Episode 463: TT: Permitting slowing you down? Ankit Sheoron, Wattmonk [Live from RE+Northeast]

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I’ve been getting to know today's featured clean energy entrepreneur, Wattmonk founder Ankit Sheoran, over the last few months. I must say that I was astounded to hear the traction Ankit and his team at Wattmonk have had helping the solar industry’s installers get more projects done. The numbers they’re moving for permitting packages are staggering, but it definitely points to how one of the most common bottlenecks in the residential solar installation process often comes down to manpower and man(or woman) hours. Still, it’s increasingly important to get facetime with customers as we emerge from the pandemic travel restrictions, so I was able to catch up in-person with Ankit on his recent trip to the US when we were both at the RE Plus Northeast show in February. 

It was delightful to meet Ankit in person finally in Boston and learn more about why he sees the US market as such a key component to the global energy transition.  Special thanks to our mutual friend Anthony Conklin for making the connection and for bringin Wattmonk to my attention. Ankit’s team is quite literally moving mountains for their clients as one of the fastest growing offshore system design & permitting companies in the industry. His success stems from more than a decade of global experience leveraging technology to accelerate the homeowner & installer timeline to solar project completion, and today you get to learn from his decade-plus of experience & insights.

Timestamps

(3:25) Importance of in person meetings
(4:10) Overview of Wattmonk
(10:21) What has not changed about doing business
(11:28) What is going to impact the residential sector the most
(14:29) A serendipitous encounter in the elevator
(16:58) Solar is going to be big
(18:05) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Ankit on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Connect with Wattmonk on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest and on their website.

“It takes a village to raise a child, this child is solar, and all of us need to come together to make it bigger, it is going to go become bigger, it is going to be bigger than any of us.”
— Ankit Sheoran

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

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 462: Optimizing solar assets with intelligent cleaning, Catlin Mattheis, CEO of Fracsun

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

I said it when we released the episode with Cary Hayes back in January (Ep 438 btw) that the REC Solar “mafia” has deep roots. Today’s guest, Catlin Mattheis, is proof as he and his co-founders are one of the many “alumni organizations”, as we might call them, from that long heritage REC has given us in California. When you hear the origin story of his company, Fracsun, you’ll get a sense of appreciation for the level of attention to detail, forward-thinking and courage Catlin and his team have embodied and how it carries through to their commitment now to ensure every PV plant out there is harvesting the maximum kWh possible!

Fracsun specializes in on-site soiling loss measurement using their patented ARES soiling management system. Want to eliminate uncertainty and enable your team to confidently monitor and manage soiling loss with ease? Listen in.

You’ll also get a healthy dose of humor as Catlin and I really had a great time in what was one of my first in-person interviews of the year! Grateful for Catlin who drove down several hours to meet me when I was last in SoCal, and excited to see the Fracsun team finally getting the recognition (and funding) they deserve!

Timestamps

(4:08) Nico meets Catlin for the first time
(5:33) Catlin's early days
(7:23) Where Catlin got his engineering spirit
(11:03) First exposure to solar
(14:02) A business opportunity in correcting assumptions
(20:05) The ultimate goal
(23:23) How the competitive landscape has evolved
(25:36) What Fracsun does
(27:02) How to mitigate losses
(32:24) How the early years were financed
(35:27) Getting clients like NRG and Spower
(40:39) What needed to be done to scale
(41:41) The first big decision on how to spend the influx of capital
(42:19) An investor from the oil & gas industry
(47:41) Who comes to mind when you think about success stories
(51:13) Advice for entrepreneurs getting started
(54:52) Recommended books
(58:24) Where to connect with Catlin
(59:07) Catlin's bold prediction
(1:01:02) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Catlin on LinkedIn.

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

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“It was one of the first things we did in the very, very early days. Because in order to determine whether or not it was worth pursuing, the first thing we realized we needed to do was kind of a patent search.”
— Catlin Mattheis

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


Intersect Power is at the intersection of transformative energy technology and the changing needs of our society. Intersect is a clean infrastructure company bringing efficient, innovative, and scalable low-carbon solutions to its customers in energy and commodity markets.

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 461: One 5-letter word underscores all project success, w/John Chaimanis, CEO Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure

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

Today's guest, John Chaimanis, is  CEO of Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure. John is a returning SunCast guest & you can hear his original executive profile back in episode 196 of SunCast when we discussed his approach to what we referred to then as “Value-added finance” for solar project development. John’s team and reputation have grown substantially in the sector since our chat back in 2019, so I was supremely grateful for some time with him face to face in Boston recently to see how 2022 is shaping up, what he’s excited about, and why these in-person meetings are still so critical to his success. 

