This special Solar Coaster episode features an AI-assisted conversation between Anna Covert and Alex Herrera of Sun Energy Today.

⚠️ AI Transparency Notice:

This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals provided full consent for their voices and likenesses to be used. The insights shared reflect their real-world professional perspectives. This episode is clearly labeled as AI-assisted and is not intended to mislead viewers regarding identity or authorship.

What We Discuss

A new report from Enverus Intelligence Research signals a major pivot in U.S. power markets:

- The grid is no longer optimizing for the cheapest electricity.

- It is optimizing for reliable electricity.

- With U.S. electricity demand projected to surge 34% by 2050 driven by data centers, electrification, and industrial growth grid operators are reprioritizing dispatchability over marginal cost.

We break down:

• Why “cheap solar” is no longer enough

• Winter Storm reliability failures in NYISO & ISO-NE

• Why oil generation surged to 44% during peak stress

• 3.5-year interconnection delays and queue pressure

• Gas projects being fast-tracked — but turbine supply chains are backlogged

• Solar + storage as a reliability solution

• ERCOT battery saturation & 90% ancillary revenue compression

• Behind-the-meter gigawatt-scale generation for data centers

• FEOC restrictions and domestic manufacturing pressure

• Solar deal valuations falling sharply in 2025

The old pitch was LCOE.

The new pitch is dispatchability.

Sponsored by Sun Energy Today

Sun Energy Today specializes in MW-scale commercial solar and integrated storage solutions designed for long-term infrastructure performance.

🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera/

🎧 Listen to The Solar Coaster

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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

This special Solar Coaster episode is an AI-assisted industry briefing featuring Anna Covert and Alex Herrera, owner of Sun Energy Today.

⚠️ AI Transparency Notice:

This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals provided full consent for their voices and likenesses to be used. The insights reflect their real-world professional perspectives. This episode is clearly labeled as AI-assisted and is not intended to mislead viewers.

Topics Covered in This Episode

In this policy-focused briefing, we discuss two major industry developments recently reported in pv magazine USA:

1️⃣ Treasury & IRS Release Interim Guidance on Prohibited Foreign Entity Restrictions

The U.S. Treasury and IRS have issued interim guidance clarifying foreign entity restrictions tied to solar tax credits. These rules could impact:

• Supply chain sourcing

• Domestic content compliance

• Project financing structures

• Tax equity participation

• Long-term developer strategy

For commercial developers and EPCs, understanding compliance exposure is now essential — not optional.

2️⃣ PJM Solar & Storage Acceleration Could Save $178 Billion by 2035

New analysis suggests doubling the pace of solar and storage deployment in the PJM region could generate $178 billion in system-wide savings by 2035.

The implications:

• Reduced wholesale energy costs

• Grid congestion relief

• Increased resiliency

• Lower capacity pricing pressure

• Faster interconnection reform urgency

This is not just a regional story — it’s a national infrastructure signal.

Why This Matters

Between tax credit compliance shifts and massive economic upside in PJM, the commercial solar and storage sector is entering a more sophisticated era.

Policy literacy + infrastructure strategy = competitive advantage.

Sponsored by Sun Energy Today

This episode is sponsored by Sun Energy Today, a commercial solar and storage developer focused on MW-scale infrastructure and forward-thinking energy solutions.

🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera/

🎧 Listen to The Solar Coaster

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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

This special episode of The Solar Coaster features an AI-assisted conversation between Anna Covert and Alex Herrera, owner of Sun Energy Today.

⚠️ AI Transparency Notice:

This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals have provided full knowledge and consent for their voices and likenesses to be used in this AI-produced episode.

The insights shared reflect their real-world experience and professional viewpoints. This episode is clearly labeled as AI-assisted and is not intended to mislead viewers regarding identity or authorship.

Topics Covered in This Episode

In this AI-formatted industry briefing, Anna and Alex discuss two major developments recently reported in industry media:

1️⃣ Data Centers, Renewables & Battery Storage

We examine reporting from pv magazine USA on a recent data center survey revealing that a majority of respondents believe renewables paired with battery energy storage systems (BESS) represent the ideal future energy mix — with projected power strain beginning as early as 2027.

The discussion explores:

- Why data center demand is accelerating grid pressure

- How BESS is becoming critical infrastructure

- The role of commercial solar in mitigating capacity risk

- What operators and developers should anticipate in the next 3–5 years

This is not speculation — it’s preparation.

2️⃣ Solar for Women & Workforce Development

We also discuss reporting on Solar for Women’s Spring 2026 webinar series focused on workforce development and expanding female participation in the clean energy sector.

The conversation covers:

- Why workforce expansion is critical to scaling solar

- The talent bottleneck in engineering, installation, and sales

- The importance of training pipelines and leadership pathways

- How diversity strengthens infrastructure industries

As commercial solar and storage scale, workforce readiness becomes just as important as capital and technology.

Why This Matters

Between AI-driven data center growth, grid strain projections, and workforce development initiatives, the solar industry is entering a new structural phase.

This episode connects:

- Infrastructure demand

- Energy storage strategy

- Human capital development

All through the lens of commercial solar leadership.

🔗 Connect with Alex Herrera

🌐 Sun Energy Today: https://sunenergytoday.com/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera/

🔗 Connect with Anna Covert

🌐 https://annacovert.com

🌐 https://covertcommunication.com

🌐 https://thecovertcode.com

🎧 Listen to The Solar Coaster on All Platforms

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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

📖 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

📌 Additional Disclosure

This AI-assisted episode was produced with consent from all participants. Industry news articles referenced in this discussion are publicly available reporting from pv magazine USA and are cited for commentary and analysis purposes.

Before The Solar Coaster book…

Before the podcast gained momentum…

There were foundational conversations with the operators who shaped this industry from the inside.

Welcome to Solar Coaster Origins — the special series featuring the interviews that started it all.

In this episode, Anna sits down with Greg Field, founder of PGT Energy Solutions and a nearly 17-year solar veteran who has closed through every major market shift the industry has faced.

Greg has:

- Built and scaled his own dealership

- Closed at elite production levels

- Transitioned from in-person to high-volume virtual sales

- Survived manufacturer collapses

- Pivoted through hostile utility markets

- Adapted during tax credit uncertainty

This conversation dives into:

- What it takes to close 10+ contracts per week

- The hybrid close (assertive but ethical)

- Setter vs. closer dynamics

- Why ownership beats fear

- How to follow up without being pushy

- What solar reps get wrong about resilience

- Why long-term operators survive the Solar Coaster

If you want to understand what separates hype from longevity in this industry — this is the episode.

🔗 Connect with Greg Field

🌐 Website: https://pgtenergysolutions.com/home

🎧 Listen to the Solar Coaster Podcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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

📖 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

The conversations in Origins inspired the stories and insights in The Solar Coaster.

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 Bernadette Del Chiaro, Senior Vice President of California at the Environmental Working Group, and one of the most influential voices in rooftop solar policy over the past two decades.

Bernadette has spent more than 20 years working almost exclusively on solar and energy policy—helping launch California’s Million Solar Roofs initiative, defending net metering, and pushing back against utility-driven narratives that threaten energy choice. Long before rooftop solar became mainstream, Bernadette was asking why power couldn’t be generated where people live—and why policy wasn’t keeping up with what consumers actually wanted.

This episode dives deep into:

• The early policy battles that shaped rooftop solar in California

• Why utilities see distributed solar as a threat

• How the cost shift myth gained traction

• What NEM 3.0 really did to homeowners and installers

• Why solar companies must invest in advocacy—not just sales

• Who controls energy, and why choice matters

If you work in solar, care about energy independence, or want to understand how policy decisions quietly shape entire industries, Bernadette’s perspective offers essential context. These are the conversations that informed The Solar Coaster—and why the fight for rooftop solar didn’t start with NEM 3.0, and didn’t end there.

📖 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 BERNADETTE DEL CHIARO

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadette-del-chiaro-7598706/

✨ CONNECT WITH THE SOLAR COASTER

🎧 Listen on All Platforms:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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: https://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 and host of The Solar Coaster Podcast. With over two decades of experience in digital marketing and business strategy, Anna has worked with companies including Microsoft, Apple, and IBM, and leads Covert Communication, Hawai‘i’s largest digital agency. 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/

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!

What if one of the most overlooked growth channels for solar and home services… is still sitting in your mailbox?

In this episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Aaron McDaniel, owner of Valpak of Hawaii, to unpack why direct mail is quietly outperforming crowded digital channels—especially for solar and home service companies.

Aaron shares how Valpak’s iconic blue envelope reaches 92% open rates, how curated data (not mass mailing) drives real ROI, and why businesses that stick with mail long enough see the biggest payoff. We dive into how Valpak targets homeowners with higher income and spending behavior, how offers outperform “brand-only” ads, and why frequency—not one-off campaigns—is the real secret to success.

If you’re a solar company frustrated with email fatigue, spam calls, and rising digital ad costs—or a home service business looking for a scalable, trackable offline channel—this episode offers a fresh, data-backed perspective on why mail still matters.

📖 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

✨ CONNECT WITH AARON McDANIEL

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronmacdaniel/

Valpak Hawaii: https://yourfrontdesk.co/

Valpak National: https://go.valpak.com/

✨ CONNECT WITH THE SOLAR COASTER

🎧 Listen on All Platforms:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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: https://facebook.com/solarcoasterbook

Instagram: http://instagram.com/thesolarcoasterbook

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

What does solar look like before slick software, AI proposals, and easy financing—and what lessons from that era still matter now?

In this episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Ellsworth Corum III, a true solar veteran whose journey began in 2008—when solar was $12–$13 per watt, carports were a luxury, and proposals were sketched on graph paper with roof rollers and Solar Pathfinder cameras.

Ellsworth shares how he entered solar almost by accident through data center backup power systems, parlayed a single referral into a life-changing moment, and went all-in on learning solar the hard way—traveling to California on commission-only terms to understand how solar should be sold. What he discovered was simple but powerful: value wins when the math makes sense and the salesperson actually understands the product.

