QUICK NEWS, November 19: OHIO NEW ENERGY JOBS REPORT SUPPRESSED; SOLAR GIANT BUYS WIND DEVELOPER; BUSINESS TO MAKE IT BIG IN SMART CITIES

OHIO NEW ENERGY JOBS REPORT SUPPRESSED Why don't some state officials want you to read this report on 'green’ energy jobs? Report on ‘green’ energy jobs was put on ice during debate

Dan Gearino, November 16, 2014 (The Columbus Dispatch)

“A state agency paid almost $435,000 for a survey to tally clean-energy jobs in Ohio but never released the results…The Ohio Development Services Agency says the study went unused because it was based on dubious methods and came to flawed conclusions…Others, including experts in survey methods, disagree…[Ohio Alternative Energy Job Survey Analysis]was conducted by ICF International [and Wright State University]…Among its findings…[1] Ohio had 31,322 jobs in the state’s ‘alternative energy economy’ as of 2012, a number that is larger than other commonly cited studies…[2] More than one-third of the jobs were for goods and services related to energy efficiency…[3] Solar power was tied to more jobs (5,619) than any other renewable-energy source…

“…[Each] could have been relevant in the recent debate over Senate Bill 310…[which] puts a two-year freeze on state standards for renewable energy and energy efficiency, and it makes…other changes that critics say will damage the state’s green economy…[O]pponents repeatedly said that 25,000 jobs were at stake, a statistic from a 2012 study commissioned by a trade group for green-energy companies. The opponents did not know that the state had paid for a survey that says the industry is 25 percent larger…The report would have hurt the case of legislative Republicans who wanted to pass the bill…” click here for more

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SOLAR GIANT BUYS WIND DEVELOPER SunEdison and TerraForm Power Sign Definitive Agreement To Acquire First Wind For $2.4 Billion

November 17, 2014 (MarketWatch)

Leading global solar developer SunEdison, Inc. will become the world's biggest renewable energy development company. In partnership with global owner/operator of renewable energy power plants TerraForm Power, it acquired First Wind, one of the leading developers, owners and operators of wind projects in the U.S., for a total of up to $2.4 billion. They doubled their total addressable market and increased their total pipeline, backlog and leads to 8.0 GW, with immediate value creation for SunEdison and DPS accretion for TerraForm Power. SunEdison raised its 2015 installation guidance from 1.6-1.8 GW to 2.1-2.3 GW and accelerated timing of IDRs by approximately one year. TerraForm acquired 521 MW of operating wind and solar power plants with $72.5 million in CAFD and raised its 2015 dividend guidance to $1.30 per share, an increase of 44%. Transaction financing is fully committed and drop down growth funding is secured and there is $2.4 billion of committed bridge financing to fund the transaction, which is expected to close during Q1 2015. There is also $1.5 billion of non-recourse capital secured from six global banking institutions and First Reserve Infrastructure to fund future growth. Morgan Stanley, Barclays, BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, Lazard, Goldman Sachs, and Marathon Capital participated. click here for more

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BUSINESS TO MAKE IT BIG IN SMART CITIES Navigant Research Leaderboard Report: Smart City Suppliers; Assessment of Strategy and Execution for 16 Smart City Suppliers

Q4 2014 (Navigant Research)

“…Interest in smart cities continues to grow, driven by a range of social, economic, and technological developments that are having an impact on cities around the world…[and] the supplier ecosystem for smart cities continues to expand. Established suppliers are moving into the market from the energy, transport, buildings, and government sectors, while startups are addressing a range of emerging opportunities. This has created a complex and dynamic market that requires suppliers to be innovative in their product offerings and in the way they engage with cities and their partner networks. According to Navigant Research, the global smart city technology market is expected to be worth more than $27.5 billion annually by 2023, compared to $8.8 billion in 2014…” click here for more

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