It was the first time that I actually got to meet with John in-person, believe it or not, and it was made all the more special because Beantown is his Hometown!  In our conversation, John discusses the joy of in-person meetings, the family reunion feel of these regional gatherings, and how important it truly is to get the right people in the room.

His company, KSI, has experienced tremendous growth since our original interview. He, like many, are going further upstream to provide developers with financial and project support with a nimble decision-making framework & team-building focus. As a developer, I wanted to hear John’s thoughts on where the industry has NOT changed over the years since he’s been developing wind, solar and energy storage assets. His answer, frankly, surprised me. But, it probably shouldn’t have. As you’ll see, his answer underscores the fundamental blocking & tackling approach that John has poured into his business and reputation. 

It was great to hear in his voice a conviction that the Distributed Generation segment will continue to thrive and grow, even outpacing other sectors. We share that sentiment. In fact, as proof that the sector is reaching investment-grade status and maturity, John points to how institutional capital is focusing on DG, highlighting a recent example from his own portfolio.

The takeaway? The Independent developer is alive and well. And with industry partners like KSI to help them, there looks to be plenty of runway left for this exploding market opportunity.

Timestamps

(2:45) The importance of in person family reunion
(4:16) How KSI is growing
(5:49) What hasn't changed the past couple of years
(8:30) The greatest impact over the next 12 months
(10:33) How institutional investors are looking at Distributed Generation
(11:42) How to partner with someone like KSI
(13:05) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find John on LinkedIn.

Follow Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure on LinkedIn, Twitter and check out their website.

Episode 196: Value-Added Project Finance W/John Chaimanis, Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“I think the importance of trust and respect, is absolutely the biggest thing that in my eyes hasn’t changed.”
— John Chaimanis

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, 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

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 460: Collaboration at scale, a “Slack for Solar”? Raptor Maps CEO, Nikhil Vadhavkar

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

I’ve gotta give NASA credit.  It turns out the space program has delivered many many more terrestrial benefits and innovations than might be assumed at first observation. There’ve been a few folks lately on the show who’s original pursuits & passions took them closer to the moon than the average person. Today’s guest is among that elite group, having spent time in deep research for NASA’s space-walking astronauts; his co-founder worked for SpaceX. You can say these guys are used to shooting for the stars.

Nikhil Vadhavkar is the CEO and co-founder of Raptor Maps, solar lifecycle management software that they refer to as “The Slack for Solar”.  Nikhil is an MIT engineer, and his graduate research was thermal control systems for next-generation spacesuits in the Aeronautics and Astronautics program. He met his co-founder in graduate school, and took Raptor Maps through Y Combinator in 2016.  You’ll get a much better understanding of why when you dig in here today. Raptor Maps has delivered critical data analytics to over 45 GW of solar PV plants in 38 countries, and many of you probably consider that it’s a drone-enabled data gathering company. You’d be wrong, as was I, and Nikhil forgives you. 

 Nikhil is an expert in military-grade remote sensing and software and their aha moment was when they realized what they were offering to farmers was actually a perfect fit for Solar.  We get into the concept of “digital twin” and why it’s critical to our booming digital economy as well as the role big data will play in optimizing renewable energy assets.

Apart from a year at Accenture, Raptor Maps is the only real job Nikhil’s ever had, though. So, how did this wet-behind-the-ears young duo fund and grow what is considered to be among the most exciting data analytics platforms in the renewables industry? 

Nikhil and I discuss his “climate wakeup” moment, parlaying a $100k investment from Y-Combinator into a thriving business, leveraging their time at SpaceX, Gates Foundation, Accenture and NASA to bring military-grade remote sensing to an industry that is rapidly deploying infrastructure at scale. 

One of the critical path items for any startup is finding “Product-market fit”. Nikhil and I discuss at length the timing and underlying requirements of the market that led to Raptor Maps’ PMF. It was genuinely an eye-opening conversation as much of what Nikhil and team are working on is tech that they’re importing to solar from other sectors where it’s already been through the trials and tribulations to reach market-ready application. 

One of the questions that I had for Nikhil was, “How do you combine the information w/other data to create insight?” The concept of the “Digital twin”, something I was wholly unfamiliar with, really intrigued me and forms the genesis of their collective realization that they really did have something that was worth exploring for solar asset tracking. But, the data is disparate and hard to “connect”; that’s where Raptor Maps’ concept of the Slack for Solar software platform really shines.  From PV ariel array scans (thermal and otherwise) to over 1M PV Module serial numbers, their database can now serve as the “System of Record” for these assets and function alongside most of the popular existing asset management systems out there to allow for better communication and correlation between the data.

