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SolarWakeup Live! The Solar Bill of Rights and Solar Rights Alliance with Dave Rosenfeld

SolarWakeup Live!: By Yann Brandt

In this episode I speak with Dave Rosenfeld of the Solar Rights Alliance about the bipartisan legislation that was filed in California last week, the Solar Bill of Rights. The bill is California focused legislation but the story rings true across the Country, consumers deserve the opportunity to go solar without obstruction from the electric monopolies putting barriers in the way.

Dave runs the Solar Rights Alliance which brings together solar consumers and creates the response mechanism to help the solar industry push politics forward. Much like the NRA, SRA members join (for free) when they go solar and that is where the Solar Rights Alliance partners with solar installers to get customers involved. If we all do this together, installers will have a million solar customers to lean on for political response.

This episode is sponsored by UtilityAPI. Get a free data pull for one meter by going to utilityapi.com/Wakeup. Support our sponsors!

Join the Solar Rights Alliance at solarrights.org

Q&A: New Columbia Solar CEO Mike Healy On DC’s Historic Clean Energy Vote

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

After the DC City Council passed its groundbreaking clean energy resolution on Tuesday, reaction came in fast and furious. One of those people who reacted was New Columbia CEO Mike Healy, whose company works strictly within the district and is heavily invested in solar development in the city. We thought he’d be the perfect person to weigh in on the resolution, which now goes to Mayor Muriel Bowser for her signature and then on to Congress and the President for approval. Here’s what he had to say on the historic passage.

SolarWakeup: What is the specific impact of Tuesday’s vote?

New Columbia Solar’s CEO Mike Healy: The District is going to be 100% powered by clean energy by 2032, with 10% of that power coming from solar energy .

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SolarWakeup: How did the DC Council get here?

Mike Healy: The Council and the city leadership have shown strong and consistent environmental and clean energy leadership over the past 15 years. The passage of the Clean Energy DC Act is an important step in a long history of developing a robust clean energy industry in the District.

SolarWakeup: What makes the DC vote so groundbreaking?

Mike Healy: It is the strongest, most aggressive renewable clean energy target in the country. As the nation’s capital, we are setting a precedent by ensuring it’s going to be powered by clean energy.

The District is leading in utilizing renewable energy as a mechanism to help preserve affordable housing and assist low income residents in the District.

SolarWakeup: Do you foresee any opposition in Congress or by the President?

Mike Healy: No.

SolarWakeup: What effect will this have on New Columbia Solar’s business?

Mike Healy: We are a local company focused on the District, that means hiring District residents and working with local partners. The passage of The Clean Energy DC Act creates an opportunity that allows our company to stay focused on the District and not have to go anywhere else. We can focus our efforts fully on the community that we love.

SolarWakeup: How do you think DC’s vote will affect similar efforts around the country, if at all?

Mike Healy: As the Nation’s capital – this should set the stage for both states and cities. We are setting an example by how we power our city and showing how local clean energy can benefit our city’s most vulnerable residents.

Philadelphia To Be Partially Powered By 70-MW Solar Farm

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Leading clean energy developer Community Energy announced the approval of a 70-megawatt (MW) solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in Adams County, Pennsylvania to power government facilities in Philadelphia.

The solar farm, named Adams Solar LLC, will produce enough electricity to operate 22 percent of Philadelphia government buildings by 2020. The project is the largest in Pennsylvania by sevenfold, and a significant step toward the City’s clean energy goal of sourcing 100 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2030

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Adams Solar LLC will sell 100 percent of its power under a 20-year contract to The Philadelphia Energy Authority, an independent city agency. The project will generate 156,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy in the first year of operation, eliminating more than 4 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the project.

“The Philadelphia solar commitment demonstrates impressive and much-needed leadership on climate change in Pennsylvania,” said Brent Alderfer, Community Energy CEO and co-founder. “As the costs of climate change go up, Philadelphia is showing the way for municipalities to secure reliable, long-term solar power to decarbonize and head off irreversible climate damage.”

An Economic Opportunity Plan (EOP) will use best efforts to incorporate minority, women and disabled-person owned businesses into the Adams Solar LLC project. Job fairs for sub-contractors and the workforce will be held in both Philadelphia and Adams County. Community Energy’s efforts will connect to existing solar training opportunities, such as recent Philadelphia Energy Authority initiatives.

This latest large-scale solar project by Community Energy reflects shifting energy production and sourcing trends that extend well beyond the state of Pennsylvania. According to a report by GTM Research and Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), constituents are calling on government officials to set renewable energy goals that will bring reliable, climate-friendly energy to their communities. As requests for clean power translate into municipal sustainability goals, the industry is witnessing an acceleration of utility-scale project deployment and that growth is expected to continue.

“This project not only helps Philadelphia demonstrate leadership on climate action, but it also makes good economic sense and helps to boost regional job growth in the renewable energy sector,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “We thank Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, the Philadelphia Energy Authority, and Community Energy, Inc. for their partnership in creating this win-win deal for Philadelphians.”

Freedom Forever Doubles 2017 Revenues And Expects Banner 2019

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Freedom Forever, one of America’s fastest growing solar power companies, announced today that the company has doubled its revenues in 2018 from $55 million to $110 million. Freedom Forever has established itself as one of the home solar industry’s most dynamic forces – and is poised for continued growth and expansion in 2019 and beyond.

“At the core of Freedom Forever’s business model is the fundamental belief that our customers come first. Our ongoing success is a direct result of the consumer-driven, service-oriented approach we follow, which is designed to make renewable energy an attractive proposition for homeowners by maximizing their return on investment,” said Brett Bouchy, CEO of Freedom Forever. “2018 was a banner year as we cracked $100 million in revenue for the first time. As we look forward to 2019, we see continued room to grow as we bring our services to a broader market in more states, and as more homeowners become aware of both the cost-savings possible with solar energy and the role that renewables have in ultimately countering climate change.”

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Freedom Forever has been among the fastest growing energy companies in the United States with 3000% revenue growth over the last three years. So far, the company has installed solar systems on more than 10,000 homes in California, Arizona and Nevada and installed a total of 26 Megawatts of solar capacity in 2018. In November, Freedom Forever expanded operations to Colorado and looks forward to continuing to expand into several additional states in 2019.

“From the beginning, Freedom Forever has continued to show consistent and rapid growth, showcasing our ability to cultivate and maintain long-lasting relationships with our customer base through impeccable service to our clients,” said Jessica Sumikawa, Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Freedom Forever. “We are proud to be a leading force behind the increases in solar energy adoption rates and we will continue to cultivate consumer demand for home solar as we spread our green energy solutions to new regions throughout the United States.”