260 - Why the Virginia Solar Economy is set to Explode! with Karla Loeb

Welcome to another Tactical Tuesday, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts designed to give you practical tools, tips and advice for building your solar business or career.

Hopefully you tuned in to last Thursday’s episode with Karla Loeb. Psst - today’s her birthday, so pop over to LinkedIn and show her some love! I highly encourage you to queue last week’s episode up next.

Karla is a policy maven, staunch renewable energy supporter and all-around inspiring and butt-kicking industry executive. It’s my pleasure to re-introduce you to her here if you have yet to discover this dynamo. And if you’ve been wondering which solar markets are set to explode in the coming post-COVID era beyond CA, IL, NY and the usual suspects, you’ll want to tune in today.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Connect with Karla on LinkedIn

Follow the work of Sigora Solar on Twitter and their website

VCEA Summary of Provisions

VCEA Overview

Articles:

Ten things to know about the Clean Economy Act

Invenergy Announces Start of Commercial Operations of Santa Rita East Wind Farm

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

Books mentioned

Under a Cruel Star - Heda Margolius Kovaly

The Brothers - Stephen Kinzer

259 - Inside the $34Billion opportunity in Virginia Clean Economy, with Karla Loeb, Sigora Solar & SEIA Board member

Our today’s guest is a changemaker and pacesetter who has spent the last 13 years not only developing solar and wind projects, but also defending the right to do so for millions of people.

Karla Loeb is a veteran in clean energy policy and business development, specializing in greenfield projects, new market entry and regulatory and legislative affairs. As the Chief Policy & Development Officer for Sigora Solar, Karla is in charge of overseeing legislative, administrative and regulatory efforts at the local, state and national levels, as well as coordinating and managing strategic development partnerships.

Today’s conversation covers a wide range of topics from Karla’s early days in Texas Wind to her latest struggles and triumphs bringing landmark legislation to bear in the NY and MidAtlantic markets. She has proven a fierce advocate and driving force for her employers and now as a SEIA board member.

I trust you’ll want to stick around to hear how this brilliant lady from the bayou made her way up to the highest levels of impact in multiple industries and how she’s helping your solar company do the same.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Connect with Karla on LinkedIn

Follow the work of Sigora Solar on Twitter and their website

VCEA Summary of Provisions

VCEA Overview

Articles:

Ten things to know about the Clean Economy Act

Invenergy Announces Start of Commercial Operations of Santa Rita East Wind Farm

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

Books mentioned

Under a Cruel Star - Heda Margolius Kovaly

The Brothers - Stephen Kinzer



258 - Closing the gap in EV adoption with Erika Myers

Welcome to another Tactical Tuesday, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts designed to give you practical tools, tips and advice for building your solar business or career. 

Here at SunCast, we haven’t spent much time on Electric Vehicles but we got some great feedback from our audience earlier this year when we played the Podcast Lounge episode with SEPA’s resident expert, Erika Myers. We asked Erika to come back and give us some insight from a report she published between Solar Power International (September 2019) and now, all about EV Rate Structures that work.

It’s a great primer on some of the underlying issues that prevent wider EV Adoption, and provides clear insight into how SEPA and Erika are leading the way for helping the broader grid integration problems get resolved for Utilities and customers alike.

You can find more Tactical Tuesdays like this one over at www.mysuncast.com.

About Erika: Erika H. Myers joined Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) in 2015 and leads SEPA’s transportation electrification research. She has 16 years of experience in the clean energy sector and specializes in the nexus between the grid, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.

Prior to joining SEPA, Erika worked as a consultant with ICF International where she helped electric utilities and local governments develop EV readiness plans. She also served as the Renewable Energy Manager for the South Carolina Energy Office and was a Clean Cities Coordinator for the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition. In these roles, she oversaw the development and execution of key state renewable energy and clean transportation policies, regulations, and grant programs.

About Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): SEPA is an educational non-profit that provides education, research and collaboration to help our members deploy and integrate solar, storage, demand response and other distributed energy resources into the grid, while meeting societal demand for efficient and reliable electric power.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Connect with Erika on LinkedIn

Follow Erika and SEPA on Twitter

Visit the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) website

Read the full reports

Residential Electric Vehicle Time-Varying Rates That Work: Attributes That Increase Enrollment

Preparing for an Electric Vehicle Future: How Utilities Can Succeed

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

257 - Omnidian's secret weapon is this power duo: Cedric Brehaut and Brad Davis

Welcome back, SolarWarrior!

Today’s entrepreneurs are both longtime solar warriors who have deep industry cred to show for it.

Cedric Brehaut and I have known each other for about a decade now, and I’ve truly enjoyed watching his career unfold and flourish. He’s been one of the most respected and published independent thought leaders on the subject of solar asset management for much of the time I’ve known him, so you can imagine my surprise when I found out in late 2018 that he had joined a startup company!

Today, you’ll get to hear that inception story, and you’ll also be treated to the storytelling prowess of a National Retail Hall of Fame Marketer in Cedric’s sidekick and fellow Omnidian executive, Brad Davis. Brad’s accolades are too many to list here, so be sure to check his LinkedIn profile which is always linked in the show notes.

Omnidian is up to something truly unique in the world of asset management, and they’ve been on quite the growth trajectory, announcing recently some innovative products that set them apart from the crowd in distinct ways. I hope you’re ready to learn about product innovation and startup success b/c today’s episode packs a punch.

If you do love this episode, then you should check out the more than 250 additional founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com. And while you’re there check out our Tribe newsletter so you don’t miss out on all the ways we’re working to bring extra value to your ears and eyeballs.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Connect with Cedric on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Brad on LinkedIn and Twitter

Follow the work of Omnidian on LinkedIn and their website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Books mentioned

Play Bigger - Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lockhead, Kevin Maney

Business Model Generation - Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur

The Effective Executive - Peter F. Drucker

256 - What you need to know about recent Solar Import Tariffs, with Paul Wormser

Welcome back, #SolarWarrior

Welcome to another Tactical Tuesday, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts designed to give you practical tools, tips and advice for building your solar business or career.

This week we have a renewable energy Pioneer and super-connector joining us to help separate the wheat from the chaff on some recent news and legislation that will undoubtedly affect the solar and broader renewables supply chain in 2020 and beyond if it stands.

Paul Wormser has been in the renewable energy business since the 80s, and has a deep understanding of how the industry works, both nationally and internationally. As the Vice President for Clean Energy Associates, Paul serves as a rudder for many clients who are uncertain about the energy landscape. 

And as many of you know, the Trump administration recently issued an executive order that stands to impede the progress of the solar industry in the USA, especially related to power electronics products which are predominantly fabricated beyond our shores. 

Key points discussed

• The recent Executive Order on Securing US Bulk Power Systems 

• The status of existing Tariffs in the solar supply chain

• And general Supply chain management in the era of global lockdown due to the recent economic crisis

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Stay connected with Clean Energy Associates via LinkedIn, get the latest updates on managing your risk during COVID-19 and beyond here. 

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn and follow him on Twitter

Follow the work of Clean Energy Associates on Twitter and their website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Articles

Executive Order - EO on Securing US Bulk Power Systems

United States and Mexico Reach Agreement on Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum

Possible transformer tariffs under review

Trump Ban on Foreign Bulk Power Equipment Triggers New Uncertainty

255 - No time for legacy, Cleantech marketing with Mike Casey of Tigercomm

Welcome back SolarWarrior, 

I’m honored that you’re joining me for another fantastic foray into the world of solar energy. This week we have a doozy of an episode.

Today’s entrepreneur has quickly become one of the people I look to with admiration and anticipation. He seems to be always on the vanguard of what’s next in the clean economy dialogue. For 30 years, Mike Casey has focused on the design, staffing and strategies for winning communications programs. As Tigercomm’s founder, he counsels cleantech executives, investors and philanthropists on strategies for meeting their business objectives.

