Category Archives: News

4/2 – Is the SolarCity Model the Only Way to Scale Residential Solar?

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Wednesday, April 2nd 2014

From Greentechmedia:

Is the SolarCity Model the Only Way to Scale Residential Solar?
Deconstructing the latest wave of activity in the residential market

The U.S. residential solar market is growing rapidly and undergoing a major transformation at the same time. A new acquisition, partnership, or project fund seems to be announced every week.

But what is the underlying trend here? For a while, many of us simply boiled it down to industry consolidation. The most recent developments, however, point to something even more specific: vertical integration.

leading_residential_pv_installers_2013

Follow the leader

SolarCity and Vivint Solar, the top two residential installers in the U.S., installed more than one-third of all residential systems in 2013 and raised more than half of the $2.3 billion in project funds announced last year. (We’ll discuss more finance trends in an upcoming update to last year’s U.S. Residential Solar PV Financing report.) The two companies have very different strategies, especially when it comes to acquiring customers. Vivint is known for selling exclusively door-to-door, while SolarCity has a diversified approach that includes retail partnerships, cold calling, advertising, and anything else you could think of.

However, there are two key similarities between these installers: they both primarily offer third-party owned solar (leases and PPAs), and they are the only two national, completely vertically integrated residential solar companies. Across these and other finance providers, the TPO model has proven easy to scale given the large addressable market of consumers who can afford a lease but not the purchase of a system. But does having control of both the project funding and installation give SolarCity and Vivint an additional advantage over their competitors?

Read the rest on Cleantechmedia.

3/21 – Members of Congress Move to Renew Key Tax Credit

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Friday, March 21st 2014

From The Hill:

CaptureA group of 144 members of the Congress sent letters Friday urging their colleagues to renew tax credits that help the wind energy industry.

The members want credits for investment in renewable energy technology and production of electricity to be renewed. Both credits expired at the end of 2013.

“Like all businesses, the wind industry seeks certainty and predictability so that long-term project decisions and investments can be made,” said the letter signed by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), along with 24 other senators.

“Without that stability, we once again risk losing many of the jobs, infrastructure and investment that the wind industry has created,” they wrote.
Reps. Steve King (R-Iowa) and Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) sent a similar letter along with 116 of their colleagues.

The production tax credit (PTC) provided 2.3 cents per kilowatt-hour for wind turbines during the first 10 years of the utilities’ operations and 1.1 cents for some other renewable energy sources. The investment tax credit (ITC) was worth up to 30 percent of the costs of developing wind turbines, and 10 percent or 30 percent for other sources.

“We look forward to Congress, in particular the Senate Finance Committee, acting quickly to extend the PTC and ITC so that the U.S. remains a global leader and our businesses can continue building, expanding and hiring,” Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, said in a Friday statement.

The Senate Finance Committee will consider extending more than 50 tax incentives, including the renewable energy credits, next month, the committee said Wednesday.

Read more…

2/23 – 2014 Energy Briefing Recap and Slides

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Monday, February 24th 2014

IMG_3456The Smart Energy Initiative and the Chester County Economic Development Council hosted the 2014 Energy Briefing on Thursday, February 20th. Thanks to our sponsors PECO, ICF International, and the Coatesville Solar Initiative, as well as the speakers:

  • PWI Engineering – Mark Fischer
  • PECO Energy – Mike O’Leary
  • Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Sustainability – Alex Dews
  • Community Energy – Tom Tuffey

Click here to download slides from the event.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Sponsor                 CSI_logo-web-225

 

2/14 – Electric Rates Fall In Top 11 Wind States, Increase In Other 39

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Friday, February 14th 2014

From John Hanger’s Facts of the Day:

pngA new report documents that wind power is pushing down electricity prices in those states with substantial wind generation. Electricity prices actually fell in the top 11 wind power states from 2008 to 2013 but rose nearly 8% in other states.

