Happy New Year! We're starting 2022 with a new Contractor's Corner host — editor Kelsey Misbrener is in the interview seat in this new chapter.

In her first Contractor’s Corner interview, she talks to Southern California commercial subcontractor Sean Bright, president of New Era Electric. Bright took a big risk to start New Era Electric in 2020 amidst a constrained labor market, but found his niche in the small C&I market.

Thank you to this month’s sponsors, Scanifly and CompanyCam.

With CompanyCam, every photo and video your workers take at a job is automatically organized by location and instantly synced from the field to wherever you are. Learn more at companycam.com.

And Scanifly is the only drone-based solar software focused on automating the survey and design stages of your solar project's life. Learn more at scanifly.com.

www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2022/01/contractors-corner-new-era-electric

It’s the end of an era. After more than 75 interviews over six years, Solar Power World editor-in-chief Kelly Pickerel is passing the Contractor’s Corner podcast torch to managing editor Kelsey Misbrener. And since there is a wide collection of episodes to reflect on, Pickerel has pulled together some of her favorite interviews during her tenure as podcast host. While some themes weave throughout — permitting woes are still annoying — it’s nice to remember the hot-button issues of yesteryear and realize just how far the solar industry has come.

Interview clips included in today's episode:

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2019/06/contractors-corner-peak-view-solar/

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2018/10/contractors-corner-sun-light-and-power/

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/03/contractors-corner-paradise-energy-solutions/

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2017/01/contractors-corner-proving-solar-viable-even-darkest-alaskan-communities/

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/08/contractors-corner-sunation/

KP misspoke during the last interview clip. She was talking with Scott Maskin at SUNation.

In this special edition of Contractors Corner, solar mounting and balance of system products manufacturer, Gibraltar, talks about the benefits of working with the newly consolidated company through the entire lifecycle of a solar project.

If you've driven through the American Rust Belt, you've likely seen abandoned steel mills. They're a common sight — some might say a sore one — and often remain untouched and undeveloped once shuttered. However, Scalo Solar Solutions helped reinvigorate a long-abandoned steel mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that's shedding new light on the redevelopment potential of these sites.

In the fourth episode of The Case for Solar, associate editor Billy Ludt narrates his case study written for the November 2021 issue of Solar Power World.

Read the case study here:

solarpowerworldonline.com

MUSIC

"Himalayas" by Mona Wonderlick — bit.ly/youtube-monawonderlick

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

Free download: bit.ly/himalayas-download

Heyo! We have our first repeat interview within KP's Contractor's Corner run. We hope you enjoy today's interview with George Hershman, president of SOLV Energy, the new name of Swinerton Renewable Energy.

Today we talk about the industry's top solar installation company and its new name, and so much more, including the recklessness right now around suggested tariffs, what's needed to boost domestic manufacturing and how the big guys are dealing with supply chain disruptions.

Check out project photos here: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/11/contractors-corner-solv-energy/

Interested in the OG 2016 interview? Check it out: https://soundcloud.com/solarpowerworld/contractors-corner-swinerton-renewable-energy

Aurora Energy has established a name for itself in the Washington, D.C., area as a risk-taking, ahead-of-the-curve solar installer. The company has evolved over the last three decades and sees its specialty in commercial projects that may need a little custom engineering.

In this episode of the Contractor's Corner podcast Aurora talks about the company's desire to take care of its customers seeking all the financial and environmental benefits that come with installing solar. This has led Aurora Energy to branch out into community solar and take on more unique projects like green roofs.

We also talk tariffs and price increases happening right now.

Find the story: https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/09/contractors-corner-aurora-energy/

Fulfilling development tasks, arranging an interconnection agreement and designing and then building a solar array is no simple task. But Oakland, California-based solar developer Adapture Renewables did it 10 times over when it acquired a portfolio of projects planned for Western Oregon.

In the third episode of The Case for Solar, associate editor Billy Ludt narrates his case study written for the September 2021 issue of Solar Power World.

Read the case study here:

solarpowerworldonline.com

MUSIC

"Himalayas" by Mona Wonderlick — bit.ly/youtube-monawonderlick

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

Free download: bit.ly/himalayas-download

In this special edition of Contractors Corner, solar tracker and racking manufacturer OMCO Solar discusses the company’s latest innovations in bifacial trackers. Sponsored by OMCO Solar.

In this special edition of Contractor’s Corner, solar installation business management platform BluBanyan and bank-to-bank payment software firm Paystand talk about how financing technology can help boost solar company margins and ROI. Sponsored by Paystand.

Big-name, multi-site contracts can increase a solar installer's standing in the industry, but for SolareAmerica, a partnership with the Wawa convenience store chain only built on the 12-year-old company's legacy.

In this episode of the Contractor's Corner podcast, John Scorsone, president of SolareAmerica, talks about the gas-pump solar canopies and ground-mounts involved in the Wawa project portfolio, and how it has provided the company with a front-seat to the emerging EV charging market as well.

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2021/07/contractors-corner-solareamerica/