The Real Art of the Deal: How to Negotiate Billions in Renewables Projects

How do you broker billions of dollars worth of renewable energy deals — and do it again and again? It takes grit, sure. But it also requires empathy. And that, says Conor McKenna, is the real art of the deal. McKenna is a senior managing director at CohnReznick Capital Markets. He’s helped close 8 gigawatts of wind,…

Clearing Up Confusion Over Community Solar in New York

Community Solar in New York has a messaging problem. It is confusing, and even some industry professionals have given up in disgust because of aggressive marketing and a lack of clarity. Fortunately, aggressive marketing is not universal among community solar developers. Unfortunately, the lack of clarity is almost universal. The system the New York utility…

Loanpal Rockets to Second Largest Solar Loan Provider in the US

Rooftop solar enjoys strong public support across the United States. So why aren’t solar panels blanketing communities across the country? The reason there aren’t millions more homes with rooftop solar isn’t due to a lack of demand, it’s because a lot of American homes aren’t solar-ready, according to Hayes Barnard, CEO of Loanpal, which recently…

Verizon Hints at Big Renewables Purchases As It Pledges To Go Carbon Neutral

Verizon announced Monday it will go carbon neutral by 2035 for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions, encompassing direct emissions and those from the purchase of energy. The commitment is the third in a “trifecta” of recent corporate sustainability announcements, said Jim Gowen, the company’s chief of sustainability. In February, Verizon announced the creation of…

Nevada’s 50% Renewable Portfolio Standard Clears Legislature

A bill increasing Nevada’s renewable portfolio standard to 50 percent by 2030 cleared the state assembly on Friday with zero “no” votes, sending it to Governor Steve Sisolak’s desk. The bill unanimously passed the Senate on Tuesday.  The governor’s office did not respond to an immediate request for comment on Friday, but Sisolak is widely…

Bifacial or bust? Engineering solar financings of the future

The solar industry hates stasis, which is exemplified in industry members’ self-proclaimed rides on “the Solar Coaster.” Solar trade shows and conferences are filled with companies looking to provide solar with its “next big thing.”  One of solar energy’s (literal) shiny new objects — bifacial modules — has been a hot topic at these conferences and in news articles for a few years…

Progress at Tesla’s Gigafactory 2 Remains Murky Amid Concerns Over Jobs Target

This month, Tesla hits against its first employment target with New York state, negotiated around the siting of its Gigafactory 2. The deal, part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s troubled “Buffalo Billion” development initiative, requires 500 workers by April 2019 and 1,460 citywide with 500 in manufacturing by April 2020. In exchange Tesla received $750 million in sweeteners…

Duke Energy Contracts for 602MW of Solar in North Carolina — Nearly Half of it From Itself

Duke Energy announced contracts Wednesday for 602 megawatts of utility-scale solar under a statewide competitive procurement in North Carolina — with nearly half of the projects to be built by Duke or its subsidiaries.   Unlike utilities in California and many other states, Duke is allowed to compete against other developers for contracts with itself…

Starbucks Joins Cypress Creek on Texas Solar Projects to Power 360 Stores

Starbucks and top-tier U.S. solar developer Cypress Creek on Monday unveiled a partnership on eight Texas solar projects that will provide enough energy for 360 Starbucks stores across the state. In total, the coffee company’s offtake accounts for 70 megawatts from eight Cypress Creek-owned projects. A division of U.S. Bank, the U.S. Bancorp Community Development…

Vermont Utility Green Mountain Power Commits to 100% Renewables by 2030

Green Mountain Power has joined the ranks of utilities like Xcel Energy that are working towards 100 percent carbon-free electricity. The Vermont-based utility will target 100 percent carbon-free by 2025 and 100 percent renewables by 2030. In December, the company said its power sources were already 90 percent carbon-free, so the 2025 deadline won’t be…