SunCast

What percentage increase in productivity would you say would need to be achieved by all the individuals in a building in order to pay for ALL The energy used by that building? 5%? 20%? Would you believe it if I told you only 1%? Yes, a mere 1% increase in productivity.Curious about the math?Well, today you’ll learn how Daylighting can actually bring just as much ROI to your business as the other way we capture the sun! And we also outline his 3-30-300 rule that supports this claim over on the blog.Active solar power is about energy generation. But, passive solar leads to reduced consumption. And both can co-exist in commercial and industrial (C&I) properties. Today's podcast explores why we should take seriously the opportunity to incorporate both in classrooms, offices, retail and warehousing applicationsGrant Grable, the Vice President of Operations and Business Development for Sunoptics, and a true daylighting OG, helps us navigate the conversation.Sunoptics is the leader in prismatic skylights and daylighting. However, since we recorded with Grant, AES Industries actually acquired Sunoptics from Acuity Brands. But in this episode, Grant refers to Acuity Brands as the parent company. Grant is a LEED Accredited Professional with extensive experience in the green building industry and optimizing the ways buildings work. If you haven't spent much time on energy efficiency or building envelope management, I hope you'll join this deep dive into an area of the building (and solar industry) we don’t often spend enough time talking about!Grant has a deep understanding of how integrated skylight solutions can aid productivity. The skylights provide the ultimate human-performance, net-zero lighting with all-day exposure to sunlight. Grant is a superstar in the daylighting sector, and today he shares with us from his 3+ decades of experience. You’re in for a treat.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Josh Porter and Nico Johnson, both veterans of the solar industry and long-time podcasters, discuss the evolution of the medium and its popularity. They both started their own podcasts at a time when podcasting was still in its infancy, and emphasize how the medium fosters genuinely authentic conversations and storytelling. In this live discussion, Josh & NIco talk about their experiences with starting and growing their own businesses (on the back of podcasts). One of the elements they both experience via their show is the importance of understanding the nuance of the interview process and how a podcast episode can really help companies & founders “find” and tell their story in unique ways.Of course, one of their favorite topics is helping folks realize the use of podcasts as a marketing tool to refine and distribute sales messages.  Having both been in sales and business development, they emphasized the importance of identifying common questions and challenges that customers face and using podcasts as an opportunity to address and clarify those issues, in particular for capturing answers for those “top of funnel” kinds of routine questions. One important element that both see as increasingly important is that of repurposing long-form podcast content into shorter pieces for social media and other channels. Using the data and feedback from this microcontent can help to identify what resonates with listeners and to create more targeted follow-on content. Of course, for many guests (and hosts alike!), the true value of a podcast guest experience is in building relationships and connections while leveraging the “stage” of a particular show as a way to showcase expertise and establish (or reinforce) credibility as subject-matter or industry experts.Lastly, the veteran podcasters discussed their preferred equipment and tools for podcasting, including microphones, audio mixers, and other recording devices that help to both simplify and improve the overall process and quality of the product. Producing high-quality audio and the benefits of using professional-grade equipment is a topic both have spent collectively thousands of hours researching, and today’s episode gives you a glimpse into some of their top recommendations for clients and would-be future podcasters. From gear lists to proper etiquette as guests and hosts, Josh & Nico really dive deep enough on the topic that anyone interested in jumping into the podcast universe beyond simply downloading episodes can easily learn and apply something from this episode.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mohammed Abdalla, the founder and CEO of Good Faith Energy, is no stranger to adversity. His father died when he was nine, leaving his mother to rear five children. Mohammed, the middle child, used the childhood challenges to cultivate the grit, determination and fire that now serve him well as an entrepreneur. After a disappointing early career experience in oil and gas — he said he was fired for breaking the rules and possibly asking the wrong questions — he traveled the world searching for his next path. With his belongings in two backpacks, he wandered throughout South America, Europe, Africa and Asia for a year.One day, on a train in Germany, he saw countless rooftops covered in solar panels. The promise of the sun drew him to renewables and, in 2014, the launch of Texas-based Good Faith Energy.The company, one of Texas's fastest-growing residential solar installers, is the leading national installer for the SPAN smart electrical panel and the Tesla Solar Roof, a fully integrated solar and energy storage system.Join us to learn how Mohammed capitalized on setbacks and failures to build a nationally recognized leader in distributed solar and storage. He considers his company "a movement and a lifestyle, a family and community." It's a profoundly personal and interesting story you'll enjoy hearing as much as I did.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

