In this episode of The Solar Power Hour, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare sit down with Andrew Cohen of the Peoria Rivermen—a longtime fan favorite, front office leader, and now a proud solar customer with Sun Collectors.

Together they dive into:

• Local Sports & Community: Partnership between Sun Collectors and the Peoria Rivermen, highlighting jerseys, sponsorships, and family-friendly experiences.
• Solar Education: Real customer experiences (Andrew Cohen’s solar installation), overproduction results, rebate success, and addressing myths around aesthetics and leasing.
• Community Impact: Sponsorships, giveaways, and how local fans support businesses that support the team.
• Financial Relief: Rising Ameren bills, solar as a long-term hedge against energy inflation, and examples of how solar frees up family budgets.
• Legacy & Growth: Rivermen’s championship culture and Sun Collectors’ role as the oldest standing solar company in Central Illinois.

It’s an energetic, community-driven conversation that connects hockey fans, homeowners, and solar advocates—showing how sports and sustainability team up to create real wins for Central Illinois.

Get ready to get Shine with Solar! Check out these resources for more information:

• Peoria Rivermen: https://www.rivermen.net/
• Sun Collectors’ Refer-A-Friend Program: https://suncollectors.solar/refer-a-friend/

As controversial policies continue to shape the future of solar, we explore the complex and often contentious relationship between politics, energy policy, and the power that fuels our daily lives. From simple energy economics to an executive order poised to send us back to the stone age, we’ll break down how these forces influence the cost of energy, the pace of clean technology adoption, and the options available to consumers.

Here’s what we cover:

• One Big Beautiful Bill: Economic implications that are changing everything — and not in a good way.
• Executive Order Impact: The push to replace renewables with coal, nuclear, and lithium mines — and the harsh language being used to manipulate public opinion.
• Beat the Deadline: The true impact of the shortened FITC* timeline.
• What “Placed in Service” Means: Why understanding this definition is key to securing your incentive.
• 100% US-Made Panels Do Not Exist: The global supply chain reality and how it affects domestic production and retail costs.
• Economic Pressures: 30% average Ameren bill increases, higher costs of goods, and supply chain disruptions.
• Ownership Models: Direct ownership vs. third-party ownership — and why local service matters to avoid becoming a “Stranded Customer.”
• Fun Facts & Technology Milestones: Global demand and solar capacity and California’s groundbreaking successes with renewable energy.

The future of solar isn’t just a question of technology — it’s a race against political headwinds, shrinking incentives, and rising utility rates. Decisions made in Washington are already shaping the cost and accessibility of clean energy in your backyard. For those ready to take control of their power bills and lock in long-term savings, the opportunity is here — but the clock is ticking.

Are you ready to get Solar Empowered? Check out these resources for more details on recent solar policy changes affecting your energy freedom:

Homeowner Updates for Solar Tax Credits: July 2025 Executive Order: https://suncollectors.solar/july25-solar-tax-incentives-il-homeowners/

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Illinois Solar Progress—and What You Can Do: https://suncollectors.solar/one-big-beautiful-bill-illinois-solar-progress/

* Not all customers are eligible for the FITC.

What if one friendly knock on your door could help you lower your electric bill — or even spark your next career move? In this episode, our guest speaker, Fabian Witte, pulls back the curtain on the day-to-day life, challenges, and rewards of working on the front lines of the solar industry. Whether you’re a homeowner curious about going solar or someone looking for a fast-paced career in door-to-door solar sales, this conversation is packed with insights, stories, and advice you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Junior Solar Consultants do and why their role is essential in helping homeowners understand the benefits of solar.
• Why door-to-door is the most powerful and effective method of building trust and connecting with local communities.
• The top 5 reasons homeowners set solar appointments (and what they want to know most).
• The most pleasant and surprising moments in the field that make the job worthwhile.
• Valuable skills and knowledge gained from the job that benefit both career and personal growth.
• What it’s like to represent a local solar company at community and networking events.
• How to stay optimistic and motivated in a challenging sales role.
• How to handle rejection at the door and turn it into an opportunity.
• The most important message consultants want homeowners to understand about going solar.

Whether you’re considering solar panels for your home or exploring a career as a Junior Solar Consultant, this episode will show you how one knock can open countless doors — for homeowners, for consultants, and for the future of clean energy.

