Today on the Clean Power Hour, recorded at Intersolar San Diego, host Tim Montague sits down with McKay Johnson of Helix Electric and Kelly Shamblen of CPS America to discuss the current state of the commercial and industrial solar market. Despite the industry's unpredictable nature—often called the "solar coaster"—both guests express optimism about continued growth in the clean energy transition.

McKay Johnson highlights how permitting challenges in Southern California create obstacles for project implementation, noting that other states offer a smoother process for getting solar projects "into the ground and built." The conversation reveals a significant shift in the storage market, with Johnson explaining how Helix Electric has moved from primarily PV-only installations to seeing dramatic growth in hybrid systems and standalone battery storage projects over the past 18 months.

The discussion also explores how NEM 3 (Net Energy Metering 3) has created tailwinds for storage adoption, changing project characteristics even while overall development pace remains strong. Johnson shares insights into why Helix Electric consistently chooses CPS America for power electronics, citing product quality, continuous innovation, and exceptional customer service as key factors in their long-standing partnership.

Kelly Shamblen offers perspective on Southern California's role as a hotbed for C&I (Commercial and Industrial) projects, particularly highlighting school districts, municipalities, and retrofit opportunities as growth areas. The episode concludes with both guests emphasizing the value of industry trade shows like Intersolar for discovering innovations and the importance of strong, loyal partnerships in navigating the evolving solar landscape.

Listen to this episode to gain valuable insights into market trends, technological developments, and successful business relationships that are helping speed the energy transition in Southern California and beyond.

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McKay Johnson

Helix Electric

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Carlos Abad, the newly appointed head of Latin American markets for CPS America. Recorded at Intersolar San Diego, this conversation offers insights into the growing solar and energy storage markets across Latin America, with a particular focus on Mexico's promising 7-8 gigawatt solar market potential for 2025.

Carlos shares his journey from being an architect caught in the 2008 recession to becoming a solar industry leader. Starting with a self-built solar trailer for a farmers market in Miami to working with companies like Sun Electronics, Tesla, and now returning to CPS America, his career path demonstrates the evolving opportunities in renewable energy. The discussion provides a comprehensive overview of Latin American markets, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and others, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities in each region.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in international solar markets, energy storage integration, and the future of renewable energy in Latin America. Carlos' expertise in both technical installation (as a NABCEP certified professional) and market strategy offers valuable perspectives for industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Episode Highlights:

• Carlos Abad's journey from architecture to solar, including his first off-grid system design and NABCEP certification
• Mexico's renewable energy outlook under new leadership with projected 7-8GW solar market and 700-900 MWh storage market for 2025
• Overview of key Latin American solar markets, including Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Panama, and Colombia
• Discussion of Puerto Rico's energy transformation following Hurricane Maria and current utility restructuring
• Insights into CPS America's product strategy for Latin America, focusing on 250/600V and 350/800V inverters
• The growing importance of integrated solar and energy storage solutions

Listen now to gain valuable insights into one of renewable energy's most dynamic and promising regions from an industry veteran with over 15 years of experience in sustainable energy solutions.

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Carlos Abad

CPS America

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In today’s episode of Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with LinkedIn marketing expert Jacob Lundy to unveil powerful strategies for clean energy professionals looking to maximize their B2B marketing efforts on LinkedIn. As the premier platform for business-to-business connections, LinkedIn offers unique opportunities for renewable energy companies to reach decision-makers and build meaningful relationships that convert to business.

Jacob Lundy, a 10-year veteran of marketing with a focus on clean energy and founder of MarkEttergy, shares his expertise as LinkedIn's inaugural advanced advertiser for the LinkedIn Ads Show's fanatics program. Throughout this value-packed conversation, Jacob breaks down six proven LinkedIn growth hacks specifically tailored for renewable energy professionals, from developers and EPCs to OEMs and consultants.

Episode Highlights:

• LinkedIn's B2B Marketing Power: Why LinkedIn is the essential platform for clean energy professionals and how it differs from consumer-focused platforms
• LinkedIn Follower Tokens: How to effectively use your 250 monthly tokens to grow your company page following with targeted industry connections
• Manual Bidding Strategy: How switching from automated to manual bidding can save thousands in advertising costs while maintaining effectiveness
• Text Ads Optimization: Leveraging text ads as "digital billboards" for consistent brand awareness with renewable energy decision-makers
• Document Ads for Engagement: Using document carousel ads to tell your brand story and build trust before prospects click through to your website
• List Building for Renewable Energy: Creating targeted company lists with 100% accuracy to eliminate wasted ad spend on irrelevant audiences
• Employee Targeting Strategy: How to effectively reach decision-makers by segmenting companies by employee size and job functions
• InMail Strategy: Best practices for connection requests and InMail messaging to increase response rates

Listen now to discover how these LinkedIn growth hacks can help your clean energy business connect with the right audience and drive meaningful business results.

#CleanEnergy #LinkedInMarketing #RenewableEnergy #B2BMarketing #SolarMarketing #CleanPowerHour #GrowthHacks #LinkedInAds #CleanTech

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In this episode of Clean Power Hour, hosts Tim Montague and John Weaver dive into the latest developments in the solar and storage industry.