I’m no fan of the hype train and misdirection foisted upon us by much of the traditional fossil fuel industry. So, when I met Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), I was happy to “entertain” a phone call to hear why he believes renewable propane can be dubbed a clean and sustainable energy source. Truthfully, I had zero intention of ever having him on the show. But after a delightful 30 minute jousting match over zoom, I was convinced that there was more to his narrative than meets the eye, and that it’d make a fun and entertaining (at the very least) episode for the SunCast faithful. And, I actually learned quite alot!As Tucker explains, renewable propane — sometimes called biopropane, bioLPG, eco-propane and rLPG — is a drop-in replacement for traditional propane produced from petroleum refining. Rather than oil or natural gas, the sources of renewable propane include biomass, biogas, municipal solid waste and even corn or sugarcane. In today's eye-opening Tactical Tuesday, Tucker shares his vision of the potential of renewable propane and Nico challenges him on its role in the future of green energy. Tucker believes "safe, reliable and economical" renewable propane is part of the solution for an energy-efficient future. Will you agree? Or do you believe it’s just part of the massive greenwashing happening right now across the fossil fuel industry to convince consumers that “it’s not that bad” and “there are ‘clean-er’ options to how we’ve been doing this.”? PERC, operated and funded by the propane industry, views renewable propane as a viable energy source for powering homes, businesses, and vehicles due to its high energy density, clean burning characteristics, and cost-effectiveness. This episode takes me out of my comfort zone, as I reach across the aisle to explore renewable propane as an alternative to synthetic or fossil fuels like natural gas, oil, or gasoline. One key question I come away with “Is renewable propane, as it's generally called in the United States, the best term for this fuel?”Tucker and I discuss this in depth and I admire Tucker’s willingness to engage. Please tune in to learn more about an alternative fuel that can potentially help us power our world, sustain our quality of life, and promote the justice and equity we seek.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

It’s a holiday weekend, so I’ll keep the reading short for you.Every so often, I try to convene my close friends who are working in the trenches doing the guerilla and grass roots marketing helping our industry grow. Two-such folks are Tor “Solar Fred” Valenza, and Lauren “Windy Glick” Glickman, and I’ve truly come to admire and respect them both. I ask them a ton of questions in this conversation all about how they help their clients navigate the world of new media, social, podcasts, etc, and get more than a handful of tactical and immediately useful answers. As you head into 2023, I suggest you play this episode more-than-once, and take notes. It’ll come in handy.Here are a few of the main themes we discussed:The importance of having a personal brand in your digital marketing - 3:21How do you build a Twitter following on social?  >(including who on your team should have (and use) Twitter,  - 5:39How Lauren uses Twitter as a thought leader to connect with interesting people - 11:39How important is a content calendar for your digital media campaigns? - 15:47When to post on LinkedIn and when not to - 21:30The importance of having a clear vision for what you want to be saying - 25:11How to find people with a platform, not build your own platform - 29:27Insider tips for getting and leveraging interviews on podcasts - 30:31This episode really is chock-full of great advice directly from the front lines, battle tested and ready for you to deploy.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Many folks have heard the term microgrid in the energy transition context, and today's podcast will give you critical insights about their use and potential. Our guest is Adrienne Pierce, CEO of New Sun Road, a Richmond, California-based for-profit public benefit company (PBC).  It’s really coincidental that this particular episode publishes the same week that >70K Northern CA residents are without power due to a 6.4 Earthquake! You’ll hear solutions that Adrienne and Co are working on that could help make these kinds of mass outages significantly less impactful (if they happen at all) to the daily lives of many in that PG&E territory.Adrienne aims to make a global impact for productive purposes. Her company is developing data-driven Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that could accelerate renewable energy deployment and access for remote communities.A Fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Adrienne has gained extensive experience through multiple roles in corporations and nonprofits, in technical product marketing, organizational development and building partnerships in environmental and semiconductor industries. Today she details how New Sun Road uses technology-agnostic, resilient and cost-effective microgrids to advance worldwide solar deployments.Join us to learn more about New Sun Road's vision and mission and how it aligns with Adrienne's skills and experience. I have been privileged to get to know her and am excited to share her insights.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Today's Tactical Tuesday gives you an overview of regenerative energy — a transformative new standard of excellence for solar power plant design, construction, and operations that normalizes regenerative agriculture practices on solar farm sites. "If you’ve never heard about the amazing potential of regenerative agriculture and land use practices to naturally sequester a critical mass of CO2 in the soil and forests, you’re not alone. One of the best-kept secrets in the world today is that the solution to global warming and the climate crisis (as well as poverty and deteriorating public health) lies right under our feet, and at the end of our knives and forks."  - Ronnie Cummins, Regeneration International Steering Committee MemberOur guest today, Michael Baute, believes in the power of Regenerative Agriculture to help ensure solar farms care for the arable land and communities where they reside.  