 Lastly, along the lines of SpaceX founder, Elon Musk (and perhaps inspired by his philosophy), we get into their decision to open-source everything:

  • All the data capture methodologies

  • Aerial inspections & hosting data (including historical data from other vendors)

  • Instructions on how to set up manned aerial vehicles, drones, etc 

  • Data set for doing Machine Learning on imaging anomalies 

 Why did they choose this path? What could it mean for your company?

Tune–in to hear more. I promise you won’t be disappointed with today’s high-IQ episode!

Timestamps

(5:49) How Nikhil's parents influenced him
(8:21) Why Nikhil pursued biomedical engineering
(10:18) Working at Accenture
(14:04) How Nikhil got his start in solar
(17:41) Military grade remote sensing and building software around it
(19:29) What is a digital twin?
(28:32) Finding product market fit
(30:10) Leaving a PHD program to start a business
(32:28) The core product
(35:49) How does Raptor Maps differ from its competitors?
(43:00) Struggles and how they were overcome
(45:12) Inspirations early on
(47:09) Lessons learned and takeaways
(49:25) Book recommendations
(52:39) Morning routine
(53:57) Where to connect with Nikhil
(55:18) Nikhil's bold prediction
(56:20) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Nikhil on LinkedIn.

Connect with Raptor Maps on LinkedIn, Twitter and on their website

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

 
 

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“People look at Clean Tech 1.0 as this, like abject failure... I see it more as, just like in 2008, you had some of the strongest companies coming out of the financial crisis, and there’s some of the most resilient companies, I think it did the same thing, in some ways to everyone who was able to emerge from that, and make the solar industry stronger, and the renewable energy industry stronger.”
— Nikhil Vadhavkar

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


Intersect Power is at the intersection of transformative energy technology and the changing needs of our society. Intersect is a clean infrastructure company bringing efficient, innovative, and scalable low-carbon solutions to its customers in energy and commodity markets.

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 459: TT: Jon Powers, President Clean Capital [Live from RE+Northeast]

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

Jon Powers, is a true [Solar]Warrior. When Jon returned from serving the US Army in Iraq, he had a vision for how important clean energy could be for our nation’s independence, and charted a path to help the armed forces transition away from Fossil Fuels. Little did he know this would lead him to the White House as the first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer under the Obama administration. He was able to parlay that expertise into a strong brand and portfolio in the clean economy vis a vis his company, Clean Capital. Since I first interviewed him way back in Episode 181, Jon and team have grown to one of the largest C&I developers & asset owners in the US market. And during they pandemic they parlayed their operating asset experience downstream to provide greenfield development support to their partners. Hear how his development capital is perhaps different from what you’ve come to understand as dev capital.

In this Live interview at RE+ Northeast, Jon and I discuss the value of in-person events & meetings in this new landscape we find ourselves in. Jon also discusses how his team has brought technology to the market to enable partners like Blackrock to get comfortable entering into these C&I transactions and portfolios.  It was so great to hear how companies like Clean Capital have thrived through the pandemic and are coming out stronger and well-prepared to make a huge contribution to the Energy Transition. What could hold us back? Hear Jon’s answer to that and more on this live interview direct from Boston.

As Jon says, “When you have business owners, job creators, telling their stories [in Washington] the impact is wildly greater…so we need all of our voices to tap into this debate because it’s gonna help push us forward.”

Timestamps

(3:02) The importance of meeting in person
(4:40) What's most surprising about Clean Capital
(6:19) Clean Capital's mission
(8:40) Bringing technology to market
(11:44) What will impact business in the next 12 months?
(12:33) Why Jon has insights into what's happening in Washington
(13:18) Wrap up

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“When you have business owners, job creators, telling their stories [in Washington] the impact is wildly greater…so we need all of our voices to tap into this debate because it’s gonna help push us forward.”
— Jon Powers

Thanks again to this week's sponsor, 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

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 458: How’s Jigar Shah & team doing investing that $24 Billion in innovative energy technology? A 2022 update from the DOE Loan Programs Office

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

A year ago, the industry was mildly shocked to learn that Jigar Shah, Industry Icon, Entrepreneur, Investor & Visionary would be joining the US Department of Energy to head the infamous Loan Program office(LPO). The LPO is notably responsible for the Title XVII program that invested in companies like Tesla, Ford, Nissana and a large number of solar energy companies/projects. A year on, I wanted to check-in with Jigar to learn how his first year went, where he’s seeing the trends for 2022 & beyond, and how the solar industry would fare in the portfolio for the remainder of his tenure.