Episode Highlights:

• Perovskite Breakthrough: Analysis of Trina's new commercial-sized perovskite solar panel exceeding 800 watts with 26% efficiency, marking a significant advancement in solar panel technology.

Link: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/03/25/chinese-pv-industry-brief-trina-solar-announces-800-w-tandem-solar-module/

• Battery Storage Revolution: Examination of China's six gigawatt-hour battery tender at just $65/kWh, less than half the cost of U.S. installations, signaling dramatic cost reductions in energy storage.

Link: https://www.ess-news.com/2025/03/24/chinas-huadian-announces-winners-in-6-gwh-bess-tender-with-average-bid-at-65-kwh/

• Global Supply Chain: Discussion of how the Myanmar earthquake is disrupting solar wafer production, potentially affecting the global supply chain.

Link: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/04/02/myanmar-earthquake-disrupts-solar-wafer-production-global-supply-chain/

• EV Charging Expansion: Update on Hyundai and Kia vehicles now being able to use Tesla's Supercharger network with adapters.

Link: https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/4406

• Electric Construction Equipment: Introduction of a new 25-ton electric excavator with a 422kWh battery pack, providing 6-8 hours of operation time with significant fuel savings.

Link: https://electrek.co/2025/03/29/sany-electric-excavator-arrives-in-europe-with-massive-422-kwh-battery/

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour recorded at InterSolar in San Diego, host Tim Montague welcomes back Matt Campbell, CEO and founder of Terabase Energy, to discuss the future of automated solar construction. Matt shares Terabase's journey over the past four years developing Terafab, their innovative "in-the-field factory" that semi-automates solar power plant construction.

Matt explains how Terabase is tackling the unique challenges of outdoor autonomy and robotics to achieve 24/7 solar construction capabilities. Unlike traditional automation that happens in controlled indoor environments, Terafab brings robots outdoors to build solar installations faster, with higher quality, and at lower costs. The conversation explores the technical hurdles of implementing robotics in variable field conditions and Terabase's vision for scaling to help the industry reach terawatt-level solar deployment.

The discussion also covers Terabase's broader digital ecosystem, including their construct platform (a digital construction management system currently used on 14 gigawatts of projects), plant predict, and SCADA solutions. Matt shares insights on how these digital tools are creating comprehensive digital twins of solar projects and helping improve quality, safety, and productivity across the industry.

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Terafab's development journey and upcoming 100-megawatt deployment in 2025
• The challenges and solutions for outdoor robotic automation in solar construction
• Different approaches to automating solar construction (off-site prefab, on-site prefab, in-field robots)
• Addressing labor shortages through automation while improving safety and reliability
• Terabase's digital construction management system and its impact on 14 gigawatts of projects
• The path to achieving "penny-a-kWh" solar electricity

Suppose you're interested in the future of renewable energy construction, automation in solar, or how technology is helping to speed the energy transition. In that case, this episode offers valuable insights from one of the industry's most innovative companies.

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Matt Campbell

Terabase Energy

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Costa Nicolau of PanelClaw and John Drummond of CPS America about the critical policy challenges facing the solar industry in 2025. Recorded at InterSolar San Diego, the conversation highlights the existential threat to energy credits that the solar and storage industries depend on.

Costa Nicolau, a long-time SEIA board member, delivers a passionate call to action for industry professionals to become more politically engaged as Congress considers significant budget cuts that could impact the ITC, IRA, and other vital solar incentives. The discussion emphasizes how these policies have successfully built American manufacturing capacity from nearly zero to over 50 gigawatts of solar module production and created thousands of jobs across red, blue, and purple states.

John Drummond provides insights on how CPS America is adapting to policy changes by developing new energy storage solutions, particularly in response to shifts like California's NEM 3.0. Both guests stress that solar offers immediate energy independence benefits that complement longer-term solutions like nuclear power, making it an essential component of American energy strategy.

The episode concludes with breaking news about a House vote signaling potential reconciliation package cuts of $4-4.5 trillion, placing all energy credits at risk. Don't miss this essential conversation about the future of American energy policy and how the solar industry must unite to protect its interests. Listen now to understand what's at stake and how you can help defend the progress we've made.

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John Drummond
CPS America

Costa Nicolau

PanelClaw

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Bryan Wagner, President of CPS America, at InterSolar San Diego 2025. Wagner shares insights on CPS's impressive growth to over 10.5 gigawatts of inverters deployed in the US market and their ambitious goal to reach 15 gigawatts.

The conversation dives into CPS's innovative product offerings, including their groundbreaking skidded string inverter approach that combines the benefits of centralized and distributed string systems. Wagner explains how their new 250 kilowatt 600-volt inverter in a centralized configuration is revolutionizing commercial and utility-scale solar with factory-wired systems that drastically reduce labor costs.

A significant focus of the discussion is on CPS's exciting "Gonzo" commercial energy storage system - a 261 kWh all-in-one battery solution that combines PCS and battery storage in a single container. Wagner describes how this product simplification mirrors the evolution of string inverters from a decade ago and reveals plans to offer skidded one-megawatt-hour configurations by combining multiple units.

