Suncast

Straight from Day 3 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up wraps up an incredible week of insights from the clean energy leaders driving the industry forward.Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, and Sylvia Leyva Martinez close out the final day with bold takeaways, surprising perspectives, and a few laughs. From the future of tribal energy to the flow of investment capital and the race to build a domestic supply chain, this finale captures the urgency and optimism powering clean tech.Brendan Bell – Aligned Climate Capital • Why clean tech keeps winning despite policy headwinds • The global lesson: thriving without tax credits • Where investor money is flowing in today’s marketChéri Smith – Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy • Pathways to Trust program • Bringing renewable energy and equity to Native American tribesSeira Kamei – Furukawa Electric Co • Winner of the 2025 Swag ContestDean Solon – Create Energy (formerly Shoals) • Manufacturing inverters in America today • What it

Straight from Day 2 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up continues our mission to bring you insights from the leaders shaping the clean energy transition.Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, and Sylvia Martinez welcome industry voices who share fresh perspectives on the policies, technologies, and strategies pushing renewable energy forward. From SEIA’s advocacy work to storage breakthroughs and how homes can become part of the grid, this episode captures the fast-moving conversation in Las Vegas.Stephanie Bosh – SEIA • How clean energy leaders can shift the political balance of powerDaniel Dus – Cleantech Industry Resources • Development-as-a-Service for solar + storage • Solar Fight Night — the wildest debate in renewablesMolly Bales – Wood • Long-duration storage’s rise beyond lithium-ion • How Trump-era policies reshaped the supply chainLaura Cornish – Uplight • What it takes to turn every home into a mini power plantMelissa Baldwin – Tigercomm • The mistakes developer

Straight from Day 1 at RE+ 2025, this replay of the PowerUp Live Morning Show and Daily Round Up brings you a fast-moving mix of leaders shaping the clean energy transition—from domestic steel to EVs, hydrogen, DG, big-grid storage, and much more.Nico Johnson, Lisa Ann Pinkerton and Sylvia Martinez welcome leaders, influencers and clean tech podcasters onto the stage. Here is who you can expect to hear from in this episode, straight from Day 1 at RE+ 2025:Jigar Shah - MultiplierEthan Ehlers - NextWave Energy MonitoringChanel Parson - Southern California EdisonGary Kessinger - Attala SteelDaily Round UpBen Kuisle - Burns & McDonnellKevin Lin - TeraHiveDerek Mast - Derek the solarboiNick Sangermano - GP Power PartnersRyan Harty - HondaFor more conversations like this, be sure to come visit us at the PowerUp Live Stage this week at RE+ in Las Vegas!Get your Solar Fight Night tickets before they're gone: https://tinyurl.com/522wf8v3Also check out Renewables UnWind Las Vegas: https://tinyurl.com/2ea2c6k3And do

“Storage Was Never Just an Add-On”What if we’ve been thinking too small about batteries?In this rebroadcast from RE+, Kiran Kumaraswamy, former VP of Growth at Fluence, makes a bold case for reimagining energy storage—not just as a renewable add-on, but as a foundational tool for grid transformation. Kiran breaks down how the energy storage sector evolved from supporting solar to replacing gas peakers, enhancing transmission, and becoming central to resiliency planning.  Long before the IRA supercharged the market, he was urging utilities and regulators to rethink what batteries could do—and now, we’re seeing those ideas implemented at scale.From the Inflation Reduction Act’s massive market tailwinds to the rise of virtual transmission, this conversation is loaded with strategy, foresight, and tactical insight for storage developers, grid planners, and policy leaders alike.Expect to learn:

Heading to Las Vegas for RE+ 2025? This episode is your ultimate field guide.We’ve got the inside scoop from SunCast host Nico Johnson and some of the industry leaders shaping this year’s event—from Abby Hopper’s optimistic industry outlook to Jigar Shah’s no-nonsense advice for finding your tribe in the midst of uncertainty. You’ll also hear from RE+ content architect Kathy Schott, social media guide Derek Mast, sales pro Ethan Ehlers, and Daily Morning Show co-host Lisa Ann Pinkerton as they break down how to navigate the largest clean energy show in North America.This episode will help you make the most of your time on—and off—the show floor whether a first-time visitor or a returning veteran.Expect to Learn:

"You're not in the solar industry anymore."That bold declaration from Jigar Shah at RE+ 2023 sparked debate, shifted mindsets—and now, two years later, is being realized.Nico Johnson recently revisited the discussion with Jigar for a current-day check-in before diving into the full, original conversation that started it all. As the then-Director of the DOE Loan Programs Office, Jigar laid out a compelling case: the future for solar installers is not solar at all. It’s storage, VPPs, and full-blown grid integration.If you think you’re just in solar, you’re falling behind. This episode lays out why storage, grid services, and demand response are becoming the real business of clean energy—and what you need to do now to stay relevant. Jigar explains why the business model is evolving faster than most realize—and how those who embrace the shifts afoot stand to win big.Expect to learn:

Is the U.S. solar manufacturing boom standing on a hollow foundation?In this live episode from PV ModuleTech USA, Nico sits down with solar industry veteran Arndt E. Lutz, a global exec who’s seen it all—from Germany’s early solar rise to hydrogen innovation and now leading EliTe Solar’s manufacturing efforts.Despite America’s massive build-out of module assembly plants, there's a gaping hole in the supply chain: solar cell manufacturing. Arndt lays out the challenge with clarity—and urgency. It's not just about economics. It’s water, power, permitting, and a chemical process no one’s quite ready for.If we’'re serious about reshoring manufacturing, this is critical path.Expect to learn:

Heat pumps are the EVs of HVAC—so why aren’t we all using them?Stephen Lake, a highly successful engineer turned climate-tech entrepreneur, is here to explain why heating and cooling is the most overlooked piece of the decarbonization puzzle.After selling his last company to Google, Stephen founded Jetson to tackle one of the biggest—and slowest-moving—sectors of home energy: HVAC. From cold-weather performance to noise, he busts the myths about heat pumps and outlines why they haven’t hit mass adoption in North America.Spoiler: it’s not the tech. It’s everything else—price, friction, contractors, complexity.Expect a crash course in sector disruption, including Jetson’s decision to build everything in-house and cut install costs by half through full-stack operations. If Tesla built HVAC, it’d look like this.

A new wave of power demand is here. Is the grid ready? And can States keep up?Doug Scott, now in his second term as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, joins Nico to share how Illinois is navigating the accelerating pace of the energy transition. From integrating energy storage to regulating gigawatt-scale data centers, the ICC isn’t moving at glacial speed anymore—it’s sprinting.Does Illinois provide a glimpse into the agency that individual States have in managing their way through this energy transition? Doug reveals the behind-the-scenes challenges of regulating clean energy deployment while keeping costs in check and reliability rock-solid. In this conversation, we unpack how Illinois plans to balance electrification, equity, and economic growth—all while trying to avoid ratepayer whiplash.  Plus, we dig into the legislation that almost passed and what’s still on the table for 2025. Expect to learn:

So what’s the secret to building influence in a Trillion-dollar industry?Perhaps it’s “start when it’s only a Billion-dollar industry!” But in today’s episode a few more “secrets” are discussed. In this rare role-reversal, Nico Johnson—the voice behind SunCast—is interviewed by solar industry legend (and fellow podcaster), Barry Cinnamon. It’s a full-circle moment packed with lessons on storytelling, scaling influence, and building a media brand that moves the clean energy industry forward.Nico shares how podcasting became his outlet for deeper industry insight—and how a single conversation with a GreenTech Media analyst changed his life. He reveals how he turned curiosity and connection into a flywheel for audience growth, impact, and eventually revenue.If you’ve ever wondered how to build influence, tell better stories, or scale a niche media company in a fast-changing industry—this one’s for you.We also discuss:

Most warranties aren’t worth the paper they’re written on.In a solar market defined by price pressure and disappearing installers, consumers are more skeptical than ever—and they’re asking smarter questions. Who’s responsible when something breaks? Will anyone answer the phone in 10 years? 5 years?In this live session, Nico Johnson sits down with Dean Chiaravallotti of Solar Insure at NABCEP 2025 to unpack how modern solar companies are rethinking service, liability, and the real value of a system warranty. Dean outlines the pitfalls of relying solely on manufacturer coverage—and why smart contractors are shifting to a proactive, financially backed model that keeps them competitive and customer-centric.This isn’t just about insurance. It’s about building trust at scale—and protecting your business in the long haul.Expect to learn:

Why is residential solar still so hard in the US? Andrew McGuigan will wager an answer.After 13 years in the solar trenches—from knocking doors at Sungevity to leading OpenSolar’s global expansion—Andrew has seen every twist of the solar coaster. Now at OpenSolar, he’s got a front row seat to helping 25,000+ installers worldwide streamline their businesses and survive the industry’s many curveballs.In this live conversation from the NABCEP 2025 stage, Andrew unpacks the economic and operational bottlenecks plaguing U.S. residential solar—and how he’s helping contractors fight back. From permitting nightmares to bloated sales commissions, the U.S. market still carries some of the highest soft costs on Earth.But there’s a shift underway—one driven by smart workflows, instant permitting, embedded finance, and a deep understanding of the homeowner journey.

Are Coal and clean energy still at odds??It might sound like a contradiction, but today’s guest is proving that innovation often comes from the most unexpected places - in this case, Coal Mines.Listen in as Nico sits down with Mark LaVerghetta, co-founder of ReElement Technologies, a company turning the coal industry on its head by extracting critical minerals from coal’s waste stream — and doing it cleaner and cheaper than China. Born from a contrarian bet on distressed coal assets, ReElement is now on the frontlines of the U.S. effort to onshore mineral refining and reduce our dependence on geopolitically fragile supply chains.We were all skeptical about this episode.  “Should we bring on a coal industry executive? Is this really a clean energy technology, or just greenwashing?” Nico was very intentional about learning as much as possible to guide the discussion, and as a result our Producer said “This Is The Most Interesting Episode of the Year!” Mark reveals how his team transformed e

What if the tools you use to sell solar are setting you up to fail?That’s the uncomfortable truth Jason Steinberg, CEO of Scanifly, is tackling head-on.In this episode recorded live at NABCEP 2025, Jason and Nico dig into the disconnect between sales and operations in solar—where remote designs sell the dream, but outdated imagery and manual measurements leave teams scrambling on install day.Jason shares how his team is transforming the design process by putting drones and data at the center of solar workflows. The result? Fewer change orders, faster permitting, and a safer, smarter job site.Expect to learn:

In a market flooded with cheap imports and geopolitical risk, one company is standing its ground.Did you know there’s only one North American battery management system (BMS) provider at utility scale—despite growing pressure from subsidized Chinese competitors offering systems at zero cost? Michael Worry, CEO of Nuvation Energy, joins Nico to share how his company became that lone provider. But the core of this episode brings a critical warning: what happens when over 80% of the U.S. battery infrastructure is owned or influenced by foreign governments? And how should engineers and lawmakers respond?Michael takes us on a wild entrepreneurial ride: from building EVs before Tesla was cool to deploying robot kegerators at Burning Man. Nuvation’s “garage projects” aren’t just PR stunts—they’re real-world user acceptance test platforms that prove product reliability under extreme conditions.Expect to learn:

Nextracker just made yet another bold move…What if a robot could detect a solar failure before it happens—and build the repair plan to deploy the right resources to the precise location, in real time?That’s not science fiction. It’s what OnSight Technology is already doing on numerous utility-scale solar farms across the US.  And Nextracker have officially acquired OnSight Technology!  So, if you’re here because you’re asking yourself “What the heck? Why did NXT Buy this company, and what do they actually do?!” then you’re in luck!In this exclusive episode—recorded before the news dropped—we sat down with Derek Chase, Founder & CEO of OnSight, at their HQ in Sacramento, CA for an inside peek at the autonomous robotics platform that just made headlines.From the Bulldog robot that scans sites with 3D vision and thermal imaging to the OwlCam that detects smoke and fire in real-time, OnSight is setting the standard for predictive, AI-powered solar O&M. But I believe that Derek and his

Is This The Reality Check We All Needed?Layoffs. Shrinking margins. Policy gut punched. If you’ve been wondering how the solar industry will make it through this, hang tight - I’ve got a 20+ yr veteran who’s seen enough dips & turns on the SolarCoaster to provide ample insight.Barry Cinnamon returns to SunCast for a brutally honest conversation with Nico Johnson about what’s unraveling in the solar and storage space—and what smart companies are doing to stay ahead.From Capitol Hill chaos to customer acquisition woes, this conversation covers the unfiltered landscape of 2025’s solar rollercoaster. If you’re feeling the pressure to pivot, cut back, or just survive, you’re not alone.Expect to learn:

What if the smallest line item in your solar project budget could unlock millions in financing?Solar projects don’t get financed on hope—they get financed on data.Meet Ann Will, founder of GroundWork Renewables, the company solving one of utility-scale solar’s biggest pain points: uncertainty. GroundWork has quietly enabled over 1,000 met campaigns and helped developers secure billions in funding with high-accuracy irradiance and resource assessment data.In this episode, you’ll discover how Ann turned a mid-life career pivot into a multimillion-dollar clean energy business that developers and financiers now rely on to de-risk their projects.Ann’s story blends grit, intuition, and a deep understanding of both Wall Street and renewable energy. From pioneering irradiance measurement campaigns to scaling nationwide data platforms and working with leading developers like Recurrent Energy and Lightsource bp, Ann has helped the industry embrace data as a competitive advantage.Expect to learn:

Commercial & Industrial solar is no longer just about getting panels up on the roof (Or over the parking lot, as the case may be). I wanted to explore something that’s been bugging me…given the increase in C&I traction lately, what’s still holding the sector back from adopting batteries at scale?For the answer, I turned to Jayson Smith, Solutions Engineer at CPS America, to better understand how footprint, lead times, and complexity have historically stalled C&I battery storage adoption.  But that’s all rapidly changing thanks to smarter tech, tighter energy management integration, and a drive to reduce total cost of ownership. From 3.5-year payback periods to shrinking footprints, this episode is packed with insights to help installers and developers stay ahead of the storage curve.Expect to learn:

Nextracker has proven its market dominance for more than a decade, and has practically rewritten the playbook on utility-scale solar globally. Lately, they’ve been on an acquisition spree, further fueling their market dominance and diversifying to better serve their customers. If you, like us, are on the outside looking in wondering “how they heck do they do it?”, then this episode will give you a glimpse inside the magnificent machine that is NXT!Jonathan Eastwood, Nextracker’s SVP of Sales, has seen the clean energy industry evolve from the ground up—literally. In this long-awaited episode, Jonathan joins Nico to share how product innovation, customer obsession, and strategic M&A are helping solve solar’s most urgent challenges, from logistics chaos to catastrophic hail risk.It’s a rare peek behind the curtain on how NextTracker has become more than just another manufacturing partner—offering not just parts, but fully integrated systems that EPCs and owners trust to perform. From solving logi