Watt It Takes

Our monthly podcast tells the stories of founders who are building our clean energy abundant future—their upbringings, their risks, their failures, and their breakthroughs that are transforming our world. Subscribe on Spotify or Apple to stay up to date with the latest episodes.

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Episodes

Generate Capital Co-Founder Jigar Shah

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Jigar Shah, the co-founder of Generate Capital. Jigar is one of the most well-known entrepreneurs and investors in the world of climate tech. He helped pioneer a financial model that allowed solar to scale massively in the US. He’s been responsible for financing billions of dollars in clean energy projects. Today, he runs the loan programs office at the Department of Energy — directing the power of the government to finance zero-carbon energy. This conv...

Mar 26, 2018•52 min•Ep. 7

Sungage Financial Co-Founder Sara Ross

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Sara Ross, the co-founder of Sungage Financial. Sungage is a company that makes it easy for homeowners to finance solar or energy efficiency projects. In 2009, Sara turned her Massachusetts farmhouse into a net-zero home -- but it was expensive and difficult. She became obsessed with improving the process. This conversation was recorded in 2018 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. Powerhouse partners with leading corp...

Mar 02, 2018•56 min•Ep. 6

DBL Partners Founder Nancy Pfund

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Nancy Pfund, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners. Nancy is one of the most recognizable VCs in the clean energy space. DBL made early investments in companies like Tesla, PowerLight, and Nextracker. Nancy has been featured by Forbes and Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business. This conversation was recorded in 2018 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. Powerhouse partners with leading corpo...

Feb 09, 2018•53 min•Ep. 5

Greentech Media Co-Founder Scott Clavenna

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Scott Clavenna, the co-founder of Greentech Media. Launched in 2007, Greentech Media quickly became the premiere brand in cleantech journalism and research. The company took a forward-thinking and sometimes-edgy approach to covering the emerging world of cleantech and climatetech. This conversation was recorded in 2017 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. Powerhouse partners with leading corporations and investors to ...

Jan 02, 2018•53 min•Ep. 4

Nextracker Founder Dan Shugar

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Dan Shugar, the founder and CEO of Nextracker. Dan lives, breaths and bleeds solar. Some call him the "King Midas" of solar, because he's turned so many ventures into gold. He’s been responsible for some of the biggest and most consequential solar projects and companies ever built. This conversation was recorded in 2017 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. Powerhouse partners with leading corporations and investors to...

Nov 22, 2017•58 min•Ep. 3

Sungevity Co-Founder Andrew Birch

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Andrew Birch, the co-founder of Sungevity. Sungevity was an early success story in residential solar. But after 10 years in business, it went bankrupt in 2017. In this interview, recorded five months after the company’s collapse, Birchy joined us on stage to talk about what happened. His story tells us a lot about the turbulence that defines the solar industry. This conversation was recorded in 2017 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarte...

Nov 07, 2017•53 min•Ep. 2

SunPower Founder Dick Swanson

In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Dick Swanson, the founder of SunPower, one of the most successful solar companies of all time. Dick is a solar legend, who has been working to make solar cheaper and better since the 1970s. This conversation was recorded in 2017 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarters in Oakland, CA. Powerhouse partners with leading corporations and investors to help them lead the next century of clean technology innovation. Our fund, Powerhouse Venture...

Oct 09, 2017•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 1

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