Tariffs Squeeze Utility-Scale Solar In Third Quarter Of 2018

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Ah. There it is.

After escaping several quarters largely unscathed by the insane Trump tariffs on solar, the Solar Energy Industries Association and Woods Mackenzie report that the third quarter of 2018 saw the 30% tariffs take a bite out of the utility-scale sector.

Though not unexpected, the slowdown hurt solar’s overall growth numbers and has Woods Mackenzie analysts predicting that 2018 will finish flat with year on year growth.

If most of us are being honest, we consider the solar industry a bit lucky that it hadn’t already felt the bite of the tariffs, though as we’ve reported, a massive slowdown in the Chinese market created a glut of solar modules that helped offset some of the damage for a while. But given the wailing and gnashing of teeth that occurred last year as the tariffs were under consideration, surviving two quarters without damage being felt seems like something of a small victory at least.

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For the first time since 2015, quarterly additions of utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) fell below 1 gigawatt (GW), highlighting the impact of the tariffs and the uncertainty surrounding them in late 2017 and early 2018. As a result, the U.S. solar market was down 15 percent year-over-year in the third quarter of the year, but the report notes that a strong project pipeline lies ahead.

“Developers originally planning to bring projects online in Q3 2018 were forced to push out completion dates to Q4 2018 or Q1 2019 due to uncertainty around tariffs,” said Colin Smith, Senior Analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “We did, however, see utility PV procurement outpace installations fourfold in Q3, showing that despite the tariffs causing project delays, there is substantial growth ahead for the U.S. utility PV sector.”

Even with the tariffs, the report forecasts 3.5 GW of utility PV for Q4 2018, and projects that the fourth quarter will be the largest quarter for utility PV installations since Q4 2016, as Wood Mackenzie expects many of the delayed projects to come online by the end of the year.

Evanston Becomes First City In Illinois To Commit To 100% Clean Energy

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Illinois is one of the hottest solar markets in the country, thanks in part to the Future Energy Act of 2016. Solar companies are flooding into the state, and many cities are clamoring to be part of the Solar Revolution in the state.

And now at least one city has decided to take its devotion to clean energy that extra step by pledging to become the 102nd city in the United States – and the first in Illinois – to generate 100% of its electricity from renewable sources.

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Yesterday, the Evanston City Council unanimously approved its new Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP), which includes a commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity supply community-wide by 2030, along with other bold climate goals.

“We thank Mayor Hagerty and the Evanston City Council for taking bold steps to address climate change and prioritize an equitable, just transition to 100 percent renewable clean electricity,” said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club Illinois Chapter. “As a fellow Evanstonian, I look forward to the Sierra Club’s continued work with the City as it implements the Climate Action and Resilience Plan and ensures that the transition to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2030 benefits everyone in our city.”

The Plan calls for 100 percent renewable electricity for municipal operations by 2020, 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030, and carbon neutrality by 2050, in addition to other ambitious goals to address climate change. The plan was developed by a 17-member working group appointed by Mayor Stephen Hagerty, who is also signed on to the Mayors for 100 Percent Clean Energy initiative. CARP identifies critical actions that need to be taken in order for Evanston to play its part in avoiding cataclysmic climate change as well as key strategies to ensure that Evanson is prepared to deal with those climate hazards.

“From our residents, to our businesses, to our schools and hospitals, Evanston is united i its efforts to mitigate the far-reaching effects of climate change through bold and immediate action,” said Evanston Mayor Stephen Hagerty. “While Evanston will likely undergo many changes on the way to 2050, this plan ensures that our longstanding commitment to climate action will remain.”

Evanston’s plan for moving to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity can serve as an example to other communities in the Prairie State looking to set their own renewable energy goals. A transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030 means cleaner air, energy bill savings, local solar development and job creation, and a healthier community for all Evanstonians.

“I’m proud to live in a community that is willing to confront climate change head on. Citizens’ Greener Evanston looks forward to working with all community stakeholders to make the vision of a zero carbon, zero waste Evanston a reality. We’re particularly proud of the fact that the plan directly addresses equity issues so that the effects of climate disruption won’t be borne disproportionately by those of our neighbors who are least equipped to adapt,” said Jonathan Nieuwsma, President of Citizens’ Greener Evanston.

