Before The Solar Coaster book, before the podcast took off, there were foundational conversations with industry veterans that shaped everything. Welcome to Solar Coaster Origins—a special series showcasing the interviews that started it all.

In this Origins episode, I sit down with James Meringer, owner of EVX Solar, who reveals the stark reality of solar's "race to the bottom" in residential markets and why commercial/utility-scale projects offer hope for sustainable wages and quality work. James shares how the residential solar crash created opportunity—50+ qualified resumes in a week from experienced installers seeking stable work—and why he's been able to build quality crews since 2011 by capturing displaced talent. We dive deep into California's DIR public works requirements ($64/hour for laborers!), why paying living wages actually makes projects more competitive, the transformation from salaried crews to piecework contractors (10 cents per watt), and why James believes the race to the bottom hurts everyone from workers to the industry's reputation. Whether you're a solar installer navigating wage challenges, a business owner balancing costs and ethics, or someone curious about the human cost of competitive bidding, James's perspective on sustainable solar business practices offers crucial insights into building companies that value both profitability and people.

📖 GET THE BOOK: The Solar Coaster - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FSGKKV8X?psc=1&smid=A1Y53T3O3Q25L8&linkCode=sl1&tag=annacovert-20&linkId=1dfad38ae3d56078f509025bc52227db&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

🎬 ABOUT SOLAR COASTER ORIGINS

This special series features interviews conducted before The Solar Coaster book was published—the foundational conversations with solar industry veterans that revealed the stories, challenges, and insights that inspired the book and podcast. These are the conversations that started it all.

✨ CONNECT WITH JAMES MERINGER & EVX SOLAR

EVX Solar: https://evx-solar.com

✨ CONNECT WITH THE SOLAR COASTER

🎧 Listen on All Platforms:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o?si=CEskuq_xQ6iFo1ePZl7hAg

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solar-coaster-podcast/id1832579656

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/342b84c9-ccb9-4cdb-99cc-ed6254503bfa/the-solar-coaster-podcast

iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/292376116/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@solarcoasterbook

🌐 Follow Us on Social:

Facebook: facebook.com/solarcoasterbook

Instagram: http://instagram.com/thesolarcoasterbook

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-solar-coaster-book/

📚 About Host Anna Covert:

Anna Covert is the author of The Solar Coaster book and host of The Solar Coaster Podcast. With over two decades of experience in digital marketing and business strategy, Anna has worked with top-tier companies like Microsoft, Apple, and IBM, and leads Covert Communication, Hawaii's largest digital agency. She's also the author of The Covert Code – Mastering the Art of Digital Marketing. Through The Solar Coaster, Anna brings her expertise in storytelling and strategy to illuminate the human stories behind the solar industry's biggest challenges and victories.

Websites:

https://covertcommunication.com/

https://thecovertcode.com/

https://annacovert.com/

https://reactium.io/

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DISCLOSURES: This description contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and resources I trust and believe will add value. The Solar Coaster is dedicated to sharing authentic stories and insights from the solar industry to educate, inspire, and connect our community. Thank you for your support!