The Solar Coaster Podcast

By Anna Covert

Welcome to The Solarcoaster Podcast — your ultimate guide to navigating the fast-changing solar industry. Each episode delivers actionable insights, industry best practices, and expert strategies to h... more

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FAQs about The Solar Coaster Podcast:

How many episodes does The Solar Coaster Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 42 episodes available.

The Solar Coaster Podcast episodes:

June 17, 2026 Solar Isn’t Just Panels Anymore — It’s American Manufacturing | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 42
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
We’ve been sold a story about solar.
Panels on rooftops.
Clean energy.
Lower electric bills.
But behind every solar panel is something much bigger:
A supply chain.
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera break down the rise of America’s solar and storage manufacturing base — and why domestic production is becoming central to energy security.
According to SEIA’s Solar & Storage Supply Chain Dashboard, U.S. solar and storage manufacturing investment has surged since federal manufacturing incentives were enacted, with billions of dollars flowing into factories, modules, racking, inverters, transformers, and battery storage.
Because solar isn’t just about catching sunlight anymore.
It’s about building the industrial backbone to support it.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
⚡ Why domestic solar manufacturing matters
⚡ How federal incentives reshaped the supply chain
⚡ Why modules are only one part of the story
⚡ The importance of racking, inverters, transformers, and batteries
⚡ How supply chains impact project timelines
⚡ Why energy security now depends on manufacturing capacity
⚡ What this means for homeowners, businesses, and developers
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
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
...more
19min
June 10, 2026 Renewable Energy's New Reality: Share the Risk or Miss the Opportunity | Solar Coaster | EP 41
The renewable energy market has never been hotter—and never been more complicated.
As AI data centers, manufacturers, utilities, and Fortune 500 companies race to secure clean power, a surprising reality is emerging: renewable energy isn't limited by demand. It's limited by infrastructure.
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, we explore why corporate buyers are being told to move faster than ever before, how interconnection queues are delaying projects for years, why developers now hold the leverage in negotiations, and what happens when trillions of dollars of capital collide with real-world bottlenecks.
We discuss:
• The AI-driven surge in energy demand
• Why renewable power has become a seller's market
• The hidden risks inside today's PPAs
• Transformer shortages and grid congestion
• Community resistance and permitting delays
• Why speed without local support can backfire
• The future value of clean energy procurement
If you're involved in solar, energy storage, utilities, sustainability, or corporate energy purchasing, this conversation offers an important look at where the market is headed next.
Subscribe for more conversations on energy, technology, and the future of infrastructure.
Sponsored by Sun Energy Today
Sun Energy Today is a commercial and residential solar provider serving Arizona and helping homeowners explore ways to produce their own electricity using the state’s abundant sunshine.
🌐 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
...more
14min
June 03, 2026 The Great Energy Divide: Scarcity, Stability & the End of Oil Volatility | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 40
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
Every time oil prices spike...
Someone profits.
And everyone else pays.
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) explore the growing divide between two energy worlds:
One built on scarcity.
One built on abundance.
From geopolitical conflicts and fragile supply chains...
to solar energy, battery storage, and energy independence...
This episode reveals why the chaos of oil markets may actually be accelerating the renewable energy transition.
Because the future of energy isn't just cleaner.
It's more predictable.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
⚡ Why oil markets are inherently volatile
⚡ How solar changes the economics of energy
⚡ Why battery storage is transforming the grid
⚡ The hidden connection between energy and geopolitics
⚡ How solar reduces long-term energy risk
⚡ Why financial innovation matters for energy access
⚡ What the next decade could look like
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
📖 Get the book:
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
...more
15min
May 27, 2026 The Silent Saboteur: What Can Kill a Solar System Over Time | Solar Coaster | EP 39
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
We’ve been sold a story about solar.
Install it. Forget it. Thirty years of performance.
But what happens over those thirty years?
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) break down the hidden risks that can quietly impact solar systems over time.
From corrosion and environmental wear…
to long-term material degradation and system stress…
This episode explores the “silent saboteur” behind solar performance.
Because solar isn’t just about day one.
It’s about every day after that.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Why solar is a long-term system, not a one-time install
The hidden risks of corrosion and environmental exposure
How materials degrade over time
What impacts system longevity
Why quality installation matters more than ever
What homeowners should understand about long-term performance
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
...more
17min
May 20, 2026 The Solar Paradox: Why Steel Matters More Than Sunlight | The Solar Coaster | EP 38
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
We’ve been told solar is unlimited.
Endless sunlight. Infinite energy.
But what if that’s not true?
What if the real limitation isn’t the sun…
It’s everything else?
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) break down the “solar paradox”—why the biggest constraint on clean energy isn’t generation…
It’s infrastructure.
From steel shortages and transformer bottlenecks…
to grid limitations, permitting delays, and supply chain realities…
This episode reveals what’s actually slowing down the energy transition.
Because the future of solar isn’t just about sunlight.
It’s about what we can build to support it.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Why solar isn’t limited by sunlight
The role of steel, transformers, and infrastructure
What’s really slowing down solar deployment
How supply chains impact clean energy growth
Why grid capacity is the real constraint
What needs to change to unlock the next decade
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