Dusty Baker Wants To Diversify The Solar Industry Just Like SEIA

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

As most of you know, I’ve long been a crusader for diversity. I helped host the first diversity conference in the hotel industry back in 1998. I took the golf course maintenance industry to task for its lack of diversity in an article headlined, “Why Is This Industry So White?” And I sat on the Minorities in Pest Management committee when I wasn’t writing about cockroaches and bed bugs in the pest management industry.

So diversity is kinda my thing, which is why I am thrilled with the Solar Energy Industries Association’s work on bringing diversity into the solar industry. Abigail Ross Hopper, Andrea Luecke and the teams at SEIA and The Solar Foundation (respectively) have already done more in this industry than any other industry I’ve been in had accomplished – and the beauty is, they’re just getting started.

Dusty Baker, erstwhile baseball player and successful manager, is also interested in diversifying solar, which is why he started Baker Energy Team to focus on the solar industry. Specifically, he joined it after attending several cleantech conferences and noticing there weren’t a lot of people that looked like him, according to a Bloomberg news article about the startup.

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As Bloomberg chronicles,

He founded Baker Energy Team four years ago, between managerial stints with the Reds and Nationals. He wasn’t considering a second act in solar; he already had an upstart wine business. But he took up a longstanding offer to go pheasant hunting with an investment banker he had met in a Chicago hotel bar, which led him to clean-tech conferences in Newport Beach and Las Vegas. “There were no minorities, very few women,” Baker says. “This is an opening for me.”

So far, the business has done a couple of megawatts worth of projects, but Bloomberg reports has has more than 200 MW planned with one of his partners. He’s also looking to start mentorships with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for engineering students to try and get them into the solar industry, too.

This is, of course, a no-brainer. I don’t know if anyone at SEIA will read this, but Dusty Baker has to be your keynote speaker at next year’s SPI, doesn’t he? I mean, with your commitment to diversity and talk of expanding the reach of solar beyond its traditional boundaries, it makes perfect sense.

I don’t have his phone number, but it’s got to be in the public somewhere (heck, try him at Baker Energy Team). Get him on board to make the keynote speech, and show yet again that you are committed to making the solar industry the diverse industry we know it must become.

Baseball Legend Dusty Baker Wants to Harness the Power of the Sun

Q&A: Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Aims For 100% Clean Electricity By 2045

By Frank Andorka, Senior Correspondent

Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced his aggressive plans to reduce the state’s carbon emissions. As part of those plans, he has pledged the state to get to 100% clean energy by 2045, following California and several other states who have decided to decarbonize tehir electrical systems. He talked with SolarWakeup about the decision.

SolarWakeup: Where does Washington currently stand in its clean energy development?

Washington Governor Jay Inslee: Washington’s electricity is about 75% carbon free, predominantly hydro. You can find more information here and here.

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SolarWakeup: What first inspired you to decide to set 2045 as a 100% clean electricity date?

Jay Inslee: This timeline sets a reasonable glide path for depreciating long-lived infrastructure and allows for innovation to continue to make clean energy more affordable. Utilities conduct resource planning over 20-year horizons, so we believe this timeline gives them plenty of time to plan ahead. It is also consistent with timelines already adopted by Hawaii and California.

SolarWakeup: How is Washington going to get there?

Jay Inslee: That will be determined through thoughtful implementation of the policy by individual utilities. We expect renewables, energy efficiency, energy storage, demand response, and further regional grid integration to all play a role.

SolarWakeup: What percentage would you say will be solar?

Jay Inslee: Because electricity system planning is conducted on a utility-by-utility basis, we do not have an estimate for how much solar will be developed.

SolarWakeup: Do you have any concerns about the aggressiveness of your goal?

Jay Inslee: No. Many utilities will reach the standard before 2045.

SolarWakeup: Do you have the backing in the legislature to make your goal a reality?

Jay Inslee: Yes. We have support in both the House and the Senate and the bill is a 2019 legislative priority of the environmental priorities coalition.

SolarWakeup: What else would you like the rest of the country to know about Washington’s commitment to 100% clean electricity?

Jay Inslee: Because of our legacy of clean, renewable hydroelectricity, and history of leadership in energy efficiency, Washington is uniquely positioned to meet this standard. We are also at a critical juncture to replace legacy coal power plants in the region, and we believe most of the transformation will happen by 2030.