And in case you’ve missed it, our inaugural SunCast Virtual Summit was amazing, but you can check out all the past live sessions at www.suncastsummit.com

Remember you can always find me on Twitter, LinkedIn or email and you can get the resources and learn more about how to find Tim or his recommendations on the SunCast Blog.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy

Resources

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn

Follow the work of Tigercomm on LinkedIn, Twitter, and their website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

• Offshore wind has reached an opportunity moment in its public affairs

• Download “No Time For Legacy: The New Digital Playbook for Cleantech Marketers”

• Landscape check + Better comms practices = Lower community acceptance costs (Presentation at AWEA)

• US wind developers are losing the online battle against Nimby groups

Books mentioned

The Twenty-Ninth Day - Lester R. Brown

The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

254 - World Record PV Efficiency 47%! Myles Steiner, NREL Sr. Scientist

Welcome to Tactical Tuesday, a short-form conversation with subject-matter experts designed to give you practical tools, tips and advice for building your solar business or career.

A few weeks ago, a message popped up in our Energy Tribe WhatsApp group about a Press Release by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), claiming they had achieved a world-record 47.1% efficient solar cell!

The chat was abuzz about the implications, so I reached out to my contacts at NREL to see if we could get any insight. The interview you’re about to hear is with one of the NREL Sr. Scientists on the team that published the research, Myles Steiner.

He is a scientist in the High Efficiency Crystalline PV group, working primarily on III-V multijunction solar cells for concentrator photovoltaic applications and for hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical water splitting. Myles and I go into detail about the achievement, applications, and timeline for when this kind of technology might see it’s way into commercial activities.

And in case you’ve missed it, our inaugural SunCast Virtual Summit was amazing, but you can check out all the past live sessions at www.suncastsummit.com

Remember you can always find me on Twitter, LinkedIn or email and you can get the resources and learn more about how to find Tim or his recommendations on the SunCast Blog.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources

Connect with Myles on LinkedIn

Follow the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on Twitter

Six-junction III–V solar cell with 47.1% efficiency

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

253 - The value of making solar visible with Craig Merrigan, CEO Spotlight Solar

Welcome back, #SolarWarrior

The solar industry has a marketing problem. While a lot of good work is being done, and covering millions of rooftops with clean energy harvesting solar panels, the fact is the vast majority of these clean power generators are tucked away up on a roof or out in a field away from the public view.

Today we hear from an entrepreneur who cut his teeth in product marketing for one of the most well-known brands in the world, and now he’s turned his sights toward helping fix the branding and visibility problems inherent in solar projects.

Craig Merrigan and his company, Spotlight Solar, have created one of the most beautiful solar products you’ve ever seen. But don’t take my word for it, Nextera’s subsidiary Florida Power and Light have installed hundreds of them around that state to demonstrate their commitment to clean sustainable energy. Today we’ll hear from Craig about what it means to “make solar visible”.

And in case you’ve missed it, our inaugural SunCast Virtual Summit was amazing, but you can check out all the past live sessions at www.suncastsummit.com

Remember you can always find me on Twitter, LinkedIn or email and you can get the resources and learn more about how to find Tim or his recommendations on the SunCast Blog.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources

Connect with Craig on LinkedIn

Follow Spotlight Solar on Twitter and check out their website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Frost Science and Bayfront Park in Miami

Spotlight Solar structures at Frost Science and Bayfront Park in Miami. Aerial drone tour shows aesthetic ground mount solar trees and rooftop solar system. ...

Books mentioned

Crossing the Chasm - Geoffrey A. Moore

252 - Do you have The Innovator’s Spirit? Chuck Swoboda, former CEO of Cree Inc.

Chuck Swoboda is no stranger to the pressure and privilege of leadership. As the CEO and Chairman of Cree Inc, the category-changing LED Lighting brand many are familiar with, he led the company from $6Million to over $1.6Billion in revenue over 65 quarters of growth and industry-leading innovation. 

Chuck recently presented the keynote address for our inaugural SunCast Clean Energy Summit, so what you’re about to hear is the audio version of that live-streamed interview.

