SunCast

960: Why Good Companies Still Struggle to Get Noticed | Melissa Baldwin Aug 21, 2026 55:52 Good companies don't automatically get noticed. And doing good work isn't enough to ensure that customers, investors, journalists, communities, or increasingly AI systems understand why your company matters.Melissa Baldwin has spent more than 20 years exclusively in energy and climate communications. As Senior Vice President at Tigercomm and host of the Scaling Clean podcast, she's had a

959: The Argument for Automation: Making Solar Construction More Predictable | Cody Houser, FTC Solar Aug 18, 2026 19:06 Solar construction has always depended on experienced crews adapting to whatever the jobsite throws at them. But what happens when the industry needs to build more projects than its best crews can possibly cover?Cody Houser has spent much of his career on the other side of that problem. Before becoming Director of EPC and Constructability at FTC Solar, he spent eight years running his own

958: Australia’s Second Act: Building the Solar Service Economy | Daniel Lazarus, Industrias Aug 13, 2026 01:08:41 Australia has spent years ahead of many markets on the distributed solar adoption curve. Now it is giving the rest of us an early look at what happens when millions of those systems move from installation into decades of ownership, maintenance, repair, replacement, and eventually recycling.Daniel Lazarus, co-founder and CEO of Industrias Services Group, has built his company around that s

957: How Do You Plan a Grid You Can’t Predict? | Xcel, ComEd & Ameren Aug 11, 2026 45:10 Utilities used to plan around relatively predictable demand. That assumption is disappearing.In this opening keynote from Intersolar & Energy Storage North America Midwest, Nico Johnson sits down with 3 utility executives; Bria Shea of Xcel Energy, Andy Plenge of ComEd, and Brice Sheriff of Ameren Illinois to examine what happens when electricity demand can arrive faster than the infr

956: How Do You Prepare a Family Business for Its Next 100 Years? | Jake Pepper Aug 6, 2026 01:19:46 Pepper Construction has survived the Great Depression, World War II, multiple recessions, and a global pandemic. As the family business approaches its 100th anniversary, its next challenge is not simply surviving another disruption. It is pursuing new opportunities without losing the culture, discipline, and sense of responsibility that carried it this far.Jake Pepper is part of the fourth generat

955: Why Some Companies Last and Others Don't | Marc Lopata Aug 4, 2026 25:55 After building and selling multiple companies, Marc Lopata has learned that the decisions that shape a business are rarely the ones people celebrate. They're the small decisions, made consistently over time, that ultimately determine whether a company lasts.In this conversation, Marc shares the operating philosophy he's developed through decades of building companies, leading teams, and m

954: Can Clean Energy Build Mythic Power? | Tom Matzzie Jul 30, 2026 54:51 We know how to build power. Every day, the clean energy industry builds more of it.But there's another kind of power that's far more difficult to generate—and arguably even more important.The kind that determines whether an industry continues to grow regardless of who's in office. The kind that shapes public opinion before a project is ever proposed. The kind that makes policymakers think

953: The Hardest Part of Solar Isn't What Most People Think | Jeff Spies Jul 28, 2026 27:41 Few people have had a front-row seat to the evolution of the modern solar industry quite like Jeff Spies.Over four decades, Jeff has helped shape the industry as an engineer, educator, trainer, and founder of Planet Plan Sets, working alongside installers and EPCs to solve the technical and permitting challenges behind thousands of solar and storage projects. That perspective gives him a

952: Plug-In Solar Is About to Change Everything | Stephan Scherer Jul 23, 2026 01:12:58 Plug-in solar has the potential to change far more than how or where we install solar panels. I believe it could fundamentally change who gets to participate in the energy transition.I recently sat down with Stephan Scherer, Co-Founder and CEO of CraftStrom, who's spent nearly a decade helping pioneer the plug-in solar market—first in Europe, and now here in the United States. Stephan did

951: Most Solar Problems Start Before the Install | Greg Smith Jul 21, 2026 18:11 The most expensive mistakes on a solar project usually aren't made during the install. They're made long before anyone arrives on site.Greg Smith has spent nearly two decades helping installers avoid those mistakes. As one of the solar industry's most respected trainers and educators, and the author of a practical guide to energy storage, he's helped thousands of professionals understand