We dive into:

The early days of solar sales before Aurora, Helioscope, and digital proposals

Why NABCEP certification became Ellsworth’s secret weapon for trust and credibility

How Florida’s early utility “solar lotteries” shaped sales strategy and customer retention

Why low-interest financing—not tax credits—was the real catalyst for solar’s explosive growth

The consequences of an unpoliced industry and what happens when competency isn’t required

Why solar pricing, sales ethics, and long-term value are coming back under the microscope

As the industry faces another major transition with tax credits fading and financing tightening, Ellsworth offers a grounded, experience-based perspective: solar doesn’t disappear without incentives—but it does demand better sales practices, real technical knowledge, and honest value creation.

Whether you’re a solar professional navigating today’s shifting market, a homeowner trying to understand what separates good solar companies from bad ones, or an industry observer curious about where solar goes next, this episode is a reminder that the future of solar depends on credibility, competence, and trust—not hype.

📖 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

✨ CONNECT WITH ELLSWORTH CORUM III

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solar_pro_3.0

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellsworth-corum-iii-07b20b19/

✨ CONNECT WITH THE SOLAR COASTER

🎧 Listen on All Platforms:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28LLOtNEQj8ZoCZJqVOa7o

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 and host of The Solar Coaster Podcast. With over two decades of experience in digital marketing and business strategy, Anna has worked with global brands including Microsoft, Apple, and IBM, and leads Covert Communication, Hawaii’s largest digital marketing agency. She is also the author of The Covert Code – Mastering the Art of Digital Marketing. Through The Solar Coaster, Anna brings sharp storytelling and strategic insight to the real human stories behind the solar industry’s biggest challenges and transformations.

Websites:

https://covertcommunication.com/

https://thecovertcode.com/

https://annacovert.com/

https://reactium.io/

#SolarPodcast #SolarCoaster #EllsworthCorum #SolarSales #NABCEP #SolarIndustry #PostITC #SolarEvolution

What if the end of residential tax credits isn't killing solar—but forcing it to evolve into something better? In this forward-looking episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Blake Gailey of Ecotrybe, who shares his 13-year journey through the solar industry—from early Sunrun pilot programs to building dealer channels at SunEdison and SunPower, and now launching Eco Tribe after the industry shakeups of 2025. Blake's career reflects solar's reality: rapid growth, major disruption, and a massive need for smarter, more sustainable business models. He reveals why solar companies must evolve into complete home energy service companies offering batteries, smart panels, EV charging, generators, roofing, and system upgrades instead of relying on panels alone. We dive into EcoFlow's AI-powered home energy systems that automatically manage loads, time-of-use rates, and outages (turning homes into self-optimizing energy hubs), how green mortgages are becoming powerful financing tools that roll solar, batteries, and roofing into home loans, and Blake's excitement about next-gen technologies like home hydroelectric generators that create power from municipal water flow. Whether you're a solar professional navigating post-ITC markets, a homeowner exploring whole-home energy solutions, or an industry observer trying to understand where solar goes next, Blake's perspective offers a roadmap: solar isn't dying—it's evolving, and the winners will embrace automation, AI, financing innovation, and complete energy ecosystems.

📖 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

✨ CONNECT WITH BLAKE GAILEY & ECO TRIBE

Eco Tribe Website: https://www.ecotrybe.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-gailey-5062626/

✨ 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/

📌 ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a review, share your biggest takeaway, or tell me who you'd like to hear on the show next.

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!

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/

📌 ENJOYED THIS EPISODE?

I'd love to hear from you! Leave a review, share your biggest takeaway, or tell me who you'd like to hear on the show next.

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!

What if the future of renewable energy isn't just rooftop solar—but floating power microgrids in harbors, cargo boxes that charge while you commute, and highway medians transformed into utilities? In this visionary episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Anthony Baro—founder of E2Sol and inventor behind the award-winning Power Docks system—who left a senior position at a defense contractor 15 years ago to innovate in renewable energy. Anthony reveals how his personal frustration with not having cold drinks on his sailboat led to creating floating solar docks that won innovation awards in Miami and the Netherlands, why marinas will need massive electrical infrastructure as boats go electric, and how his team is transforming everything from cargo boxes into mobile microgrids to highway medians into charging utilities. We dive into E2Sol's unique approach of tailoring every project to specific energy needs rather than cookie-cutter solutions, the transition happening in the marine industry (mega yachts going fully electric!), how aquaculture farming and defense industries are adopting floating power systems, and why Anthony sees charging infrastructure along highways as the next frontier. Whether you're interested in marine electrification, innovative solar applications, the intersection of transportation and renewable energy, or how an entrepreneurial mindset creates products where needs exist, Anthony's journey from defense contractor to renewable energy innovator offers a masterclass in identifying opportunities and building solutions that don't yet exist.

📖 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

✨ CONNECT WITH ANTHONY BARO & E2SOL

E2Sol Website: https://e2sol.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

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📚 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!