As you’ll hear in the interview, Chuck has a brand new book that just hit the shelves all about finding The Innovator’s Mindset, and I invited Chuck to share a bit about his journey and the parallels the Clean Energy economy might have with how the lighting industry grew in the late 90’s and 2000’s. It’s a fascinating conversation, and I hope you’ll share it with others. Let me know what lessons or insights stick with you from it, ok?

You can find more Tactical Tuesdays like this one over at www.mysuncast.com.

And don’t forget to check out the SunCast Clean Energy Summit replays and tomorrow’s Latam Summit live sessions! www.suncastsummit.com 

Remember you can always find me on Twitter, LinkedIn or email and you can get the resources and learn more about how to find Tim or his recommendations on the SunCast Blog.

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy

Learn more by clicking on their respective company links.

Resources

Connect with Chuck on LinkedIn

Follow Chuck on Twitter and Instagram

Check out the website of Cape Point Advisors, Cree, Inc., and Marquette University

When your body calls time-out

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Check out Chuck’s new book, The Innovator’s Spirit: Discover the Mindset to Pursue the Impossible

251 - Can Batteries win in pay-for-performance? Marek Kubik, Fluence

Today’s guest, Marek Kubik, is the Market Director at Fluence in the U.K. and Ireland, and he oversees a group working on origination, development, and commercial negotiation of energy storage. He is such an inspirational personality, hence being voted as Forbes 30 Under 30, and he is on a mission to bring storage and renewables penetration to the world.

We had a chance to discuss not only how Fluence is leading the energy storage revolution, but also how they are deploying so many “firsts” around the world, such as the First Large Battery in Ireland, which is 60x faster than the competition.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Connect with Marek on LinkedIn

Follow Marek on Twitter

Check out Marek’s website

Check out Fluence’s website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Marek’s TED talk: Batteries Not Included

Marek Kubik got an engineering degree from university 8 years ago and was about to start working for a prestigious company. His perfect plan was set in motio...

Books mentioned

Utopia for Realists - Rutger Bregman

Thinking, Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman

250 - How to make price irrelevant? The Relationship Economy with John DiJulius III

Hi there, Solar Warrior.

Welcome to episode 250 of SunCast! Many of you have stuck with me since episode 1, I’m so honored to call you part of the Tribe and a faithful SunCast listener. We have been continuously evolving, and on that vein, you will recognize that today’s guest was last week’s Keynote speaker of our SunCast Clean Energy Summit.

John DiJulius is a best-selling author and authority on world-class customer-experience. Organizations across America use his philosophies and systems for creating world-class service. He has worked with companies such as The Ritz-Carlton, Lexus, Starbucks, Nordstrom, and many more, to help them continue to raise the bar and set the standard in service that consistently exceeds customer expectations.
John spoke about the main foundations of his book, the Relationship Economy, and the opportunity for companies’ time to take their customer experience to a completely different level in these challenging times.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Score 15% off your purchases at www.thedijuliusgroup.com with our "insider" code SUNCAST15

Connect with John on LinkedIn

Follow John on Twitter

Check out the DiJulius Group’s website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

249 - How to sell without selling, Scott Ringlein of The Energy Alliance Group of N.A.

Hey, welcome back. Solar warriors.

Thank you for listening. You could be doing anything with your time right now, so I'm grateful that you've chosen to join us for another episode of SunCast.

Here at SunCast, we’ve had such an amazing week so far. Yesterday, we had our first ever SunCast Clean Energy Summit, which is a free event to focus on capacity and community building for our #SolarWarriors and the broader cleantech industry.

Yesterday’s schedule featured great minds in the industry such as Andrew birch, aka “Birchy”, Adam Browning, Julia Hamm, John DiJulius, who is an internationally renowned speaker and entrepreneur, and other amazing people. So many good things happened and will continue to happen for the next couple of weeks, so I encourage you to go check it out.