Solar occupies the property on which it’s built for upwards of 25 or more years, and Michael realized from his training in sustainable agriculture the possibility to utilize that land not just to avoid generating power from fossil fuels but to actually sequester CO2, thus giving the asset double duty! Now Michael, Vice President of Regenerative Energy & Carbon Removal at Nashville-based Silicon Ranch, is helping one of the country's largest independent solar power producers provide not just clean energy, but carbon negative solutions. Founded in 2011, Silicon Ranch Corporation (SRC) provides customized renewable energy, carbon, and battery storage solutions to various partners in the U.S. and Canada. Its portfolio includes more than 4 gigawatts of solar and battery storage systems contracted, under construction, or operating. We covered the amazing trajectory of SRC through the story of one co-founder, Reagan Farr, back in Episode 399 of SunCast.Silicon Ranch pioneered utility-scale solar in the Tennessee Valley and has continued as the region's market leader through 35 operating facilities. It owns and operates all projects in its portfolio and promotes a holistic approach to land management. Michael tells us how Silicon Ranch co-locates clean electricity generation and regenerative agriculture to provide further environmental, economic, and community benefits.Silicon Ranch trademarked its co-location process as Regenerative Energy™, and Michael shares how this creates added value for its customers and communities, as well as how they have decided to share their strategies and processes so more developers can adopt these practices.. Join us for a fascinating conversation.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Fellow solar warrior and podcaster, Nate Jovanelly, took over the PowerUp Media Zone studio at RE+ to lead the Industry Pulse segment, with support from Enerflo, at Noon each day during the annual conference in September. The segment highlighted the leaders, trends & opportunities in the industry in 10-minute bits of advice and insight. In this compilation episode, we have pulled together several of the interviews that we believe best capture the essence of the Industry Pulse segment so you can learn and grow as we round out the week. If you missed the show, or any of our past replays of the Live content, you can see them along with ALL of the Industry Pulse segments in their full glory (where Nate interviewed more than a dozen guests throughout the week!) at www.suncast.live where we have listed out EACH and every interview in the exact order & schedule as they appeared during the show.I know you’ll get a ton of value from the conversations today ranging from Hiring best practices (Alex/BayWa RE) and the Inflation Reduction Act (Abby/SEIA) to Entrepreneurship and Culture-building (Pat/Enerflo) and Consolidation and growth in the Residential Solar industry (Brian/Brighton). Nate curated an all-star lineup that really delivered at the show.  Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Today's conversation is a wide-ranging look at how to provide reliable power using renewables while mitigating intermittency and helping Independent Power Producers (IPPs) deal with the annoying curtailment problem through novel software and hardware solutions. Been wondering when I’d do an episode on Bitcoin mining + Renewables? Buckle up and let’s roll."Curtailment" occurs when a clean energy electric generating system is prevented from exporting to the grid or is temporarily shut down by the grid operator (usually because of a glut of electricity in the market), effectively wasting energy.Many people have talked about this issue, but few have delivered on it like John Belizaire,  CEO of Soluna.Soluna Holdings develops green data centers that convert excess renewable energy into global computing resources. Soluna builds modular, scalable data centers for computing-intensive, batchable applications such as cryptocurrency mining, AI and machine learning. John said Soluna provides a cost-effective alternative to battery storage or transmission lines by using technology and intentional design to solve complex, real-world challenges. It's addressing significant changes in the electric grid — away from power plants fired by coal, oil and gas that contribute to climate change — to more sustainable green electricity generation. But even the staunchest supporters of clean electricity acknowledge the industry is dealing with growing pains, including curtailment. John said up to 30% of renewable energy goes to waste. To address it, Soluna is building data centers that enable clean electricity asset owners to 'Sell. Every. Megawatt.' In today's podcast, John breaks down Soluna's mission and how its solutions address curtailment. Join us for insights on an increasingly critical renewables issue.Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Everyone talks about B2B marketing these days, often without a clear understanding of its meaning or importance. So today, we shine a light on business-to-business or B2B marketing to gain a better perspective on the term and, most importantly, strategies for maximizing your B2B renewable energy-focused marketing investments.Our conversation includes top renewable industry marketers Naveed Hasan, director of external affairs and marketing at Sungrow North America; Kathy Heilmann, vice president of marketing at Shoals Technologies Group; Kristan Kirsh, vice president of global marketing at Nextracker; and Tom Weirich, senior marketing manager EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA).These four industry experts share all you need to know about marketing aimed at individual companies and their decision-makers as customers. There are some similarities as well as significant differences between B2B and B2C — that is, business-to-consumer marketing — and we'll hear all about it in this engaging podcast.Today's episode is a rebroadcast from the RE+ PowerUp Media Zone, a live production of SunCast Media. And you can watch all the live broadcasts from the Media Zone at www.suncast.live!Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast? Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus