Episode 425: Green Hydrogen (Mini-series) Ep 1 - The Inevitability of Green Hydrogen with Sheldon Kimber, CEO Intersect Power

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It’s time to bet on the future.  Climate change is here, disasters are daily, and even financial systems are strained to breaking.  In Episode One of our Green Hydrogen Mini-Series, Sheldon Kimber is thinking outside the grid and betting on dramatic change, with his eyes set on five inevitable technologies of the zero carbon future. What markets will be both profitable and scalable?  Why is Green Hydrogen a giga-ton clean gas solution? And how does it even work?  We talk about his vision of the carbon-neutral future and the steps Intersect Power is taking to get there.  Hold on, because we are going to be thinking big and out of the box in the series.  Don’t miss it.  

The Green Hydrogen Mini-Series is produced  in partnership with Intersect Power.  It will help you filter hope from hype and reality from fiction to see where the true opportunities exist with Green Hydrogen.  

Be sure you’re subscribed so you’ll catch each episode as soon as it is released.  

Here’s a peak at what’s coming this week in the Green Hydrogen Mini-Series

Episode 1 - Nexus of Deep Decarbonization & “The Inevitability of Hydrogen” with Sheldon Kimber, CEO Intersect Power

Episode 2 - The Green Hydrogen Opportunity with DNVs Global Energy Storage leader and Hydrogen Industry Veteran, Jason Goodhand

Episode 3 - The Role of the Large Energy Companies, partnership opportunities, existing infrastructure, and more from a top 10 Oil & Gas analyst, RBC’s Biraj Borkhataria

Episode 4 - Role of New Technologies - with Raffi Garbedin, Co-founder of Electric Hydrogen (formerly CTO of First Solar)

Episode 5 - Decarbonizing Hard-to-abate Sectors Like Steel with Joachim Von Sheele, Global Director of Commercialization at the world’s largest industrial gas company, Linde, who is also building the world’s largest Electrolyzer.

 

ABOUT SHELDON KIMBER:

Sheldon has almost 20 years of experience in energy finance, development and entrepreneurship.  He is currently CEO and Founder of Intersect Power, a developer of utility scale renewables.

In his prior role as COO of Recurrent Energy, he led all of the company’s development, origination, engineering, procurement, construction and operations activities globally. During more than seven years at the company, Sheldon led its expansion from a small-scale, rooftop developer to a leading, utility-scale photovoltaic developer with over one gigawatt of contracted projects and a pipeline of more than three GW. Throughout his tenure, Sheldon was intricately involved in all major project development, power purchase agreement origination, mergers and acquisitions, and module procurement, including hundreds of megawatts in Arizona, Ontario, Texas and California. Sheldon joined Recurrent Energy in the Spring of 2007, shortly before its initial funding. In his first year at Recurrent Energy, he held the role of vice president of finance, where he was instrumental in developing and negotiating the company’s first projects, early corporate fundraising efforts, and joint venture agreements.

Previously, he spent five years at Calpine, working on finance and development of gas-fired power projects. He also worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, and in Accenture’s strategy consulting practice, specializing in power-price forecasting and asset valuation projects for utility clients. Sheldon holds a B.A. in Economics from Kenyon College, where he serves on the Kenyon Fund Executive Committee. He also holds an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where he teaches Project Finance in the full-time MBA program, and has served on the Dean’s Advisory Committee.

RESOURCES:

Find Sheldon on LinkedIn , Twitter and his blog.

Follow Intersect Power on Twitter and their website.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

CHECK OUT THE ENTIRE GREEN HYDROGEN SERIES:

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 15-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.

Episode 423: What Solar can learn from the traditional power sector, Mitchell Samuelian, CEO

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Mitch got into energy alongside a lot of really smart people in the army corps of engineers managing nuclear power, pivoting to hydro power and then into solar. He likes to say he just keeps accepting large, exciting projects that “people didn’t want to do” like a school that needs to relocate a solar plant or the Ivanpah Solar Generating System. He brings real strategy and expertise from nuclear and hydro to the solar field, blocking and tackling until all the work is done, training teams of engineers to think on his level of detail and prep, and getting talent in the renewables door through diverse workforce development.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 
 

RESOURCES:

Find Mitchell on LinkedIn.

Follow Tonian Renewables on LinkedIn, Facebook and check out their website.

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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.

Episodes 421 & 422: Freeing Energy, Bill Nussey’s roadmap for the Clean Energy Transition

Hear the full interview on episode 421.

And if you've only got time for the highlights, check out the short episode (422) we created with clips from the full episode.

 

“A passionate, valuable, and detailed blueprint for remaking the shape of everyday energy production... [Nussey] is passionate in advocating for change, but he’s also unfailingly realistic. Skeptics ... will find Nussey a doggedly clear-eyed guide to what he rightly calls “the treacherous divide between wild-goose-chases and billion-dollar opportunities.” — Kirkus Reviews

 

Impressed? Intrigued? You should be...I didn’t know it, but Kirkus Reviews are considered the gold standard and hardest to get [positive] review for a book these days.  So, yeah, I guess you could say this book is something to look forward to!

“The transition to clean energy is moving far too slowly,” according to today’s podcast guest, Bill Nussey. “Trapped by a century of fossil fuel investments and politicians that struggle to plan beyond the next election, the “Big Grid” that powers our modern world is outdated and in dire need of an upgrade.”  Bill Nussey is on a mission to understand how this transition will benefit us all, especially with regard to what he refers to as “Local Energy”.  In his brilliant book, “Freeing Energy”, Nussey explores the history and future of the Grid, why the coming infrastructure and investment wave is the biggest we’ve ever seen, and goes VERY deep into how you can play your part! 

I’m lucky that Bill has been a friend and mentor since he started this journey 4 yrs ago, and he asked me (Nico) to interview him for this in-depth backstory on how & why the Freeing Energy book came to life, why you need to read it, and even where we think you’ll find the most nuggets if you’re a longtime #SolarWarrior! 

As described to me by Bill, “Freeing Energy offers a new and faster path towards a clean energy future— one that is more reliable, more equitable, and cheaper. Just like personal computers eclipsed mainframes, millions of solar rooftops and small battery systems are challenging every assumption about our century-old, centralized electric grid. These small-scale “local energy” systems are deeply disruptive because they are based on fast-moving technologies, not fuels. Bill Nussey takes readers to mud huts in Africa, an off-grid farm in California, and a rural school in the mountains of Puerto Rico to uncover the underlying patterns of technology and the business model innovations of the local energy revolution.”

This book is a treasure trove of well-researched, actionable insights for anyone that cares about the future of energy—from startups, policymakers, investors, and utility leaders to the families and communities that want cleaner, cheaper energy today. It’s the guidebook you’ve been looking for, and from someone who over the last four years has certainly earned his stripes to accurately say he understands the industry from the inside-out, not just from interviews and anecdotes.


Freeing Energy hits shelves on Tuesday, December 7th, but you can pre-order today!

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 
 

RESOURCES:

Find Bill on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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

 

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

Episode 420: Giving Tuesday: Aparna Mohla and Benjamin Materna of GivePower

Each year on Giving Tuesday we highlight one non-profit making a big impact in the world of energy.  This year, I invite you to be convinced to share your treasure with GivePower. Aparna Mohla, VP Corporate Partnerships, shares GivePower’s dynamic approach to corporate donor engagement, creating a way for companies large and small to contribute with each transaction in what they’ve coined the Give Partners program. Donor groups can eventually build enough capital to send team members on an Install Trek in one of the remote villages GivePower serves!  Fun Fact - Goodleap (formerly LoanPal) contributes $20 for every loan transaction they process, successfully funding ALL of Give Power’s overhead expenses every year!?  In their generosity, Goodleap clears the way for all other donors, large or small, to be certain that 100% of their donation is actually reaching these community projects. 

The kinds of projects GivePower is building are incredibly inspiring.  Benjamin Materna, VP of Deployment, shares how they bring electricity to rural villages through solar projects, helping combat urban flight, providing local education and everything else a simple light bulb can do for a community.  Besides power, access to clean water threatens nearly half the population of the globe.  And GivePower is addressing this, too!   Ben and his teams build Solar Water Farms, powering desalination plants that can provide clean water where there has not been access or where disaster has cost the community their natural clean water source. In fact, after Haiti’s big earthquake last year, GivePower’s water project on the Island of La Gonave was able to support the local community AND several mainland communities, providing more than 1Million gallons of clean potable water!  Their projects are global, powering wildlife refuges that protect endangered species as rare as the last two white rhinos on earth, powering health clinics in rural Colombia and protecting tribal land and language in Canada.  

Ben also leads the TREKs, team building programs that allow donors to send a group of employees to install solar in one of their villages. This program is so cool, I hope one day we can even send our very own #SolarWarrior tribe from SunCast on a TREK, but don’t wait for me, you can join as a Give Partner as well!  

There is so much good left to give, so today we challenge you to take a minute to put some good back into the world.  

Click here to use the Suncast Donately Page and let GivePower know you heard about them on SunCast.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Donate by going to this website

RESOURCES:

Find Aparna on LinkedIn.

Find Benjamin on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow GivePower on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and check out their website.

 

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

Episode 419 - Thanksgiving Episode:  Youness Scally, Everybody Solar (non-profit) 

Youness Scally would be doing just fine as a CPA in the Bay Area, but, like so many #SolarWarriors, he was not content to stare at spreadsheets and longed to make a tangible impact on the world we live in.  That’s why, ten years ago, he co-founded Everybody Solar, a nonprofit that aims to install solar on other nonprofit organizations.  Their breakthrough project was on the headquarters of Rebuilding Together Peninsula, which had high electricity costs that they were able to offset with onsite solar panels.  Since then, they’ve done homeless shelters, national parks, after school programs like the YMCA and many more across the US. 

Launching a non-profit was not easy, Youness and I talk about some of the challenges to getting started, and it turns out fundraising is not the only hard part.  We talk about the challenges of starting a nonprofit in the energy sector, building a strong and diverse board, staying engaged with their supporters and managing time so that everything gets done. 

Youness manages his CPA business as well as Everybody Solar, so he is an expert on time management.  We get into tips from his mentors, his favorite accounting software and his bold predictions for the future. 