SunCast Clean Energy Summit: www.suncastsummit.com

I'm honored that you're joining me and pouring into this fantastic world of clean energy. Today's entrepreneur, Scott Ringlein, is the Founder and Principal of the Energy Alliance Group of North America (EAG). Scott is also a Technical Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy and conducts technical reviews of applications for technology innovation & commercialization. We go really deep into how Scott thinks about servicing his customers. Besides that, we will discuss some of the lessons learned on his journey of the power of networking, having a mentor, accepting what you can not change and accepting that you can't do everything.

“It's okay to change your business plan. And if you want to have a perfect plan, chances are you're gonna show up too late” - Scott Ringlein.

Scott and I had a phenomenal conversation, and I think that you'll agree in that there's a lot in here for those of you who are looking for mentorship, particularly around sales and customer service skills. Be ready, because I encourage you to listen with your pen in hand. I took a lot of notes, and I hope that you will too, Solar Warrior.

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

Resources

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn

Follow the Energy Alliance Group of North America on Twitter, and check out their website.

The Ivy Lee Method: The Daily Routine Experts Recommend for Peak Productivity

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Books mentioned

The Grid - Gretchen Bakke

248 - Earth Day + SunCast Clean Energy Summit

The first Earth Day was in 1970. A lot has changed since. The past is clear. What will the future look like? It depends on the choices we make today. #StayHo...

Welcome back, Solar Warrior!

We are getting geared up for a fantastic 50th Anniversary of Earth Day.

So today’s Tactical Tuesday is all about Earth Day: its history and what we are working on together. It goes without saying that tomorrow we will kick off our first SunCast Clean Energy Summit to celebrate #EarthDayTogether! The first session will be at 8:00 am. You can learn more about the schedule as well as register in the link below.

Register now: www.suncastsummit.com

Thanks a ton to our podcast sponsors, Extensible Energy for continuing to help make this content FREE to You! Please check them out and let me know what you think!

For a look at the History and footage of the original Earth Day, Apr 22, 1970

The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day - official website

The Earth Optimism Summit - being run by the Smithsonian

#EarthDayAtHome, with NASA

NASA’s 50th Anniversary Toolkit for Educators

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

247 - This SEO guru can get You on 1st page of Google, too!

Happy Thursday, 

I hope you enjoyed Tuesday’s episode with Stijn Vos and learned something about how he turned ESDEC Solar Group into the largest residential racking manufacturer in the U.S.

As the pandemic creates a hectic environment not only for people but for business as well, we are doing our best to deliver relevant content to equip you with the tools you need to grow this year, despite the new challenges that we all face.

That’s why today’s Entrepreneur is helping us go deep on SEO (Search Engine Optimization), because when attention is limited, where you show up on search results REALLY matters!

Matt Bertram is the Co-Host of a decade-long podcast specifically focused on the Unknown Secrets of Internet Marketing (BestSEOPodcast.com), with over 3.6 million downloads to their credit. He is also an Amazon best-selling author and the CEO at eWebResults (EWR), a digital marketing agency. Matt does a masterful job of unpacking what SEO really is. And he also dispels myths around the different verticals that affect the performance of your website (the things that are in your control vs what you can't control). 

It's so difficult to briefly explain here all of the relevant aspects of SEO he and I talked about, so the best piece of advice I can give you is to listen through the whole interview, as I'm sure you'll find significant value in Matt's words.

In case you haven’t heard about it, we are hosting our first SunCast Clean Energy Summit which goes live on Earth Day - let’s celebrate #EarthDayTogether. To learn more, check out suncastsummit.com, and we look forward to seeing you on April 22nd!

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email! Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you are developing Commercial solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy

Resources

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Check out the eWebResults website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

246 - Esdec is eating the solar racking world! [SPI 2019]

It’s time to get Tactical, Solar Warrior!

Today’s guest is Stijn Vos, CEO of ESDEC Solar Group, a company that has supplied universal mounting systems for roof-mounted PV installations on flat and pitched roofs since 2004. With over 15 years of experience and over 7GW of solar panels installed, the ESDEC folks have developed themselves from a brand new company in the U.S., into the largest residential racking manufacturer.

