Clean Power Hour

How KUB Saved Customers $4.7 Million With Clean Energy #380

What happens when a utility faces rising electricity demand, growing customer expectations, and pressure to keep power affordable? In 2022, Winter Storm Elliott forced rolling blackouts across the Tennessee Valley. For Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB), the experience reinforced the importance of grid reliability, resilience, and local accountability. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Erin Gill, Vice President of Communications and External Relations at Knoxville Utilities Board, during the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA) conference in Chattanooga. Erin explains how KUB is responding to rising electricity demand and population growth while investing in solar, battery energy storage, and new approaches to managing the grid. KUB is working toward a portfolio of 400 MW of solar by 2040 and plans to deploy 22 MW of battery storage, primarily at substations. Through TVA's Generation Flexibility program, KUB has also saved customers approximately $4.7 million since January 2025. The conversation explores how municipal utilities can use renewable energy, peak shaving, demand flexibility, and partnerships to improve reliability without placing unnecessary financial pressure on customers. Key Highlights Winter Storm Elliott and grid resilience: How the 2022 rolling blackouts changed KUB's approach to reliability and reinforced the responsibility of local power companies to their customers. Rising electricity demand: Why AI-driven data centers, population growth, and expanding infrastructure needs are creating new challenges for TVA and its local power companies. Knoxville's growth: How KUB is keeping utility infrastructure ahead of residential and commercial development, including the shift toward multifamily housing. 400 MW solar goal: KUB's plan to build a portfolio of 400 MW of solar by 2040, including participation in TVA's Green Invest program. $4.7 million in customer savings: How KUB is using TVA's Generation Flexibility program to source part of its electricity from solar and biomass, reducing costs for customers. 22 MW of battery storage: KUB's plans to install modular battery energy storage systems primarily at distribution substations. Peak shaving and grid optimization: How batteries, demand management, and flexible loads can reduce peak electricity demand and make better use of existing infrastructure. Customer affordability: Why Erin believes utilities must pursue innovation and coordination rather than relying solely on expensive infrastructure expansion. The future of public power: How municipal utilities can support the energy transition while keeping customer needs at the center of their decisions. Connect with Erin Gill LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-gill-25a43510/ Knoxville Utilities Board: https://www.kub.org/ Tennessee Valley Authority: https://www.tva.com/ American Public Power Association: https://www.publicpower.org/ Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Sodium-Ion Is Coming: The Next Wave of Battery Storage

Battery storage is moving fast, and the numbers keep getting bigger. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour live, Tim Montague joins John Weaver from Melbourne, Australia, after attending All Energy Australia with CATL. They dig into what Tim learned about sodium-ion batteries, including CATL’s plans to significantly expand sodium battery production and why sodium could complement lithium rather than replace it. From there, Tim and John examine the accelerating global energy storage market, the growing role of microgrids in powering data centers, and how batteries are beginning to change the economics of daytime solar generation. They also discuss Sonnen’s insolvency filing, T1 Energy’s solar cell import waiver, the evolution of vehicle-to-grid technology, silver and copper use in solar manufacturing, and the latest developments in high-efficiency solar modules. Key Highlights • Sodium-ion batteries are getting real. Tim shares what he learned from CATL at All Energy Australia, including plans to grow sodium battery production from roughly 1 GWh this year to between 10 and 40 GWh next year. • Data centers are accelerating microgrid investment. Tim and John discuss how data centers are using combinations of solar, batteries, and generators to achieve “speed to power” while waiting for utility interconnection. [Reuters] • Global battery deployment forecasts are rising fast. John highlights a major upward revision in projected 2026 energy storage deployments, with the forecast reaching 188 GW. [BloombergNEF] • Sonnen files for insolvency. Tim and John discuss the German battery company’s insolvency filing, its ownership history, and what the development could mean for one of the longtime names in residential energy storage. [pv magazine] • T1 Energy receives a Section 232 waiver. The company received permission to import up to 1.7 GW of solar cells to meet existing and expected contracted demand while its domestic cell manufacturing capacity develops. [StockTitan] • Batteries are pushing Australian midday electricity prices higher. John explains why this could actually be positive for solar. Batteries are soaking up cheap daytime electricity and shifting it into higher-value periods, potentially improving the economics for additional daytime solar generation. [Renew Economy] • Could cheaper silver slow solar’s shift toward copper? John examines how changing silver prices affect solar module manufacturing and discusses copper-based conductors and back-contact module designs as manufacturers work to reduce dependence on silver. [Bluesky] • High-efficiency solar modules are reaching the 25% range. John reviews a ranking of commercially available high-efficiency modules and discusses why the relative lack of recent changes could reflect manufacturers focusing more heavily on profitability and existing production lines. [TaiyangNews] • AIKO returns to profitability and pushes back-contact technology forward. Tim and John discuss AIKO Solar’s return to profit and its PERC-to-ABC manufacturing upgrade strategy, which could convert existing production capacity toward higher-efficiency back-contact cells and modules. [PV Tech] This episode makes one trend especially clear: batteries are no longer a side story to solar. They are beginning to influence how projects are designed, how electricity is priced, how microgrids are built, and how solar itself gets deployed. Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Can Microgrids Solve America’s AI Power Crisis? | Lester Crafton #379

