Mary Powell, CEO of Sunrun, has cast the vision of the leading solar brand in North America as a clean energy lifestyle company. She recently shared with Nico how Sunrun is accelerating the transition and nearing its millionth customer despite the typical electric utilities' “no and slow” culture.

Under Powell's leadership, Sunrun installed more than 1 GW of solar in 2023, maintaining its position as the nation's leading residential solar provider. Even more impressive, perhaps, is how Sunrun’s “year of energy storage” netted an unprecedented growth rate of battery attachment to solar projects. They’ve also set a few key milestones in key markets like CA and Puerto Rico for grid services of distributed batteries.

As a former utility executive, Nico asserts that Powell is “bilingual”, understanding how to navigate and communicate in both the private sector and Utility environments facilitating the integration of more renewables into the grid. Now, she is proving that distributed energy resources (like rooftop solar) can support grid reliability when networked as virtual power plants (VPPs), and promises we are in the midst of a ‘customer-led revolution’.

Expect to learn:

• Details of the largest virtual power plant (VPP) in the nation.
• Why “customer obsession” is key to consumer confidence.
• The role of virtual power plants in creating a resilient grid.
• How Sunrun achieved a 50% storage attachment rate.

Click play to hear directly from the CEO proving that distributed energy resources can support a stronger, more resilient grid.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) are nothing new; they have plagued US-based solar developers and decision-makers since 2011. These duties, aimed at preventing unfair trade practices, greatly impact pricing and timelines of solar projects and generally seed uncertainty in the marketplace (at the outset, at least).  We now have a new round of trade investigations being undertaken by the US Dept. of Commerce. What’s at stake, and who will be most impacted?

AD/CVD investigations were initiated 13 years ago to address concerns in the marketplace that Chinese-based solar module manufacturers were unfairly influencing fair market price of solar panels through dumping and government subsidies. On May 15th, 2024, the International Trade Administration (ITA) announced a new investigation into PV cells.  This time, however, it goes beyond mainland China and focuses on 4 additional countries of origin — Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia — countries that presently supply about 80% of the US's solar modules. These potential duties, ranging from 50% to 250%, aim to prevent dumping (the sale of foreign goods in the U.S. at significantly lower than U.S. prices) and protect domestic manufacturing.

Yet, many are of the opinion that it’s just going to create more market uncertainty and further slow the progress of solar energy deployment. 

Dan Shreve, VP of Market Intelligence, and Christian Roselund, Senior Policy Analyst at Clean Energy Associates (CEA) are veritable market experts on the topic, so I asked them to help us understand whether the recent AD/CVD investigations are expected to profoundly impact procurement in the coming months and what else this trade case may implicate in the US market looking out into 2025. 

Expect to learn:

• A short history of Anti-dumping and countervailing duties. 
• How AD/CVD investigations affect solar imports and project timelines.
• CEA’S expectations for upcoming tariff rulings, rates, and their impact on future pricing.

Dan and Christian offer clear insights to help you navigate these changes. Whether you're a developer, IPP, or decision-maker, this episode will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions in the coming months. 

Worried AD/CVD will impact your solar projects? Listen in to find out if you’re at risk!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

In the solar industry, we’re often building the plane as we fly it, as it were. 

This is ever-moreso evident in commercial and industrial (C&I) solar, a relatively untapped market with unique challenges. One of the key areas of failure is a lack of funding.  And, often, the culprit that leads to failed projects or lack of funding (ie, un-interested buyers) is poor processes. 

So how do you teach due diligence and standardize processes when it seems we’ve been making them up as you go for so long?? 

Despite it still, at times, feeling like the wild west in solar development, there are numerous industry veterans who have vetted and validated hundreds, even thousands of projects and developed simple checklists, toolkits, and data room best practices to help any developer willing to seek professional guidance.

Keith Cronin, Founder & CEO of SunHedge and instructor for HeatSpring, is a pioneer in the U.S. and Pacific Island solar markets. In today's episode, Keith shares his journey from helping shape Hawaii's solar market with Jigar Shah to teaching hundreds of organizations how to fine-tune their own best-practices, financial models and project diligence efforts. Along the way, Keith has helped to build trust in the market and innovative financial models for getting projects across the finish line. 

Expect to learn:

• Specific strategies for strong financial models and building trust for your solar project. 
• Tools you can deploy immediately for more accurate assumptions in your models and risk reduction in C&I solar projects, in particular.
• Keith’s perspective on how we can bring more people in from other industries like oil and gas, real estate, and tech.

Careful listeners will learn (and see) how to use Keith’s FREE project screening tool, or gain access to his bestselling course, Solar Executive MBA Training, on Heatspring. 