Stijn shared his thoughts on bringing two of the most popular roofing companies, Iron Ridge and Quick Mount PV, underneath the ESDEC roof, and the back-end benefits for the ESDEC group in terms of product development. He also talked about the importance of fostering a proper feedback ecosystem amongst installers and engineers as they understand what’s happening on the roof, how stricter legislation within the U.S. impacts upon installing costs, and more!

This conversation took place in the Podcast Lounge back at SPI 2019, and was led by PV Magazine contributors, John Weaver and Christian Roselund.

Resources

Connect with Stijn on LinkedIn

Follow ESDEC Solar Group on LinkedIn and Facebook, and check out their website.

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

245 - Can software replace batteries to boost C&I solar growth? John Powers, Extensible Energy

Welcome back, Solar Warrior.

Today is going to be a fun ride if you've been paying attention to how the solar industry has been evolving, and for those of us who've been in it long enough, you will be able to see that what's happening with energy storage these days, mirrors a lot of what's happening with how solar panels have evolved in our solar industry at large. However, one of the untold stories (and one that we'll dig into today) is about the ways that you can give your customers a quantum leap in efficiency and effectiveness.

Today's guest is John Powers, CEO and Founder of Extensible Energy. He is an energy consultant, energy economist and a serial entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience in technology development for energy markets. He's worked across a slew of different aspects of this industry, and has an incredible story and a stellar team. And I can't wait to unpack it here on SunCast.

We're going to talk about all of the inputs that you want to consider as you help your customers deliver the maximum energy efficiency, and transition away from their current way of thinking about using energy.

Resources

Connect with John on LinkedIn

Follow John on Twitter

Follow Extensible Energy on LinkedIn and Twitter, and check out their website.

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

Books mentioned

Checklist Manifesto - Atul Gwandi

244 - Solar Matchmaker, Vikram Aggarwal of Energy Sage [SPI 2019]

It’s time to get Tactical, Solar Warrior!

How often had you seen “Solar” and “Marketplace” in the same sentence?

As software continues to eat the world, there is an ever-increasing bevy of sites helping educate shoppers and separating fact from fiction. One of the most common issues for homeowners is the tedious task of finding and getting quotes from solar installers. Thankfully, many of them find their way to one of the longest-standing marketplace players in the industry, EnergySage.

Today we enjoy a conversation with  Vikram Aggarwal, the CEO and Founder of EnergySage, the leading online marketplace for solar energy systems in the U.S., sometimes referred to as “the Expedia of solar".

Vikram founded EnergySage after more than fifteen years with a major global financial services leader, specializing in private equity investing and strategy consulting.

This conversation took place in the Podcast Lounge back at SPI 2019, and was led by PV Magazine contributor, Christian Roselund.

Key ideas explored:

• What is an online solar marketplace?

• How many companies provide within the online solar marketplace?

• The foundations of EnergySage

• What are the decisions solar customers make when buying?

• Solar rental vs Solar lease

Resources

Connect with Vikram on LinkedIn

Follow Vikram on Twitter

Follow EnergySage on Twitter

Check out the EnergySage website

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

243 - Will Google Ads Work For Me? w/ Pamela Wagner, Ajala Digital

Welcome, SolarWarrior!

In these crazy times of high stress with the stock market and global economies retrenching, there are two types of entrepreneurs, those who will wait and see, storing up cash, laying off staff, and hunkering down to weather the storm, and there will be those who take massive action to position and propel themselves into a new level of operational excellence and customer service when we eventually pull out of this economic tailspin. 

Which are you?

For the month of April, I’m going to be bringing you a mix of inspiring entrepreneurs from with in our Cleantech and Clean Energy sectors, as well as subject matter experts from digital marketing, ecommerce and beyond to help you contextualize and actualize your plans for the coming 12 plus weeks of uncertainty.

So to kick things off, I’ve asked my friend Pamela Wagner to join me to guide us through a discussion about the often mystical world of paid advertising, in particular, Google Ads.

