#156: EarthX Cleantech Woman of the Year Sandra Kwak is a serial entrepreneur and one really smart and savvy leader. Sandra founded 10 Power to provide light and hope to the people of Haiti and beyond, and today we dig deep into the details on the who, what, when where and why of the Impact she seeks to make. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here - Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can become a SunCast Tribe member and support th...
May 02, 2019•47 min•Season 4Ep. 156
#155: Prana Power VP Jose Jove discusses the market dynamics Jose Jove is VP of Distributed Energy at Prana Power, one of the fastest growing and most well-capitalized clean energy developers in Mexico. Today I take a peek behind the curtain to hear how Jose feels about the current state of the solar union in Mexico Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here - Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can become a SunCast Tribe member and sup...
Apr 26, 2019•27 min•Season 4Ep. 155
#154: Founded & sold groSolar, now focused on EV charging king Tritium. When I first started my solar company in 2006, one of the distributors I relied on was a smaller New England company called groSolar. Over 18 yrs, groSolar deployed more than 150 megawatts (MW) (2,000 installations) of solar PV systems across the US. Jeff sold the RESI piece of the business to SolarCity in 2011, and the rest to EDF in 2016. Today, we’re going to learn what Jeff’s been doing with his time since the exit. ...
Apr 18, 2019•53 min•Season 4Ep. 154
Opportunity Zones for clean energy. Opportunity Zones are all the buzz in investment circles, but few in the solar industry understand them or how they can be leveraged to finance deals. Jon Bonanno from New Energy Nexus has built an extensive repository of resources directed at helping you figure it out. We dive deep on the subject in today’s SunCast. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here - Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can ...
Apr 11, 2019•59 min•Season 4Ep. 153
Mastermind with local industry insiders in a unique 1-day intensive. Today is a mini-sode with James Ellsmoor, specifically focused on an upcoming opportunity for us to spend some time in real life together really getting into the mechanics of improving your business and market penetration. Specifically, Puerto Rico and the broader Caribbean markets. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from this episode here - Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can be...
Apr 09, 2019•13 min•Season 4Ep. 152
#151: 100% renewables in Puerto Rico by 2050. PJ Wilson is the Founder and President of the Solar + Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico (SESA). SESA successfully advocated for what some are calling PR’s New Green Deal, Senate Bill 1121 which will help Puerto Rico reach the ambitious requirement of 100% renewables by 2050. The bill is currently waiting to be signed onin law by the Governor, and will position the island as a leader in the transition from fossil fuels, banning their use by 20...
Apr 05, 2019•23 min•Season 4Ep. 151
#150: Tetris Inc. & Blue Planet Energy Founder, Henk Rogers, one of the world’s leading advocates and activists for weaning humankind from fossil fuels. Henk's efforts through Blue Planet Foundation have helped pave the way for Hawaii’s 100% renewable energy commitment by 2045. Through Blue Planet Energy, Henk has led the development of a leading energy storage system advancing safety, reliability and energy output of battery systems. Gain access to all the show notes & resources from th...
Apr 04, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 150
Welcome to Episode 149 of SunCast! Today’s Guest doesn’t consider herself an entrepreneur, but after listening in I’m sure you’ll agree most corporate leaders and startup founders alike can learn a lot from Bernadette del Chiaro. Her accolades are many, and we discuss them in the episode, but I thought it would be great to round out this Women’s History Month with someone who has made an indelible mark on the solar and energy sector through her advocacy and political organizing. - For resources ...
Mar 28, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Season 3Ep. 149
Welcome to Episode 148 of SunCast! Today’s entrepreneur has spent the better part of a decade following a very inspiring mission to provide clean electricity and energy access to the world. The medium is a company she cofounded called SimpliPhi Power, and Catherine Von Burg is an inspirational and thoughtful leader with an impressive track record. They have delivered Gigawatts of storage to the US DOD with ZERO defects in an era when battery startups fail year after year. Listen in to hear how s...
Mar 21, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 148
Welcome to Episode 147 of SunCast! If you haven't listened to yesterdays mini-episode with Jon Bonnano , please go check that out, as it’s the prologue to this interview you’re about to hear! This episode is the first up in a new series we’re calling Impact Positive. Today's guest is Ms. Katherine Ryzhaya, Chief Commercial Officer at Lightsource BP. Our aim is to shine a light on under-represented perspectives, people groups, and pathways meant to inspire you along your journey and geared to hel...
Mar 14, 2019•46 min•Season 3Ep. 147
Welcome to Episode 146 of SunCast! - For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct URL is ...episodes/146) Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can become an Energy Tribe member and support the growth and stability of SunCast moving forward! www.mysuncast.com/member to join today! If you like what you see and hear, please SHARE it with this pre-filled tw...
Mar 13, 2019•18 min•Season 3Ep. 146
Welcome to Episode 145 of SunCast! If you’ve jumped straight to this episode and haven’t yet listened to Part 1 with Tara, well I strongly encourage you to go back and check that one out first. Today is Part II, picking up where we left off to go further into her story and discuss regular topics such as Lessons Learned and Hot or Hype. - For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct...
Mar 12, 2019•45 min•Season 3Ep. 145
Welcome to Episode 144 of SunCast! Today’s entrepreneur just took a HUGE leap, literally taking her company with her. Tara Doyle and her solar lab tech nerds at PVEL sold their company, then called, PV Evolution Labs, to DNV-GL half a decade ago ( you can hear more on that here ). In January, they spun it back out as a separate business retaining the PVEL brand. - For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episod...
Mar 07, 2019•44 min•Season 3Ep. 144
Welcome to Episode 143 of SunCast! Luis Morales has been involved in growing the Latam and Caribbean solar market for nearly a decade, having run Latam for Enphase and dominating markets like Puerto Rico & Mexico. Today we hear his insights into the common mistakes he sees when entering new markets. - For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct URL is ...episodes/142) Join the...
Feb 28, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 143
Welcome to Episode 142 of SunCast! Costa Nicolaou has been at the helm of PanelClaw since it’s inception, guiding the company to a 40% market share of the flat roof solar racking market. As employee #1 he’s watched as the racking market has exploded to a healthy $1.5Billion little niche! Costa’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious, but we also dig into some hard-won lessons, like how much it cost PanelClaw to get out of the low margin ground mount racking business. - For resources from today's ...
Feb 21, 2019•52 min•Season 3Ep. 142
Welcome to Episode 141 of SunCast! Today’s exceptional entrepreneur, Rick Ivins, was introduced to me by Chris Grablutz, who happens to work for one of Rick’s companies, PV Pros. Thanks Chris! Rick has an insatiable appetite for learning, and it has manifested in his building not 1 but 3 companies in the last decade (you’ll learn why he killed one of them and how the other 2 are now thriving). I thought it appropriate that we bring him on to share about 2 things very important to the Solar indus...
Feb 14, 2019•51 min•Season 3Ep. 141
Welcome to Episode 140, Solar Warrior! Matthew Britt, CEO of Switch Energy, is a Canadian entrepreneur and startup junkie who is one of the best networkers I’ve ever met. We dive deep on how he retired at 30 from his first career and is plowing all the earnings and next decade of his life into the school of hard knocks that is revolutionizing the energy industry. You can find more great founder stories and solar startup advice in the other 139 episodes archived over at www.mysuncast.com . Thanks...
Feb 07, 2019•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 140
Welcome to Episode 139, Solar Warrior! Today’s #solarwarrior is a true pioneer in the industry, and described as “the founding father of renewable-energy legislation in New Jersey’’ by the New York Times! Thanks to John Moran for putting Mr. Lyle Rawlings on my radar. His company Advanced Solar Products has been crusading for solar in New Jersey and beyond for nearly 30 years. You can find more great founder stories and solar startup advice in the other 138 episodes archived over at www.mysuncas...
Jan 31, 2019•47 min•Season 3Ep. 139
Welcome to Episode 138, Solar Warrior! In October 2009, Mike Eman was sworn in as Prime Minister of the small island state of Aruba, a dutch territory in the Caribbean, and over the course of 8 years established a leadership position in championing renewables. Aruba became the first Caribbean island to declare a 100% renewable target, way back in 2012, long before the recent fanfare we’ve covered here on the US cities also taking up that banner. He partnered with Sir Richard Branson & Jigar ...
Jan 24, 2019•58 min•Season 3Ep. 138
Welcome to Episode 137 of SunCast! In ’02, Andrew Beebe took a much-needed sabbatical from tech after selling his startup Big Step, in order to find new direction. Ignoring advice from solar legend Dick Swanson, he scaled a solar EPC business long before being an EPC subcontractor was a popular model, and was still able to sell his solar company to then-market-leader, Suntech, going on to run Global Sales for that company. You can find Andrew's story and more great founder stories and solar star...
