are utilities. The worst part of it is, the legislative session ends next Wednesday, so there’s little time to scuttle this monstrosity (fire up your phones and get dialing is what I am saying). SolarWakeup’s … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for May 3rd, 2018

NEM Under Attack In CT. Over the next few days, CT solar advocates will have to fight for the future of solar in Connecticut. This is your reminder that democrats can be just as influenced by utilities as republican legislators. Regulated power companies will control as many State Capitals as they can, which is also a stark reminder to SEIA that bringing utilities onto the membership rolls at SEIA is a very bad idea. The idea in CT is to replace NEM with something more like a feed in tariff. All production would flow to the grid and be repurchased by the solar owner. This is a terrible idea, not needed and just an attempt to reduce the value of solar. Step up and beat this thing back solar!

Forget 2017, What’s Coming Up. As I was manning the microphone in Minneapolis talking about growth in the midwest around community solar, some of you were in San Diego talking about growth in solar. Next time, just come with me to Minnesota and you would have seen it first hand. As expected, community solar is a large growth space in our industry and many states are looking at launching new programs around this. I also expect residential to make big strides, if the NEM fights go in the right direction, due to the homeowner’s continued desires to have solar and more states are making the economics look good.

The Money Play In Politics. The headline is more fun than the story. Solar companies give money to republicans and democrats. If you heard what Mulvaney said last week, money in politics means access to the legislators. If you are looking for administrative help to site a project, move an approval along, etc, then you are sometimes better served to make a few campaign donations. Republicans are also in charge of the House and Senate which means that’s a part of the donating strategy. This is a bit of a to do about nothing.

Dominion Is Losing Its Focus. The Virginia utility, which is interested in buying the troubled South Carolina utility, is out with his power plan going forward. And instead of a ton of solar and storage, it continues the trend of monopolies looking for giant rate base that requires ratepayers to hedge fuel costs for the utility. Will Vote Solar and others fight these projects when they’re requested?

Mercedes Stays Mobile. Mercedes, which I spoke to in an episode of SolarWakeup Live! a few months ago, is leaving home energy storage. The idea was to create a channel for batteries after they are used in the cars. The price declines and technological differences mean that batteries will simply be made for both segments.

SEIA DG Vice Chairs. In the effort of full information. Good solar folks Ed Merrick and Deep Patel are also candidates for the position. All the best to everyone that steps up and helps lead our industry.

News

Have a great day!
Yann

Well-Funded Republicans Get Solar’s Hard-Earned Cash

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: So Reuters reported this morning that solar companies are setting large piles of cash on fire in their parking lots…oh, I’m sorry, I misspoke. They’re actually funding Republicans. Wait, maybe I was right in the first place. OK, I’m not a political naif. I know you have to give money to both sides to get things done, especially when the party that doesn’t support you is in power. But seriously, solar industry? How many times do you have to get sand kicked in your face before you realize that being nice to the … Read More →

How To Screw Up Solar With One Horrid Bill (Connecticut Edition)

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: The swath of destruction the Connecticut legislature is about to cut through the solar industry with their latest bill to replace net metering is breathtaking and stupefying to behold. The absurdity of the legislation is so mindblowing I’m going to have to take more than one piece to do it justice, but it includes the illusory cost-shift, a buy-all, sell-all scheme, an arbitrary commercial solar cap….oh, yeah. This legislation is a beaut. The worst part of it is, the legislative session ends next Wednesday, so there’s little time to scuttle this monstrosity (fire … Read More →

This is your SolarWakeup for May 2nd, 2018

Conference Keynote From Rhone Resch. Yesterday, in his first keynote appearance since leaving SEIA, Rhone gave the keynote interview at the Midwest Solar Expo. It was largely tame and focused on his current work to find disruptive technologies in the disruptive solar market, but here are some highlights. Rhone mentions that more trade uncertainty could be on the way including the tariffs on  $100billion worth of Chinese imports. He says “solar is getting its butt kicked in DC” and shouldn’t have been “playing defense” while a major tax reform and spending bill were passed, both presenting opportunities for solar to gain. When it comes to the 201 trade case result, he cautions a need to temper the enthusiasm for the 30% result. “This wasn’t a victory”.

More Solar For Florida. You heard it here first. Sources close to Sunnova are telling SolarWakeup that they will be entering the Florida market. This comes behind the positive statement from the PSC for Sunrun on the fixed price lease. While the PSC statement is specific to Sunrun, I don’t expect others to follow suit and request PSC to bless theirs as well. Here is our coverage.

Spruce Exits Loan Business. Yesterday, a well written commentary on Linkedin explained that Spruce had exited the loan business. It mentioned several reasons for the exit which may leave Spruce as a company largely holding a software as its biggest asset. Word has it that an email went out to staff and a few minutes later the portal was shut down to the partners. The finance business can be as tough as the other segments and this shows the results of harsh competition.

Solar Gains More Roots In Minnesota. A 42MW portfolio of solar assets is being marketed to the residential consumers in Minnesota. Resi off takers offer the combination of highest credit values and the benefit of a FICO score. The reason this is news is most have not focused on residential because of the issues related with having this many customers and the cost to acquire them. I expect more retail energy companies to be in this space, surprised we haven’t seen this already.

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Have a great day!
Yann

Sources Say Sunnova Is Heading To Lucrative Florida Market

This is your SolarWakeup for Tuesday May1st, 2018

Greetings from Minneapolis, where I am for the Midwest Solar Expo for the next few days.
Biggest Risk (Value) In Rooftop Solar. I started my solar career from roofing so I may be biased but based on conversations I’ve had with installers, there is nothing worse for the customer and the contractor than a roof leak. That’s why the growing contractors are more likely to use higher quality components and sell on those strengths. Now you have a report that shows that selling quality means more sales. Put yourself in the clients shoes, what matters more than a leaking roof? That’s gotta get fixed before anything else, including solar production. How do you differentiate yourself from the competition when it comes to quality? I want to hear from you.
SEIA DG Votes. If you are a member of SEIA, voting is open for the DG committee. My friend, Costa Nicolaou, is running for Vice Chair and I’d highly recommend him for the role. When it comes to quality (see above), Costa is a solar leader on the issue and worthy of your vote.
Low Income IREC Report. Who doesn’t love a good IREC report? This goes in line with the latest topic about the scale of the low income solar market. Especially when combined with community solar, the certainty of solar costs is very attractive to people on fixed or low incomes.
Climate Change Outlook. This is really bleak and disturbing but it’s up to our generation to do something about this. Quite frankly what that means is our generation needs to take control of the political and regulatory system. I’m sorry but it’s time for the boomers to give up the gavel because we’re running out of time to do the right thing.
Illinois Is Coming Up. SolarWakeup Live! is coming to Chicago to talk about Illinois solar market developments at the end of June. We will be announcing the date by next week so you can plan your travel. Get your sponsorship budgets ready because this is a market entry event you will not want to miss.

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Have a great day!
Yann