🎧 Listen now to learn about the people, purpose and power behind door-to-door outreach, then visit our website to take the next step in your solar journey!

Become a Junior Solar Consultant: https://suncollectors.solar/career/junior-solar-consultant/

Explore Residential Solar Solutions: https://suncollectors.solar/service/residential-solar-systems/

Request a Free Solar Consultation: https://suncollectors.solar/free-solar-quote/

Following the House’s passing of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” we’ll analyze the economic impact on consumers, utility companies, and the solar industry alike, should the bill become law.

• 2025 Deadline & Elimination: Heightened sense of urgency and concern amongst consumers as potential policy changes hang in the balance, notably the accelerated deadline to claim the 30% solar tax credit before its proposed repeal.
• Retroactive Bans & Restrictions: How new legislation could jeopardize the economic viability of many solar projects and facilities, especially those that rely heavily on leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), leading to a significant loss of jobs across the industry and catastrophic consequences for existing and future consumers.
• 30-50% Utility Bill Increase: Breakdown of the huge spike in cost per kilowatt-hour and higher delivery charges implemented with the transition to summer pricing.

These days, going solar is just as much about peace-of-mind as it is about savings. After a short hiatus, we’re back to examine the impact of new import tariffs on solar companies, consumers and the energy industry as a whole and our plan to adapt to the challenges ahead.

• Import Tariffs: Present and projected effects of residual instability on supply chains, businesses and utilities locally and across the globe.
• Energy Storage Systems: Why solar batteries and generators have shifted from an option to a necessity and recent updates to Ameren’s Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebates.
• A Day In the Life of a Solar Consultant: How our unique sales approach aligns with our mission and values and is ultimately designed to serve our customers and community.

For more information, visit https://suncollectors.solar or check out the resources below:

Learn about the Franklin Whole Home Battery Backup solutions we offer: https://www.franklinwh.com/collections/whole-home-battery-backup/

Find out how you can save with Ameren Illinois DG Rebates: https://www.ameren.com/illinois/residential/supply-choice/renewables/rebates

Apply to become a Junior Solar Consultant with Sun Collectors: https://suncollectors.solar/career/junior-solar-consultant/

In celebration of National Solar Day & Einstein's birthday, our hosts widen their lenses, taking a look at the concept and uses of solar throughout time and space. These are some of the topics up for discussion:

⚡Albert Einstein’s role in the development of solar energy

⚡Origin and annihilation of common misconceptions

⚡Geographical and weather-related applications

⚡Backup solutions, overproduction and interconnection

By special request, our hosts help real estate agents navigate the solar playing field. Homes with solar panels can be a faster, more lucrative sell if you have all the facts. This episode covers everything realtors need to know, including these hot topics:

⚡Impact of solar panels on property value

⚡Transfer of ownership

⚡Sales tips and resources

In this industry, one thing is certain: not all solar companies are the same. As a consumer, how do you tell the difference? In this episode, we’ll cover the dos, don’ts and red flags to look out for when choosing a solar company, including:

⚡ How to determine if solar makes sense for your situation (just because a company will install it doesn’t mean they should)

⚡ How to vet a solar company — tips, resources and other helpful information

⚡ Why ownership is almost always in your best interest

⚡ All of your options — including those the salesperson didn’t pitch

Whether you want to know enough to be dangerous before that salesperson walks in the room or you just want to avoid solar scams and fly-by-night companies, this episode is for you.

After introducing the new Sun Collectors mission statement, our hosts answer the following questions in detail:

• Why does the reputation of solar need to be repaired?
• Why are solar companies going out of business?
• Why do system owners still need a solar service provider after installation?
• What does it mean to “do solar the right way?”
• Why did our customers choose a local business over a bigger business?

Toward the end of the episode, Will and Austin share their stories, why they care about solar and our community, and what keeps them going.

In an effort to give current and future solar adopters some peace of mind, our hosts break down the facts and give us their take on important considerations surrounding:

• Effects of the current political climate on solar legislation and funding
• Ties between the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
• Balancing renewable energy and finite resources to satisfy demand in the long-term
• Illinois Shines and Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs)
• Utility rates, time-based pricing and demand response programs

To learn more about federal solar subsidies and Illinois incentive programs visit https://suncollectors.solar/illinois-solar-incentives/