Finally, if you’re ready to further develop your own thought leadership or share your expertise, check out Solar Academy, a social knowledge platform for the solar energy industry.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Ever get annoyed when you order takeout and they give you the obligatory plastic wrapped napkin and plastic cutlery? If you’re like me, you politely decline, but most just take them and dispose of them directly in the waste bin.

The world is drowning in plastic waste, and current solutions to a useful alternative aren't cutting it. 

PlantSwitch, a North Carolina-based startup co-founded by Dillon Baxter, uses agricultural byproducts to create a durable, plastic-like resin. With it, they aim to tackle the world of disposable cutlery. Their products are 100% compostable and decompose naturally, even without the need for commercial composting facilities.

If your response to compostable cutlery is an eye-roll because they are neither reliable nor compostable, you’re in good company with Dillon.  That’s why when he takes a potential investor out to dinner, he invites them to cut into a thick steak with one of his compostable knives…they usually invest. And with those investments, PlantSwitch is opening a new facility in Sanford, North Carolina, where they can produce 50 million pounds of truly compostable bioplastic resin annually! Until now, there was really nobody providing a wide-scale alternative to single-use plastics; Tune in to hear how PlantSwitch is pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the biodegradable plastics industry.

Expect to learn:

• How traditional plastic recycling is broken.
• How PlantSwitch uses agricultural waste to create compostable products.
• The real story behind consumer recycling (it’s more sinister than you might think).

Discover how PlantSwitch is transforming the plastic industry. Listen now!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

If we’re going to address climate change through capitalism, we’ll need about $10 Trillion. 

The growing climate crisis demands that we take urgent action, but early-stage climate entrepreneurs still face significant barriers in finding the funding to bring their innovations to market. 

CEO and co-founder of Enduring Planet, Dimitry Gershenson, offers a solution to a critical funding gap climate entrepreneurs face. After building the Energy Access program at Facebook and seeing first-hand how hard it was to get access to this much-needed startup capital, Dimitry has leveraged his experiences and network to create a fintech platform that provides fast, flexible, and founder-friendly working capital to climate-focused startups.

Enduring Planet offers non-dilutive capital (funding that doesn’t require a founder to give up equity or ownership) and comprehensive financial advisory services to help climate entrepreneurs navigate funding challenges. By doing so, they enable these startups to accelerate their projects and make significant strides in the fight against climate change.

Expect to learn:

• Practical advice for securing and managing funding in the climate tech space.
• The unique financial hurdles faced by climate entrepreneurs (and how we can overcome them).
• How Enduring Planet’s innovative grant advance product works.
• Why non-dilutive capital is critical for early-stage companies.
• Dimitry’s story of transitioning from Peace Corps volunteer to climate finance leader.

Hit play to find out more about Enduring Planet’s innovative climate finance solutions.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Struggling with imposter syndrome? You're not alone. 

Returning guest (Ep 333, 687) Paula Glover, President of the Alliance to Save Energy, delves into one of the most common emotional challenges faced by leaders and entrepreneurs. Paula gets real about the self-doubt leaders face and the importance of authenticity in leadership. It’s rare to get this kind of honesty in a b2b podcast conversation, and Paula does it with guts and grace.

As the head of the Alliance to Save Energy, Paula has been a champion for diversity and inclusion in the energy sector. Her experience shows how crucial personal growth and self-awareness are for effective leadership. The conversation touches on the significance of self-reflection, the power of words, and the responsibility that comes with leadership roles. 

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, you’re in good company.  Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou,Tom Hanks and David Bowie are among the many professional performers, unquestionably successful, who’ve battled the self-talk and emotional rollercoaster of feeling like an imposter. 

Ready to conquer your own imposter syndrome and lead with confidence? Listen in to hear Paula's empowering stories and actionable advice.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

He came to America with ten thousand dollars and a dream of making it big. A few years later, he was a legitimate rock star, rocking arenas with Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osborne.  So why did this British rocker who achieved the height of music stardom give it all up and start an EV charging business? How did that turn into not 1 but 3 successful exits (his most recent for north of $80M to Enphase) and a fourth energy sector startup sure to find similar outcomes? Rue Phillips, a rockstar turned entrepreneur, has a story unlike any other we’ve told here on SunCast.

Rue has always had an interest in electronics, so perhaps it’s a natural that when he hung up his axe he would find a way to leverage the trade skill handed down through his family.  But in the 90’s, EV charging and solar energy were hobbyist businesses for most aspiring entrepreneurs. Yet, Rue found himself installing EV charging infrastructure for the Hollywood elite, and parlayed that experience into fixing what he saw breaking in the solar industry, literally. 

Now, Rue has turned his attention back to addressing the weak link in our Electric Vehicle (EV) dreams, charging. A considerable portion of EV charging infrastructure is unreliable or inoperable. Phillips, once a guitarist for rock legends like Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne, has truly found his rhythm in energy entrepreneurship, founding several successful ventures including True South Renewables and 365 Pronto.