We touch on 3 key ares (and a few other 1st-heard-on-SunCast moments):

  1. A Portfolio Summary Report 

  2. Is there still a place for Solar at LPO?

  3. Jigar’s Journey to Federal Service & what the job opportunities look like

Timestamps

(3:32) What is the loan program office and how it works
(6:04) Jigar's first year in office at DOE
(13:18) How solar financing works
(24:38) What is the minimum loan threshold
(27:05) What makes a strong application
(29:29) Why Jigar took the role of Director, Loan Programs Office at U.S. DOE
(34:10) Working with the government objections
(38:36) Wrap up

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“The broader point here is that American innovation really is around miniaturizing things. It used to be that bigger was better. And today, small is beautiful. Whether it’s your iPhone, which is more powerful than all the computers that it took to put a man on the moon or whether it’s wastewater treatment plants today, where a $15 or $20 million unit can actually be more cost effective and efficient than a $500 million unit.”
— Jigar Shah
“We’re done talking about infrastructure weeks, we’re talking about an infrastructure decade.”
— President Joe Biden

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.


Intersect Power is at the intersection of transformative energy technology and the changing needs of our society. Intersect is a clean infrastructure company bringing efficient, innovative, and scalable low-carbon solutions to its customers in energy and commodity markets.

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 457: TT: How do I work with an Electric Co-op? Piper Wilder, CEO 60Hertz Energy

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

Piper Wilder has been working with electric cooperatives for decades and has keen insight into how to partner with (and sell to) them compared with the functional process with the more traditional utility structure. Recently, I was re-connecting with Piper and it became clear to me that she has a lot to teach us #SolarWarrior! In particular, I know that many of you are looking for inside advice on how to expand your offering both regionally and with regard to types of customers. I’d urge you to give electric cooperatives a look!

Do you know how many electric cooperatives there are in the United States? Or what percentage of the total (of electric utilities) that represents?

What differences exist between working with Cooperatives versus traditional Utilities? 

And how might you position yourself or identify how to work with Cooperative Electric Utilities based on what you learn today? 

Piper breaks down these 5 key areas that will help you better understand how to work with a rural electric cooperative:

  • What are the 2 flavors of electric cooperative and how does each work? 

  • What are the structural operational differences between electric cooperatives and traditional utilities?

  • What if any Strategic and Planning differences exist that influence their decision-making?

  • Who should a solar developer approach within a Cooperative?

  • How do Cooperatives like to do business with power project developers?

(3:15) What is an electric cooperative?
(4:25) How many cooperatives are in the US?
(5:16) The importance of land ownership in co-ops
(6:15) The difference between electric cooperatives and traditional utilities
(8:05) Planning and financial incentives with cooperatives vs investor owned utilities
(9:07) Who to approach within the cooperatives sector
(11:16) Pressure on Tri-State by distribution cooperatives
(15:15) Investment requirement for the cooperative market
(16:54) Ownership structure in cooperatives
(19:07) The importance of cooperatives to developers
(20:14) An impactful way to contribute
(22:02) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Piper on LinkedIn.

Follow 60Hertz Energy on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and check out their website.

To read about another type of COOP that Piper is involved in, check out this article on the 60Hertz Blog:

Continuity of Operations: the Covid-informed small rural utility

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“What wins a contract with a co-op has a lot more to do with relationship building, has a lot more to do with a conciliatory compromised based approach and how the project is crafted and developed and really co-developed with your utility partner.”
— Piper Wilder

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 456: How to integrate Social Equity into Renewable Energy Credits(Social RECs), Dana Clare Redden, Founder of Solar Stewards

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

Dana Redden is the founder and CEO of Solar Stewards, a social enterprise connecting corporate social responsibility initiatives with schools and universities, affordable and senior housing, places of worship, and nonprofits in marginalized communities. 

With over a decade of experience as a climate advocate, Dana is instrumental in bridging the world of environmental justice, solar development, and social entrepreneurship for communities around the globe. In today’s episode, we unveil the how and why of Dana’s journey into solar and the importance and impact of her present work on the development of distributed generation solar globally. 

