Community solar for a dime in Minnesota
Minnesota regulators have approved a 1.5¢/kWh incentive for residential customers of “solar gardens”, as they seek to boost the residential to commercial customer wattage ratio from the current 1:9.
Choice to cost a little more in California
California regulators voted 5-0 to implement higher priced exit fees for CCAs, as requested by investor-owned utilities. The fees will increase residential bills for members of CCAs by 1.7-5.2%.
Solar funding moves from companies to projects
Mercom Capital’s latest report shows sustained low levels of funding for solar companies but strong investment in solar projects and many acquisitions.
Zero energy homes make cents – as Vivint builds in Rhode Island
RMI has released an economic analysis of Zero Energy homes, suggesting their economics meet industry standards and stay within homeowner appetites for larger investments, while Vivint Solar has built such a home in Rhode Island.
Best practices for building residential solar power and market confidence
SEIA has released an update to its residential solar best practices guidelines. The guide’s purpose is to build trust in public observers of the solar market, and can be used to educate detail-oriented customers.
Nevada primed for up to a gigawatt of energy storage
A report by the Brattle Group for Nevada regulators suggests that by 2030 – depending on pricing – 700 to 1,000 MW / 2.8 to 4 GWh worth of energy storage could be cost-effectively deployed statewide.
SunPower makes good on its promise to manufacture in America
The high-efficiency PV maker has closed on SolarWorld’s Oregon factory, which will transition from SolarWorld products to SunPower’s P-type shingled modules.
New solar REIT to make long-term solar loans
By offering long-term solar mortgages that can be repaid from project cash flows, the founders of Radiant REIT plan to meet an industry need. The REIT is starting with a $300 million fund.
Massachusetts’ SMART program is a go, but the details matter
The State of Massachusetts has officially approved its next round of solar power incentives. The program will push 1.6 GW of solar power onto the power grid.
SEC wants Elon Musk off the Tesla board
The regulator has filed a lawsuit alleging that Musk’s August tweets about having secured funding to take the company private were “false and misleading”, and is asking to have him barred from serving on the board or as a director of a public company.