The episode also explores the growing importance of energy storage because of declining net metering (where solar electrons are devalued) nationwide. Wagner provides fascinating insights on how commercial building owners can think of their properties as energy assets through arbitrage opportunities and intelligent energy management.

Perhaps most valuably, Wagner shares his philosophy on team building and talent development, explaining how CPS America cultivates its industry-leading customer service through investing in people. His athletic background informs his approach to identifying each team member's unique talents and helping them break through their personal ceilings.

Listen to this episode to gain valuable insights on the current state and future direction of commercial and utility-scale solar and storage technology, and learn leadership lessons from one of the industry's most respected executives.

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Bryan Wagner

CPS America

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague interviews Tooraj Arvajeh, co-founder and CEO of Perl Street, a fintech platform designed to streamline financial operations for distributed energy resources. Tooraj shares his journey from sustainability engineer to fintech entrepreneur, explaining how his experience developing energy efficiency projects led him to identify a critical gap between engineering expertise and financial knowledge in the clean energy sector.

Perl Street addresses the financial complexity faced by companies developing and managing distributed energy resources (DERs) like rooftop solar, battery storage, EV chargers, and heat pumps. Tooraj explains how their platform helps third-party asset owners and managers transform individual machines into projects, bundle those projects into portfolios, and finally convert them into financial products that can attract institutional investment.

The conversation explores how Perl Street's technology helps customers like King Energy, who develop commercial rooftop solar across real estate portfolios, by automating complex financial workflows and consolidating data from multiple sources. Tooraj highlights the value proposition for independent power producers (IPPs): enabling scale, improving returns, and creating standardization that makes distributed energy assets as easy to invest in as utility-scale projects.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the evolution of DERs from retail products to real estate investments to critical energy infrastructure and learn how financial technology is essential to unlocking capital at the scale needed to accelerate the clean energy transition. Tune in to understand the financial backbone that's powering the deployment of distributed energy resources across the country.

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Tooraj Arvajeh

Perl Street

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Ryan Mayfield of Mayfield Renewables and Jayson Smith of CPS America to explore commercial and industrial battery solutions, with a special focus on the new "Gonzo" 125 kW / 261 kWh C&I battery from CPS America.

The conversation dives deep into microgrid applications, examining both resiliency and demand response use cases. Jayson Smith details the technical specifications of the Gonzo unit, highlighting its grid-forming capabilities with a 20-millisecond switchover time, 125 kW continuous output, and scalable design allowing multiple units to be connected for larger installations.

Safety is thoroughly discussed, with Smith explaining the multiple layers of safety features built into the Gonzo system, including cell sensing circuits, heat/smoke/fire detection, dry pipe systems, and deflagration panels. Ryan Mayfield provides valuable context around current fire safety standards, including NFPA 855, CSA TS 800, and 9540A certification, and how CPS America is addressing jurisdictional requirements across different regions.

The experts also cover integration with building systems, microgrid controllers, commissioning processes, and maintenance plans. CPS America's exceptional service model is highlighted, with 60% of their workforce dedicated to service and support including free commissioning services and long-term service agreements.

Whether you're an installer looking to understand commercial battery options, a developer navigating complex safety regulations, or a facility owner exploring demand charge reduction and resiliency options, this episode provides crucial insights into the rapidly evolving commercial and industrial battery storage landscape.

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Ryan Mayfield

Jayson Smith

Mayfield Renewables

CPS America

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague delves into the critical yet often overlooked aspect of electrification: EV charging infrastructure for multifamily housing. Tim welcomes Aubrey Gunnels, CEO and co-founder of 3V Infrastructure, a company that's tackling the significant gap in EV charging accessibility for the 31% of Americans living in multifamily buildings.

Aubrey explains how 3V's business model works – they provide all capital expenditure and operational costs while installing Level 2 chargers at multifamily properties at zero cost to property owners. The company generates revenue by charging drivers a premium on electricity rates, creating a sustainable business model that doesn't rely heavily on government subsidies. This approach addresses a crucial market need, as currently, only about 5% of multifamily buildings have EV chargers despite 80% of charging happening at home.

The conversation explores how 3V uses data-driven approaches to determine the optimal number of chargers for each property, considering factors like local EV registration data, building demographics, and anticipated growth patterns. Aubrey shares insights about how property managers see EV charging as an increasingly important amenity that affects NOI (Net Operating Income) and resident retention.

Tim and Aubrey discuss the challenges of EV infrastructure development in the US compared to Europe, the importance of charger reliability, and how private investment in charging infrastructure remains critical regardless of policy shifts. They also touch on the broader EV market trends, battery price decreases, and how the automotive sector's global competitiveness continues to drive EV development despite political changes.

This episode provides valuable insights for real estate owners, property managers, clean energy professionals, and anyone interested in the future of transportation electrification. Listen now to understand how companies like 3V Infrastructure are working to make EV ownership accessible to all Americans, regardless of where they live.

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Aubrey Gunnels

3v infrastructure

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]

Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com