Hear as Dana shares her story, starting with how she witnessed first-hand the ill effects of fossil fuels on her environment as a child to her ‘chilling’ account of how she first got involved in the solar industry all the way back in 2008 (a clear departure from her original pursuits in interior design), and the ten years she spent in solar concierge to her remarkable journey to her present position.

Today, Dana and Nico discuss: 

  • What is energy burden? (And how might we best work towards alleviating it?) 

  • The challenges of entrepreneurship as a female founder

  • Solar Stewards’ role in bringing solar solutions and accessibility to historically excluded communities 

  • Solar Stewards’ model for integrating Environmental Justice + Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) & how, precisely, they secure funding to support their mission

Join us as we dig into this incredibly engaging episode! Tune in now.

(4:35) Dana's personal branding
(6:00) Growing up in Western PA
(15:23) Introduction to solar
(21:42) Dana's start in solar
(36:15) How is Solar Stewards different
(38:43) What is a Social REC?
(40:36) A Social REC case study
(44:06) Social RECs vs Traditional RECs
(46:43) Solar Stewards' business structure
(49:51) Funding Solar Stewards
(56:43) Joining the SEIA board
(58:19) Dana's influential "heroes"
(1:00:30) Thoughts on DE&I
(1:05:00) Books that have influenced Dana
(1:07:50) Where to find Dana
(1:08:49) Dana's bold prediction
(1:10:49) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Dana on LinkedIn.

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

BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

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.


Intersect Power is at the intersection of transformative energy technology and the changing needs of our society. Intersect is a clean infrastructure company bringing efficient, innovative, and scalable low-carbon solutions to its customers in energy and commodity markets.

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 455: 10X Growth requires an amazing team, Tara Doyle, CCO of PVEL

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

Suncast is a decidedly better show because of today’s guest. I mean that in all sincerity. In 2018, sitting with Tara Doyle over a beer at SF’s Thirsty Bear brewery, I was challenged to diversify the then very-white-very-male interview guest roster of the fledgling show (still under 100 episodes!!). That day I pledged to get SunCast to at least a 30% representation of female guests (the % of female to male team members in the industry at the time). And, to kick off Women’s History Month in 2019, we did a 2-part interview with Tara (which I highly encourage you to listen to in its entirety) which has begun a tradition on SunCast of dedicating the podcast roster to an all-female lineup every March these last 4 yrs. 

In honor of that initial kick in the pants by Tara (and bc her episode was, in fact, amazing), I’m delighted to bring you this abridged version of that episode. For those unfamiliar, Tara Doyle is the Chief Commercial Officer at PV Evolution Labs (now officially “PVEL”) and has worked nearly every support role on her way to the C-suite during her more than 15 years of experience in the solar industry. Tara is a veteran in the biz and offers considerable and nuanced insight from someone who’s been on the inside of two notable solar startup exits in her career.

For instance, Executives often tout the need to develop a culture of success within their organizations. However, Tara notes that all-too-often this “culture” is devoid of an appreciation for the dedication of support staff and field teams in the realization of that success. The devotion, resourcefulness, and overall value they add to organizations cannot be understated. Tara should know, she started as an office manager and speaks to the under-appreciated yet essential work of executing every task with excellence, from mission-critical duties like assisting with the integration of systems to the sometimes overlooked minor tasks like the timely filing of invoices. The monumental efforts of support staff are what helps in keeping the train on track. As Tara aptly summed it, “support staff are #SolarWarriors, too!”

She also highlighted the importance of strong interpersonal and communication skills as a critical piece to finding success with customers. By admission, she “doesn’t have a Ph.D. in Applied Science, but she has a Ph.D. in knowing people and talking to people.” That people-centered focus is what has driven excellence in all the organizations Tara has contributed to, and it is now a pervasive part of the culture of PVEL. When the rubber meets the road, in order to get an org to grow 10X and more, as PVEL has done, it takes real people skilLs. It makes sense that Tara is now the Chief Commercial Officer; those team and relationship building habits, it turns out, translate to happy customers for the company as well. 

She then touched on her present work at PVEL and the critical role of generating compelling data for predicting lifetime performance of power electronics, or at minimum, attempting to quantify it (which is a vital piece of any IE opinion.) Throughout, Tara gives us a look into their origins as a small start-up, their acquisition by DNV GL (and the massive impact in terms of scale and global reach), and some of the considerations that brought them back to being a fully independent entity all while maintaining synergy and a working relationship with DNV GL. 

Finally, Tara brings the message full-circle as we round out the conversation with a discussion on the challenges and rewards inherent in being an ambitious woman in the workplace while juggling motherhood’s responsibilities and raising the next generation of solar enthusiasts! 