950: Dell's Big Bet on AI and the Future of Energy | with David Holmes Jul 16, 2026 51:37 David Holmes has spent decades at the intersection of energy and technology, giving him a front-row seat to one of the biggest shifts our industry has ever faced.As Global Industries CTO at Dell Technologies, he works with utilities, hyperscalers, developers, and data center operators who are all asking the same question: how do we power the rapid growth of AI?But David argues that's only

949: The Missing Step in Battery Recycling | Sheeba Dawood Jul 14, 2026 19:27 Battery recycling is about to become one of the most important pieces of the clean energy transition. But before we can build a true circular economy, there's a problem hiding in plain sight.Today's recycling process often starts by shredding batteries with different chemistries into the same stream, creating inconsistent feedstock that's harder to refine, harder to value, and harder to r

948: Why Solar’s Speed Is Winning Over Washington | Heather Reams Jul 11, 2026 21:35 Heather Reams spends her days at the intersection of clean energy and public policy, helping shape conversations with lawmakers about how the U.S. meets rapidly growing electricity demand. As President and CEO of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), she brings an insider's perspective on the political shifts redefining how Washington talks about solar—and why those shifts mat

947: The Leadership Habit Fighter Pilots Never Skip | Jason Knapp Jul 9, 2026 01:17:41 One of the most common assumptions in business is that responsibility should be earned only after years of experience.After more than two decades as a Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot and instructor, Jason Knapp came to a different conclusion: capability often follows responsibility, provided organizations are willing to invest in training, honest feedback, and continuous learning.That philosoph

946: What Nobody Tells You About Operating Battery Storage | Ty Fenton Jul 7, 2026 24:04 A single battery cell can shut down an entire storage plant.It's one of the many operational realities that make battery storage fundamentally different from solar, and one of the reasons software, analytics, and automation are becoming just as important as the batteries themselves.Ty Fenton, Director of Data Analytics at FlexGen, joins Nico Johnson to explore what really happens after a

945: We're Not Alternative Energy Anymore. It's Time to Lead. | Dan Shugar & Jigar Shah Jul 2, 2026 30:57 Last year, solar and storage accounted for more than 80% of all new power generation capacity added in the United States.So why does our industry still behave like the underdog?In this special collaboration between SunCast and Energy Empire, Nico Johnson and Jigar Shah sit down with Dan Shugar, one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in solar, to explore a question that reaches far bey

944: The Grid's Biggest Challenge Isn't More Power. It's Timing. | Sean Kelly Jun 30, 2026 25:42 For decades, the energy industry has treated its biggest challenge as building more power.Sean Kelly thinks that's the wrong question.As CEO and co-founder of Amperon, Sean spends his days helping utilities, traders, generators, and some of the world's largest electricity users anticipate what's coming next. And what he's learned is surprisingly simple: the grid's biggest challenge isn't

943: The Data Center Deal That Could Transform Energy Affordability | Molly Bauch Jun 25, 2026 23:53 Everyone agrees we need more distributed energy. The harder question is: who pays for it?That's the question Molly Bauch has been wrestling with.As North American Connected Energy Lead at Accenture, Molly helped develop a new model that connects one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand with one of the country's biggest energy challenges.The idea is surprisingly simple.Data

942: What Hundreds of Inspections Reveal About Battery Safety | Kathleen McCaffrey & Jeff Zwijack Jun 23, 2026 55:44 What determines whether a battery project performs safely over its lifetime?According to Kathleen McCaffery and Jeff Zwijack, the answer has as much to do with process, preparation, and quality assurance as it does with the battery itself.In this special live SunCast broadcast, Nico Johnson sits down with Kathleen McCaffery, retired Battalion Chief and former Global Fire Liaison for Tesla

941: Why America Can't Build Big Things Anymore | Tom Fanning Jun 19, 2026 36:26 There are 43 years of decisions compressed into this episode.And if you work in energy, utilities, infrastructure, manufacturing, or public policy, it's worth your attention.Tom Fanning spent four decades at Southern Company, including 13 years as CEO, helping guide one of the largest and most influential power companies in the United States through extraordinary change. Along the way, he

940: FTC Solar CEO Anthony Carroll on Scaling, Automation, and What's Next Jun 17, 2026 27:20 Leadership transitions reveal what companies value most.When FTC Solar recently tapped Anthony Carroll as the new CEO, they chose someone who has spent more than two decades helping build some of clean energy's most recognizable companies. From helping scale Power Electronics from a small Spanish manufacturer into a global powerhouse, to leading Powin during a period of extraordinary grow

939: Former EPA Chief Michael Regan on Clean Energy and Public Health Jun 11, 2026 27:40 What if the most compelling case for clean energy isn't climate change, economics, or energy independence?What if it's public health?Former EPA Administrator Michael Regan has spent his career connecting pollution, environmental protection, and energy policy to the everyday health of American communities. In this special collaboration between SunCast and Energy Empire, Nico Johnson and Ji

938: The Rare Earth Problem Nobody Talks About | Mark LaVerghetta Jun 9, 2026 21:21 Rare earths are having a moment. And if you work anywhere near clean energy, batteries, EVs, data centers, defense, or domestic manufacturing, this conversation should be on your radar.And, when it comes to rare earths (aka critical minerals), it seems everyone talks about mining.But according to Mark LaVerghetta, that's not where the real critical minerals challenge lies.Nico got a chanc

937: What a 4-Star General Knows About Risk That Most Leaders Don't | Gen. Robert Neller Jun 4, 2026 21:40 Risk looks different depending on where you're standing.In Episode 936 (Jason Kaminsky & 2026 The Solar Risk Assessment), we explored risk through the lens of data, operations, and asset performance.Today’s episode looks at it through the eyes of someone who spent four decades preparing organizations for uncertainty, disruption, and worst-case scenarios.General Robert Neller served as

936: Which Solar Risks Actually Matter? | Jason Kaminsky, kWh Analytics Jun 2, 2026 37:41 Solar projects are increasingly being financed and operated as long-life infrastructure assets. That means the industry can no longer rely on assumptions about risk—we need evidence.In this episode, Jason Kaminsky, CEO of kWh Analytics, walks us through what the latest Solar Risk Assessment reveals, and answers a deceptively simple question: Which solar risks actually matter?Drawing on do

935: How (and Why) Clean Energy Wins In Red States | Monika Gerhart May 28, 2026 54:55 A solar moratorium nearly shut down Alabama’s emerging solar market before most of the industry even saw it coming.For years, the prevailing assumption has been that clean energy growth would be concentrated in politically progressive states while places like Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi lagged behind.But that’s not what Monika Gerhart is seeing (and doing!) on the ground.As Execut

934: What Makes Companies Investable Now | David Kirkpatrick May 26, 2026 20:34 Climatetech is entering a different phase.The era of easy capital, oversized narratives, and growth-at-all-costs expectations is giving way to something more demanding: disciplined execution, durable business models, strong commercialization pathways, and teams that can scale proven solutions in real markets.In this live conversation, Nico Johnson sits down with longtime investor David Ki

933: Why Facts Don’t Sell Clean Energy | Jessica Fishman May 21, 2026 01:00:30 Clean energy has made tremendous progress on technology.Solar is cheaper. Batteries are scaling. Virtual power plants are becoming real grid assets. Electrification is accelerating.But many people still do not understand why these technologies matter to them personally — or whether they are actually worth the cost.So what’s missing?In this conversation, Nico sits down with Jessica Fishman

932: The Battery Storage Mistakes Installers Must Avoid | Sam Buffington May 19, 2026 21:13 Battery storage is becoming one of the most complicated sales conversations in residential solar.Installers are now navigating different sizing requirements, shifting homeowner expectations, changing utility rate structures, evolving battery chemistries, and a flood of new products entering the market at wildly different price points.And underneath all of it is a harder question:Who can y

931: Inside New York's $150B Energy Bet — And It's Bigger Than Data Centers | Doreen Harris May 15, 2026 23:01 Electricity demand is rising fast. But New York is asking a different question than most states:What kind of demand is actually worth building for?In this live conversation from IESNA 2026, Nico sits down with Doreen Harris, President of NYSERDA, to explore how one of the largest economies in the country is preparing for 20–25% electricity load growth over the next 15 years. From AI infra

930: Why AI Data Centers Demand a Responsive Grid | Jon Parrella & Anna Siefken May 12, 2026 29:04 AI data centers are changing more than electricity demand. They are changing how the grid itself has to operate.Legacy data centers behaved with relatively flat, predictable load profiles. But giga-scale AI campuses introduce rapid swings in demand that can stress substations, destabilize generation assets, and expose the limits of infrastructure designed for a very different era.In today

929: How Kraken Is Turning Grid Chaos Into Coordination | Devrim Celal May 7, 2026 01:09:58 The grid is getting more crowded.EVs. Heat pumps. Batteries. Rooftop solar. Flexible demand.What used to be a system built around a few thousand centralized assets is rapidly becoming a network of millions of connected devices interacting with the grid in real time.That changes everything.In this episode, Nico sits down with Devrim Celal, Chief Flexibility Officer at Kraken, to unpack why

928: Why U.S. Solar Costs 2–3x More Than Australia | Barry Cinnamon May 5, 2026 28:42 Australia is installing solar and batteries for about $2 a watt.In the U.S., it’s closer to $5.50.So why do we still have this huge gap?Barry Cinnamon went to Australia to find out. What he discovered challenges one of the industry’s favorite explanations. Even if you remove permitting delays and other “soft costs,” the U.S. still doesn’t come close.Today’s Tactical Tuesday breaks down th

927: Everyone Built Modules. He Built Cells. | Alex Zhu, ES Foundry Apr 30, 2026 01:04:46 Rebuilding solar manufacturing in the U.S. is not just about capital or policy. It is about making the right bets at the right time.It comes down to timing, experience, and the critical decisions.Alex Zhu has spent nearly two decades inside the global solar manufacturing system—from the early rise of Chinese production to failed U.S. factory attempts, and now to building one of the few so

926: Are Data Centers Bypassing the Grid? | Michael Thomas, Cleanview Apr 28, 2026 23:23 Are data centers starting to bypass the grid?A growing share of planned projects are pairing with behind-the-meter generation, and the shift has happened quickly. At the same time, there’s still real debate about how much of this will actually materialize.Michael Thomas, founder of Cleanview, tracks what moves through interconnection queues, permitting timelines, and development pipelines

925: Ahmad Chatila & Jigar Shah on Solar’s Capital Problem Apr 23, 2026 25:46 Most people [who have been in the industry awhile] have opinions about SunEdison.This is one of the first times Ahmad Chatila and Jigar Shah have sat down together to compare notes on how it actually played out.Both were inside it.Both made the bets.Both saw things others didn’t.In this conversation, the two leaders who helped build one of solar’s most ambitious companies sit down to exam

924: From Parts to Platform: Building Solar Without Friction | Create Energy Apr 21, 2026 26:05 Dean Solon has always been a pattern matcher.Across projects, conversations, and time in the field, he’s constantly picking up on what’s changing — where pressure is building, where systems start to strain, and where the next opportunity is taking shape.But seeing the pattern is only half the story.Joseph Fahrney is the one who has to turn those signals into real products, real partnershi

923: Plug-In Solar Is Moving Fast… But Who Sets the Rules? | Electrical Code Experts Weigh In - with Rebekah Hren & Patrick Barney Apr 18, 2026 28:49 You can now plug solar panels into a wall outlet in some states.No permits. No installer or electrician even required?Just… plug it in.So who’s responsible when that system starts sending power back into your home, or the grid?Plug-in solar is moving faster than the standards designed to govern it. And right now, the rules are still being written.In this conversation, Nico Johnson sits do

922: From One Engineer to 1 in 6 Utility-Scale Projects | Tyler Nelson, Revamp Apr 16, 2026 01:23:28 What does it actually take to earn trust at the highest levels of utility-scale solar?Tyler Nelson has a perspective few in the industry can claim. As founder of Revamp Engineering, his team has been embedded in the design and execution of a massive share of utility-scale solar and storage projects across the U.S. — working alongside the developers and EPCs shaping the grid in real time.B

921: Data Won’t Move Lawmakers—Stories Will | John Szoka & Jigar Shah Apr 14, 2026 27:20 Most energy professionals believe the data will win.John Szoka did too.After a career in the military and time in the North Carolina legislature, Szoka followed the facts and became a clean energy advocate. But what he learned next is what matters.Data might change your mind.It doesn’t change most people’s.In this special conversation, **Jigar Shah and I co-host a discussion with Szoka on

920: Say Less. Close More. | Fixing Solar Messaging with Spenser Meeks Apr 11, 2026 26:36 If it takes more than one meeting to explain what you do, you have a messaging problem.In this live conversation from Intersolar North America, Nico Johnson sits down with Spenser Meeks of Apex Presentations to unpack why so many clean energy teams struggle to clearly communicate their value—and how that confusion shows up as longer sales cycles, more meetings, and missed opportunities.Sp

919: Why Smart Developers Are Betting on Batteries | Emilie Flanagan Apr 9, 2026 01:09:48 Nico had the chance to sit down in person with today’s guest — and as you’d expect, that face-to-face conversation brings a level of depth, candor, and nuance you don’t always get.Emilie Flanagan, Founder and CEO of Carson Power, has built her career across Southeast Asia, Europe, and the U.S. — from advising on energy markets at KPMG to working inside a European family office, and eventu

918: Is Storage The Catalyst That Finally Unlocks C&I Solar? 4 Expert Opinions Apr 7, 2026 22:35 Every year, the industry says the same thing.“C&I solar is about to take off!”And yet, it never quite scales the way we expect.Could this year finally be the year?In this live panel from Intersolar, Nico Johnson sits down with Joe Ross (CPS America), Rob Smith (ABC Supply), Tim Montague (Clean Power Consulting), and Jim Wood (SEG Solar) to unpack what’s really happening in the commerc

917: What Happens When Your Market Disappears? (The Story of Small Wind) | Michael Bergey Apr 2, 2026 46:58 What do you do when your entire market disappears?That’s not a thought experiment for Michael Bergey. It’s the story of his career.Long before solar dominated rooftops, distributed wind was solving real problems across rural America — lowering energy costs for customers who didn’t care about climate narratives, only outcomes. Then policy support vanished. Oil prices collapsed. And later,

916: Where Solar Contractors Are Losing (and Finding) Margin | ABC Supply Mar 31, 2026 40:39 The residential solar playbook did not just change. It got torn up.If you are still operating like yesterday’s incentives, product assumptions, and sales motions will carry you forward, this episode is a reality Margins aren’t disappearing overnight. They’re leaking — in places most contractors don’t even notice.In this live conversation from IESNA 2026, Nico Johnson sits down with Rob Sm

915: 100-Hour Batteries, State of Flow, and the Future of Grid Resilience Mar 28, 2026 27:46 Long duration energy storage has spent years sitting in the “we’ll need it someday” category. Not anymore. As grid strain grows, data center demand surges, and reliability becomes a boardroom issue, long duration storage is starting to move from interesting concept to urgent solution.Recorded live at Intersolar and Energy Storage North America, this panel brings together Anna Siefken of t

914: The Real Reason Farmers Are Turning to Solar | Rebekah Pierce Mar 26, 2026 01:00:48 Most conversations about agrivoltaics stay at the surface.Rebekah Pierce didn’t set out to become a voice for solar. She was trying to solve a much simpler problem:How do you make a small farm financially viable… without giving it up?What followed was a shift — from seeing solar as a “necessary evil” to recognizing it as a tool that might fundamentally reshape how farms survive.In this co

913: The Real Toll AI Data Centers Are Taking on the Grid (and how to fix it) | with Jon Parrella Mar 24, 2026 01:10:40 AI isn’t just increasing demand for electricity - it’s changing how power behaves.In this Tactical Tuesday, Nico Johnson sits down with Jon Parrella of Terraflow Energy to break down a problem few people are talking about: modern AI data centers don’t draw power like traditional loads. They ramp rapidly, swing unpredictably, and introduce volatility that existing infrastructure wasn’t des

912: How Energy Narratives Shape Capital -A Former WSJ Reporter’s Perspective | Russell Gold Mar 21, 2026 27:23 Russell Gold has spent years explaining the energy transition from the outside. First as one of The Wall Street Journal’s leading energy reporters, and now from inside one of clean energy’s fastest-growing new entrants, T1 Energy.At The Wall Street Journal, his award-winning work covered the fracking boom, Deepwater Horizon, and the investigation into the Camp Fire in California. He also

911: Why Most C&I Solar Projects Don’t Succeed (It’s Not the Solar) | Aaron Wilson, Solar One Mar 19, 2026 01:25:02 Most C&I solar projects don’t fall short because of the solar itself.They struggle because deals aren’t structured correctly, markets are misunderstood, or developers take on opportunities that were never a fit to begin with.In this episode of SunCast, Nico Johnson sits down with Aaron Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Solar One, to unpack what actually separates projects that get built a

910: Clean Energy Is Winning on Cost — So Why Is It Losing the Narrative? | Sammy Roth Mar 17, 2026 24:34 Clean energy is winning on cost.Solar and storage are cheaper than ever. Deployment is accelerating. The economics are undeniable.So why does it still feel like the industry is losing the broader public narrative?In this live conversation, Nico Johnson sits down with journalist Sammy Roth to explore the gap between technical success and cultural influence. After more than a decade coverin