If you’re looking for an amazing non-profit to support this year, check out their website or just click here to donate.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Youness on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow Everybody Solar on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and check out their website.

New Your Times Article: Life is Short, what are you gonna do about that?

DONOR LEVELS:

Click here to donate.

Zeus Level Sponsor - Greek king of the gods - $25,000

Helios Level Sponsor - Greek god of the sun - $10,000

Apollo Level Sponsor - Greek god of light - $5,000

Neaera Level Sponsor - Greek goddess of the rising sun - $2,500

Eos Level Sponsor - Greek goddess of dawn - $1,000

Archimedes Level Sponsor - Greek astronomer - <$999

HIGHLIGHTING INDUSTRY SUCCESS STORIES, NON-PROFIT STARS:

Erika Mackie from Grid Alternatives, website
Reuben Veek, website

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

418: Every CEO needs this ONE skill! Rain Bennett on the power of Storytelling

Can we just agree that authenticity and empathy are worthy buzz words?  Rain Bennett is a movie maker, an author and a public speaker….well, actually, we should add Emmy-nominated producer and TEDx speaker.  And every time, through every channel, he gets your attention with authenticity and empathy because that’s what matters to people.  He’s built a career on storytelling and I’ve brought him on the show today to talk about why that matters to your professional development. 

In a world dominated by “six-second stories,” how do you stand out???

In his recent TED Talk, “You Don’t Get Hired for Your Expertise,” Rain breaks down how to not get caught playing the wrong game, and he does this in a very personal and compelling way. 

Everyone’s contribution to the world is unique, each one of us has an advantage.  Rain tells the story of how Mike Tyson, discouraged that the “great” heavyweight boxers have vertical advantage and longer reach, found his unique advantage in the bob and weave technique that propelled him to Champion.  Comparing yourself to others in your industry and competing without leaning into (or understanding) your core skills often creates a scarcity mindset.  We talk about holding on to moments of success as a way to build confidence and staying clear-headed and focused on your true and critical part of the puzzle.  

Rain is an accomplished film producer and storyteller, and every presentation he gives is engaging and memorable.  But how does he do it?  How does he grab our attention and hold it until the message is clear?  

This episode highlights his field-tested approach.  

It’s so good he’s distilled it into a book, but guess what, the book isn’t out yet!  Luckily you have SunCast and can listen to it instead, but I’m sure you’ll want to pre-order “Six Second Stories” or pick it up next week when it’s available (see link below).  

Watch the TEDx talk that sparked this discussion: No One Hires You For Your Expertise | Rain Bennett | TEDxRaleigh

Read Little Excavator to your kids! Read it for yourself.

Meanwhile, you should connect with Rain on LinkedIn,  Twitter, and especially TikTok (if you’re that hip!)

Follow Six Second Stories on LinkedIn and check out Rain’s website.

And, if you’ve only got time for the highlights, check out the Tactical Tuesday episode.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Rain on LinkedIn and Twitter and check out his website.

Follow Six Second Stories on LinkedIn and check out their website.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

417: Arcadia raised $100M to democratize clean energy access! Kiran Bhatraju, CEO

Few clean energy entrepreneurs are as familiar with the bumpy road from coal to clean energy as Kiran Bhatraju. The son of an immigrant doctor, Kiran grew up in a rural Kentucky town where the economy practically depended on coal.  For much of his youth, he saw first-hand how dependent his local community had become on the extraction and commercialization of coal for energy. And he saw how the decline of that sector is taking a toll on rural America.

 His knowledge on the subject is deep enough and his perspective unique enough that he even wrote a book on the subject.  From author (see book links below!) to Capitol Hill, Kiran has learned how to read people, policy and trends well enough to predict the nexus and go where the puck is headed (as our friends from the great North would say).  Which is what led him, through sales and start ups, to the energy sector, and ultimately to found Arcadia. When Arcadia first began, there simply were no meaningful ways for retail consumers to purchase clean renewables-based electricity for the vast majority of the US market, but Kiran and his team saw the way forward. So they set out to create a platform to enable both Utilities and consumers to benefit from a fair exchange of clean electrons.

They synced the first utility account with their platform in 2014. Since then, utilities nationwide use Arcadia to unlock and standardize energy data, helping innovators create the products and services to decarbonize our grid and make energy cleaner and smarter, and helping customers around the country connect to renewable energy sources. Many think of Arcadia as an energy broker; but, I often refer to them as “the Comcast of Solar” because they provide more than just simple energy brokerage services. They truly have a data platform that empowers consumers, solar developers, and utilities to maximize their respective benefit from the booming Community solar sector, and beyond. And, like Comcast, they are able to offer services at prices lower than other competitors thanks to the scale of their platform, quality of the data, and integration with other providers.

Today on SunCast, Kiran shares his secrets to building a power-team, holding on to enthusiasm and attracting employees that are on a mission. And Arcadia has a bold mission to decarbonize the grid and empower utilities and communities with affordable clean energy...want to learn how? 

Tune in to today’s episode.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Follow Kiran Bhatraju on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Follow Arcadia on LinkedIn, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“No one has given them the transition….” - Kiran on the coal miners of Kentucky
“You can have your best day and worst day on the same day.” Kiran on running a startup.
“Stale, male and pale” - Rubina Singh, Arcadia

TERMS DEFINED:

Community Solar - The U.S. Department of Energy defines community solar as any solar project or purchasing program, within a geographic area, in which the benefits of a solar project flow to multiple customers such as individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other groups.

NARUC - National Association of Regulatory Utilities

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

416: You Don’t Get Hired for Your Expertise, Rain Bennett (Emmy-nominated Producer)

You need to tell compelling stories. Rain Bennett can help.

In his recent TED Talk, “You Don’t Get Hired for Your Expertise” Rain breaks down what you DO get hired for in a very personal and compelling way. Moreover, in today’s Tactical Tuesday, Rain and I break down exactly how he does it, and I extract the lessons you can apply to your very next creative project.

Rain is an accomplished film producer and storyteller, and every presentation he gives is engaging and memorable. But how does he do it? How does he grab our attention and hold it until he’s sure the message is clear? This episode highlights his step-by-step approach. Yes it’s good enough for a book, but guess what, the book isn’t out yet! You have to listen, but I’m sure you’ll want to pre-order “Six Second Stories”.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Pre-order Six Second Stories for only 99 cents



Watch the TEDx talk that sparked this discussion: No One Hires You For Your Expertise | Rain Bennett | TEDxRaleigh


RESOURCES:

Find Rain on LinkedIn and Twitter and check out his website.

Follow Six Second Stories on LinkedIn and check out their website.


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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

415: How do deregulated energy markets work? Jesson Bradshaw, CEO @ Energy Ogre

This is the Full-length interview with Energy Ogre founder and CEO Jesson Bradshaw, who also appeared on the podcast a couple of weeks ago on a Tactical Tuesday. In this episode, I learned:

  • Why TX is an attractive place for industry

  • How deregulated markets work

  • The perspective of a retail energy provider

  • How you can be sure you're getting the best electricity prices

I was surprised to hear Jesson say that he and his team are really in the education business, bringing attention to Texas’s deregulated electricity industry by discussing topics such as renewable energy, future technologies, and consumer services.

We talked about how deregulated markets work, in particular Texas as one of the great experiments of deregulating energy supply. Jesson was just out of gradschool when he was hired by a Natural Gas company who needed someone to man the overnight desk of their new endeavor: electricity! It was the 90s and a brand new market was hitting the world, trading energy. Jesson worked with ERCOT trading energy for the fist time. In our conversation today, he shares what it was like to ride this wave and he helps demystify the complicated elements the Texas market.

With over 100,000 customers, Energy Ogre has helped save over $150 million for their clients.

Don't miss this deep dive on how electricity deregulation affects your business.

RESOURCES:

Follow Energy Ogre on LinkedIn and check out their website.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!


Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

414: WRO & Logistics affecting your Solar pipeline? Supply chain expert Andy Klump of CEA is your guide

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For the las six months, the solar industry has been under a shroud of confusion and uncertainty with regard to a handful of policies that are affecting all of us. Whether you have felt it yet or not, the WRO (Withhold Release Order) has slowly crept into the solar industry consciousness and is impacting everything from project equipment and project delivery timelines to supply chain and equipment pricing.

As much of the news is coming through the filter of international media and is targeted toward the ever-growing trade battle between the US and Southeast Asia, chiefly China, it's often difficult to discern exactly what the WRO and other policies (both in the Biden administration and abroad) could mean for your business and our industry at large. To help sift the wheat from the shaft and give you front lines insight into how this can effect your business and what you can do about it, I've brought Andy Klump, CEO of Clean Energy Associates, to the show today for his fourth appearance because Andy is, in my view, one the of the world's chief experts on US - China solar trade, both from a policy perspective and a delivery/logistics quality perspective.

Andy has been in the industry for 20 years and he's seen a lot of cycles. Andy and I talk about how this is similar to and different from past trade cycles, like the Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties or AD/CVD. Andy has keen insight on the impacts on pricing, timelines on logistics log jams and when they might ease up, and whether or not the underlying arguments of the existing WRO actually holds water. We also contemplate whether this is necessarily fair that the solar industry is receiving the brunt of this trade policy, considering we are not the only industry that utilizes products coming from SE Asia and in particular, the areas that are under inspection in China, with the current WRO rulings.

Andy provides his thoughts on how, where and IF the Biden administration might provide relief to this ever more troublesome situation. If you've been wondering how this will effect you, you want to listen to this today's episode. It's a timely look at how international trade policy directly effects our industry and your livelihood.

RESOURCES:

Find Andy on LinkedIn

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

We've linked a few articles from our friends at PV magazine that go deep into this topic.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/10/11/solar-supply-demand-and-a-foreign-policy-shakeup/

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/08/19/customs-enforcement-is-jeopardizing-2-1-gw-of-solar-projects/

Additional resources, if you want to keep listening to great content on this topic, check out the video interview with Tim Montague of Clean Power Hour called "WRO on Silicon Solar"

https://cesnrg.com/podcast/

All of the other resources Andy and his team have compiled on this topic are at this link including an interview with friend of the podcast, Tim Montague, and another with Benoy Thanjan.

https://www.cea3.com/cea-blog/tag/no+forced+labor.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

413: Deregulation, Solar in Choice Markets, & Motivation Mondays, w/Nathan Jovanelly, IGS Solar

We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast

Nathan Jovanelly believes everyone should have the right to purchase clean energy. But he didn't start a non-profit. During our interview today, we talk about his childhood in a blue collar family, how he almost enlisted in the military, and how discipline and diligence paved the way to success, first in engineering and now as the Director of Business Development for IGS.

