Episode 452: NJ’s rooftop community solar market is dominated by one company, Solar Landscape, w/Shaun Keegan (CEO) & Kate Gold

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I love asking my guests about family life, past and present.  It gives me a picture of where they come from and also where their values lie today.  So the opportunity to interview brother and sister Shaun Keegan and Kate Gold of Solar Landscape was particularly special to me! 

Shaun Keegan co-founded Solar Landscape with a childhood friend in 2012, personally developing each side of the business from design and build to legal and policy.  In 2020, his sister, Kate Gold joined the company to lead their community engagement & workforce development initiatives. Kate joins the interview today to provide some color into Shaun’s background and this truly family-run business. You can also check out her interview last year, episode 408, where we highlighted Kate as Solar Power World’s “Top Solar Changemaker” for 2021!  We talk about the crucial role of family and community that has contributed to Solar Landscape’s success over the years, and I get a little insight about what it was like to grow up with Shaun, who, as Kate puts it, “has been a CEO since he was three.”

He has a remarkable track record when it comes to growth over the last ten years.  How did he get his first solar job?  How does he keep growing?  What’s the secret to retaining good employees?  Does every entrepreneur stress about payroll?  You’ll love the life stories and business lessons shared in today’s episode #SolarWarriors. I sure did.

Family ties (4:54)
Shaun's first exposure to the solar industry (10:18)
Shaun's first solar job (11:58)
Actualizing an idea into a business (18:22)
Lessons learned from law school (24:29)
Selling Christmas trees (32:06)
Finding a niche (34:25)
Offering financing (40:13)
The tax equity market & growth (43:32)
Workforce development (47:22)
Community solar pilot program (49:18)
Lessons from mentors (54:51)
Connect with Shaun & Kate (56:12)
Bold prediction (56:36)
Wrap up (57:27)

RESOURCES:

Find Shaun on LinkedIn .

Find Kate on LinkedIn .

Follow Solar Landscape on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and check out their website.

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

SUNGROW focuses on integrated energy storage system solutions, including PCS, lithium-ion batteries and energy management system. Pleae visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 451: Public Relations vs Public Affairs? Nadia Pabst (Antenna Group) can answer that! [Live from RE+Northeast]

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It’s good to be back in-person at events! 

Just a few weeks ago (Feb 2022), I was live interviewing at the RE+NorthEast Trade Show in Boston, Mass, and it was, in a word, amazing. I LOVE in-person interviews! The quality of the interaction really can’t be matched, even if I am not able to have all my notes and extra ‘research’ tools at my sneaky disposal “in the background”.  

When I asked my friend, Antenna Group EVP of Cleantech Jake Rozemaryn, if he’d be open to a discussion about the trends they are tracking for 2022, he responded with “would you like to interview one of our new VPs instead? She’s a real deal expert and speaks more clearly than I do” (i may be embellishing a little on his text. haha). Enter Nadia Pabst, VP of the newly created Public Affairs Practice, a notable expansion of Antenna Group who is so well known for Marketing and PR.  From storage to solar fleets to self driving vehicles, Nadia brings a surprising breadth of experience and subject matter expertise to the political acumen clients would expect from a Public Affairs expert.

So, what’s the difference between Public Relations and Public Affairs?  How does that change the picture for the client and the industry?  I’m glad you asked! In this Tactical Tuesday episode, Nadia explains how Public Affairs takes a holistic perspective of clean energy entrepreneurship, grid sustainability, and policy to promote and secure real growth in this fast moving industry.   

Special thanks to the folks at RE+ for setting aside a dedicated room for us at the show to be able to accommodate interviews. There will be more forthcoming like this from the RE+NE show, so make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast!

Face to face vs digital meetings (3:19)
The importance of Public affairs (5:18)
Velocity in 2022 (10:41)
A look into the future (12:34)
Wrap up (13:40)

RESOURCES:

Find Nadia on LinkedIn .

Follow Antenna Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“Looking at marketing and public relations. At the end of the day, you need to be holistic and look 360 degrees in the landscape in which you’re operating and say at any given moment, I can be written out of the market by poor policies or a very distant policy decision that has unintended consequences that impacts my business.”
— Nadia Pabst
“When I think about velocity in 2022, what really comes to mind is the ways in which policymakers and regulators are looking at the future of distributed energy resources.”
— Nadia Pabst

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

SUNGROW focuses on integrated energy storage system solutions, including PCS, lithium-ion batteries and energy management system. Pleae visit https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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.

Top 5 Most Popular SunCast Episodes Featuring Women

March is Women’s History month, an annual period highlighting women’s contributions to our society throughout history. Here at SunCast Media, we’re proud to join in this celebration, not as a mere acknowledgment of the past but as an intentional commitment to the future, an equitable future. Today, we’d like to feature some of the fascinating female leaders who have previously graced the SunCast podcast as guests; These are some of the brightest, most influential, and capable women within the Clean Energy space. To that end, we’ve compiled our Top 5 Most Popular Episodes that highlight women’s voices, as denoted by overall numbers of “listens” to their episode by you all #SolarWarriors. Listen to their experiences and triumphs, and please let them know how much they are appreciated in our community!

1.) Britta von Oesen is a longtime Solar Warrior with a fascinating entry into the industry. Currently, Britta serves as a Managing Director with CohnReznick Capital and leads the San Francisco Office. She has 10+ years of experience in investment banking, tax equity, corporate strategy, and development in the wind, solar, and broader environmental sector. She has directly advised on over 5GW of solar, wind, and battery storage projects and contributed to the financing or sale of $20B+ worth of projects with CohnReznick Capital. Remember the Great Recession? Well, hear how she went from financial crisis to financial deal machine as she has been responsible for >5GW of projects and some of the most significant transactions in the last decade of the solar boom. Not to mention, she’s a dedicated mother and a sterling example that you can lead at home and the office without compromise.

2.) Tara Doyle is Chief Commercial Officer of PV Evolution Labs (PVEL), the leading independent lab for the global downstream solar industry. She currently leads PVEL’s business development, project management and marketing teams. With over 15 years of solar industry experience, Tara built the foundation of PVEL’s commercial operations as one of the company’s earliest employees. Hear a fascinating story where she and her solar lab tech nerds at PVEL sold their company, then-called PV Evolution Labs, to DNV-GL half a decade ago. Then in January 2019, they spun it back out as a separate business retaining the PVEL brand. She’s a spitfire on a mission, and we talked so much that I couldn’t fit it into one episode. So enjoy this two-part episode available for your listening pleasure.

3.) Anne Hoskins has one of the most intriguing and possibly most essential jobs in our industry, Chief Policy Officer who leads Sunrun’s state and federal policy and regulatory advocacy. Mind you, Sunrun is the largest residential solar and storage provider in the United States providing clean energy to homeowners in 23 states! Additionally, as an attorney and executive with regulatory, public policy and government affairs experience, Anne has held positions in federal and state government, at energy and communications companies and in academia. I caught up with her live at Solar Power Puerto Rico, where she told her fascinating story and shared more about leading Sunrun into uncharted waters by paving the way for their DER products, opening key new markets like Illinois and Puerto Rico, and much much more.

 

4.) Katherine Ryzhaya is the founder and CEO of Marvel Power Group and formerly the Chief Commercial Officer at Lightsource BP. We talked about her remarkable journey into becoming involved with Renewable Energy. As you will see, her story is impressive, as is her sheer determination, will power, intelligence and intuition. I expect you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as I did.

5.) Bernadette del Chiaro. Her name alone carries weight as a leading voice in California Clean Energy & Climate Advocacy for 2 decades making an indelible mark on the solar and energy sector through her advocacy and political organizing. As the Executive Director of the California Solar and Storage Association, she is directly responsible for providing a voice and platform for over 500 member solar companies. Specifically, she’s now instrumental in driving forward energy storage initiatives like SB700, dubbed the Million Solar Roofs of Energy Storage. And while her accolades are many, we also covered much more, including Bernadette’s advice on how you can be more active in lobbying and policy right where you live.

So there you have it! From the comfort of your own home, your car, or wherever you tune in, you can learn about the various advancements being made within the industry as spearheaded by these phenomenal women or glean from their experiences embarking upon entrepreneurial endeavors. As I reflect on each of these recordings, I am in awe at each of these women and their determination, wit, and grit as showcased throughout their stories. There are many golden takeaways packed into each of these episodes; I implore you to give it a listen!

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 450: Sunrun CEO, Mary Powell, leading America's largest residential solar company

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

We are kicking off Women’s History Month with Mary Powell, the Chief Executive Officer of Sunrun, the Nation’s leading home solar, battery storage, and energy services company. 

You may also recall that Mary served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Green Mountain Power Corporation (2008-2019), an electric services company that serves 75 percent of the State of Vermont’s residential and business customers. During her tenure, Mary delivered on an ambitious energy vision to provide low-carbon, low-cost and highly reliable power to Vermont residents, and positioned the company as a leading energy transformation business. She is a force within the industry and I am honored to have her featured as our 450th Podcast Episode Guest! 

This episode captures our enlivening discussion as we cover her path from a very art-inspired family background where she admittedly, “did not grow up with any orientation towards business nor towards the world of energy,” to coming into her own as an executive in a male-dominated industry.  And even after serving for more than a decade with Green Mountain Power Corporation (which easily could have been the only story of Mary’s career path) she accepted a role with Sunrun where she presently works. These experiences, as an executive of both a Utility and now a Distributed Energy Company have given her the proper vantage point to discern the obstacles to the energy transition and sustainable future we are all working towards. So tune in to hear about: 

  • Her strategy to transform the orientation towards an energy future while lowering bills. 

  • Her mindset navigating as a woman and becoming comfortable being an outlier and how that propelled her into her own truth 

  • Her focus around serving customers and its two-fold benefit to both the company and the business.

You’ll hear all this and more on today’s podcast episode so be sure to tune in!

The accidental executive (6:27)
Mary's childhood hero (8:02)
Mary's Myers-Briggs Type & Enneagram (10:45)
Mary's first job (19:47)
Mary becomes COO (24:48)
The first B Corp utility (33:03)
A woman in a male dominated industry (35:52)
The North Star at Sunrun (42:09)
Stacking benefits (46:57)
The utility of the future (49:17)
The utilities vs rooftop solar battle (52:06)
Wrap up (55:22)

RESOURCES:

Find Mary on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“My orientation from a young age was not just enamored with the power of love but enamored with the idea that was my job to use every ounce of love I could find.”
— Mary Powell

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 449: Inside Goldman Sachs & Shell Ventures $75M bet on GridPoint, with Peter Corsell (Chairman) & Melissa Blanken (CMO)

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

In this audio-exclusive, host Nico Johnson gets unique behind-the-scenes insight into the strategic investment by two industry giants, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Shell Ventures, into one of the more well-established building energy management platforms in climatetech - GridPoint. 

GridPoint today announced it has closed a $75 million strategic capital raise led by the Sustainable Investing Group within Goldman Sachs Asset Management (Goldman Sachs), with additional participation by Shell Ventures . “Goldman Sachs has been a strong supporter of GridPoint since the company's early days,” said Peter L. Corsell, Chairman & Founder of GridPoint and Global InfraTech Fund Partner at I Squared Capital. “We are now delighted to work closely with Goldman’s Sustainable Investing Group and Shell Ventures in this next, important chapter of GridPoint’s growth.”

Listen in as Nico discusses both the nature of the investment and the new GridPoint that is set to emerge with Peter Corsell. How will the existing business model expand or change? Hear from Melissa Blanken, GridPoint’s CMO, on the renewed vision for this climatetech startup that was indeed ahead of its time. And Nico probes for further clarity as this investment appears to usher in a clear shift in focus from Utilities to their Commercial building customers. 

Consider this the official behind-the-scenes story to the Press Release issued today by GridPoint.

Enjoy, and let us know what other questions you still have.

Peter returns to GridPoint (3:49)
Goldman Sachs & Shell Ventures invest in Gridpoint (5:28)
GridPoint's vision (10:24)
What Gridpoint offers (11:28)
Gridpoint's shift in focus (13:01)
Connecting with Gridpoint (17:05)
Wrap up (17:44)

RESOURCES:

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

GridPoint is an American clean technology company based in Reston, Virginia, United States. GridPoint is a leader in building energy management and optimization technology that decarbonizes commercial buildings and drives grid modernization. The company provides a software based technology platform for commercial buildings and electric utilities that uses artificial intelligence to manage energy and integrate distributed sustainable energy technologies, including battery storage systems and electric vehicle charging stations, to help decarbonize commercial buildings.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Our focus, as we look forward to the next few years is just build the business, build the business, build the business.”
— Peter Corsell
“Our mission is about accelerating the world’s transition to a sustainable energy future.”
— Melissa Blanken

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 448: Zinc Batteries, Rocket Science, & Reinvention, with Michael Burz of Enzinc

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

Ever meet someone and stand in awe of their genius? 

Well, have we got a show for you! 