His newest venture, SkillFusion, is a digital learning platform that aims to train skilled professionals to address the critical need for reliable EV infrastructure. SkillFusion offers comprehensive training programs to prepare the workforce needed to maintain and repair EV chargers.  Phillips and his team aim to help EV charging companies achieve their long-promised 97% uptime guarantee.

Expect to learn:

• Why reliable EV infrastructure will boost the industry's growth.
• How SkillFusion's training programs are bridging the skills gap in the EV sector.
• Rue Phillips’ journey from rockstar to renewable energy pioneer.
• Rue’s strategies for transforming passion into a successful business venture.

Discover how SkillFusion is powering the EV revolution, one skilled technician at a time.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

US manufacturing is back! 

We were recently invited to a ceremony to celebrate the expansion of Nextracker’s dedicated steel torque tube manufacturing lines at JM Steel’s Leetsdale facility in Pittsburgh. This historic site, formerly Bethlehem Steel(the company that produced the landing craft for Normandy during World War II) now manufactures low-carbon steel tubes for solar trackers. Among the many dignitaries present at the event were 3 people on Nico’s yet-to-be-interviewed bucket list, so he got the chance to get some genuine reaction commentary and excellent b-roll of the factory line up-and-running (see our Youtube video for that!)

You’ll hear from these 3 pioneering solar warriors in today’s episode:

• Yuri Horowitz, CEO of Sol Systems, 
• David Crane, DOE Undersecretary for Infrastructure, and 
• Kelly Speakes-Backman, Executive VP, Public Affairs at Invenergy  

Each has an interesting perspective to offer on how the solar industry is reshoring manufacturing. Expect to learn:

• How the U.S. government plans to fast-track permitting and workforce training
• Exactly how this clean green steel factory is aiming to triple its output.
• Ways companies like Invenergy plan to support domestic manufacturing
• Updates on the DOE’s commitment to awarding billions in infrastructure funds.

It’s beautiful to see manufacturing returning to U.S. soil. Hit play to learn why now is the time for solar companies to reshore manufacturing… And the incentives they’ll earn for doing so.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

It only took me 8 years and 699 episodes to finally land today’s guest! But the wait was WELL worth it. You’re in for a treat. And it was recorded in-person at Strata’s HQ, so you might enjoy some of the extra footage included in the YT video version of this episode. 

Markus Wilhelm founded Strata Clean Energy in 2009, but readily admits that he didn’t have the right initial vision for the company.  In fact, it wasn’t till the THIRD pivot that he says they really found their groove.  By any measure, Strata has now become an undeniable success-story in the world of Solar Energy Development and Construction. Over the course of 15 years, Strata has grown from a small residential installer to a globally-recognized utility-scale developer, owner, and operator of clean energy assets. 

Yet, few have been able to get access to the man behind the curtain and unpack what makes him tick and how Wilhelm's background as a former media executive uniquely prepared him to grow the company to this level. One of the most interesting things for me, having done now 700 of these, is that when Markus and his wife began this venture, it was supposed to be something to pass the time…in his RETIREMENT!  15 years later, he’s still going strong, and Strata is more relevant and impressive than ever.

Filmed at Strata's Durham NC HQ, this episode finds Wilhelm reflecting on the company's evolution—from pioneering the North Carolina solar market to building multi-billion dollar solar and battery storage projects. 

Expect to learn:

• Strata’s three strategy changes that led them to become the company they are today. 
• How building a vertically integrated business model can enhance your project quality.
• How Markus’s background as a media executive prepared him to grow an energy company
• How Strata plans to stay flexible amid inconsistent government policies and administration changes

This is a rare opportunity to hear how an industry titan built a solar company from the ground up.

Oh, and listen closely, because we’re giving away a free gift to our listeners for helping us reach 700 episodes!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

265,000!  That’s how many of you/us work in Solar Energy so far (and rapidly growing!)

Yet, with 4 million solar installations in the U.S alone, Solar Energy is rarely featured in mainstream media. WHY?

Probably True Solar Stories, a podcast created by Tor Valenza, also known as Solar Fred, aims to bridge this content gap with engaging solar-themed fictional tales.

Valenza, once a Hollywood writer for shows like "The Dead Zone," "Dharma and Greg," and "Stargate SG-1” brings a uniquely solar flair (get it? 😉).

This BONUS episode features Solar Fred sharing a whimsical story about a wedding he actually officiated at RE+ several years back. Loosely based on real events, the narrative follows Matt and Molly, two solar industry professionals who plan to wed at the convention with the help of their industry friends. When an unexpected blackout threatens their plans, the solar community bands together to pull off an unforgettable off-grid celebration on a Las Vegas rooftop.

Stay tuned for Solar Fred's collaboration with Resource Labs and definitely subscribe to Probably True Solar Stories — where the power of the sun meets the power of stories!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2