x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Silicon Ranch Radio

Silicon Ranch Radio explores the American solar energy frontier. Listen in as we discover opportunities and challenges, with thought-leaders, industry and technology leaders, and our partners and community members.

technology nature

All Episodes

38:32

The Future of Solar Energy: Leadership Lessons from a...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2025/11/11

In honor of Veteran's Day, host Nick de Vries is joined by former U.S. Army Special Forces officer Keyes Metcalf to explore how his military training prepared him for leadership in the solar industry. We'll find out how drones, digital twins, and AI are transforming project management, boosting efficiency while keeping human expertise at the center. From navigating complex construction schedules to tackling supply chain issues, Keyes offers insight into how technology and teamwork are driving the

en

35:58

Building Better Solar: Data-Driven Innovation with...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2025/10/02

Scott Canada, President of Renewable Energy at McCarthy Building Companies, brings over 27 years of experience in the solar industry. In this episode, Scott shares with host Nick de Vries how solar project construction has transformed over the past 15 years, with a sharper focus on data, safety, quality, and productivity. He highlights McCarthy’s innovative use of digital tools, from GIS systems to design scoring and data analytics, that drive a continuous improvement cycle to optimize future

en

37:58

Powering Progress: How BrightRidge Uses Solar to...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2025/06/24

Jeff Dykes, president and CEO of BrightRidge Electric, shares how the Tennessee-based public power utility partnered with Silicon Ranch to develop solar projects under TVA's Generation Flexibility Program, enabling BrightRidge to deliver renewable energy while lowering costs for customers and funding STEM and tech programs in local schools. Focused on community service over profit, the utility also engages students in energy education and supports local economic growth. These projects have improved

en

37:26

Adapting a Successful Agribusiness to Scale with Solar

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2025/04/21

Jim Malooley, Director of Agrivoltaics Operations at Silicon Ranch, joins host Nick de Vries to discuss the innovative intersection of solar energy and regenerative land management. Jim shares how he went from running his own sheep farm to leading a team that oversees sheep grazing across three large solar ranches in Georgia. He dives into the unique challenges of managing flocks on solar sites—including shifting lambing schedules, fine-tuning nutrition, and using the sheep's natural behavior to

en

46:20

Location Matters For Carbon Solutions

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2025/02/09

On this episode, host Nick de Vries is joined by Winston Vaughan, head of climate policy at Clearloop, Silicon Ranch's Carbon Solutions platform. Winston shares insights into Clearloop's innovative business model, which helps businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint by commissioning new solar projects in American communities where significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. We discuss the evolving landscape of carbon accounting and the concept of carbon blindness,

en

31:59

How Silicon Ranch Successfully Identifies Future Sites

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2024/10/31

As Director of Market Strategy at Silicon Ranch, Adian Markocic spends a majority of his time analyzing industry trends, regulations, and data to help guide the company's growth strategy. Adrian joins us to provide insight into the strategic planning and considerations that go into siting and developing new solar projects, as well as the evolving landscape of electricity demand and how solar power can and should be prepared to meet it.

en

51:38

The Solar Tracking Technology Driving Down Costs &...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2024/09/17

Silicon Ranch partner Nextracker has pioneered several innovations in solar tracker technology, including independent row, weather aware tracking algorithms, and have been leading the charge on domestic supply chain improvements. CEO Dan Shugar joins us for a discussion on how their innovations have reduced both costs and environmental impacts while also creating local jobs and community support for solar projects. These efforts enable Nextracker to partner with leaders like Silicon Ranch to deploy

en

41:48

Raising a Harmonious Relationship between Ranching...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2024/07/16

Anna Clare Monlezun, rancher and rangeland ecosystem scientist, joins Nick de Vries to discuss grassland ecosystems, sustainable grazing practices, and the co-location of solar energy generation and regenerative agriculture. Anna Clare shares updates on a project close to her heart, Cattle Tracker, which aims to co-locate cattle grazing with solar energy generation. This conversation explores the importance of regenerative grazing practices and the role of herbivores in maintaining healthy

en

38:59

Veteran’s Day: Finding Your Next Mission

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/11/07

In this episode, we're celebrating Veterans Day as Nick invites two military veteran team members, Daizjah Morris and Chris Frobuccino, on the show to discuss their journey between ending their time in service and finding their next mission in civilian life. For many, this transition can be one of the more challenging milestones in a military career, as veterans have to cope with a new identity and purpose in life that can feel extremely foreign to what they have been used to. Hear in this episode

en

29:13

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part VIII: One Middle...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/10/05

Our eighth episode in the series exploring domestic manufacturing takes us to Middle Tennessee, where Nick is joined by Ben Macias, Chief Revenue Officer of Shoals Technologies Group, a leading global provider of Electrical Balance of Systems (EBOS) for eMobility, solar and energy storage systems, with three facilities located in Portland, Tennessee. They'll discuss Shoals contribution both to renewable energy and the resurgence in American manufacturing by way of its diversification into the solar

en

30:24

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part VII: Repurposing...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/08/31