Pamela worked on the Google Ads team before branching out on her own to form Ajala Digital, a creative agency based in Europe that helps companies around the world with their digital marketing strategy and implementation. Pamela has been honored as a Forbes 30 under 30, and is one of my go-to experts when it comes to digital marketing and remote work strategies. I know you’re going to get a ton out of this episode, so make sure you have somewhere to take notes!

If you love this episode, then you should check out the nearly 250 additional founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com. You’ll notice there that we have some exciting Live events happening as well, for those of you who haven’t been following along on LinkedIn. We are now going live every Wednesday on LinkedIn Live, bringing SunCast guests back into the studio to cover how they’re thriving in this current business environment.

In fact, this Wednesday we’ll be hosting today’s guest, Pamela Wagner, and we’ll be touching on many of the topics we didn’t have time for here, so I hope you’ll carve out time at 11am PDT on Wed Apr 8th. You can register on our homepage, or you can follow me on LinkedIn to get notified when we’re live!

Thanks to our podcast sponsor for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you have stuck Commercial Solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

Extensible Energy

Resources

Connect with Pamela on LinkedIn

Follow Ajala Digital on Twitter

Check out the Ajala Digital website

Need help with Paid Ads? Check out Pamela’s website

Secrets of a successful entrepreneur: Hult alum Pamela Wagner makes Forbes top 30 under 30

SAVE YOUR SPOT!

A Proven Low-Risk Roadmap To Rapidly Double Your Google Ads Efficiency In 90 Days Or Less

Transcripts for SunCast are available through Thisten

242 - How to advance solar for low-income communities? w/ Alexandra Wyatt, GRID Alternatives [SPI 2019]

It’s time to get Tactical, Solar Warrior.

Solar energy has often been billed as a luxury item for the rich, yet as a technology it has the power to lift people out of poverty offering energy access and security to the poorest and most isolated communities. But how do we actually achieve this shift in paradigm?

Today I am joined by Alexandra Wyatt, who is the policy and regulatory manager at GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit with a vision for a successful transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone. 
As we’ve highlighted in previous episodes, GRID Alternatives has done significant work for the renewable energy industry, empowering low-income communities and investing in access to solar for all.

This conversation took place in the Podcast Lounge back at SPI 2019, and was led by PV Magazine contributor, Erica Johnson.

Key ideas explored:

• The California energy crisis

• Low-income solar incentive programs (Solar-For-All Program)

• How is policy crucial for low income solar to succeed?

• The importance of tangible immediate energy-burden reductions

• Energy policy: State vs National scale *EV and storage for low-income families

• Diversity and inclusion for the industry

Resources

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn

Connect with Erica on LinkedIn

Follow GRID Alternative on Twitter

Check out GRID Alternative’s website

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

241 - Amanda Bybee, Founder Amicus O&M Cooperative - Part 2

Hey, Solar Warrior!

Today is Part 2 of our interview with Amanda Bybee, Founder of Amicus O&M Cooperative, a company that brings together a network of independent solar companies across the U.S. to provide operations and maintenance (O&M) services for geographically distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) portfolios.

If you missed the episode that released earlier this week, I encourage you to go back and listen to it first (click here to listen to the episode). Today, she will continue to share the struggles she’s gone through, how she has endured the growth curve of multiple companies, and the insight into ways you can now adapt her lens into your own career.

If you love this episode, let us know on Twitter, LinkedIn or email!

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest & recommendations on the SunCast Blog. 

Thanks to our podcast sponsors for continuing to help make this content free to You!

IF you are developing Commercial solar projects, you really should consider how they can help:

CPS America and

Extensible Energy

Resources

Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn

Follow Amicus O&M Cooperative on LinkedIn

Check out the Amicus O&M Cooperative website

Amanda Co-Founded the Clean Energy Credit Union

Remember that the transcript of this episode is available HERE

Books mentioned

Companies we keep - John Abrams

The great game of business - Jack Stack

Crucial conversations - Kerry Patterson

Let my people go surfing - Yvon Chouinard

Small Giants - Bo Burlingham

Leadership and self-deception - The Arbinger Institute