Wind farms lower electricity prices in a number of ways that are discussed in the linked to paper above. For example, in competitive power markets, wind farms displace the most high-priced power plants and lower the total market price by doing so, creating large savings for all consumers of electricity.

In utility service territories, where consumers are captured monopoly customers, wind power avoids the large fuel costs for coal, gas, oil, and uranium that are otherwise charged dollar for dollar to consumers.

Read more here.

 

 

1/24 – Job Alert: Viridity Hiring in Several Positions

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Friday, January 24th 2014

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

Viridity’s team of professionals is passionate about developing innovative technologies to evolve demand side management and power markets to benefit consumers with sources of revenue to achieve their energy and environmental goals and to relieve the costs of energy for society as a whole.

If you are results-oriented and thrive in an entrepreneurial environment that offers great responsibility and the opportunity to make significant contributions, Viridity Energy would like to hear from you.

CURRENT OPENINGS

Energy Storage Program Director
Senior Project Engineer 2
Sr. Project Engineer

More info at viridityenergy.com/about-us/viridity-energy-careers/

1/10 – Job Alert: Business Development Manager at Practical Energy Solutions

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Friday, January 10th 2014

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

Small, dynamic energy consulting group located in historic West Chester, PA, seeks a Business Development Manager to help define core markets and targets; co-develop, prioritize and manage strategic market penetration initiatives; manage and grow our existing service line; and leverage our past successes to develop new partnerships and business opportunities.

We are a Certified B Corp and are committed to helping our clients reduce energy use and adopt sustainable business practices.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Business Development Manager

  • The candidate must have a minimum of 3 years experience in a business development / sales role
  • We also require excellent strategic / analytical skills, solid interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple projects, and an entrepreneurial mindset – meaning that the candidate must be self-directed, committed to our company’s goals, unafraid to take calculated risks, and willing to take on any job that needs to get done in order to help our firm meets its goals
  • The ideal candidate will also be a team player with a good understanding of effective sales presentations

We offer a flexible work schedule, a creative environment, and the opportunity to make a difference. This position can start as part-time but we will consider starting off full-time if the right person applies.

Apply online here.

12/12 – ESCOs: Sign up for SEI Advisory Services

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Thursday, December 12 2013

Calling all consultants, contractors, and other ESCOs: SEI’s Advisory Services program is up and running. By participating, local firms can receive occasional, qualified project leads that align with your services, geography, and project size/scope. In return for leads that result in a project greater than $1,000, a 3-5% referral fee is returned to the Smart Energy Initiative.

Our first lead resulted in a $20,000 project in West Chester for an Advisory Services member.

Please click here to request to participate in the Smart Energy Initiative’s Advisory Services!

11/29 – Training Grants Application Available Online

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Friday, November 29th 2013

The Smart Energy Initiative is pleased to announce the availability of training grants for energy-related training by Pennsylvania companies, made available through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the Chester County Workforce Investment Board.

Note that the following cannot be supported with training funds:

  • Webinars and online training
  • Conferences
  • Travel and other training-related expenditures

Click here to complete our quick, online application.

11/8 – SEI Hosts Manufacturers Energy Forum

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Friday, November 8th 2013

IMG_2745The Smart Energy Initiative, in conjunction with the Manufacturers Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties, hosted an event Thursday morning for manufacturing firms with energy questions. The agenda included:

Benchmarking – Understanding where you are today
Developing an energy plan- Prioitizing first steps
Calculating ROI – Calculating project payback periods
On-site renewable energy – Is your site viable? Does it make sense?
Backup generation – Reducing or eliminating downtime due to grid interruptions Procurement -Leveraging your demand to buy energy, including clean energy, at a discount
Natural Gas – Can/should your company convert to natural gas?
Financing – Available resources and incentives to facilitate your projects

Thanks to our Sponsor!

Thanks to our Sponsor!

Speakers included:
Paul Spiegel
Practical Energy Solutions

Mark Fischer
PWI Engineering

A Case Study in Sustainability:
Walter D. Schroth, Chief Operating Officer
Eagle Design Group – Chester County