Jan 17, 2019•50 min•Season 3Ep. 137
Welcome to Episode 136 of SunCast! We’re kicking the new year off with an entrepreneur out of Colorado who has been instrumental in pioneering the category of solar we today call Community Solar, you may have also heard the alternate phrase "Solar Gardens". Unfamiliar w/that term? Well today you’ll learn not only what it is, but why David decided to spend the better part of his 20’s capturing a huge share of this booming segment his company coined as the 4th vertical. You may also recall that te...
Jan 10, 2019•59 min•Season 3Ep. 136
Welcome to Episode 135 of SunCast! Do you prefer New Year’s Resolutions, or Goals? At SunCast, we are resolved to continue bringing you, solar warriors, quality content that will improve your lives and businesses. In this episode, host Nico Johnson looks back at some key moments from the podcast throughout 2018. Tune in for highlights from the wide array of fascinating guests and topics covered this year, and a preview of the first two episodes that kickoff 2019! For resources from today's episo...
Jan 08, 2019•34 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Welcome to Episode 134 of SunCast! It was almost exactly a year ago that I had the honor and privilege of having the eponymous Jigar Shah on SunCast. To celebrate the anniversary of this episode, and the fact that it’s currently the most downloaded episode of the year, I’m re-publishing it so the numerous new listeners to SunCast this year get a chance to hear it. For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episod...
Dec 27, 2018•48 min•Season 3Ep. 134
Merry Christmas Solar Warriors! Since today is about giving more than receiving, I wanted to give you a gift. I don’t have another interview, rather I’d like to share with you some of my favorite podcasts of the year, and in so doing, also shout out to some of the fellow podcasters I believe are bringing incredible value to the world. Head to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/133 for the links to the podcasts mentioned. Hear the remaining 15 recommendations and join the tribe? Check out Episode...
Dec 26, 2018•11 min•Season 3Ep. 133
Welcome to Episode 132 of SunCast! Ben Damiani is the co-founder of Solar Inventions, and his research has already dramatically improved solar cell manufacturing, but there’s more to come. For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct URL is ...episodes/132) Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can become an Energy Tribe member and support the growth and...
Dec 20, 2018•58 min•Season 3Ep. 132
Welcome to Episode 131 of SunCast! Anastasios Hionis, may refer to him simply as Stas, is the founder and CEO of PV Amps. He has the rare quality of being a visionary leader AND A technical get-it-done kind of guy…and the even more rare combo of both electrical and mechanical engineering professional licenses. For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct URL is ...episodes/131) Joi...
Dec 13, 2018•53 min•Season 3Ep. 131
Welcome to Episode 130 of SunCast! This week Christian Roselund, Americas Editor at PV Magazine is back to continue our discussion on 100% renewable targets. Last week there were a flurry of targets being announced by Cities, Utilities, Co-ops, it seems many people are getting on the bandwagon, but is it feasible, and if so, what will it take? Christian is particularly passionate about this topic, and we hope you are too For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can supp...
Dec 11, 2018•27 min•Season 3Ep. 130
Welcome to Episode 129, Solar Warrior! Casey Collins has a unique perspective & insight into the Solar Industry as he works with the 5th largest energy buyer in the state of NC, Duke University. North Carolina is perennially among the largest solar states & recently announced the 2019 Renewable Energy and Net Metering Rules. For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct URL ...
Dec 06, 2018•35 min•Season 3Ep. 129
Welcome to Episode 128 of SunCast, Solar Warrior! Girard Newkirk is an entrepreneur on a mission to bring critical civic infrastructure to millions of homes in developing countries, starting with Africa. He has raised over $1.3 Million for his Crytpocurrency kWh Coin in an ICO earlier this year, and has big plans for his network of tokenized clean energy assets. For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes...
Nov 29, 2018•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 128
Welcome to Episode 127 of SunCast, Solar Warrior! Sam runs the consultancy Solar Cowboyz, and I thought it fitting to air his episode on Thanksgiving b/c he’s a person we all should be thankful for. For resources from today's episode and more information on how you can support Suncast, head over to www.mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes to the blog. (the direct URL is ...episodes/127) Join the Tribe? Check out Episode 86 , in which I explain how YOU can become an Energy Tribe member and support the ...
Nov 22, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 127