Nate, as he asked me to call him, studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Delaware, but his heart was focused on the environmental impact that companies have on the world. He learned compliance by working in several sectors, including wast e water regulation for Motts Applesauce and Utz Potato Chips.

Eventually, some good relationships and excellent productivity brought him to IGS, the largest retailer of energy in the US, where he helped diversify their energy portfolio by launching IGS Solar. What were some of the advantages Nate and IGS had over the competition when launching this fast growing division?

For starters, cash and a tax appetite. IGS is privately held by the White family and in those days (circa 2013) they were able to take advantage of the state and federal incentives in order to fund smaller projects, especially for hospitals, schools and other nonprofits. In fact, they became so proficient at the under-500-megawatt category that they partnered with Sun Edison to do the jobs that were too small for their portfolio.

We talk about some of the strategies they used to become efficient experts in these markets. About creating financing options for those that otherwise wouldn't have access to solar, creating tech interfaces that the customer can easily understand, and about when to say "no" to some opportunities.

Nate is not just disciplined, he's full of inspiration. Some of my favorite quotes from his linked-in videos (called Monday Motivations) are:

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." and "Lost time is never found." He's also not afraid to change his mind, we ponder his changing perspectives on battery storage and access to renewables for low- and middle-income Americans. Listen to his "bold predictions"

and more gems from our conversation, here on episode 413 of Suncast.

Resources:

Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn or Instagram

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

Check out one of Nate’s Motivational Mondays Videos and Follow him on LinkedIn!

Hear Nate on our friend Benoy’s “The Solar Maverick” podcast 100th Episode.

What does it mean to have carbon neutral gas? IGS explains in this Video

Learn more about which states have deregulated electricity markets

Two great quotes that have inspired Nate's Motivation Mondays

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." - Joseph Campbell

"Lost time is never found." - Benjamin Franklin

Acronyms explained:

CHP (Combined Heat and Power) - A suite of technologies that can use a variety of fuels to generate electricity or power at the point of use, allowing the heat that would normally be lost in the power generation process to be recovered to provide needed heating and/or cooling.

SAPC - Solar Access to Public Capital

LMI - Low to Moderate Income

EPC - Engineering, Procurement and Construction

Books mentioned and recommendations:


Thanks again to this week's sponsor, helping keep the podcast FREE to you!

Energy Toolbase’s cohesive suite of project modeling, storage control, and asset monitoring software products enables developers to confidently deploy solar and energy storage projects.

 

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 15-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 20min on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.

412: What is Market-based Rate Authority (MRA)? Jesson Bradshaw of Energy Ogre

In Today's Tactical Tuesday we spend 15 minutes diving into the reality of deregulated markets with Jesson Bradshaw of Energy Ogre. Most of us in the US do not have choice when it comes to who powers our homes. But in Texas, and a handful of other deregulated states, energy is as competitive as telecom services. Much like the airline industry and natural gas, deregulation can bring lower prices to the consumer. But there's still no Priceline for powering your home. At least not yet. The information can be hard for the consumer to understand and therefore, hard for them to make well informed choices. Energy Ogre aims to educate the consumer so they can, in fact, choose an energy plan that it is in their best interest.

Jesson talks about how "light handed" regulation in states like Texas helps lower the barrier of entry to new ideas, projects and companies. Not only does that mean a chance to offer a revolutionary service or product to the community, but when it's done right, it can also yield big job markets. Cloud based data is also leveling the playing field and smart meters bring fair and accurate billing to the customer. This episode is a crash course in working in deregulated markets. Listen now, because if you don't live in one yet, you might soon!

This content is a PREVIEW of a longer interview with Jesson, which will be released later in November. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast and our newsletter so you can hear the whole conversation. You won't want to miss it.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry and would like to just talk about it with me - hit me up -> grab 20min on my calendar.

Resources:

Follow Energy Ogre on LinkedIn and check out their website.

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email

411: Auston Taber, CEO of Solar Support

Auston Taber launched Solar Support after years behind the scenes at companies like REC, SMA, Huawei and GInlong, where he learned how to repair systems and mitigate damages from failing hardware. From aging inverters to hurricanes, there's always something threatening productivity of a solar array and Auston's mission is to keep those unproductive hours to a minimum.

We talk about how he pivoted from employee to CEO of his own company while retaining his previous employer as a client...all the while pushing for transparency of information across the industry. Keep an open mind, and listen as we talk about the pieces of Auston's past that led to his unconventional way of seeing the world.

If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry and would like to just talk about it with me -
hit me up -> grab 20min on my calendar.

Resources:

Connect with Auston on LinkedIn

Follow Solar Support on LinkedIn, Twitter and check out their website.

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email


Notes/Books/Places/Links mentioned:

410: The Final Debate: How do we create the 100% Clean Grid of the future?

Over the last year, I have had the privilege of hosting a quarterly online debate series with my dear friend and fellow #SolarWarrior, longtime industry veteran journalist and marketing pro, Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza. When he brought me the idea to produce a Debate-style podcast episode in the Fall of 2020, I was both intrigued and nervous. What would the debate center around? Will people join the discussion? Would any of our media partners help support and distribute it?

I'm grateful that all of those worries were put to bed. Solar Power Events (the company behind Solar Power International) agreed to host the first debate as part of the 2020 live content for the Virtual SPI. And Hundreds of #SolarWarriors turned out to watch it live and in replay on YouTube, and left us dozens of comments on Linkedin and Twitter encouraging the series to continue.

So, in 2021 we partnered again with Solar Power Events to produce 3 more debates in what originally billed as part of the "Road to New Orleans" leading to our much-anticipated live debate from the Conference Center Atrium on Day 1 of the in-person show.

Sadly, the in-person event was once again cancelled due to extenuating circumstances, but the show must go on! Solar Power Events allowed the Debate to feature again as part of the Live Broadcast of SPI Virtual in late September, and this conversation is the podcast episode that we are publishing today on the SunCast Podcast. Hope you enjoy this re-broadcast as much as we enjoyed putting it all together.

These discussions are so important as we grow and scale the solar industry. While we may all agree that we’re going to need some combination of distributed and large scale renewable energy, precisely how much of each and how will it be integrated into the grid is still a hotly contested topic. And that’s our debate for this Final Great Debate of the year.

We aim to address the following in the debate:

To get to 100% clean power our 100-plus-year-old grid will need to be reinvented for renewable energy resources as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible, but how are we going to do it?

  • Will it be a mainly centralized grid or more of a distributed grid, or will it be a combination of both?

  • With the FERC 2222 order that allows distributed resources to participate in wholesale markets, will millions pf power plants be cost effective and more secure?

  • How will transmission be addressed?

  • What about jobs and training for all these renewable energy workers?

To tackle these tough questions, we invited four super-knowledgeable industry veterans, pairing two advocating for a more centralized grid and two advocating for a more distributed grid.

For Central Generation:

Emilie Wangerman leads Lightsource BP’s business development organization in the Americas with responsibility for customer origination, mergers, and acquisitions, wholesale power marketing, and corporate strategy. Emilie’s team has closed over 3GW of utility-scale solar contracts across fifteen states and acquired over 13GW of early to mid-stage assets across twenty-two states.

You can listen to Emilie's SunCast podcast here:

312 - How To Productize Renewable Energy Assets, With Emilie Wangerman, VP Business Dev. At Lightsource BP

313 - How Clean Energy Jobs Can Lead The Recovery, With Abby Hopper, Emilie Wangerman, Erika Symmonds, And Audrey Lee

Barbara Lockwood is senior vice president of public policy for Arizona Public Service (APS), Arizona’s largest electric company serving 1.3 million homes and businesses across the state. Lockwood oversees the company’s federal and state regulatory affairs, federal, state and local public affairs, community affairs, corporate giving and sustainability functions.

And for Distributed Generation:

Barry Cinnamon is CEO of Cinnamon Energy Systems (CES), a Silicon Valley solar and energy storage contractor. He is a licensed California C-46 Solar and C-10 Electrical Contractor, NABCEP Emeritus solar installer, host of the weekly Energy Show, and former CALSSA President and SEIA Board Member. He's also the founder of one of the first Publicly Traded solar companies, Akeena Solar, and architected the merger of Akeena's IP into Westinghouse Solar.

You can listen to Barry on SunCast here:

209 - Podcaster Roundtable: Jon Powers, Barry Cinnamon And Nico Discuss Using Podcasts As A Marketing Channel [SPI 2019]

213 - Barry Cinnamon, CEO Of Cinnamon Energy Systems: 20 Years Of Riding The Solar Coaster [SPI 2019]

Meredith McClintock is the Director of Business Development at Aurora Solar, provider of the solar industry’s leading solar design and sales software. Solar professionals have designed over 6 million projects in Aurora, and Aurora-designed systems are installed on six continents. McClintock is a former solar entrepreneur herself and is now responsible for building partnerships at Aurora to reduce the cost of deploying solar.

The 5 Questions we addressed in the Debate are:

Question 1:

Let's discuss the Current U.S. grid design; it's based upon Centuries-old technology & frameworks for delivering power to consumers.

Is the current grid capable of integrating 100% Renewable Energy? What’s working & what’s not about the current grid?

Question 2:

Let's talk about the current grid challenges.

What about the future?

Give us your vision of a 21st century, future-proofed grid with 100% renewable energy.

Question 3:

Let’s talk about urgency. I’m sure you’ve all seen the U.N.’s International Panel on Climate Change report of 2021. It’s dire.

What policies and resources are needed to make your ideal grid a reality ASAP?

Question 4:

Let’s talk about jobs and businesses.

How could we maximize jobs & economic benefits in this energy transition?

What’s the balance between DG & utility scale jobs?

And How do we take care of communities?

Question 5:

For our final question, we’re going to turn the tables.

For Emilie & Barbara, how can a more centralized renewable grid incorporate decentralized resources?

And to Barry and Meredith, let’s say the new distributed energy grid is chosen as the way forward. How will utilities be supporting that vision?

We had such a good time putting together this and the other 3 debates in the series, and really learned a Ton...and many of you did as well judging by the comments & feedback we received.

Tor & Nico look forward to bringing this debate series back for 2022, and would Love your participation. What do YOU believe are the topics to be debated in 2022? Who do you think are worthy panelists to carry the flag for one of the sides of the debate?

You can nominate them by joining the discussion with us on Twitter or Linkedin, tagging @Nicomeo or @SolarFred (Twitter) with the hashtag #GreatSolarDebate.

And don't forget to VOTE for who You think won this final debate by heading to Tor's Twitter feed before Oct 30th and entering the Twitter poll. Feel free to leave a comment as well!

Thanks for contributing to the Great Debate, and we look forward to bringing you another series next year.

(If you'd like to partner with us as a Sponsor of the series, reach out to Nico, Nico@mysuncast.com, with "Great Debate Sponsor Inquiry" in the title and we'll get you the information you need to get it into your budget.)

--

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 400 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Or, start a conversation with Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email

Resources:

Watch this Great Debate on Youtube

Connect with our guests on LinkedIn:

Emilie Wangerman of Lightsource bp

Barbara Lockwood of Arizona Public Service - APS

Barry Cinnamon of Cinnamon Energy Systems

Meredith McClintock of Aurora Solar

Follow Tor Valenza on LinkedIn and Twitter.

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email

409: Reid Wuntke, President of Energy Toolbase

Starting, failing, transparency, humility, organization, leadership, family, burnout...these are just some of the themes that emerged in today's riveting discussion with Reid Wuntke.

Reid is a highly intentional and focused leader. You may recognize him as President of one of the world's leading solar software platforms, Energy Toolbase, but he came into the Renewables field with the same thoughtful intention that led him to the Royal Canadian Airforce, McKinsey, various high-growth startups, and ultimately Pason (ETB's parent company). He wanted to see good people and good ideas succeed.

Most of us in the solar industry include ETB as a critical component in the proposal process. Yet, Reid and Energy Toolbase aim to bring the bigger picture in focus for their customers with modeling tools (of course), monitoring and data analytics that help realize the role of each install as part of a high-functioning clean energy portfolio. It's what Reid and the team refer to as being both the "promise maker" and "promise keeper" to the industry and our renewable energy consumers.

Catch the conversation right here, on Suncast.

Resources:

Connect with Reid on LinkedIn

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

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email

408: 2021 Top Solar Changemaker: Kate Gold, Solar Landscape

Solar Power World named today's guest, Kate Gold, it's 2021 Top Solar Changemaker. Kate is the director of community engagement at Solar Landscape, and today I get the details from Kate on how she transitioned into the Solar industry and in just a few short years garnered this coveted award by one of the most respected industry journals! She has a fascinating and compelling story. Tune-in to hear more!

From the Article feature on SPW's website:

"Talking about diversity and inclusion in the solar industry is a good start, but the 2021 Top Solar Changemaker is actively bringing underserved communities into the green economy.

Kate Gold’s mission as director of community engagement at Solar Landscape is to train and develop the future renewable energy workforce in New Jersey. She has helped the company partner with nonprofits including the Jewish Renaissance Foundation, the Hispanic Family Center of Southern Jersey and Interfaith Neighbors to offer in-person solar job training for local residents."

To read more, access the full article here.

Resources:

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn

Follow Solar Landscape on LinkedIn and check out their website.

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 400 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Or, start a conversation with Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email

407: CleanTech Podcaster's Roundtable Q3-'21

Updated SunCast Guest - Podcasters.png

Welcome back, Solar Warrior. This is a SunCast Rewind that’s also a Tactical Tuesday, typically a short form conversation with subject matter experts designed to give you the practical tools, tips, and advice for building your solar business or career.


Today is a special collaboration with Mike Casey from Tigercomm as host of our Quarterly Podcasters Roundtable. Originally recorded live as a video interview (watch it on youtube!), this idea was inspired by Tigercomm's quarterly Cleantech Editor's Roundtable series, which has grown in popularity during the pandemic. As it progressed, we kept hearing from people who wanted to hear from cleantech podcasters. While the full-time editors have a breadth of view, our podcaster panelists have depth of view because their shows delve into companies, leaders and trends.


Today, we feature seven cleantech podcasters:

Marie Burgquist, Watts Up Podcast 

Nico Johnson, SunCast 

Tim Montague, Clean Power Hour

Bill Nussey, Freeing Energy 

Josh Porter, SolarCoaster

Jon Powers, Experts Only

Julia Pyper, Political Climate


Resources:

Connect with Marie on LinkedIn and check out Watts Up Podcast.

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn and check out Clean Power Hour.

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn and check out Freeing Energy .

Connect with Josh on LinkedIn and check out SolarCoaster .

Connect with Jon on LinkedIn and check out Experts Only .

