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About the Episode:
In 50 short years, solar energy transformed from a niche interest to a key driver of the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has been at the forefront of this transformation, advocating for policies, fostering innovation, and driving growth in the industry. Founded in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, SEIA has worked tirelessly to give solar “a seat at the table” in Washington, and the fruits of their labor are plentiful.
In honor of SEIA’s 50th anniversary, key figures from SEIA's past and present discuss the evolution of the solar industry. Abby Hopper (sitting CEO & President) hosted this panel with Fred Morse, Scott Sklar, and Rhone Resch (all key SEIA past leaders) to share their stories of the trade association’s 50 year rise and successes. From watching solar energy evolve beyond it’s solar water heating roots to the sophisticated photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems of today, their stories highlight the milestones, legislative victories, and technological advancements that have propelled solar into the mainstream.
Abby’s Linked Post on the roundtable captured the moment well, from stories of the founding of SEIA, to how the Investment Tax Credit came into being. And we gained insight into where these legends believe both SEIA and the industry will be over the next fifty years.
But we captured the moment as it happened, and we hope you’ll actually give it a listen!
Expect to learn:
SEIA’s fascinating origin story
Early challenges and how the industry overcame (and is still overcoming) skepticism
Key legislative victories that helped solar along the way
The expanding applications of solar technology
What the future of solar and storage looks like
Queue it up; get inspired by some of the OG pioneers of solar energy!
NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:
“I wanted to come into the solar and storage industry, because it was the most entrepreneurial, fastest growing, like nimble industry that I have seen across the energy technologies.”
“Solar energy is a pimple on the backside of the nuclear elephant. Now the pimple and the elephant have changed places.”
“And now resiliency is my big thing. And I am here to tell you that solar storage and all the other renewables, smart sensors, analytics, control, AI, Blockchain, all of that will be integrated in ways that we as a society will not even notice that the coatings on the south side of buildings and the shingles on buildings and the pavement, all will be solar material.”
“I think what’s successful about the organization, what we’ve done for years, but also where you’ve set the goal for 2030 is 30% Solar by 2030, you know, is having that vision, I think that’s fantastic. And let’s make sure we hit it and actually beat it by two years.”
Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!
Speed up PV installations for lower LCOE with TrinaTracker and improve overall system value with optimized compatibility using Trina Solar’s industry-leading modules and the TrinaPro utility-scale or C&I Solutions. Please visit https://www.mysuncast.com/trina
ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:
Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 16-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.
If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.