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2 utilities - 2 reactions to renewable future
Utility 1, Arizona Public Service
Arizona Utility Funds Solar Smear Campaign, Saying It Is ‘Obligated to Fight’
APS spokesperson: “We are in a political battle. We are obligated to fight.”
Herman K. Trabish October 22, 2013
Utility Arizona Public Service has confirmed that it donated funds to front groups running an anti-rooftop-solar advertising campaign meant to turn Arizona ratepayers against net energy metering.
“APS recently acknowledged that it provided money to a Washington, D.C.-based conservative organization called 60 Plus,” the Arizona Republic reports. “It also gave money to another nonprofit called Prosper.”
The APS monies supported the production and airing of television ads meant to fuel backlash against Arizona's net metering incentives. One of the ads, produced by 60 Plus, attempted to tie solar service providers SolarCity and Sunrun with Solyndra, the solar manufacturer that went bankrupt in 2011.
Showing images of shady businessmen doing secret deals outside a corporate jet, the ad claimed that "California billionaires are getting rich off of your tax dollars." ...
APS spokesperson: “We are in a political battle. We are obligated to fight.”
Herman K. Trabish October 22, 2013
Utility Arizona Public Service has confirmed that it donated funds to front groups running an anti-rooftop-solar advertising campaign meant to turn Arizona ratepayers against net energy metering.
“APS recently acknowledged that it provided money to a Washington, D.C.-based conservative organization called 60 Plus,” the Arizona Republic reports. “It also gave money to another nonprofit called Prosper.”
The APS monies supported the production and airing of television ads meant to fuel backlash against Arizona's net metering incentives. One of the ads, produced by 60 Plus, attempted to tie solar service providers SolarCity and Sunrun with Solyndra, the solar manufacturer that went bankrupt in 2011.
Showing images of shady businessmen doing secret deals outside a corporate jet, the ad claimed that "California billionaires are getting rich off of your tax dollars." ...
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/arizona-utility-admits-funding-anti-solar-ad-campaign?utm_source=Solar&utm_medium=Picture&utm_campaign=GTMDaily
Arizona Public Service sponsored:
Solar industry response:
Utility 2: RWE Germany crafts this strategy for responding to a more advanced stage of the same challenges facing APS:
Under Threat, Germany’s Second-Biggest Utility Says It Will Create a New ‘Prosumer Business Model’
“We will position ourselves as a project enabler and operator, and [as a] system integrator of renewables.”
Stephen Lacey October 23, 2013
...According to the documents, RWE wants to move away from simply being a developer and owner of centralized power plants and instead help use its expertise to help manage and integrate renewables into the grid.
“The guiding principle is ‘from volume to value’ with technologies ranging from large-scale offshore wind and hydro to onshore wind or photovoltaic. But we will no longer pursue volume or percentage targets in renewables. We will rather leverage our skill set by taking a ‘capital-light’ approach. Based on funds sourced largely from third parties, we will position ourselves as a project enabler and operator, and [as a] system integrator of renewables," read the documents published by Energy Post.
Instead of simply transmitting electricity and selling kilowatt-hours, RWE wants to think of itself as a conduit for renewable energy projects -- helping manage risk without making dramatic new capital investments.
Citing a "prosumer" business strategy, the documents read as if they were written by a consumer electronics company, not a legacy utility.
“Developing an innovative and profitable prosumer business model is a challenge we also need to address successfully ...
“We will position ourselves as a project enabler and operator, and [as a] system integrator of renewables.”
Stephen Lacey October 23, 2013
...According to the documents, RWE wants to move away from simply being a developer and owner of centralized power plants and instead help use its expertise to help manage and integrate renewables into the grid.
“The guiding principle is ‘from volume to value’ with technologies ranging from large-scale offshore wind and hydro to onshore wind or photovoltaic. But we will no longer pursue volume or percentage targets in renewables. We will rather leverage our skill set by taking a ‘capital-light’ approach. Based on funds sourced largely from third parties, we will position ourselves as a project enabler and operator, and [as a] system integrator of renewables," read the documents published by Energy Post.
Instead of simply transmitting electricity and selling kilowatt-hours, RWE wants to think of itself as a conduit for renewable energy projects -- helping manage risk without making dramatic new capital investments.
Citing a "prosumer" business strategy, the documents read as if they were written by a consumer electronics company, not a legacy utility.
“Developing an innovative and profitable prosumer business model is a challenge we also need to address successfully ...
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/germanys-largest-utility-shifts-strategy-saying-solar-will-threaten-the-com
1 replies
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