Executive and boardroom moves in solar, storage, cleantech, utilities and venture capital.

“You’d never get payback for a battery unless your considerations are the zombie apocalypse or secession.”

Also in the brief: A great month for solar in Oahu, Connecticut’s two biggest electric utilities are “dragging their feet” on shared solar, and Ørsted in Rhode Island.

It’s not the next lithium-ion battery breakthrough that’s going to accelerate the energy storage industry. It’s not the next inflated promise from a flow battery startup, compressed-air scheme, solid-state battery research project or energy storage dream funded by Bill Gates.

“Brand is powerful — after a house and a car, a PV/storage system worth tens of thousands of dollars is one of the larger purchases a family will make.”

Also in the morning brief: Arizona mandatory solar panel recycling bill, Sumitomo invests $46 million in long-term energy storage from Highview Power, and more.

Elon Musk has spoken of the “exponential” ramp-up of its solar glass tile at the Buffalo factory. Panasonic’s tiles never made the cut for that product

Total will be acquiring 676,000 shares worth about $31 million, according to SEC filings. 

Falling battery costs, shifting utility strategies and new PUC policies are drawing fresh entrants and incumbents into an invigorated energy storage sector.

Also in today’s brief: New Hampshire solar wildlife access, Iowa solar compromises