By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Long-time solar industry denizen Silvio Marcacci took to Forbes to argue that low- and middle-income Americans could represent a 320 GW untapped solar market in the United States. Marcacci’s conclusions are based on a new report out of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory – the first of its kind – that made the assertion. Marcacci writes: “NREL’s research shows that most rooftop solar technical potential is highly concentrated in the states and urban areas with significant building stock and high levels of existing residential solar deployment: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.” SolarWakeup’s View:  … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:The clock is ticking on the future of DTE Energy’s $1 billion natural gas boondoggle, with a decision expected by Friday. Links on the Michigan Public Service Commission website to rebuttal testimony over the next three days are broken, so the public doesn’t have access to them. Solar advocates across the country are watching what happens in Michigan to see if the aggressive tactics will succeed in stopping the plant. Proposed natural gas plants are increasingly being denied in various states as unnecessary, particularly in solar-friendly states like California and Arizona. But the DTE … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Sources close to the situation have told SolarWakeup that Schletter, the German solar racking company going through insolvency (what bankruptcy is called in Germany) at home, is close to closing its U.S. operations. Calls to company’s main number and to the marketing manager go directly to a generic voicemail. Calls to the office and cell phones of the company’s vice president of sales reach recordings saying they have been disconnected. SolarWakeup’s View:  Though there has been no official announcement, multiple sources close to troubled racking company Schletter say the U.S. subsidiary has closed its … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:After languishing for a decade in relative obscurity, it might finally be time to dust off a Navigant Consulting report on the solar capacity of Florida, now that the Public Service Commission (FPSC) has made third-party leasing a reality. The Florida report, prepared for the FPSC in 2008, reported that the state’s potential solar production could reach nearly 56 GWh annually by 2020. While the goals of the Florida report are impossible to reach in the original timeframe, the mind boggles at how quickly Florida could transform itself into one of the leading solar … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Five Congresspeople – two Democrats and three Republicans – have sponsored the Protecting American Solar Jobs Act (HR 5571). If the bill passed, all duties and tariffs revert to previous rates and allow companies that imported any affected solar products under this new tariff to receive retroactive reimbursement. Under the current leadership in the House of Representatives, it’s unlikely the bill will even make it out of committee – but that doesn’t mean the willingness to fight the noxious tariffs is insignificant. SolarWakeup’s View:  Showing an unusual level of bipartisanship, five Congressman have introduced … Read More →

The Energy Show with Barry Cinnamon Public policies have a tremendous influence on the energy we use, as well as the condition of our environment. State and Federal legislators make these policies with input from private citizens and businesses. The solar industry quite frankly has thrived with policies in favor of clean renewable energy, and it’s no accident that California is a leader in solar and clean renewable energy. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG) helps advocate for favorable business and citizen policies in Silicon Valley and they have made a tremendous impact not only in California but also in … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Bloomberg Technology reports that despite rising interest rates, banks are still finding money to invest in solar. According to Bloomberg, “While the cost of borrowing has been increasing since 2016, some banks are taking a smaller cut to win deals from solar developers. How long solar is able to withstand the headwinds of higher costs of capital remains to be seen. SolarWakeup’s View:  Interest rates are on the rise after years at being near zero. While normally such increases in capital costs would inhibit investments in solar projects, Bloomberg Technology (BT) reports that is … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:On a vote of 5-0, the Florida Public Service Commission has approved Sunrun’s request that its third party leases not be considered a sale of electricity and that: Offering its solar equipment lease to customers in Florida will not cause Sunrun to be deemed a public utility under Florida law; The residential solar equipment lease described in its petition will not subject Sunrun or Sunrun’s customer-lessees to regulation by the Commission. SolarWakeup’s View:  In a victory for third-party leasing in the state of Florida, Sunrun has JUST been granted the right to sell its … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Sammy Roth of The Desert Sun is one of my mainstream solar writers, and he takes a fascinating look at the Trump Administration’s decision to reopen the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. The Trump Administration and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke talk about reopening the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, which was finished in 2016 and was designed to balance environmental protection and renewable-energy development. But even the large-scale solar developers are suspicious of Trump’s motives behind the plan reconsideration. SolarWakeup’s View:  First off, read the whole Sammy Roth article that I link … Read More →

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sunshot Initiative’s Solar In Your Community Challenge, one coal-country Ohio town is moving toward a community solar installation. A group called Upgrade Ohio is trying to change the town’s laws in a way that would allow regular citizens – not just wealthy investors – get in on the ground floor of the array. Despite being in the heart of coal country, the citizens of Athens are excited about the prospect of opening up a new energy future for the poverty-stricken area. SolarWakeup’s View:  Full … Read More →