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PODCAST

SunCast

Nico Johnson takes you into conversations with those at the forefront of Renewable Energy. SunCast gives an inside look into what is happening in renewable energy. From conversations with the biggest Solar Panel manufacturers in the world to the small startups creating the future of renewable energy, such as carbon capture and battery technology breakthroughs. SunCast is dedicated to providing the knowledge, research, tools and expert guidance you need to understand, grow and be ahead of the

science natural sciences

All Episodes

19:10

714: The Republican Case for Clean Energy: Insights...

SunCast ·

2024/07/02

Have you ever wondered why clean energy is not only surviving, but thriving in RED states here in the USA?Despite the common perception that Republicans are against clean energy, states like Georgia (and AL, SC, and FL, not to mention TX!) are seeing significant solar growth.Republican Tim Echols, Vice Chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, discusses Georgia’s journey to becoming the 7th largest state for utility-scale solar (with 6GW!) and how they are gearing up to meet the

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58:57

713: Then And Now, How SEIA Helped Transform Solar...

SunCast ·

2024/06/28

In 50 short years, solar energy transformed from a niche interest to a key driver of the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has been at the forefront of this transformation, advocating for policies, fostering innovation, and driving growth in the industry. Founded in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, SEIA has worked tirelessly to give solar “a seat at the table” in Washington, and the fruits of their labor are

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40:34

712: SEIA’s 50-Year Legacy of Advancing Solar Energy...

SunCast ·

2024/06/27

The United States just surpassed 5 million solar installations, but as excited as Abby Hopper is to shout that from the rooftops, she agrees we’re just getting started. While the last 50 years was about building a solid foundation (fighting for every inch), the next 50 actually has a lot more at stake.The Solar Energy Industries Association celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, marking half a century of progress, innovation, and entrepreneurship in solar energy and storage.Nico

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22:44

711: How Agrivoltaics is Doubling The Use of Scarce...

SunCast ·

2024/06/25

How can we meet the growing demands for renewable energy without losing precious agricultural land?Agrivoltaics! It’s one of the most exciting growth sectors in solar energy! This approach leverages solar photovoltaic (PV) systems without losing the property’s agricultural capabilities, thus unlocking fertile and scarce land’s dual-use potential.Few have done as much to proliferate education on this topic as Dan French, Executive Producer of the Solar Farm Summit. We recently had Dan take

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01:23:38

710: The Truth About Solar's Hidden Waste Crisis with...

SunCast ·

2024/06/20

I learned a staggering statistic recently: Almost 90% of solar panels are thrown away when they reach the end of their useful life.In 2016, The International Renewable Energy Agency projected that 78 million tons of solar waste would be created by 2050. Within that waste sits a goldmine of opportunity: $15 billion in recyclable materials that most of the industry is simply ignoring. One entrepreneur, however, is transferring his e-waste knowledge and experience to this relatively new

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14:08

709: NABCEP Solar Certification: Expert Insights from...

SunCast ·

2024/06/18

When it comes to certifications and training in the solar industry, one name (or label) stands out and is recognized as the gold standard: NABCEP. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners is the certifying body for Solar PV and Battery Installers here in North America, and I’ve been told that the NABCEP certification test is as hard as the Professional Engineering (PE) exam! And, one trainer is the top educator for NABCEP (and many other areas of solar) in North

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32:26

708: Inside Sunrun’s Customer-Led Revolution with...

SunCast ·

2024/06/13

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

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30:47

707: US Solar’s AD/CVD, The Latest Round of...

SunCast ·

2024/06/11

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

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01:27:35

706: An Insider's Guide To Better Solar Projects,...

SunCast ·

2024/06/06

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

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14:29

705: A Solution for Plastic Pollution: How...

SunCast ·

2024/06/04

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

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01:07:08

704: Better Funding For Climate Entrepreneurs?...

SunCast ·

2024/05/30

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

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27:22

703: Unlocking Great Leadership, Imposter Syndrome,...

SunCast ·

2024/05/28

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

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01:16:37

702: From Rock Star to Serial Entrepreneur: Rue...

SunCast ·

2024/05/23

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

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23:42

701: Nextracker and JM Steel Are Reviving American...

SunCast ·

2024/05/21

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,

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01:12:01

700! Behind the Success of Strata Clean Energy,...

SunCast ·

2024/05/16

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

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21:47

Bonus: A love story, about Solar. w/Tor “Solar Fred”...

SunCast ·

2024/05/14

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

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01:20:45

699: Breaking the American Electricity Monopoly |...

SunCast ·

2024/05/09

Many of us working in clean energy forget that access to clean power is still a privilege, not a right. Millions of Americans still don’t have the freedom to choose clean energy.People all over the country want to fight climate change by choosing renewable energy sources for their homes and businesses. But, in monopolized electricity markets, consumers are forced to purchase power from the only available utility (like Duke Energy here in my home state of NC).CleanChoice Energy is fighting

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18:15

698: Building the Biggest Battery Project in the...

SunCast ·

2024/05/07

Imagine that your phone rings. The person on the other end tells you: “you won the project. Now, we need you to fly to Australia and build the largest battery backup project in the entire world.”Powin, a Portland, Oregon-based battery energy storage developer, was up to the challenge.Nico got a chance to sit down with then-President of Powin, Anthony Carroll, to discuss where the energy storage market is headed and how large-scale integrators like Powin are moving the needle.Under

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01:08:17

697: Chris Nelder is Mobilizing an Army for Clean Energy

SunCast ·

2024/05/02

Chris Nelder challenges the status quo.And his efforts have, for nearly a decade, centered on mobilizing an army of supporters to help us transition away from fossil fuels. As creator & host of the podcast The Energy Transition Show, Nelder aims to "influence the influencers" through carefully researched interviews with clean energy experts. I know that many many listeners of SunCast are also listeners of Chris’s show (and many have even told me you’re paid subscribers!) which has

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16:57

696: Manufacturing Ground Mounts Here In The U.S. For...

SunCast ·

2024/04/30

The IRA gave solar manufacturers a huge incentive to manufacture on U.S. soil. How does the 45x incentive work, and are we actually gonna see anybody other than Nextracker capitalize on it?!Companies like FTC Solar are taking full advantage of this huge manufacturing tax credit. Their Vice President of Sales, Eric Frazier, shares how they’re bringing higher-paying manufacturing jobs back to American communities and what it means for developers. He also shares his career lessons in

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