Energy Empire

Abby Hopper spent nearly a decade as CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), representing one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. economy at the center of Washington’s biggest political fights. 

In this episode of Energy Empire, she joins Jigar Shah and Jamie Nolan to talk about what it’s really like to lead solar through culture wars, trade battles, and rising scrutiny from policymakers — even as it becomes the dominant source of new electricity.

They discuss the reputational risks facing rooftop solar, why the industry still struggles to build political power, and what the next CEO of SEIA will need to do differently as energy demand surges and projects stall.

Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm

Dean Solon went from carrying his dad’s HVAC toolbox as a kid to building Shoals—and becoming one of solar’s rare self-made billionaires. 

Dean breaks down how he thinks, how he sells, and why he’s allergic to corporate nonsense. We talk tariffs, solar factories, microgrids, Disney, and the hard truth about what it takes to make clean energy in the U.S. without getting crushed.

Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm

He’s helped finance billions in clean energy and served as one of the U.S. government’s top energy officials—but Jigar Shah rarely talks about himself. 

In this episode, Phil Radford, CEO of Consumer Reports and Jigar's best friend, joins to change that. Jigar shares the personal story behind SunEdison, the early days of third-party solar finance, and the setbacks that came with building companies in a then-nascent industry.

From watching his hometown lose major employers to putting SunEdison’s first projects on his own credit card, Jigar reflects on the early risks, personal losses, and unlikely breaks that shaped his path from solar entrepreneur to public servant. It’s an inside look at the experiences—and people—that influenced a career spent helping scale clean energy worldwide.

Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm

Across the United States, clean energy now makes up more than 90% of new electricity added to the grid — not because of politics or ideology, but because these technologies simply work better. They’re cheaper to build, faster to deploy, and easier to scale than anything that came before.

The technology is ready. Now the race is on to build it…everywhere.

Energy Empire is a podcast about the people and ideas driving this transformation. We explore how abundant, affordable energy is reshaping the global economy, creating new industries, and unlocking what may be the greatest wealth-creation opportunity of our generation.

Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm

A once-in-a-generation shift is underway in how the world is powered.

Across the United States, clean energy now makes up more than 90% of new electricity added to the grid — not because of politics or ideology, but because these technologies simply work better. They’re cheaper to build, faster to deploy, and easier to scale than anything that came before.

The technology is ready. Now the race is on to build it…everywhere.

Energy Empire is a podcast about the people and ideas driving this transformation. We explore how abundant, affordable energy is reshaping the global economy, creating new industries, and unlocking what may be the greatest wealth-creation opportunity of our generation.

Hosted by Jigar Shah — TIME100 honoree, serial entrepreneur, investor, and former U.S. Department of Energy leader — the show pulls back the curtain on the decisions, innovations, and power struggles shaping the future of energy.

Whether you’re curious about where the economy is headed, how energy affects your daily life, or who’s really building the future behind the scenes, Energy Empire is your guide to what comes next.

Listen to this teaser episode to hear what Energy Empire is all about—and where the show is headed.

Learn more at energyempire.fm

Energy Empire is a weekly podcast about the people, capital, and billion-dollar decisions shaping the future of energy.

Learn more at EnergyEmpire.fm