909: The Energy Signals the Industry Is Missing | with Darrell Proctor, Julian Spector & Sammy Roth Mar 14, 2026 29:09 If you want to understand where the energy industry is heading, pay attention to the journalists tracking it every day.Thankfully, we get to sit down with three of the most plugged-in reporters covering the energy transition: Sammy Roth of Climate-Colored Goggles (formerly w/ LA Times), Julian Spector of Canary Media, and Darrell Proctor of POWER Magazine.What signals are shaping the mark

908: How Real Energy Investors Think About Risk, Capital, and Scale | with Brendan Bell, Aligned Climate Capital Mar 12, 2026 01:16:22 What does serious capital actually look for in the energy transition?In this episode, Nico sits down with Brendan Bell, Co-Founder of Aligned Climate Capital and a former member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, to discuss how experienced investors evaluate energy companies, infrastructure projects, and management teams.Brendan shares a practical look at:• why raisi

907: Amy Harder on the New Rules of Power Mar 10, 2026 29:41 From Davos to data centers, Axios reporter explains the new rules of power.Amy Harder is one of the most widely read and respected reporters covering the intersection of energy, climate, and policy. As the national energy correspondent for Axios and author of the Harder Line newsletter, she helps industry leaders understand what’s actually happening inside the energy system.In this conver

906: Solar Revolution: Abby Hopper's Transformative Decade at SEIA Mar 5, 2026 01:42:45 For nearly a decade, Abby Hopper served as President and CEO of SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association, representing the U.S. solar industry through one of its most transformative periods.From trade wars and policy battles to the rise of domestic manufacturing and record industry growth, Abby had a front-row seat as solar moved from the margins of the energy system to the center of

905: SEIA’s Next Chapter | Darren Van’t Hof on Solar, Storage and Focus for 2026 Mar 3, 2026 19:13 Every year, there is a new “crisis” in solar.And yet… the industry keeps growing.With leadership transition underway at the Solar Energy Industries Association, Darren Van’t Hof steps in as Interim President and CEO at a pivotal moment. Policy uncertainty. Permitting bottlenecks. Election year noise. And a projected $25 billion flowing into storage in 2026 alone.So where do we really stan

904: How the Biggest EPCs Keep Energy Projects on Track | Brandon Moss, Shoals Feb 26, 2026 01:00:12 Most energy projects look solid on paper. Fewer stay on track in the field.Brandon Moss sees the difference every day.Energy demand is rising. Load growth is real. Timelines are tightening.So what actually keeps large energy projects on track?In this conversation, Brandon Moss, CEO of Shoals, shares what he sees from the center of utility-scale deployment. Shoals touches a significant por

903: T.J. Rodgers’ 13-Minute Management Masterclass Feb 24, 2026 18:55 Listen to the full 2.5 hour episode here: https://suncast.media/episodes/900Most companies don’t fail because of strategy.They fail because standards slip.In this 13-minute vignette, T.J. Rodgers breaks down the management system he’s used across more than 25 acquisitions to build and scale billion-dollar companies — and why discipline, not charisma, determines whether a business survives

902: Why Most Grid-Scale Batteries (BESS) Underperform - And How to Fix It Before It Costs Millions Feb 21, 2026 01:00:59 Battery storage is scaling fast.But scaling portfolios exposes weaknesses most owners never see coming.As projects move from single sites to gigawatt-hour fleets, many IPPs discover something uncomfortable: they have dashboards - but not decision-grade visibility.In this Episode, Lennart Hinrichs, EVP and General Manager of the Americas at TWAICE, explains what actually changes once batte

901: Google Didn’t Buy Intersect for Solar. Here’s Why. | Sheldon Kimber Feb 17, 2026 14:06 “This is not an offensive play. It’s a defensive play. It’s a must win.”That’s how Sheldon Kimber describes AI for companies like Google.If your business depends on organizing and serving information, AI isn’t optional. It’s existential.And if AI is existential, power becomes strategic.In this conversation — recorded before Google’s acquisition of Intersect Power — Sheldon lays out the du

900: T.J. Rodgers’ Billion-Dollar Playbook | Building Companies That Last Feb 12, 2026 02:32:08 T.J. Rodgers has built — and rebuilt — billion-dollar companies across semiconductors, energy, storage, and manufacturing.In this 2.5-hour Episode 900 deep dive, he walks through the operating principles behind that track record — in detail.This isn’t a surface-level conversation. It’s a masterclass in how durable companies are actually constructed.We unpack:🔹 The mental models he uses to

899: Everything You Need to Know Before Intersolar 2026 Feb 10, 2026 36:10 Conference season is back, and if you are heading to Intersolar and Energy Storage North America 2026, this episode is your unfair advantage.Nico Johnson sits down with the people who know the show better than anyone. Event Director Beckie Kier, Solar Games mastermind Shannon Twombly, and Conference Chair Gene Hunt. Together, they break down how to get the most value from your time in San

898: What Comes After the Acquisition | Andy Klump Feb 5, 2026 01:19:48 Modern founders spend years building toward a hopeful exit or liquidity event. Almost no one talks about what comes after the acquisition.In this episode, Nico Johnson sits down with Andy Klump, founder of Clean Energy Associates (CEA), for a thoughtful conversation about leadership after transition. After fifteen years growing CEA and completing a multi-year earn-out, Andy is in a rare s

897: The Bamboo Strategy: Building Flexible, Scalable Teams in Clean Energy | Adam James, Energy Innovation Partners Feb 3, 2026 19:52 Want to grow a billion-dollar business? You need better systems, not just better ideas.Adam James has had a front-row view as Energy Impact Partners has scaled from a $500M fund into a multi-billion-dollar force as a clean energy VC. But, as he shares, the secret to success isn’t capital or flashy pitch decks. It’s an obsession with infrastructure, team building, and doing the messy work

896: The Solar Industry’s Unfinished Business | with Suvi Sharma, SolarCycle Jan 30, 2026 01:03:57 The solar industry scaled faster than almost anyone expected. But in the rush to deploy, one part of the system never fully got built.In this episode, Nico Johnson sits down with Suvi Sharma, founder of Solaria and now co-founder and CEO of SolarCycle, to talk about what happens after solar works. Suvi explains why end-of-life planning, repowering, and material recovery are no longer edge

895: What Elite Climbing Taught Alex Honnold About Focus, Fear, and Legacy Jan 28, 2026 16:08 What goes through Alex Honnold’s mind when he’s thousands of feet off the ground without a rope?After his first-ever Taipei 101 Live Broadcast ascent of one of the world’s tallest buildings, we thought it’d be useful to revisit what we learned from Alex about mental fortitude and his singular admonition to “do the thing”. Curious how Alex channels discomfort into growth? This episode expl

894: Why Clean Energy Should Be Easy to Finance - But Isn’t | with Alfred Johnson, CEO of Crux Jan 23, 2026 01:02:34 Clean energy should be easy to finance.The money exists.The technology works.The demand is real.And yet, projects stall. Deals drag. Capital gets stuck.And with the IRA crumbling under our feet, everyone is right to ask “how will these projects actually get funded?!”So what’s actually broken?In this episode of SunCast, I sit down with Alfred Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Crux, to unpack

893: Data Centers Aren’t the Problem: Grid Fitness Explained by Tyler Norris & Nelson Abramson Jan 21, 2026 29:08 Data centers aren’t the problem.They’re the stress test.As AI-driven demand surges, the grid is being pushed in ways it was never designed for. But instead of asking how to slow data centers down, today’s conversation asks a better question: Is the grid fit enough to handle what’s coming next?In this Tactical Tuesday episode, recorded live with the Smart Electric Power Alliance, we explor

892: Is Octopus Energy a Utility or a Tech Company? Nick Chaset Has the Answer Jan 15, 2026 25:00 What does a modern energy company actually look like?In this episode, Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, joins Nico Johnson to explore a question that sits at the center of Octopus’s strategy:Is it a utility with great technology—or a technology company operating inside energy?Nick’s career spans California energy policy, years running East Bay Community Energy, and now scaling Octopu

891: How Silicon Carbide is Revolutionizing Renewable Energy | with Infineon Technologies’ Daniel Dalpiaz and Navid Riaz Jan 13, 2026 17:04 Big things come in small packages. Could something smaller than a deck of cards be instrumental in our ability to meet the needs of the energy transition?In the ever-evolving landscape of power electronics, one material has been steadily gaining prominence due to its exceptional properties and transformative potential: Silicon Carbide (SiC). This remarkable semiconductor has revolutionize