Our seventh episode in our on-going series exploring domestic manufacturing takes us to West Tennessee, where Nick is joined by Jason Neal, President of Hyosung HICO and Senior Executive VP of HICO America. They'll discuss what makes Memphis a truly unique location logistically for HICO's manufacturing of transformers, a real life case study for high-tech, green energy driven domestic manufacturing right here in the United States. Industry leaders like Silicon Ranch and HICO are excited to share the

en

23:53

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part VI: Polysilicon in...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/08/01

In part six of this series, we'll explore the era defining opportunities presented by the clean energy transition and highlight innovative solutions entrepreneurs are developing to level up domestic manufacturing in the United States. In today’s episode, Nick speaks with Jim Tharp, Sr. Director of Operations at Wacker Chemical Corporation, a leading player and one of the world’s most research-intensive chemical companies, about the ways in which raw materials, skilled training, and community life

en

31:17

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part V: Circularity

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/05/19

We continue to explore domestic manufacturing and the innovative new solutions entrepreneurs are developing to fully leverage opportunities the solar industry offers. In today’s episode, Nick speaks with Suvi Sharma, co-founder & CEO at SOLARCYCLE — the country’s most advanced solar panel recycling solution, about the need to produce the parts and raw materials we need right here in the United States. Approaching solar projects through a circular lens helps reduce reliance on new mining of precious

en

31:37

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part IV: Supply Chains

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/04/03

The conversation on the future of domestic manufacturing in the solar industry continues with Vinayak Gupta, Senior Vice President of Operations of Clean Energy Associates, a global company operating in the United States, Asia, and Europe, working on the soup to nuts of solar supply chains in terms of what it takes to bring new technology to production at scale of high quality. In this episode, Vinayak shares how module manufacturing can fully leverage the economic development opportunity that the

en

30:17

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part III: Automation

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2023/01/31

The conversation on the future of domestic manufacturing in the solar industry continues with John Fluker, President and CEO of Grenzebach North America, a leading global automation company with expertise manufacturing glass, plywood, solar panels and even the luggage wheeling through just about any airport across the globe. In this episode, John discusses the role automation plays in the opportunity to bolster manufacturing in the solar industry, and shares the secret to what makes his factories

en

34:35

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part II: Science

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2022/11/30

In this episode we continue to explore the unprecedented opportunity to bolster domestic manufacturing while transitioning our energy infrastructure to cleaner, more reliable, renewable energy sources. Here in the U.S. labs are already testing new technologies, their stress points, and long-term reliability. The type of information these labs produce is crucial to people building the next generation of solar products and solutions. Every advancement is a new opportunity to create value, but getting

en

34:42

On Domestic Manufacturing - Part I: Leadership

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2022/10/31

To support the continued growth of solar and other industries it is becoming increasingly clear that the US needs to bolster its own domestic manufacturing infrastructure and shorten supply lines. Doing so requires a number of essential elements including leadership. In today’s episode, hosted by Nick de Vries, we kickoff a special series blueprinting domestic manufacturing and how it can be supported to drive economic development across the country. Join us for this conversion as we sit down with

en

28:23

A Closer Look at the Clearloop’s Panola County...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2022/09/27

In previous episodes, we heard from Clearloop's founders, Laura Zapata and Bob Corney about how their company is helping businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint while also expanding access to clean energy to communities that need it most. In this episode, Laura joins the conversation again, this time with Brad Robison of the Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association and Joe Azar, Director of Economic Development for Panola County, Mississippi to discuss Clearloop's first two

en

41:02

A New Wave of Talent and Technology to Achieve Solar...

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2022/07/12

Discover how we at Silicon Ranch continue to keep all of our solar plants operating at peak performance, and meet some of the technology partners and talented teams whose skills help us interpret data to predict and prevent future problems. In this episode, Jim Bausell is joined by Clay Helms, Performance Engineer on Silicon Ranch’s very own Technology and Asset Management team, and Peter Kobliska, VP of Business Development at GreenPower Monitor, to hear how they solve complex puzzles that help us

en

31:20

Tuning Our Solar Power Plants for Peak Performance

Silicon Ranch Radio ·

2022/06/15

With us today on the show are Davin Smith, Regional Manager for Power Plant Maintenance for Silicon Ranch, and Jason Boatwright, one of Silicon Ranch’s Solar O&M Technicians. So, join us to hear how these two master detectives and craftsmen, are helping to make solar do more! And stay tuned for the end of our episode to hear “Home” an original tune from the talented Taylor Downes.

en

46 results

Similar Podcasts

Lead With AI

Tamara Nall

Linux in the Ham Shack

Black Sparrow Media

Data Engineering Podcast

Tobias Macey

Eye On A.I.

Craig S. Smith

Reflections

Livewire Labs