This week’s episode features Michael Burz, CEO and Co-Founder of Enzinc, a green energy startup developing a revolutionary type of battery based on zinc. While most stories illustrate a slow and steady upward journey toward success, Michael’s story is one mind-blowing achievement after another. Get this: He’s pretty much a rocket scientist. Graduated with a masters in aerospace engineering and before becoming an entrepreneur, he designed cruise missiles, was part of Nissan’s Design Studio in the United States, where he worked on an eco-car for the Tokyo Auto Show and was program manager for Nissan’s all-carbon composite Group C car to race at Le Mans. He led the team that took a racecar from a blank page to the track in record time and under budget.

And that’s not all. Michael Burz is still at it. At present, he’s using his brilliance within the CleanTech industry to revolutionize energy storage through zinc anode batteries. We talked about his present work with Enzinc and the path that led him there, with key insights including:  

— How big transitions can sprout from small moments (as he shares the story of how a candid comment made towards him over dinner prompted his return back into designing and creating.)

— The how and why of the evolution of his entrepreneurial endeavor from electric vehicles to batteries (and how entrepreneurs can know when to pivot projects) 

— His ideology on building a highly efficient team (hint: invest more in people than technology) 

There’s honestly so much to share it feels impossible to condense it all here. But I can tell you this: you will not walk away from this episode the same. So tune in, or miss out!

Michael Burz the early days (3:45)
Start in aerospace engineering (10:23)
The artist engineer (13:43)
Leaving General Dynamics to Work for Nissan (18:02)
The start in clean energy (28:39)
Introduction to Zinc (34:57)
The pivot from electric car to battery (38:50)
Doing storage in a different way (42:31)
Conclusion to the alternative to Lithium (45:38)
The product market fit process (49:30)
Enzinc’s elevator pitch (53:02)
Zinc air (56:54)
Specific energy meaning (58:11)
Funding Enzinc (1:04:47)
Michael Burz meets Deborah Knuckey (1:07:23)
VC roadblocks (1:15:05)
Selecting the Enzinc team (1:20:31)
What would Michael’s Ted Talk be about? (1:29:22)
Life lessons & takeaways (1:34:02)
What’s holding back the clean energy industry (1:35:45)
Thoughts on blockchain technology (1:40:36)
Recommended books (1:45:25)
How Michael structures his day (1:49:47)
Connect with Michael (1:54:02)
Bold prediction (1:55:05)

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Michael on LinkedIn.

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Batteries have been part of our lives and part of company’s critical mission component for decades.”
— Michael Burz
“Those batteries, sit there very quietly, doing a very, very important mission, they’re mission critical, and therefore it better work 99.999% of the time under all environments.”
— Michael Burz
“My job is not to make you an engineer because you’re already, I think a good engineer. My job is to make you a great engineer.”
— Michael Burz

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 447: How are you doing…Really? With Derick Lila, PV Buzz

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

Today's Tactical Tuesday features Derick Lila, the founder of PV Buzz (a platform focused on the North American Solar industry.) Recently, he made an interesting post on LinkedIn about Black History month and its emphasis on "black awesomeness" while overlooking issues related to black wellness. The post was particularly notable as the theme of this year's Black History Month is centered around Black health and wellness. 

I commented as I am prone to do, and it struck a chord, so I asked Derick to come on SunCast and let’s discuss it.
Truth be told: It is relatively easy to fall into "celebrating" Black History by solely focusing upon the accomplishments of the past. In contrast, true celebration seems to encompass the whole of the culture, including considering the present struggles of black communities. 

In light of this, today's discussion focuses on exploring the mental health side of entrepreneurship, through the lens of a fellow entrepreneur, who happens to be Black. Next, we focused our conversation on the here and now, specifically as it relates to the Solar industry, where Derick candidly shared his insights on navigating beyond political correctness and distilling race-related quandaries down to a simple question: "What is the right thing to do?" Additionally, we touched on climate change and its adverse (and potentially disproportionate effects) on the black community. Finally, we discussed Clean Energy and the ongoing journey towards achieving access and equity serving the Black community. 

It's raw. It's real. And for some, it might even make you uncomfortable. But it's a worthwhile discussion that is certainly worth a listen! Tune in here.

LinkedIn Post (3:10)
Black Health & Wellness (5:54)
Doing the right thing (14:00)
Energy equality (24:25)

RESOURCES:

Find Derick on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow PV Buzz Media on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Ask yourself ‘Is it the right thing to do?’ If the answer is yes, then don’t care.”
— Derick Lila

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 446: Undeniable proof that mentors matter, with Miles Braxton of Goldman Sachs RPG

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

Picture this: 

You decide to pursue a career in Clean Energy. 
You choose attend 2 top-rated University programs in preparation
You apply for a top job in the field. 
You get said job with full benefits and a fantastic salary.
You are loved and embraced by everyone on your team.
You effortlessly succeed in every endeavor. 
Title & salary increases ensue.

You might look at someone’s Linkedin and easily mistake their “career path” as one of carefully planned and success upon success. 

You shouldn’t.

Like musicians, most careers (in any industry) take a long time to mature and come with a lot of humility, hard knocks, and if you’re lucky, helping hands.

Miles Braxton went to UVA specifically to study in the lab of Mool Gupta, the Father of Photonics. He should have been a prime candidate for the booming solar industry: a black engineer, young and ambitious, ready to put his boots on and earn his stripes. Then, he couldn’t find a job. Anywhere. He now leads Risk Management for the Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group, and is Co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the BlackOak Collective. Not a bad turn in his luck, but as you’ll hear today, it had more to do with persistence, patience and a clear vision for what he wanted to accomplish along the way. He also had some really great mentors along the way.

Miles’ journey to his present position isn’t one of streamlined victory. He’s gone from farmland where he assisted in converting 220 Tons of chicken manure into electricity, to his present work at Goldman Sachs (the largest commercial solar asset owner in the United States.) And those of us who’ve been following his career (ok, maybe just me?) have admired every step. Today, we highlight the ways Miles’ story is inspirational for thousands out there hoping they’ll too get a “big break” to work in the clean energy sector.

His story highlights one of the most important lessons to learn, especially if you’re embarking on a Solar career path: you must fully embrace the learning process. Or, as Miles puts it best, “The Value is in the Process and not the Result,” a key insight, particularly in our industry, where there isn’t a one-size-fits-all path to success. Renewable Energy isn’t quite the age-old, fully established workforce (think: law or medicine) where there is a clearly defined process to learning, gaining experience, and achieving. Instead, this innovative industry with new developments, expansions, and change requires one to be highly adaptable and resilient in the face of uncertainty or a steep experiential learning curve. 