890: NVIDIA and the Grid: How AI Is Shaping Clean Energy | Marc Spieler Jan 8, 2026 53:26 The power grid isn’t just growing (at unprecedented rates!)It’s becoming more complex, more distributed, and harder to manage.In this episode, Marc Spieler, who leads NVIDIA’s global Energy business, explains how AI and accelerated computing already support grid operations, solar and storage forecasting, and infrastructure planning across the energy sector.Nico and Marc explore why electr

889: Why Co-ops and Public Utilities Are Winning the Load Growth Race Jan 6, 2026 29:31 The energy grid is facing a challenge unlike anything we’ve seen before.Think about this: one Virginia co-op has over 20 GW of demand in its queue. That’s more than the energy demand of New York City. As electrification and data center expansion accelerate, public power and electric co-ops are on the front lines of solving this surge.Electric cooperatives and public utilities are facing a

888: 2025 Highlights w/Alex Honnold, Jigar Shah, & Dean Solon Jan 1, 2026 35:02 2025 was a year of hardship for many, yet it was also a crucible for entrepreneurs, developing grit, resilience and perspective. We were able to capture some phenomenal conversations on the SunCast Podcast, and wanted to highlight a few that stand out for their vision and which also got among the most downloads of the year. In 2025, the clean energy industry was finally thinking like Amaz

887: The Four Rules of Storytelling | with Aaron Nichols Dec 30, 2025 58:22 What do a struggling mom in Georgia and a solar installer named Jim have in common? Their stories can change elections and shape public perception of clean energy.In this final episode of 2025, Aaron Nichols returns to SunCast with a mission: rescue storytelling from corporate cliché and remind us why one emotional story is worth a thousand graphs. His viral LinkedIn article Four Rules fo

886: A Very SunCast Christmas: Our Top Moments, Trends & Hopes for 2026 Dec 24, 2025 43:11 🎄 Pull up a chair and pour some eggnog. It’s time for the first-ever SunCast Christmas episode.This special holiday edition brings together the full SunCast leadership crew—Nico Johnson, Jeremy Pingul, and (drumroll, please) new team member Josh Beck—for a reflective and lively roundtable you won’t want to miss.What made 2025 so memorable? From Alex Honnold’s surprising passion for solar,

885: Houston’s $95 Billion Energy Bet: Jane Stricker on the New Clean Energy Capital Dec 22, 2025 23:30 Can the city known for oil & gas become the center of clean energy?In this powerhouse episode, we meet Jane Stricker, SVP of Energy Transition at the Greater Houston Partnership and Executive Director of HETI (Houston Energy Transition Initiative). Jane shares a front-row view of Houston’s bold strategy to stay the energy capital of the world – not just in oil, but in all forms of ene

884: Clean Energy's Next Chapter: Automation, Grid Innovation, and Resilient Design Dec 20, 2025 26:14 Solar is finally getting smarter. And faster - thanks to…robots?Recorded live at RE+ 2025, this episode takes you behind the scenes of solar’s most advanced innovations — from automation in engineering to AI-driven O&M and digital twins. Hosts Amy Norstedt and Josh Beck sit down with some of the Industry’s most forward-thinking executives to talk real-time transformation across the pr

883: Half of the Existing Solar Arrays Might Fail by 2030? Cesar Barbosa Thinks So Dec 18, 2025 01:01:42 Most people in solar avoid the uncomfortable conversation: what happens when systems age, warranties expire, components fail, and the original installer is long gone.Cesar Barbosa — founder of NuLife Power Services — has built a business around the part of the industry nobody wants to talk about: decommissioning, system remediation, and repowering. In this episode, Cesar breaks down why a

882: Semiconductors, Solar, and the ‘Beautiful Bill’ That’s Reshaping Energy Dec 16, 2025 26:21 The rules of the game have changed. Have you figured out the OB3 playbook?From massive tax credit shifts to permitting bottlenecks and foreign entity restrictions, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” has reshaped the future of clean energy in America. At this year’s RE+ 2025, top minds from GoodLeap, Infineon, SEIA, and Wood Mackenzie broke down what OB3 really implicates across solar,

881: AI Pressure Is Breaking the Grid - Doug Banty on What Happens Next Dec 11, 2025 15:37 AI is pushing the grid to its limits — and transformers are now the critical path for both data centers and renewable projects.Today’s guest, Doug Banty, EVP at Forgent (and former CEO of MGM Transformers), sits at the intersection of these two worlds. Half of his week at RE+ was spent across the strip at the Yotta data center conference, where the only topic on everyone’s mind was power.

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