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Why Solarcity Is Succeeding in a Difficult Solar Industry

technology review -- After a steady stream of bankruptcies, poor earnings reports, and canceled IPOs for clean-energy companies, this week Solarcity bucked that trend by announcing that it had filed the necessary paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an IPO.

The key difference between Solarcity and many other clean-energy startups is that it isn't trying to take on incumbents with new technology. It makes money by deploying existing solar technology with a novel approach to financing.

Solarcity designs, installs, and maintains solar-energy systems fitted to homeowners' roofs. Instead of asking for a big upfront payment, it leases the systems. As the panels produce power, surplus electricity is sold back to the local utility. Combined with the savings that come from using less

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Submitted May 04, 2012 By: aservant

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JCS Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:4,033 Points:1,314,765 Joined:Apr 2002	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:08:54 AM Ignore JCS Report Abuse Free enterprise with tax subsidies!
Insuremn Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:4,957 Points:1,031,985 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:08:26 AM Ignore Insuremn Report Abuse Ok.
SUPPER Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:2,477 Points:1,289,575 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:08:25 AM Ignore SUPPER Report Abuse No good
belladog Champion Author Mobile Posts:2,592 Points:937,055 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:08:10 AM Ignore belladog Report Abuse must not be a "bundler for obama
puinsai808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,549 Points:728,280 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:08:00 AM Ignore puinsai808 Report Abuse IPO isn't an indication of success.
straz Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,708 Points:540,385 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:07:29 AM Ignore straz Report Abuse Glad to hear about successes
Rancher23 Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,198 Points:660,320 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:07:14 AM Ignore Rancher23 Report Abuse Whatever!!!!!!
JR57CA All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:788 Points:326,125 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:06:41 AM Ignore JR57CA Report Abuse How nice. Still can't afford it.
CharlieC08 Champion Author Colorado Posts:8,077 Points:1,486,075 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:06:31 AM Ignore CharlieC08 Report Abuse I won't buy any of thier stock.
arcaneradio Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,532 Points:492,905 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:06:19 AM Ignore arcaneradio Report Abuse Solyndra
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:8,838 Points:2,017,775 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:05:52 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse Beware of cheap CHINESE junk.
foggiest1 Champion Author Wilmington Posts:8,420 Points:1,681,385 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:05:22 AM Ignore foggiest1 Report Abuse ok
Black Wagon Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,317 Points:1,803,745 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:05:07 AM Ignore Black Wagon Report Abuse Ok.
MikLamb Champion Author Texas Posts:7,990 Points:2,176,095 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:05:01 AM Ignore MikLamb Report Abuse Good for them!
Cachase1 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:11,455 Points:2,381,080 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:04:40 AM Ignore Cachase1 Report Abuse This seems like a useful idea.
Marty_P All-Star Author Baton Rouge Posts:748 Points:1,464,800 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:04:38 AM Ignore Marty_P Report Abuse I guess we'll see...
1958tomg Champion Author Kansas Posts:2,143 Points:547,065 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:04:32 AM Ignore 1958tomg Report Abuse ok
rippertoo Champion Author Tacoma Posts:5,760 Points:1,142,810 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:03:15 AM Ignore rippertoo Report Abuse Excellent.
racerdj Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:9,820 Points:2,057,550 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:03:08 AM Ignore racerdj Report Abuse Let's hope they are not using any of our tax dollars!
mysub Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:8,916 Points:2,331,440 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:02:28 AM Ignore mysub Report Abuse Damn good idea. I hope it works out for them.
RabunDog Champion Author Georgia Posts:2,995 Points:1,225,285 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:02:12 AM Ignore RabunDog Report Abuse new tech takes awile
olebufnav Champion Author Omaha Posts:3,983 Points:1,024,205 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:01:46 AM Ignore olebufnav Report Abuse How much is supported by our tax dollars?
BlueTucson Champion Author Syracuse Posts:2,148 Points:1,248,815 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:01:43 AM Ignore BlueTucson Report Abuse I'm glad to hear they're doing well, but in these times of runaway government spending, I wouldn't be too confident of any company that relies on government subsidies to remain viable.
twinfanMN Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,628 Points:456,280 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:01:12 AM Ignore twinfanMN Report Abuse They will probably do well as long as Obama keeps the checkbook out
kulwicki7 All-Star Author Virginia Posts:638 Points:268,845 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:00:45 AM Ignore kulwicki7 Report Abuse OK!
jorobins538 Champion Author Chicago Posts:4,732 Points:638,320 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 10:00:09 AM Ignore jorobins538 Report Abuse ok
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,045 Points:1,488,830 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:59:58 AM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse Go for it, lessens peak electric demand on utility.
Mariuxus Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,765 Points:1,872,040 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:59:47 AM Ignore Mariuxus Report Abuse ok...we'll see...
maske_2222 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:7,422 Points:1,500,005 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:58:49 AM Ignore maske_2222 Report Abuse Interesting......
scu227 Champion Author New Haven Posts:4,157 Points:772,855 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:58:42 AM Ignore scu227 Report Abuse Keep up the good work!
StickySam Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,489 Points:1,161,990 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:58:26 AM Ignore StickySam Report Abuse Neat idea, I hope the Government get their bung back.
dlzastera Champion Author Minnesota Posts:4,515 Points:1,024,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:54:42 AM Ignore dlzastera Report Abuse Thanks to huge government dollars from us tax payers.
april4 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:12,179 Points:2,401,835 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:54:39 AM Ignore april4 Report Abuse Interesting
ibhenry Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,536 Points:457,945 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:54:27 AM Ignore ibhenry Report Abuse Someones doing it right...
mikesr100 Champion Author Sacramento Posts:3,898 Points:1,081,710 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:54:06 AM Ignore mikesr100 Report Abuse So now Mom and Pop will buy their Stock and loose their retirement money a few years from now!?
preacherboyFL Veteran Author Orlando Posts:444 Points:124,960 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:53:57 AM Ignore preacherboyFL Report Abuse Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Lologogo Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,314 Points:356,390 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:53:44 AM Ignore Lologogo Report Abuse they should make more of these cities!
lpatti1 Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:10,206 Points:1,964,235 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:53:09 AM Ignore lpatti1 Report Abuse ok
Spirits All-Star Author Florida Posts:911 Points:372,800 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:52:51 AM Ignore Spirits Report Abuse Very good approach.
WTLITNG Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,861 Points:1,016,170 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:52:33 AM Ignore WTLITNG Report Abuse Big difference between earning money and having a government rescue. It is still bankruptcy, since you and I pay for the aid.
Sam195 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:8,095 Points:1,576,050 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:52:11 AM Ignore Sam195 Report Abuse Well, at least one of them is doing ok.
BillHeatherL Champion Author Alberta Posts:7,648 Points:1,925,605 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:51:51 AM Ignore BillHeatherL Report Abuse good news for now
bginsj Champion Author San Jose Posts:1,878 Points:1,236,585 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:51:33 AM Ignore bginsj Report Abuse its been around for years and should be standard
dopster Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,281 Points:2,293,225 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:50:37 AM Ignore dopster Report Abuse Definitely good news for renewables!
freedomsailor Champion Author Naples Posts:2,134 Points:411,645 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:50:30 AM Ignore freedomsailor Report Abuse Should work great down here in Sunny Southwest Florida.
Cableman66 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:2,120 Points:491,895 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:50:24 AM Ignore Cableman66 Report Abuse Sounds like they have found a ways and means to make it in this market right now. Great if all goes well.
TXGasPriceSpy Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:7,815 Points:1,473,250 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:49:55 AM Ignore TXGasPriceSpy Report Abuse Here we go again. My tax dollars are in trouble.
braves89 Champion Author Chicago Posts:7,653 Points:1,631,460 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:48:35 AM Ignore braves89 Report Abuse sounds great
studebaker1940 Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,515 Points:687,530 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:47:56 AM Ignore studebaker1940 Report Abuse Of course with the government backstopping them, they should be viable at least until Obama is out.
fatfed Champion Author San Antonio Posts:2,870 Points:477,390 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:47:13 AM Ignore fatfed Report Abuse ok
ARCO Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:2,353 Points:2,378,345 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:46:30 AM Ignore ARCO Report Abuse IT WILL BE CALLED BANKRUPT AND WE'LL GIVE THEM MILLIONS OF $$$ TO BAIL THEM OUT!!
LuthierKS Champion Author Wichita Posts:3,752 Points:730,905 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 4, 2012 9:46:04 AM Ignore LuthierKS Report Abuse Dealing solely with homeowners might be a viable business model. The initial costs are low, and the savings demonstratable.