By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Energy storage is the next front in the solar revolution, and states across the country are starting to grapple with how to incorporate it into the future of their electricity-generation plans. California, Arizona and New Mexico have already mandated that their utilities incorporate storage into their long-term planning. And now New York has announced its plans to incorporate 1,500 MW of energy storage into it electricity generation by 2025. [wds id=”3″] Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the aggressive plans last week, touting that it would create $2 billion in consumer benefits and 30,000 jobs. He also … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondentthey The news today about the fight over saving failing coal and nuclear plants is that Energy Secretary Rick Perry won’t take into account the importance of low electricity prices in favor of creating mythical “energy security” based on the outdated concept of baseload power. It’s a frivolous, short-sighted idea, fueled by coal barons and fossil-fuel interests. And yet, in a state as far removed from Washington as one can imagine, officials are preparing to build the state’s largest utility-scale solar plant in a tacit admission that the future of coal is dim. [wds id=”3″] Wyoming … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondentthey CleanFund, a national property assessed clean energy (PACE) purveyor, announced they will be partnering with SunPower to extend the reach of its commercial SolarPACE programs. Commercial companies looking to finance solar improvements or other clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades without any upfront costs can now access CleanFund’s tools through SunPower’s network of solar installers. [wds id=”3″] The announcement heralds at least three significant developments within the solar industry: 1) It broadens the reach of commercial PACE programs, an increasingly attractive option for companies that want to add solar to their businesses but balk at … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondentthey When California decided last week to revise and extend its Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program with a 12-year rebate program for disadvantaged citizens who want to take advantage of solar, it marked another step forward in the democratization (small “d”) of electricity generation. It also continued the national trend toward the inclusion of low-income solar in statewide solar legislation, much of which is being modeled on California’s original SASH program. [wds id=”3″] As Elsie Hunger from GRID Alternatives put it: California has been a leader nationally in providing solar access to families in disadvantaged … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondentthey Four more years! Four more years! That’s the mantra some utility-scale solar developers are chanting today after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) decided to extend the 30% investment tax credit (ITC) through 2023 as long as they have broken ground or spent 5% of the total expected investment in the project by the end of 2019. [wds id=”3″] Bloomberg reports the opinion, issued by the IRS late last week, came as something of a surprise to most utility-scale developers. As the reporters noted: “The news is positive for utility scale solar developers who can now … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Leading solar risk management firm kWh Analytics has launched Solar Lendscape, a searchable database designed to connect project developers with financing solutions. The Solar Lendscape catalogs the solar industry’s most active lenders, including their check sizes, target market segments, and product type. This list will be updated regularly. kWH Analytics is also offering to provide introductions to any of the lenders on the list if project developers need it. Interested developers should send an email with details of the project to lendscape@kwhanalytics.com. The database can be found here. An analysis of the data indicates the … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Jinko Solar, being a public company, has to be as positive as possible. So when Reuters asked the Chinese module manufacturer whether the new round of tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration – 25% on modules and cells on top of the 30% the administration already imposed on all imported cells – my old friend Jeff Juger had a ready answer. He told the news service that the Jacksonville factory, which was originally supposed to double as the company’s U.S. headquarters, will be producing modules by the fourth quarter based on cells manufactured in Malaysia, … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent A report from the Reno Gazette Journal brings the heartening news that the Tom Steyer backed Nevada ballot initiative to bring Nevada’s RPS to 50% by 2030 likely has enough signatures to go to voters. As of Monday, organizers told the paper they had nearly double the number of signatures necessary to put the initiative on the ballot. Typically, ballot initiatives need to have at least double the actual number of signatures to account for ineligible signatures being thrown out by the certification body. The measure, backed by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer, would amend the … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent At the beginning of June, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) co-hosted a meeting in San Francisco, the purpose of which was to find ways to reduce extra costs associated with going solar. These costs, known as soft costs, include the cost of permitting, inspections, customer acquisition and other issues. SolarWakeup caught up with SEIA’s President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper to discuss how the meeting went and what the next steps will be. SolarWakeup: What was the purpose of this first meeting? Abigail Ross Hopper (ARH): This was an introductory meeting, and as such, … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent Under the radar, something happened last week that could send shockwaves through the renewables’ industry – in a good way. MidAmerican Energy, a division of Berkshire Hathaway Energy (Warren Buffet’s joint), filed an application with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) to establish ratemaking principles for a 591 MW. By itself, the application is unremarkable, but as usual, it’s the details that make this deal stand out. If approved, the wind farm would allow MidAmerican to become the first utility in the country to be powered 100% by renewables in just three years. by 2021 to … Read More →