Connect with Julia on LinkedIn and check out Political Climate .

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 380 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Or, start a conversation with Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

406: Solar lending insights from Dividend Finance CEO, Eric White

When Eric White met a group of Louisiana oil guys at an OPEC Summit while studying abroad in Vienna, he scarcely could have imagined that his career would soon center around two of the most powerful sectors in the world: Finance & Energy. And when he began to see the renewable energy sector scaling, his traditional finance & energy training suggested that the solar sector in particular was facing capital barriers inhibiting acceleration of a distributed energy future.

Since 2014, Eric White has built Dividend Finance into one of the most recognized solar lending platforms in the industry, and he's borrowed both tactics and talent from one of the original fintech platforms, Capitol One! Tune-in to hear how Eric and his team have become one of the most trusted and utilized finance platforms in the smart home segment, and where he sees the industry going from here.

Resources:

Connect with Eric White on LinkedIn

Follow Dividend Finance Inc. on LinkedIn, Twitter and check out their website.


You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.

Solar waste or Second life?? Refurbish & Recycle with Janette Freeman of Fabtek

Updated SunCast Guest - Janette Freeman.png

As we've discussed here before, the solar industry has a problem that many are only just becoming aware of...end of life.

What do we do with all these solar panels when they are "used up"? What about when they break?

Most solar panels have a life span of 20-30 years, and many of the early projects are starting to reach their end of useful life. In fact, by 2050, The International Renewable Energy Agency projects that up to 78 million metric tons of solar panels will have reached the end of their life, and that the world will be generating about 6 million metric tons of new solar waste annually! (*thanks to today's guest, Janette for these facts!)

Proper disposal of these solar products is something that is often used in opposition to financial support of this and other clean energy products. If we as an industry make claims to be the greener solution, we must be prepared to ensure proper end of life disposal and handling of these products!

What does that look like? Well, according to today's guest, Janette Freeman of Fabtek, it includes building systems for recycling, or

refurbishing; it's not just dumping them into a landfill, but helping to create a circular economy in solar.

Not sure what "Circular economy" means?

Wondering what are the key reasons that lead to addressing this end-of-life discussion?

What are the common concerns folks have, and what prevents us from taking action today?

How much does this actually cost?

I dig into all these questions and more today with Janette, and she graciously provides detailed insights all the way down to how much to budget in your disposal and refurbishing budget! I've never had anyone go into such detail, and I love how she ties it back to economic principles like Circular Economy for us.

What can we do now that we have this information?

Janette suggests, companies can start considering end-of-life in their financial plans. Governments can pass legislation giving incentives to recycle, landfill restrictions, or supportive legislation to encourage recycling. Researchers can continue pushing to optimize recycling and creating more efficient panels for the future. And people who are considering switching to solar can even look into using refurbished panels instead of new ones for their project!

We all have a responsibility not only to reduce our total consumption, but to make wise choices personally and professionally about the products we use, and how we dispose of those that we no longer have use for. As they say, one man's junk is quite literally a recycler (or refurbisher)'s treasure!

Resources:

Connect with Jannette on LinkedIn

Follow Fabtek Enterprise on LinkedIn and check out their website.

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email

404: How Sunlight Financial became a leading solar lender, with Matt Potere, CEO Sunlight Financial

Updated SunCast Guest - Jennifer Newman.png

Have you wondered how some residential solar companies flourish while others languish? Is there a common thread to their success? If there's at least one thing I have known to be true, it's that you can't scale a modern solar company without good financing for your customers. And, while it's getting easier, there have been a Lot of companies to come-and-go over my 15+ yrs in the solar industry.

That said, Residential Solar finance is a hot hot market, and few companies have stormed the proverbial castle and taken a leadership position so decisively as Sunlight Financial. On the surface, it looks like a rather traditional "this banker left his banking job for another banking job" kind of story. But as you'll hear in today's interview with Sunlight's CEO, Matt Potere, it's anything but "traditional". Son of a gas station owner, Matt says "I grew up in the Hamptons like many did, but now quite in the same way they did". In truth, while the hedge fund manager's families were headed to vacation, it was Matt and his family who filled their cars on their way. Those years of entrepreneurial insight gleaned helping with the family business helped create the leader Matt has become. And in today's interview, you'll learn a lot more about a man who has overcome tremendous odds to lead one of the most successful solar finance institutions to come along in a decade.

Matt serves as Sunlight’s CEO and is a member of the Board of Directors. Over the past 25 years, Matt has held leadership roles in credit, business development and strategy from Fortune 50 companies to venture capital backed start-ups. Since joining Sunlight from Bank of America (where he was a Senior Vice President responsible for the Bank’s $90 billion home equity portfolio), he's formed a team that has helped 150K families go solar, finances ~$200Million/mo in loans, and recently became a publicly traded company!

There's a lot to dig into today, so sit back and enjoy

When it's done, I'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review (if you haven't already) in the podcast player you're listening through now, or find me on Linkedin and let me know what you thought of this episode! (http://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus)

You can find the resources and links mentioned in today's episode here:

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Follow Sunlight Financial on LinkedIn and Twitter, and check out their website.

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on Twitter, LinkedIn or email