What happens when a solar technician calls themselves a “Level 2,” but no one knows what that actually means?

For years, solar O&M has lacked the structure and standardization seen in other trades. The result? Confusing job titles, wage inflation, inconsistent training, and safety risks. But that’s all about to change.

In this Tactical Tuesday episode, Nico Johnson is joined by Amanda Bybee, CEO of Amicus O&M Cooperative, and Karo Fernandez, Technical Training manager at AES Clean Energy. Together, they have helped create and rollout ANSI/SEIA 301, the first ANSI-accredited standard defining technician levels in the solar industry! They share how a diverse coalition of stakeholders—from co-ops to giants like AES—came together to define skill levels, competencies, and a real career ladder for solar techs.

Amanda breaks down the origin of the standard, why it’s necessary, and how it was shaped through broad consensus (60+ companies!). Karo brings it to life, showing how AES is rolling out hands-on, real-world training that prioritizes safety and clarity.

If your business hires solar technicians—or wants to keep them—this episode is a must-listen.

Expect to Learn:

🔹 Why lack of technician standards leads to industry-wide wage inflation

🔹 How ANSI/SEIA 301 enables clear career pathways for solar workers

🔹 The 5 learning modalities AES uses to implement tech training

🔹 The surprising data benefits of standardized technician levels

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Your solar project is one storm away from financial disaster!

That’s not just fear-mongering—it’s the reality many developers are waking up to. In this episode, Nico sits down with Jason Kaminsky, CEO of KWH Analytics, the data-driven company reshaping how solar projects are financed and insured.

You’ve probably already read this year’s Solar Risk Assessment—that’s the genius and hard–work of Jason’s team on full display, and the latest SRA dropped in Mid-June, so we’re here to cover the details for you.

We’re presently in a high-stakes reality of asset performance, from the rise of “big and floppy” modules to the silent cost of wildfire smoke and hail storms. You’ll hear how the kWh Analytics team built a robust data infrastructure from scratch (literally by asking for spreadsheets from anyone who’d listen) and turned it into risk mitigation tools Wall Street trusts.

More than just an insurance firm, KWH Analytics is building financial scaffolding for a volatile climate future—and they’re doing it with a mission to make solar stronger.

Expect to Learn:

🔹 Why 73% of solar financial losses come from just 6% of hail events

🔹 How module design changes are quietly increasing system fragility

🔹 The evolution of the Solar Revenue Put and risk-resilience insurance

🔹 How wildfire smoke and cyber threats are reshaping performance expectations

Don’t miss this deep dive into what’s next for solar risk, resilience, and reliability.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Is the “Big Beautiful Bill” about to choke the life out of solar & wind?

Can energy storage be solar’s savior?

Isn’t Solar inevitable? We don’t need no stinking subsidies, right? Right?

If you haven’t had a chance to catch up yet on all that the bill implies, keep reading (seriously at the bottom I’ve linked a ton of recommended reading!)

In this episode, policy analyst, Christian Roselund, returns to SunCast to unpack the real implications of the recently passed Megabill—a sweeping piece of legislation that redefines how the solar (and wind) industry can operate in the U.S. From shifting timelines to aggressive FEOC (foreign entity of concern) ownership rules, the bill undoes decades of positive momentum, but could hasten the inevitable - that solar + batteries will be at or below grid-parity with or without incentives.

With residential solar already faltering and manufacturers scrambling to comply with 45X and FEOC rules, this episode delivers an unfiltered look at the legislative changes that could derail billions in investment.

Christian—known for making complex policy digestible—breaks down what the new rules actually say (well, what was known at the time at least!), what’s still misunderstood, and how companies should prepare for a volatile few years ahead.

Note to Listener:

Since this conversation was recorded, the final version of the OBBB was passed with some significant updates: most notably, the 25D and 48E residential solar tax credits were retained, as was transferability (a huge collective sigh!), and the 45X manufacturing credit remains in place, though compliance with FEOC rules will continue to challenge supply chains. The ITC/PTC windows under 45Y and 48E are now expected to run at full value through the early 2030s, providing much-needed policy certainty. Below, we’re providing you with PLENTY of links to the latest reading Nico and the team have been doing wrt this huge megabill and it’s impact to the solar industry.

Recommended reading:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text -> The ACTUAL Bill text - have fun!

But if you want to save some time…

https://zenodo.org/records/15801701 - Princeton professor Jesse Jenkins and his REPEAT Project analysis team’s take

https://www.cruxclimate.com/insights/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-passes-senate - Crux Climate summary - they are also hosting a webinar on the 9th that you still have time to sign up for

Energy Changemakers’ blog is predicting more grid defection: https://energychangemakers.com/big-beautiful-bill-distributed-energy-trends/

https://www.mwe.com/insights/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-navigating-clean-energy-tax-credits-in-a-new-era/ - MWE gives one of the better legal reviews I’ve seen

As does Novogradac:

Solar projects getting canceled? Clean tech CEOs burned out doing their own PR? Amanda Foley has seen it all.

As the CEO of Kiterocket, Amanda leads one of clean energy’s most influential PR firms, helping clients go from misunderstood to market-ready. Recorded live at CleanPower 2025, this conversation dives into why even great technology companies struggle with messaging—and what to do about it.

From overcoming community opposition to engineers writing their own press releases (spoiler: don’t), Amanda and Nico explore the gaps that often hold clean energy companies back from widespread adoption. They also unpack how today’s media landscape—from YouTube creators to AI-driven news cycles—is reshaping how clean tech companies need to communicate.

Whether you’re an early-stage founder still wearing the marketing hat yourself or leading a growth-stage company ready for scale, Amanda offers real-world advice on when (and how) to invest in PR.

Expect to Learn:

🔹 The #1 mistake founders make when scaling their marketing efforts

🔹 How to craft messaging that speaks to engineers, policymakers, and consumers

🔹 The real role of press releases—and why most quotes are throwaways

🔹 Why the Fourth Industrial Revolution is a communications goldmine (if you know how to tell the story)

🔹 When founders should finally let go and hire real marketing leadership

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

The AI boom isn’t just reshaping tech—it’s redefining the energy grid.

As data center demand skyrockets, clean energy providers are scrambling to keep up with unprecedented power needs, speed requirements, and reliability expectations. In this special live panel, hosted by Jessica Fishman of Kiterocket, we hear directly from leaders at Equinix, Clayco, QTS, and MGM Transformer—key players shaping the future of power-hungry infrastructure.

From fuel cells as primary power sources to grid-forming transformers and liquid-cooled AI campuses, this conversation dives deep into what’s working, what’s failing, and what’s coming next at the intersection of data, power, and renewables.

🔍 You’ll learn:

🔹 How the AI arms race is driving data center energy innovation

🔹 Why grid constraints are forcing new collaboration models

🔹 What roles geothermal, hydrogen, and district energy loops might play

🔹 Why the energy transition may stall without workforce and regulatory breakthroughs

If you work in clean energy, utilities, or digital infrastructure, this episode offers a front-row seat to one of the most urgent—and opportunity-rich—conversations happening today.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

What would you do after taking your company public and becoming a billionaire?

If you’re Dean Solon, you start over—with even bigger ambitions.

The outspoken founder of Shoals Technologies is back with his new venture, Create Energy, and a mission to tear down the solar industry’s bloated, outdated playbook—and rebuild it from the ground up with speed, precision, and American grit.

In this unfiltered live keynote from Midwest Solar Expo, Dean reveals:

• The real story behind Shoals’ rise to a billion-dollar IPO
• Why he walked away at the peak—and what he’s building next
• His no-BS take on labor, logistics, and why the industry’s too damn slow

Expect big ideas, bold opinions, and:

🔹 Why he’s betting (again) on U.S. manufacturing

🔹 How “Hot Pocket munchers” inspired a new labor model

🔹 The “McDonald’s menu meets Amazon Prime” approach to solar

🔹 How Create Energy built Nissan’s next-gen microgrid in 9 months flat

If you like your clean energy insights with a side of irreverence and hard truth, this one’s a must-listen.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

How do you bridge the gap between fast-moving renewables and slow-moving utilities? Brian Nelson has spent the last two decades doing exactly that—from building house-sized transformers to now leading ABB’s renewables segment. At ACP 2025, he sat down with Nico to pull back the curtain on how utilities think, why they’re cautious, and what it really takes to bring innovation to the grid.

In this episode, you’ll hear why Brian believes in the future of smart substations, 2,000-volt switches, and solid-state breakers—all designed to meet utilities where they are while pushing the envelope of what’s possible.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why utilities are risk-averse—and how that impacts tech adoption

🔹 How ABB is accelerating virtual power plants and grid-scale DC systems

🔹 The surprising bottlenecks holding back renewable deployment

🔹 What "local-for-local" manufacturing means post-IRA

Whether you’re frustrated by permitting delays or excited by the future of DC microgrids, this one’s a must-listen.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Can one of the world’s biggest tech companies actually go carbon-free, not just today, but retroactively, all the way back to 1975?

In this powerhouse keynote from Intersolar 2025, Hanna Grene, leader of Microsoft’s Global Energy and Resources team, lays out a bold vision for this tech giant’s energy future. She makes one thing clear: Microsoft isn’t here to play catch-up. They’re partnering with the clean energy industry to lead. From ditching diesel in data centers to using AI to optimize dispatch and permitting, Microsoft’s commitments are already reshaping how energy is created, distributed, and consumed.

Whether you’re building the grid or optimizing your solar bids, this episode will show you how this tech stalwart is helping turn clean energy headwinds into tailwinds.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why Microsoft is one of the largest buyers of carbon-free energy on Earth

🔹 How AI is slashing permitting timelines and supercharging forecasting accuracy

🔹 A mind-blowing story of how 17GW of fossil fuels got cut with just software

🔹 How quantum + AI helped shrink 32 million storage compounds down to 18 viable candidates

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus