Zombie Lie Returns; Time To Kill It Again
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: This fella right here – Lucas Davis,an Associate Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley – trotted out the zombie lie about the solar-customer cost shift again on something called “The Energy Institute at Haas” blog. If he would have picked up the phone and called down to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, they could have cautioned him against spreading this garbage. How many times to we have to debunk this before reputable people stop trafficking in this idiocy? I haven’t been able … Read More
State-Level Solar Data Provides Hours Of Fun
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: The Solar Foundation released its follow-up to the National Solar Jobs Census 2017 in the form of its interactive state map, which: provides a remarkably detailed look at how solar is affecting the lives of people in your Congressional District. offers a historical look at the data for the same area. gives more granular detail on how solar is providing jobs and economic impacts on people – which can be used to inform lobbying efforts. SolarWakeup’s View: Well, I know how I’ll be spending every waking moment this weekend – looking at The Solar … Read More
Proterra CEO Predicts EV Adoption Timeline
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The whole interview is worth listening to, but as you can see from the bullets above, three things really captured my imagination:
First, Popple talks about what it was like to be present at the creation (or at least the early years) at Tesla. What I was most interested in, honestly, was his contention that you don’t necessarily have to have the best technology when you first start a business as long as you have the top intellectual talent throughout the company to get you there eventually.
It’s a sentiment Popple shares with Jim Collins, former Stanford Business School professor and best-selling author of the book Good to Great: Put the best people you can hire in key positions first; then the products will follow.
Second, Popple talks about why China is so far ahead of the United States in EV development. His explanation will be obvious to anyone who ever sat in their college dorms at 2 a.m. discussing the merits of communism vs capitalism and coming to the conclusion that ultimately, capitalism wins – eventually.
Third, Yann asks Popple when he thinks EV development, at least on the mass transit front that Proterra serves, will hit 50% of all the purchases of those types of vehicles. Your jaw may well drop when you hear his answer (I know mine did).
Oh, and he has a prediction of what long-haul trucking will look like in 20 years that will blow your mind.
More:
Can EVs Save The Utility Model?
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: In this edition of the SolarWakeup Live! podcast, Yann Brandt sat down with Ryan Popple, CEO of Proterra, an electric vehicle manufacturer currently focused on building buses and driving and discussed: why China is so far ahead of the United States in EV development, how Tesla made it from being a small startup to the electric vehicle behemoth it is today (Popple was present at the creation), and how soon will there be an EV in every driveway (OK, that last one’s made up, but they do talk about how quickly mass-transit EVs will … Read More
Could We Finally Be Rid Of Suniva?
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Remember Suniva? The company whose bankruptcy last April set off the swirling cesspool that became the solar tariffs this January? Well, there have been some interesting developments with its bankruptcy lately, to wit: The company’s biggest creditor, SQN Financial, has asked the judge to extend its exclusive right to Suniva’s assets, and the reasons they give could be an indication that the creditor is close to negotiating a final dissolution of the company. It should be noted that SQN tried to dump Suniva one month into their bankruptcy to make the tariff case go … Read More
Will Natural Gas Lose Its Place As A Transition Energy?
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Our friends at the Environmental Defense Fund penned a fascinating blog post on the future of energy production in the Northeast, with particular focus on: whether the lack of natural gas pipelines in the area will harm fuel stability in the region, and outlines the challenges for regulators in the region as they look to keep their energy supplies stable. SolarWakeup’s View: The central question facing the Northeast, at least according to N. Jonathan Peress of the Environmental Defense Fund is how the Northeast will continue to keep its fuel supplies secure if it … Read More
CAISO Could Save $2.6 Billion Thanks (In Part) To Solar
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Thanks in part to solar penetration in Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) territories, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) proposed canceling $2.6 billion in transmission projects. The 39 cancelled projects in the two utilities’ service areas include transmission projects rendered unnecessary in part because of solar’s increased penetration in those areas. The 2017-2018 plan also includes special studies on the impact of a 50% renewable resources policy, the early retirement risks of the gas fleet and updates to previous studies on the benefits of large-scale storage. C … Read More
Illinois Is Coming For You, Minnesota
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened:Illinois is inching closer to finalizing its Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan next month as the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) begins its final deliberations. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Manager for Clean Energy Regulatory Implementation Christie Hicks says could jumpstart renewable energy in the state. The Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan arose out of the Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016. Currently before the ICC, the final plan should be approved on April 3. SolarWakeup’s View: When Illinois lawmakers, utilities and clean energy advocates joined forces in 2016 to sign the Future Energy Jobs Act into … Read More
New Colorado Law Encourages Energy Storage
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 9, which explicitly provides the state’s citizens the right to install energy storage. It also calls on utilities to streamline the interconnection processes for adding storage to existing net-metered systems. It instructs the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create a regulatory framework surrounding such installations. Under the new legislation, Colorado utilities can’t require the installation of new meters to monitor energy storage. The law will go into effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns, which is expected to be on or about August … Read More
Oregon Solar Installers Back Legend’s Customers
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Oregon solar installers are rallying around the their state’s Legend Solar customers, who could have faced an uncertain future after Utah-based Legend tumbled into financial freefall. Among the companies and organizations coming to the rescue are the Energy Trust of Oregon, the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association and Elemental Energy. The state’s installers have rushed in to make sure the entire solar industry doesn’t get a black eye from this high-profile bankruptcy. SolarWakeup’s View: When one solar company stumbles, it’s up to the rest of us to make sure it doesn’t take the rest … Read More
APS Is Trying To Kill Steyer-Backed RPS Initiative
By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent What Happened: Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility, is again trying to stifle solar development in the state that has the most insolation in the country, because reasons. The utility behemoth, which wields enormous power in the state’s politics, is trying to kill a ballot initiative backed by progressive billionaire Tom Steyer that would raise the state’s RPS to 50% by 2030. To counter the measure, APS is pushing hard for a bill in the legislature that would make the penalty for not making the RPS goals almost laughably negligible – $1,000-$5000, a penalty APS … Read More