📖 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 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/
...more
14min
May 13, 2026 The Invisible Architects | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 37
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
We’ve been sold a story about solar.
Panels. Savings. Clean energy.
But that’s not the full picture.
Because behind every solar system…
There’s someone actually building it.
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) break down the role of electrical contractors—the invisible workforce powering the green energy transition.
From labor shortages and training gaps…
to infrastructure challenges and real-world installation complexity…
This episode highlights the people who are actually making solar possible.
Because without them…
There is no transition.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Why electricians are critical to the solar industry
The labor shortage impacting clean energy growth
What it really takes to install solar systems
Why infrastructure—not panels—is the real bottleneck
How the workforce is shaping the future of energy
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
📖 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 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/
...more
14min
May 06, 2026 The Real Solar Boom of 2026 (No One Is Talking About This) | The Solar Coaster | EP 36
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
The headlines say one thing.
But the reality on the ground tells a very different story.
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) go beyond the press releases to uncover what’s really happening in the American solar industry in 2026.
Because while some companies are shutting down…
Something much bigger is quietly accelerating.
From shifts in project scale and financing…
to changes in who is actually building the future of energy…
to the hidden forces driving real growth behind the scenes…
This episode breaks down the truth about where solar is actually headed.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Why the real solar boom isn’t being reported
What’s actually driving growth in 2026
How the industry is shifting behind the scenes
Why headlines don’t match reality
What developers are seeing on the ground
Where the biggest opportunities are moving
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
📖 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 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/
...more
16min
April 29, 2026 The Messy Middle of Commercial Solar in 2026 | The Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 35
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
Commercial solar is entering its most dangerous—and most profitable—phase yet. The easy wins are gone. Now it’s about precision.
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) break down what the industry is calling the “messy middle”—the painful but necessary transition from subsidized, experimental projects to true grid infrastructure.
From battery storage becoming the primary asset…
to fire code surprises, tax equity shifts, and eighteen-month supply chain nightmares…
This episode reveals why the C&I solar market is being completely redefined.
Because the future of solar isn’t just panels.
It’s discipline.
And precision is no longer optional.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- Why battery storage is becoming more valuable than solar panels
- What the “messy middle” means for C&I developers
- How fire code changes are killing profitable projects
- Why tax equity may be losing importance
- The hidden soft costs destroying project margins
- Why storage supply chains are still chaotic
- How precision became the new survival skill in solar
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
...more
11min
April 22, 2026 Why Clean Energy Could End Energy Wars | Solar Coaster | EP 34
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
We’ve been sold a story about solar.
Clean. Sustainable. Good for the planet.
But what if solar is actually something much bigger?
What if renewable energy is becoming the single most important national security strategy of the twenty-first century?
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) break down the Electrotech Revolution—and why solar, storage, batteries, and smart grids are no longer climate initiatives…
They are strategic infrastructure.
From energy independence and economic sovereignty…
to grid resilience and the future of global conflict…
This episode explores how renewable energy could fundamentally change geopolitics itself.
Because when energy belongs to everyone…
Power changes.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
- Why solar is becoming national security infrastructure
- How renewable energy reduces geopolitical vulnerability
- Why “Electrotech” is bigger than just solar panels
- The hidden reason governments are racing toward energy independence
- How renewables are already cheaper than fossil fuels
- Why grid bottlenecks—not technology—are the real problem
- How clean energy could reshape the future of global conflict
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
📖 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
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
...more
16min
April 18, 2026 BREAKING NEWS! Why Solar Companies Are Going Bankrupt (And What It Means) | The Solar Coaster | EP 33
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE
This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned.
🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PODCAST
We’ve been sold a story about solar.
Set it. Forget it. Twenty-five years of savings.
But what happens when the company that sold you that promise… disappears?
In this special episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera (Owner of Sun Energy Today) break down the harsh reality behind the recent wave of solar company bankruptcies.
From policy shifts like NEM 3.0…
to rising interest rates and financing breakdowns…
to the growing crisis of “solar orphans”…
This episode exposes the financial and structural cracks forming beneath the industry.
Because solar isn’t just panels.
It’s contracts. Financing. Labor. Infrastructure.
And when one piece breaks… everything feels it.
🌞 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
Why solar companies are going bankrupt
What “solar orphans” actually means
How NEM 3.0 changed everything overnight
Why interest rates crushed solar demand
The hidden risks in solar financing models
How payment structures (PTO delays) created cash flow collapse
What homeowners should do before going solar
⚡ This episode of The Solar Coaster is sponsored by Sun Energy Today:
🌐 https://sunenergytoday.com/
👤 Connect with Atzael Herrera on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/atzael-herrera-84223436
...more
15min

FAQs about The Solar Coaster Podcast:

How many episodes does The Solar Coaster Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 42 episodes available.