The Solar-Utility Battle Is Getting Ugly

Energy Gang

Wood Mackenzie

Tech News, Environment, Sustainability, Innovation, Renewable Energy, Technology, Alternative Energy, Energy, News, Cleantech, Wind Energy, Business, Climate Change, Solar Energy

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 January 2015

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

If the war of words between SolarCity and Arizona Public Service is any indication, this year will likely see an escalation in tension between the solar industry and utilities throughout the U.S. Earlier this month, it was revealed that APS was behind a letter from members of Congress to the Federal Trade Commission asking the government to investigate the sales practices of solar services companies. SolarCity hit back immediately and published a scathing blog post calling out APS for using so-called “monopoly money” to influence politics at the highest level in order to limit consumer choice. In this show, we’ll look at APS’ claims and tactics, SolarCity’s response, and ask what it means for coming clashes between solar installers and traditional power companies. Later in the podcast, we’ll look at the highlights of President Obama’s trip to India, and then discuss problems in China’s domestic solar market. This podcast is sponsored by Kaco New Energy, a leading German inverter manufacturer. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is brought to you by Kaco New Energy, a leading manufacturer of inverters for solar, storage, and other distributed energy systems.
0:11.0	German engineers at Kaco have been designing and building products for
0:14.6	over 100 years. To find out more about the company's products, including the new Blue
0:19.6	Planet single phase inverter, visit Kako-New Energy.com.
0:27.0	For the week of January 28, 2015, this is the Energy Gang from Green Tech Media.
0:37.0	Welcome to the show. Thanks for being here. I am Stephen Lacy, a senior editor with
0:47.1	Green Tech Media in Washington, D.C. as always. And the tension is
0:52.3	building this week. No, we're not talking about the Middle East,
0:55.6	or congressional politics, or the Patriots Super Bowl scandal. We're talking about the latest
1:00.4	public spat between solar companies and utilities here in the US. We will
1:05.4	tell you the latest. Then we'll move outside the US to discuss President Obama's
1:10.1	trip to India and problems in China's domestic solar market.
1:14.7	We will wrap up the show by telling you something you do not know, of course.
1:19.0	Let's say hello to my fellow pundits.
1:22.1	Usually in New York, he escaped the snow, he is in the Chicago Hilton
1:27.4	waiting to go to San Francisco, Stiggershaw, always in transit somewhere.
1:32.8	He is a clean tech investor, entrepreneur.
1:35.2	How are you, Jigger?
1:36.3	I'm doing great.
1:37.3	I survived the non-storm that was the Blizzard of 2015.
1:41.9	Usually you get stuck in Chicago by another storm.
1:45.3	So hopefully you're free and clear of that.
	...

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