What does it take to build a 100-year business? How does one expand beyond integration of off-the-shelf products to branding power plants as a unique identifiable product? What does it take to secure an entire City’s rooftops…like Atlanta?  Michael Chanin, the CEO and founder of Cherry Street Energy, is bringing this ambitious vision to fruition. Chanin's team is embracing the power of renewables for transforming our infrastructure, and my meeting with him left me inspired. Chanin is not your typical investment-banker-turned-renewable-energy-entrepreneur.  How this Macon, GA native f ..read more

Every growth story has roots in finding scalable and duplicatable processes. From a Big Mac to the Macintosh, the capacity to create products people want and galvanize a team around delivering them is what sets true market leaders apart from their peers.  However, in the more than 700 interviews we’ve done at SunCast, we know that the path to the top is not linear nor is it free from failure. So, when I see someone succeeding for multiple years in a leadership position, I want to know what made it work.  Such is the case with CPS Americas.   Are you curious what frameworks ..read more

Imagine a Roomba on a solar farm with a camera that can automatically inspect modules, wiring, even hot-spots, and report all that information back instantaneously to the asset manager. That level of computer vision and automation is finally possible, and it looks a Lot like a fun Disney character you’d recognize! Derek Chase, founder and CEO of OnSight, is revolutionizing solar asset management through robotics and computer vision that uses a WALL-E-like advanced autonomous navigation robot to significantly enhance the accuracy of solar farm inspections with AI-powered detection. With more th ..read more

Perhaps the best way to scale your company is by investing in your people!   If knowledge is wealth, then upskilling your workers (and indeed yourself) could be the best return on your investment. Brittany Heller, Director of Program Management at HeatSpring, explains how training programs are not just essential for attracting and developing new talent, they’re also how growing companies scale commercially. By offering comprehensive online and hands-on training, HeatSpring helps professionals learn at their own pace and fit training into their busy schedules, ensuring they are well-p ..read more

I’m going to argue that procurement (buyer OR seller) negotiations are just like hostage negotiations. Hear me out. Effective negotiations are crucial for uncovering hidden opportunities, maintaining control without aggression, and closing better deals. Mastering these skills can significantly impact business outcomes, ensuring more favorable terms and stronger relationships. And in procurement, there is often a lot at stake on both sides - and the hostage? Well, the project itself becomes the hostage. And, in a world where we are SPRINTING to install as many GW As possible, we need more savvy ..read more

The appliance revolution could be the biggest clean energy opportunity. The replacement of gas stoves with induction stoves marks a pivotal shift in how we heat, use water, and cook in America. Panama Bartholomy, the Founder and Executive Director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, brings 25 years of experience in the building sector, both internationally and in state and local government. Through policy, market transformation, and consumer education, Bartholomy and his team are working to get people to move away from gas and mainstream technologies like heat pumps and induction stoves ..read more

Energy isn't a battle of fossil fuels vs renewables; it's about figuring out the energy transition together. As a North Carolina State Representative (GOP), John Szoka was once dismissive of renewables, as many might expect.  Yet, after serving five terms in the legislature, Szoka transitioned from a renewable energy skeptic to a champion, thanks in large part to his open-mindedness when presented with data from a lobbyist which conflicted with his own understanding of the value of Renewables. Rep. Szoka carried the Republican torch on clean energy by championing key bills, including Hous ..read more

Finally, a feel-good story of independence and triumph!  There’s little more patriotic and American than the dream of starting out on your own and building a business that supports your family, serves your neighbors and builds a durable legacy. And we even have a “He left med school for this?” to pull your heart strings too.  The true-life story of the rise of Summit Energy as one of the Inc 5000 fastest growing companies, now 2 years running, is a heartfelt look at how Culture truly does eat Strategy for lunch.  In this episode, Summit Energy's co-founders, Eric Israelsen and D ..read more

Have you ever wondered why clean energy is not only surviving, but thriving in RED states here in the USA?  Despite the common perception that Republicans are against clean energy, states like Georgia (and AL, SC, and FL, not to mention TX!) are seeing significant solar growth.  Republican Tim Echols, Vice Chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, discusses Georgia’s journey to becoming the 7th largest state for utility-scale solar (with 6GW!) and how they are gearing up to meet the increasing energy demands of expanding data centers. GA is expected to be a clean energy stro ..read more

In 50 short years, solar energy transformed from a niche interest to a key driver of the global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.  The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has been at the forefront of this transformation, advocating for policies, fostering innovation, and driving growth in the industry. Founded in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, SEIA has worked tirelessly to give solar “a seat at the table” in Washington, and the fruits of their labor are plentiful. In honor of SEIA’s 50th anniversary, key figures from SEIA's past and present discuss the evol ..read more