10 Things Worth Reading This Week (10/2/2020)

A solar advocates coalition expressed its objections to MA legislation that would help crush indie solar contractors. The provision would significantly expand utility-owned solar in the state and toss out the long-standing prohibition against utilities owning power plants. 

CEO of SUNation tells us that COVID has resulted in a transformed (digital) solar sales process. It’s meant more efficiency, better sharing of info and customer comfort, and a format that addresses the increased interest in solar from higher home energy use.

Roll-A-Rack has produced its first portable solar racking roll forming machine that creates custom solar racking on-site and on-demand. The system looks to streamline the solar racking supply chain, cut down on waste and speed up install time. Video here.

Unsurprisingly, CA wildfires that led to periods of blotting out the sun curtailed solar energy production last month. First two weeks: 13% drop in large-scale output. This could impact deal making and underwriting.

Contactors get the choice and simplicity of more mature industries with standardization in module-level rapid shutdown. 34 states (80% of the market) now comply with NEC 2017/NEC 2020 requirements set by SunSpec to ensure first responder safety in an emergency.

As renewable tech costs keep falling and utilities and others jump on board, gas generation market share will begin to decline as investor interest flags, something numbers show since 2015. This trend is partially due to associated risks of investing in new gas-fired capacity.

Another conservative Supreme Court Justice could mean dismantling current climate change measures and the legal framework they stand on as well as hamstringing the fed government agencies’ abilities to create new measures. Deep dive here.

Solar financing firm Sustainable Capital Finance launched SCF Suite 2.0 – a significant update to its SCF Suite. The platform allows solar companies seeking PPA financing to price, submit, and transact projects. Includes automated agreement population and e-signatures.

Economic and societal barriers need to be overcome to increase representation of Hispanics in solar. Solutions include an inhouse team dedicated to equity/justice/diversity, pursuit of a diversified talent pipeline, and development of Spanish materials and employment practices.

Pres debate and climate change: Trump feels humans impact the climate somewhat and that carbon emission limits drive up energy prices while Biden wants to halt coal/oil-fired power plants, weatherize 4 million buildings, and reach a 100% clean energy economy in 2050.