The episode covers his remarkable story with the following defining themes marking his rise to success:

— Initiative (fearless follow-up and creating opportunities for himself instead of waiting for them to come to him) 

— Redirection (envisioning and pursuing his ideal career path yet also embracing the evolution of what that became) 

— Altruism (not solely preoccupied with his own success but enlightened enough to pour back into his community as well)

We also covered the co-founding of his current passion project, The Black Oak Collective, and their work in providing job opportunities, networks, and other resources for people of color that want to get involved with sustainability. We discussed all of this, and more so, prepare yourself for another hugely inspiring Suncast episode!

Tune in and tune up your skills!

About Miles Braxton (3:24)
Getting Started at Sol Systems (10:10)
Early lessons learned in development (19:30)
Failure as feedback (23:08)
BlackOak Collective (29:40)
Working at Goldman Sachs (38:00)
How power market insurance works (46:55)
What would Miles’ Ted Talk be? (52:05)
The global effects of volcanic eruptions (54:30)
Success story that comes to mind - Gilbert Campbell (56:40)
Thoughts on DEI (59:35)
Resource for finding better black candidates (1:05:45)
Two book recommendations (1:09:03)
Miles’ morning & evening routines (1:13:17)
Connecting with Miles (1:15:10)
Miles’ bold prediction (1:16:20)

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Miles on LinkedIn.

Follow BlackOak Collective on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“The industry is very aware that the pipeline of black candidates into these roles needs to be bolstered or needs to be developed. In order for us to reach the place we want to reach. We can’t just pull clean energy experts out of the air, we have to train them, we have to go tell them that this industry actually exists.”
— Miles Braxton
“Attack this day. Treat it as a standalone opportunity to maximize the talents He’s given you. You’re an unstoppable force, unflappable in the face of obstacles, go fulfill your mission, go fulfill your purpose.”
— Miles Braxton

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 445: Unleash the Power Within Experience with Alex Williams

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

Happy Tuesday, Solar Warriors! 

If you've been keeping up with our podcast, then you'll remember Alex Williams, CEO of Solar Energy Partners, who appeared on the show at the beginning of this month. In that episode, we talked at length about his company and his success in mobilizing over 1000 people into high-performing solar sales. 

And while his success is undoubtedly inspiring, too often, we can fixate on trying to replicate results without sufficiently investigating the habits, mindsets, or other tools that were instrumental on the road to success. Well, on today's Tactical Tuesday, we cover personal development and how it positively impacted Alex Williams along his upward journey. 

Alex Williams is a strong proponent for personal development and its potential utility in business and beyond. Personal development is an area that generally encompasses skills and activities to increase self-awareness, improve life skills, and facilitate unlocking potential. Specifically here, Alex attests to the efficacy of the "Unleash the Power Within" personal development coaching event offered by world-renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins. As he puts it, "I've had five major periods of explosive growth in my life, and every one of them was preceded by a Tony Robbins event." What a solid testament to the life-transforming power of intentionally seeking to grow in this area. 

Although it is impossible to fully condense the 3-day event down into a limited podcast episode, we were able to glean critical insights that Alex has learned along the way, including: 

— Energy states (what they are and how they are created and in what way it impacts growth) 

— Priming the mind for success in the face of adversity or a new challenge 

— Understanding the power of the mind and tackling limiting beliefs 

After all, the road to success in Clean Energy and beyond, is paved with new challenges awaiting. And for all resources dedicated to assisting with navigating obstacles in business, there certainly deserves a spotlight on resources that cultivate the inner person. 

Accordingly, I am happy to bring you this week's episode. I found it incredibly edifying, and I hope you will experience the same!

UPW - Unleash the Power Within (2:09)
Why you should go to UPW (3:45)
Fire walking (5:35)
Number one takeaway from UPW (10:20)
Investing in yourself (12:05)
The importance of events (13:55)

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Alex on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow Solar Energy Partners on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I’ve had 5 major periods of explosive growth in my life and every single one of them was preceded by a Tony Robbins event. ”
— Alex Williams

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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.

Lewis Latimer: Renaissance Man

On this day (Feb 14) in 1876, Lewis Howard Latimer and Alexander Graham Bell filed the first patent for the telephone. Latimer went on to patent and improve the light bulb along side Thomas Edison. But his family also knew him as a poet, publishing 50 copies of his poetry as a 77th birthday gift in a book called "Poems of Love and Life." Happy Valentines Day from Suncast.

LEWIS H. LATIMER (1848-1928): RENAISSANCE MAN

Lewis Howard Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on September 4, 1848, six years after his parents, George and Rebecca Latimer, had run away from slavery in Virginia. They were determined to be free and that their children be born on free soil. Because of his light complexion, George was able to pose as a plantation owner with the darker-skinned Rebecca as his slave. Shortly after arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, he was recognized as a fugitive and jailed while his wife was taken to a safe hiding place. The arrest was protested vigorously by the community. Frederick Douglass, a former slave who had escaped to Massachusetts several years earlier, and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison spoke forcefully against the arrest. There was a trial, and the attempts to recapture George and return him to Virginia caused considerable agitation in Boston. When the trial judge ruled that Latimer still belonged to his Virginia owner, an African-American minister paid $400 for his release. Although free, George was still extremely poor, working as a barber, paper-hanger and in other odd jobs to support his wife, three sons, and one daughter.

Lewis Latimer, the youngest child, attended grammar school and was an excellent student who loved to read and draw. Most of his time, though, was spent working with his father, which was typical of children in the 19th century. In 1857, the Supreme Court ruled that a slave named Dred Scott could not be considered a free man although he had lived in a free state. George Latimer disappeared shortly after the decision became known. Because he had no official papers to prove he was a free man, he possibly feared for his safety and that of his family.

With his father gone and his mother struggling to keep the family together, Lewis falsified his age and joined the U.S. Navy in 1864 when he was sixteen years old. When the Civil War ended he was honorably discharged and returned to Boston to seek employment. In 1868 he secured a job as an office boy in the Crosby and Gould patent law firm, a company that specialized in helping inventors protect their patents. By closely observing draftsmen at work and reading books on the subject, Latimer taught himself mechanical drawing. He learned to skillfully use the vital tools of the trade, such as T squares, triangles, compasses, and rulers, and mastered the art of drawing to scale. Since all of the drawings were done by hand and in ink, it was very important that a draftsman not make mistakes. Latimer’s drawings in this medium are as beautiful as works of art. After several months of studying on his own, he requested and was given an opportunity by the firm to show what he could do. Upon discovering that Latimer was indeed a skilled draftsman, he was promoted from office boy, earning a salary of $3.00 per week, to draftsman at $20.00.

In the period immediately following the Civil War, important scientific advances occurred in America. There was an explosion of inventions and new uses of technology, and inventors were securing thousands of patents in growing industries. While working at the Boston firm, Latimer met Alexander Graham Bell who hired him to draw the plans for a new invention, the telephone. Bell was in a race to have his invention patented before anyone else registered a similar device. By working with him late at night, Latimer was able to provide Bell with the blueprints and expertise in submitting applications that allowed him to file his telephone patent on February 14, 1876, just a few hours earlier than that of a rival inventor. They had won the race!

In 1880 Latimer began work as a mechanical draftsman for Hiram Maxim, an inventor and founder of the U.S. Electric Lighting Company in Brooklyn, N.Y. In his new job, Latimer was given the opportunity to become familiar with the field of electric incandescent lighting, an area in which there was fierce competition to secure patents. In addition to his work with light bulbs and lamps, he went to U.S. cities and abroad supervising installation and production of Maxim equipment.

In 1884 he was invited to work for Maxim’s arch rival, Thomas Alva Edison, in New York. An expert electrical engineer, Latimer’s work for Edison was critical for the following reasons: his thorough knowledge of electric lighting and power guided Edison through the process of filing patent forms properly at the U.S. Patent Office, protecting the company from infringements of his inventions; Latimer was also in charge of the company library, collecting information from around the world, translating data in French and German to protect the company from European challenges. He became Edison’s patent investigator and expert witness in cases against persons trying to benefit from Edison’s inventions without legal permission.

Edison encouraged Latimer to write the book, Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System. Published in 1890, it was extremely popular as it explained how an incandescent lamp produces light in an easy-to-understand manner. On February 11, 1918, Latimer became one of the 28 charter members of the Edison Pioneers, the only African-American in this prestigious, highly selective group.

After leaving Edison’s employ, Latimer worked for a patent consultant firm until 1922 when failing eyesight caused an end to his career. His health began to fail following the death of his beloved wife Mary Wilson Latimer in 1924. To cheer and encourage him to carry on, his children, two daughters, had a book of his poems printed in 1925 in honor of his 77th birthday. The poems are beautifully sensitive, and complement Latimer’s designation as a “Renaissance Man” who painted, played the flute, wrote poetry and plays.

Two Poems by Lewis H. Latimer

FRIENDS

 

Friend of my childhood,
Of life’s early days
When together we wandered
Through bright sunny ways
Each true to the other,
Till full manhood came,
And found the old friendship
As ever the same.

Came summer and winter,
Years waxed and waned.
Youth it had left us
But friendship remained
And now as with white locks
I bend o’er life’s page,
The friend of my childhood
Is the friend of my age

 

EBON VENUS

 

Let others boast of maidens fair,
Of eyes of blue and golden hair;
My heart like needles ever true
Turns to the maid of ebon hue.

I love her form of matchless grace,
The dark brown beauty of her face,
Her lips that speak of love’s delight,
Her eyes that gleam as stars at night.

O’er marble Venus let them rage,
Who sets the fashions of the age;
Each to his taste, but as for me,
My Venus shall be ebony.

 

SELECTED REFERENCES:

  1. James, Portia P. The Real McCoy: African-American Invention and Innovation, 1619-1930. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989.

  2. Judd, Michael. “Lewis Latimer: African American Inventor, Poet and Activist,” in Magazine of History, ed. Michael Regoli. Bloomington, IN: Organization of American Historians, Winter 1998.

  3. Norman, Winifred Latimer, and Lily Patterson. Lewis Latimer. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1994.

  4. Schneider, Janet M., and Bayla Singer, eds. Blueprint for Change: The Life and Times of Lewis H. Latimer. Jamaica, NY: Queens Borough Public Library, 1995.

  5. Turner, Glennette Tilley. Lewis Howard Latimer. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1991.

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 444: Local Energy Rules: Empowering Local Communities to Decide Their Energy Future

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

This week we’re excited to welcome our guest, John Farrell, to Suncast. John Farrell is an author, a podcaster, co-director of the Institute of Self Reliance, and leads the Energy Democracy Initiative. He has also been featured in the New York Times and is widely known as a “guru of distributed energy.” 

On this week’s episode, we were able to get some deeper insights from him specifically focused around: 

1.) The Institute of Self Reliance, their mission, and how that fits in to address the needs of marginalized communities

2.) Empowering local energy through his current work and spotlighting additional programs like the “Our Power Maine” campaign

3.) His predictions on the next shift in the market including what he finds to be a “one-in-a-generation” opportunity 

From his writing of “Energy Self Reliant States” to his present work and outlook on Energy Democracy, John Farrell is a force and voice that champions local communities and their power to decide and structure their energy future. And while there are always new evolutions happening in the industry, his understanding of the current barriers to solar development, how certain states are addressing it, and its potential impact moving forward was particularly enlightening. This was an excellent opportunity to speak with another leading voice in this field and an illuminating conversation to match. I am sure you will enjoy this episode, so be sure to tune in!

The need for energy democracy (4:09)
What is the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (9:45)
How community solar policies evolved (17:20)
Examples of how utilities are unprepared (30:46)
Examples of policies that you should follow (35:00)
Concerns over distributional equity (41:28)
The 30 million solar homes campaign (46:16)
Report: The Barriers of Solar Development (50:50)
Movement for Publicly-Owned Power in Maine (55:30)
Local Energy Rules Podcast Mission (1:00:45)
John Farrell For President 2016 (1:11:59)
Books that shaped John’s life & work (1:14:11)
John’s morning & evening routines (1:11:22)
How to help John (1:27:08)
Bold prediction (1:28:20)

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find John on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow Institute for Local Self Reliance on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and check out their website.

Twitter thread: Save Solar in California

Mission Data: Empowering Energy Savings

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“This is our moment of innovation. We have a once in a generation opportunity to see this transition through in a way that really changes how the economy works for folks, that taps a whole bunch of opportunities like addressing racial inequality and income inequality.”
— John Farrell

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 443: Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me Gameshow with Scott Nguyen

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

Many will instantly recognize the popular NPR Quiz show “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!”

If you don’t, you really have missed one of the all-time-great NPR staples.

Well, at Intersolar North America last month, Scott Nguyen, CEO of Bodhi Solar, and I hosted a very special version [Scott’s brainchild] of WWDTM - the Solar Edition!

Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me is a very entertaining quiz show built off real life stories from current events; as you might suspect, the solar edition draws from real (and hard-to-believe) stories curated from the solar industry at-large. We had a special group of panelists help deliver the stories (and some levity): 

Mark Culpepper from Dronebase

Kathy Heilmann from Shoals Technology Group

and Stan Pipkin from Lighthouse Solar

You are going to love the stories, and I hope it leaves you laughing, or at least wanting more! Join us for a fun and interesting time and play along to see how well you would have done on the show.

Should we do more like this? Shoot me a LinkedIn Message and lmk! (you can find my profile link below)

And, congrats to our 3 winners - one even got a DRONE plus Nico’s voice on his real-life voicemail system, just like Carl Castle on the real WWDTM! 

Will YOU be the next winner?

Special thanks to DroneBase for sponsoring this Live recording. You can learn more about Drone Base’s thermographic imaging services and global Aerial Mapping technology at www.dronebase.com.

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 435 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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

RESOURCES:

Connect with our host, Scott Nguyen on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow Bodhi Solar on LinkedIn and check out their website.

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 442: Hire, train & motivate 1000+ sales people, with Alex Williams, Solar Energy Partners

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

Alex Williams is a problem-solver. That, and he loves to recruit high-performing sales people. He loves watching people transform into what they think they can be. And through the pandemic he got his perfect chance. His company, Solar Energy Partners, hired and trained over 1000 sales people over the last 18 months, all focused on knocking residential homeowner’s doors and consulting them to “go solar”. And it appears they’re very good at it.

Since Alex was a teen, he’s looked for disparities in markets and tried to come up with a way to insert himself into the cash cycle by solving this or that missing element. That’s how he found himself in the Shale Fields of North Dakota, and ultimately its his curiosity and keen sense of opportunity that got him out of Oil & Gas and into Solar. From building the fastest growth sales org at Vivint (we discuss how) to now building one of the largest independent solar sales rep organizations, Alex quickly discovered his unique gifting for recruiting and building systems to empower sales.

In 2016, he began hearing about Vivint sales guys going independent & making $70k/mo with the so-called “dealer model” of independent solar sales. Alex realized that his brother’s understanding of the business and mind for training and teaching positioned them well to do something similar. He figured he could adapt a unique approach to recruiting, focus on systems & training, and build a Powerhouse solar sales company. He was right; and, today they’re selling an enviable amount of solar and having a lot of fun along the way.

You’re going to love this episode, #SolarWarrior. It holds lots of promise if you listen closely. Despite Alex’s young age, I was blown away with his business acumen and insight. So I encourage you, regardless of whether or not you’re in Residential solar, to click play and learn from someone who truly has put in the reps. I think you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Alex on LinkedIn.

Follow Solar Energy Partners on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“We want to help you be a great person and if you’re a great person, then you’re going to do great work.”
— Alex Williams

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 441: C&I Energy Storage: Live Intersolar’22 Innovation Stage w/Yotta Energy CEO, Omeed Badkoobeh

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

Can Energy Storage unlock a “Solar-Plus-Storage-Powered Future” for the largely yet-to-be-disrupted Commercial and Industrial segment of solar? Today’s guest, Yotta Energy’s CEO, Omeed Badkoobeh, believes it can, and we get into the innovative storage technology they’ve created to address this behemoth and largely untapped market.

Of the more than 22 GW of corporate renewable energy deals announced since 2008, more than 15 GW of these deals were announced since 2018, according to the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) Corporate Renewable Energy Deal Tracker. Further, projections show that just within the Fortune 1000, C&I customers will need up to 85 GW of renewable energy through 2030.  Many developers & Installers today agree with REBA that solar growth in the U.S. and globally will come not from huge Utility segment, but from expansion in this commercial and industrial segment. So, if this is the case, how do these developers add energy storage capacity in an environment  where real estate is priced (and valued) down to the square foot?

Despite the current situation around the world, long-term demand for C&I solar should remain strong for the foreseeable future.

RESOURCES:

Find Omeed on LinkedIn.

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“Our mission is to simplify energy storage. ”
— Omeed Badkoobeh

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 440: Tigo’s Chairman on storage as energy intelligence, Zvi Alon w/special guest Jing Tian

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

How did Zvi Alon become Chairman and CEO of one of the early module-level power electronics (MLPE) pioneers, Tigo Energy? 

Today, we get a rare glimpse of the inside story from the man himself.

Zvi says that he had Always been looking for the pioneering position in whatever industry he targeted. Indeed, when Zvi decided to come to the US from Israel in the 80’s it was because “it’s a place that was successful in bringing technology to market and I wanted to figure out how to get that knowledge.” Those of you who know the computer industry history will be familiar with Intel’s Microprocessr 80286 - Zvi was part of that team. He later went on to build NetManage and take it public in under 3 yrs! Then he Built NetVision, the largest internet provider in Israel. Zvi is an entrepreneur (and investor) I’ve long-anticipated would endure me for a 90-minute session and we finally nailed him down.

Many of you who are familiar with the Tigo Energy story will know just how far ahead of its time that product was. Tigo is in the class of MLPE products that pioneered the category and changed the way rooftop (in particular C&I) solar is done.  I met past guest (and true solar warrior) Paul Grana while he was at Tigo. I could write a book on the smart people and strategies I’ve seen Tigo employ to stay alive in a cut-throat market where MLPE always held potential. 

So, how did Zvi keep Tigo alive? By believing in the strategy he mapped out and invested in! When the original founders lost hope in the plan, Zvi stepped in, and the rest is history. We get into the details, in the episode, and now you can hear how one of the intrepid power electronics companies birthed here in Silicon Valley stayed alive amidst the Asian manufacturer influx to the solar power electronics sector. Tigo didn’t just stay alive, but managed to thrive, driving innovation across the value stream, pioneering & championing change in the way rooftop solar was installed throughout the Americas.

Listen in as Nico & Zvi discuss 

  • what surprised him that came from competitors like Enphase & SMA

  • What did Enphase do right

  • What did others do wrong

  • and key elements of the decision to sell a controlling stake to SMA 

Zvi recently hired past SunCast guest (and longtime friend) Jing Tian as their Chief Growth Officer. Jing & I worked together at Trina to launch the (tigo-powered) Trinasmart product way back in 2013, so it was great to have Jing joins Zvi and learn how & why she was compelled to go in-house at Tigo at this critical time in their growth. And, of course, we get into their big news, the launch of a residential storage product to compete head to head not just with Enphase and Solaredge but Tesla, Generac and the rest of the field!

I’m grateful for the opportunity to have time with Zvi, which I have patiently waited for since I first met him in 2017! Now, you don’t have to wait. 

Press Play. You’re welcome.

RESOURCES:

Find Zvi on LinkedIn.

Find Jing on LinkedIn.

Follow Tigo Energy on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and check out their website.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“You really need to get in line with your partners at the most granular level, in the gut.”
— Zvi Alon
“Every morning, put on your dancing shoes and go dance. Every morning.”
— Zvi Alon
“The storage industry has a very fast growth projection.”
— Jing Tian

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 439: 3 Keys to new market expansion (Including USA), w/Sergio Blanco of Partner Engineering

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

I’ve been getting a LOT of inbound over the last year since President Joe Biden took office as investors and renewable energy developers the world over increasingly see the United States as a “great place to invest”. The fervor for developing solar and energy storage is at a pitch I have never experienced in my 15+ yrs of being a solar energy industry participant. Just this week, Quinbrook, the Giant International IPP founded by Australian Legend David Scaysbrook, announced that they’re investing in nearly 2GWof PV projects (and 3.3GWh of energy storage)  in the US State of Nevada alone! To that end, I often get questions about “what to look for” as a company that wants to invest in either projects, a portfolio/platform, or even to enter & build a business in the US. Turns out, many of the same filters apply to the US market as other international expansion markets. How do I know? Because I was trained by, and always go back to inquire with, one of the best who himself learned at GE more than a Decade ago!

Sergio Blanco was my direct boss at Conergy, the last real “job” I held, at a time when I was trying to learn what it takes to develop and acquire pipeline in the then-booming Latin America solar market. We went through a LOT of projects, market consideration and strategy meetings, and on-the-ground hunting. So, you could say we both understand what it looks like to develop new markets through trial-by-fire. Sergio is now the Director of Project Finance at Partner Engineering and Science (Partner) and is focused on helping Partner’s stakeholders evaluate and due-diligence the Renewables sector. He leads the Due Diligence process, financial modeling, project accounting, and feasibility reports for lenders of solar PV and Storage projects, amongst others.

He has managed the acquisition and financing of more than 1GW on solar projects throughout the USA and Latin America, and has also managed organizations and M&A Transactions for S&P 500 Companies and relevant Renewable Energy Developers throughout Latin America and the US. And, notably, he was part of the private sector negotiation group that materially supported/created the introduction of the Net Metering bill in Chile, and the signature of the Renewable Energy Agreement between Chile and the United States of America.

In today’s discussion, we focus on the 3 key areas that international companies must focus on when investing in new markets:

  • Knowledge gathering / best practices - How well do I understand the market?

  • Foreign direct investment - What kind of investment will it take, and what are the expected returns?

  • Operational Readiness - What must I understand about place, people, projects to stand up a functional business in the region?

As you’ll hear, Sergio has been the local liaison for utility and infrastructure companies to expand to new markets for more than 20 years. His start dates all the way back to his early career when he spent a lot of time helping Brazilian investors get comfortable with leaving their home market to invest in Mexico as a foreign liaison for one of Mexico’s largest national banks.  

Sergio and I also get into:

  • What else is attracting players to the US Market?

  • What are the key 2 or 3 mistakes investors make that Sergio helps them avoid?

  • What are the rules to “play by” in this market?

  • And, what are the best channels to find investors if you’re looking to expand outside your core “home” market into the US or other regions?

It’s a treasure trove of insight packed into a tiny package, so I hope you enjoy this Tactical Tuesday, Solar Warrior! Thanks for taking the time to stop by. I’d love to hear from you. How did this episode land? Good timing? Leave you with more questions than answers? I’m here for you…DM me or better yet leave your Questions as a comment on my LI Post for today’s episode (might have to scroll to find it)!

RESOURCES:

Find Sergio on LinkedIn.

Follow Partner Engineering & Science, Inc. on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and check out their website.

VIDEO:

Hey, just for fun here is the first event produced by Suncast in July 2015 where I had Sergio as a panelist for our launch of LACSA (Latin American & Caribbean Solar Alliance).

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“It’s better to sell your credentials than to sell your project.”
— Sergio Blanco

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta.

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 438: From ski bum to Solar legend, REC Americas President - Cary Hayes

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

I first met Cary Hayes back when I was working at Trina Solar circa 2012. He was still at REC Solar (where he has worked in various positions for the better part of the last 15+ Yrs), the well known solar installation company in San Luis Obispo. We bonded over an unforgettable dinner (and too many laughs) I will never forget at the GTM Solar Summit in Phoenix. Cary and I talk about how often the two REC brands he’s represented get confused and how they actually are related! We have a lot of fun in this interview because that’s the kind of human and leader Cary is…he exudes both fun and confidence while remaining one of the most fiercely competitive people I’ve had the pleasure to know. You’re going to love every second of this interview - I sure did.

Cary is now President of REC, an international pioneering solar panel manufacturer that has long been one of the stalwarts and innovators in the solar industry and which recently got acquired by Reliance Industries in a massive deal that positions REC for further market dominance. His journey to that role is anything but ordinary or direct. Listen as Cary regales us with his revelation as a ski bum in CO that he needed to finally get a real job, how he ultimately walked away from “life-changing money” as a top industry consultant in Chicago, and why the siren call of the solar industry has entranced him now for nearly 2 decades. Learn the secret trick he used to land that consulting job (at Smith-Barney no less), and how he chose hard labor at $20 an hour climbing trees in CA on his way to working at REC Solar.

Cary’s 3 pillars for leadership and excellence should go on everybody’s office wall.

And it makes sense, because he has worked with some of the most iconic and impressive leaders, many you maybe have never even heard of. He even tells how one mentor ripping him apart for 15 minutes was actually one of the best things to happen to him. Today we get to sit at the feet of one of my favorite solar leaders, and it’s well worth the investment of time.

Listen to the full interview here at Suncast. 

Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today’s guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 435 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Cary on LinkedIn.

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“The group’s only going to go as fast as the slowest member.”
— Cary Hayes
“We wanted it, we wanted to win so bad we would do whatever it took, and we did.”
— Cary Hayes
“If your energy is not in it, and you’re not putting that energy out there. It doesn’t come back to you. You have to be in the moment.”
— Cary Hayes

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

To integrate Yotta's next generation distributed energy storage technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta

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 437: Andrew Birch, Nem3.0, Save our Solar Jobs!, Live @Intersolar N.A.’22

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

If you haven’t met Andrew Birch, affectionately referred to by many as simply “Birchy”, then you have truly missed one of the iconic and impactful entrepreneurs of our solar tribe. Birchy has long been a champion of the distributed solar sector, and I often refer to him as the Godfather of online solar sales (you may remember him as the co-founder and CEO of Sungevity). And Birchy generally offers up keen insight into what’s trending and what to consider within the fast-growing distributed solar arena.

In today’s episode, Birchy joins Nico in this live interview (rebroadcast) from the Inersolar N. America expo hall floor from Thursday January 13, 2022, where Nico was able to get a little insight from the man, the legend himself about the state of solar in 2022, starting with the always-hottest-market in the Union: California.

Birchy had just come from the CALSSA “Save our Solar Jobs Rally” in LA, and gives an update on the state of the industry in light of the recent negative press on CA’s NEM3.0 ruling. 

From the CALSSA website:
“The CPUC’s proposed decision on NEM-3 would destroy net metering, ending our state’s clean energy leadership and decimating our industry, and our jobs, in the process. This is our SOS, our chance to make our voices heard and insist that the PUC change course. Now is the time to go big.

Our industry is on the line. Our jobs and livelihood are at stake. This is it.”

And thousands did - they shut down their offices all over the state, took the day off, and came down from the roof for one morning to be there! If you couldn’t make it, you’re in luck because Nico asks Birchy for an update from the front lines. He then goes into what he sees as trends for the coming year as well as what he’s changed his mind about (and it might surprise you, it did Nico!)

RESOURCES:

Find Birchy on LinkedIn.

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“The majority of solar is being sold and installed by local regional businesses. They just have the edge on efficiency.”
— Andrew Birch (Birchy)

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


Learn more about Drone Base and their worldclass aerial thermal imaging.

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 436: Greenpenny, banking that funds Clean Energy. Jason MacDuff, President

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

Jason MacDuff is President of greenpenny, a virtual carbon-neutral bank dedicated to financing a sustainable tomorrow. Money deposited in greenpenny is secure, earns interest, and is only used to finance renewable energy systems and carbon reducing efficiency projects - no fossil fuels. And greenpenny has been offering their residential and commercial solar loans in the midwest for longer than just about anyone. As Jason said, “It’s time for banks to offer green products and services that empower customers to take their own climate actions.” But greenpenny is distinct in the market because unlike most solar financiers or banking fintech startups, it’s part of an actual century-old midwestern bank!


After 24 years at Wells Fargo, Jason was ready for a change. He took two years off to travel the world and came back with a new perspective & passion, determined to use his experience in banking to make serious progress on climate change. It’s a big leap from major bank to banking entrepreneur. We talk about the challenges, frustrations, inspirations and big ideas of his role leading greenpenny, including their unique approach to solar loans (and the long heritage doing so), hiring (they’re hiring!), pivoting and fine tuning the marketing message. Hear all about where he came from and where he’s going, right here in our conversation on Suncast.

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

RESOURCES:

Find Jason on LinkedIn.

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

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“Research and experience demonstrates that it’s time for banks to offer green products and services that empower customers to take their own climate actions.”
— Jason MacDuff
“There are no shortcuts. It’s a lot of hard work but the key is authenticity matters.”
— Jason MacDuff

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


To integrate Yotta's next generation technology into your project, please visit https://mysuncast.com/yotta

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 435: American Clean Power, w/CEO Heather Zichal

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

American Clean Power (ACP) blast onto the clean energy scene in a flurry of press releases back in 2021 as the presumptive heir to the AWEA throne, a 40-year reign that included many of the stalwart sustainable energy policies we all rely on today like the famed Production Tax Credit (PTC) that gave the Wind industry much of its staying power. AWEA indeed carved the path many in renewables believe they are blazing themselves, so when the trade association decided to rebrand, many of us took note. Even more potent, with Solar Power International being cancelled in September, CleanPower stood as the only large-scale renewables conference to attempt to “bring all the clean energy players under one tent” in person in 2021, so we decided it was Definitely worth making the trip to Salt Lake City and seeing if we could get a sense of what this new entity was going to look like in the wild. And, Nico figured if he’s lucky he’d get a chance to interview the new CEO of ACP, Heather Zichal. And he struck gold.

Launched at the start of 2021, the American Clean Power Association is a new trade association unifying the wind, solar, storage and transmission companies that are driving jobs and investment in the U.S. economy and providing solutions to the climate crisis. 

Many of you will recognize is as “the AWEA rebrand” or something along those lines, but I believe it’s much more than a simple rebrand.

From their website: The American Clean Power Association works to champion policies that will transform the U.S. power grid to a low-cost, reliable and renewable power system. By uniting the power of wind, solar, transmission and storage companies, along with manufacturers and construction companies, developers and owners/operators, utilities, financial firms and corporate purchasers, their goal is to make renewables the dominant energy source in the United States.

And, as of July, American Clean Power Association (ACP) and the U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA) agreed to merge their staff, programs, and members into ACP!

The three areas Nico explored in this live interview with CEO Heather Zichal:

1. The ACP brand and what exactly it encompasses

2. Their messaging to the broader solar industry, specifically, coming from “the former wind association”

3. The acquisition of the Energy Storage Association and it’s implications

First up, the rebrand of AWEA to American Clean Power association:

- Who fits under the tent. 

- What does that embody? 

- What's the message to the clean energy industries that you want to attract? 

- And what's the message to legislators and capital hill in terms of the important themes for 2022?

Up next, What message does Heather have for the solar industry at-large?

One of the biggest poles in the tent of clean energy is solar. But solar advocacy was not a huge component of the traditional wind industry association. Yet, a lot of wind developers have migrated to our integrated solar and a lot of solar developers are partnering on wind projects and storage.

So, what message do they have for the solar industry specifically about their role in American Clean Power? And what’s the vision for integrating the solar installers, EPCs, developers etc into American Clean Power as an association?

And lastly, ESA just had their last independent tradeshow the week prior to CleanPower21 before they are integrated into ACP…so what should people expect now?

The Energy Storage Association (ESA) has been loved by many as a standalone association representing storage developers. And recently, both the wind and solar industries have migrated to energy storage recognizing it as a necessary component, some would even say Linchpin, in fully divesting of fossil fuels for renewables.

What message does ACP have all have for those participating in December’s final ESA conference and those who will now join ACP to be a part of that organization in the broader umbrella of clean energy?

How will ACP address those concerned that becoming a part of a larger association Diminishes the focus on storage?

A bonus I didn’t get to ask, but was on my mind and I may circle back to in a future episode…

Who specifically does ACP envision as the constituents and community that make up their association as they seek to create a broad tent and strong lobby for our industry and our initiatives? Many have billed it as the “Utility-scale Association” - is that true? I asked about DG, but I think time will tell.

Will you be in San Antonio in May for CleanPower22?

I will.

CleanPower 2022:

San Antonio, TX

May 16 to May 18, 2022

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

Register for CleanPower 2022

RESOURCES:

Find Heather on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow American Clean Power on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter 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 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.