The original conversation was a genuinely outstanding episode and I’m certain that you will undoubtedly gain from listening to this abridged version! Tune in now.

(4:00) The importance of the support staff
(7:17) A PhD in knowing people
(14:27) The value proposition to DMV GL
(15:14) The importance of data & testing
(20:53) The customer base
(22:36) Why split PVEL & DMV GL?
(25:28) What was most surprising about the split?
(26:38) The importance of family
(28:01) Wrap up

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES:

“I do not have a PhD in physics or applied science, definitely not, but I have a PhD in knowing people, understanding people and talking to people. In solar, you’ve got to have a mix.”
— Tara Doyle
“Not only am I raising the next generation of solar enthusiasts, but I’m also getting them involved in my life and the things that are important to me.”
— Tara Doyle

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.


Intersect Power is at the intersection of transformative energy technology and the changing needs of our society. Intersect is a clean infrastructure company bringing efficient, innovative, and scalable low-carbon solutions to its customers in energy and commodity markets.

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 454: Making solar policy work, Meghan Nutting of Sunnova

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

Meghan Nutting’s work speaks for itself; She has advocated for and contributed to numerous Solar policies and solutions over the past decade-plus. Additionally, she cut her teeth in public affairs, has worked as a Legislative Director for New York State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, and as a Press Secretary for former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. She then served at SolarCity as the Director of Policy and Electricity Markets as the industry pulled out of the last recession way back in 2009.. Presently, Meghan serves as the Executive Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova Energy Corporation (a leading U.S. residential solar and storage services provider.) Her background displays the considerable breadth of her experience, which lends her the unique lens to evaluate the Clean Energy industry and chart a way forward using policies that foster and secure a sustainable business environment for Solar electricity generation. It also makes for a particularly stellar episode as she is well-versed on the key issues facing this industry. We discuss: 

  • her time in public service (including her thoughts on how to unify our lobbying efforts), 

  • regulatory bottlenecks preventing progression in key markets

  • the NEM battle in Florida

  • how to work towards a unified vision with those “across-the-aisle” 

The list goes on, but I won’t drop any more spoilers!  Honored to highlight the work of this longtime #SolarWarrior as another shining example of the phenomenal female leadership we have in the Solar industry as we continue to highlight Key Women in Tech this Women’s History Month. Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

Find Meghan on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow Sunnova Energy Corporation on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter 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 453: Britta von Oesen on financing energy storage

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 once again feature Britta von Oesen, longtime #Solar Warrior and Clean Energy maven who currently serves as Managing Director with CohnReznick Capital where she opened the W. Coast (SF) Office. She has over a decade of experience with everything from investment banking to tax equity and development in the environmental sector and she’s done BILLIONS of dollars in transactions. Not surprisingly, we recently revealed that her 2020 episode is one of our top listened-to episodes on the show! She’s the top-most downloaded female guest in SunCast history, to be more specific! There are back-to-back gems found all throughout, so much so that I decided to bring it back for an abridged Tactical Tuesday. 

As the Managing Director of an investment firm specifically geared towards serving the Renewable Energy sector, she has an eye for what opportunities attract investors and have the potential to maximize returns. She also has insight on how companies can best position themselves in the market and even added how to distinguish which ones are “pure infrastructure” financial groups that are hands off apart from wanting a portion of equity and as she cleverly puts it, “clipping coupons.” 

So, if you ever wanted to know the answers to the following questions: What are some key elements for financing storage right now (that is, what should developers think about when getting a deal financed with solar storage)? Where do new off-take models like CCA’s (community choice aggregators) fit in this economy? Or even the spectrum of investors, from small to the bulge bracket, and how investment banks think about each of these groups? And her take on the role direct relationships have to play in all of this, and whether its a viable option for developers to bypass investment banks and work directly with pensions.

Well, gimme 15 minutes — tune in now!

(3:38) Key elements of financing storage
(5:56) The CCA Model
(13:42) International investors
(15:44) What makes a developer financeable
(18:48) Using a broker vs boutique investment bank
(19:39) Wrap up

RESOURCES:

Find Britta on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow CohnReznick Capital on LinkedIn, Twitter and check out their website.

Episode 235 - Britta Von Oesen - CohnReznick Capital (Women's History Month)

NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:

“The biggest issue is the complexity. So for solar plus storage developers, the best advice I can give them on financeability is to make the offtake contract as uncomplicated as possible”
— Britta von Oesen

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

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

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]

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

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.