The U.S. is facing a major energy challenge. AI data centers are driving electricity demand higher, grid infrastructure takes years and billions of dollars to expand, and communities need reliable power. Could microgrids and distributed energy resources help bridge the gap? In this episode of The Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Lester Crafton of Ovanova about the evolution of solar, battery storage, and microgrids, and why he believes homes and businesses could play a much bigger role in America's energy future. Lester shares the story behind Ovanova's unconventional beginnings, from a solar marketing model built around supporting schools and community organizations to deploying integrated energy systems designed for resilience and grid support. The conversation explores Ovanova's microgrid project at the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences in Tennessee, where limited grid capacity threatened to delay a major community development. Lester explains how a combination of battery storage, solar generation, and dispatchable backup power can help address that challenge while reducing dependence on costly grid upgrades. Tim and Lester also discuss a bigger question: As data centers and AI increase electricity demand, should homes and businesses remain passive electricity consumers, or could they become local power plants that help support the grid? In this episode, you'll learn: • How Ovanova evolved from residential solar into integrated microgrid and energy resilience projects. • Why Lester believes solar and battery storage should be designed to work together. • How a buffer battery can help a community develop when the local grid cannot initially supply enough power. • What the Isha Institute microgrid project reveals about the challenges of developing new infrastructure. • How distributed energy resources could help utilities access reliable, dispatchable power. • Why cybersecurity and communications reliability matter as more distributed energy assets connect to the grid. • How homeowners and businesses could potentially earn revenue by supplying power during periods of peak demand. • Why data center developers could help finance distributed energy infrastructure in the communities they affect. • What it will take to scale microgrids, battery storage, and local energy resilience across the United States. Connect with Lester Crafton, Ovanova Website: https://ovanova.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lestercrafton/ Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Building the World's First Utility-Scale Solar Plant Designed for Cattle. #378

Can you put cattle beneath solar panels without damaging the equipment or driving up project costs? Silicon Ranch set out to answer that question, and the result is what Matt Beasley, Chief Commercial Officer at Silicon Ranch, describes as the world's first utility-scale solar PV plant specifically designed to integrate cattle grazing. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Matt about the engineering behind this breakthrough, including a patented solar tracking design that adjusts panel positioning in active grazing areas. The 4.5 MW project in Christiana, Tennessee, went live in April 2026 and could open the door to integrating cattle into larger solar developments. Matt also explains how Silicon Ranch is expanding its regenerative energy model, from managing solar sites with more than 5,000 sheep to partnering with farming families and exploring new agricultural revenue streams. The conversation goes beyond cattle grazing to examine how Silicon Ranch develops utility-scale solar projects, why it retains long-term ownership of its facilities and land, and how TVA's Generation Flexibility program has created new opportunities for renewable energy procurement across the Tennessee Valley. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Silicon Ranch engineered a solar tracking system to accommodate cattle without raising entire arrays to impractical heights. • Why conventional cattle grazing presents equipment-protection and capital-cost challenges for solar developers. • How adaptive grazing and software-controlled panel positioning work together. • How livestock grazing can reduce vegetation management costs and create additional revenue opportunities. • How Silicon Ranch works with farming families and builds its own livestock operations. • How TVA's Generation Flexibility program enables local power companies to participate in utility-scale solar projects. • How Silicon Ranch identifies customers, land, transmission access, and power purchase agreements for new developments. For solar developers, asset owners, utilities, and agricultural businesses, this conversation examines a specific technical innovation that could expand the possibilities for cattle grazing at utility-scale solar facilities. #SolarEnergy #Agrivoltaics #CattleGrazing Connect with Matt Beasley, Silicon Ranch Website: https://www.siliconranch.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-beasley-7229154/ Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Tennessee’s Nuclear Renaissance Needs Solar Now | Cortney Piper #377

America’s nuclear renaissance is gaining momentum, but new nuclear power plants can take around a decade to build. With electricity demand rising and the grid under pressure, what can the energy industry do now to deliver reliable, affordable power? In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Cortney Piper, founder and executive director of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council and president of Piper Communications. They explore Tennessee’s growing advanced energy economy, the role of solar and storage in meeting near-term electricity demand, and the policy decisions needed to accelerate power generation while maintaining grid reliability. Cortney also discusses the importance of technology-neutral energy policy, support for emerging companies, and turning energy innovation into economic development and job creation. In this conversation, you’ll learn: Why Tennessee is positioning itself as a hub for America’s nuclear renaissance and advanced energy innovation. How the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council supports businesses, entrepreneurs, and emerging technologies. Why solar and energy storage could help meet electricity demand while new nuclear projects move forward. How fusion energy, nuclear fuel recycling, carbon capture, and advanced materials fit into the evolving energy landscape. Why the industry needs practical policies that expand grid capacity, strengthen reliability, and keep electricity costs manageable. How Tennessee is working to address the power infrastructure challenges facing utilities, businesses, and growing energy users. Cortney’s central message is that the energy industry cannot rely on future nuclear capacity alone. It must also identify the resources that can be deployed quickly, manage the grid more effectively, and deliver reliable power at an affordable cost today. If you work in solar, storage, nuclear, utilities, energy policy, or advanced manufacturing, this conversation offers a useful look at how innovation and policy can shape the next phase of the energy transition. Subscribe for more conversations with the people building the future of solar, energy storage, microgrids, and the clean energy industry. #CleanPowerHour #NuclearEnergy #SolarEnergy #EnergyStorage #AdvancedEnergy Connect with Cortney Piper Website: https://tnadvancedenergy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneypiper/?isSelfProfile=false Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

Batteries vs. Gas Peakers, China's Solar Export Restrictions, and the Future of Clean Energy

Solar and battery storage are reshaping the energy industry, but policy uncertainty, grid constraints, manufacturing challenges, and equipment reliability remain major issues. In this episode of Clean Power Hour Live, Tim Montague and John Weaver break down the latest developments in solar, energy storage, and the evolving power grid. They discuss new research showing that four-hour battery storage is becoming cost-competitive with gas peaker plants, China's restrictions on solar manufacturing technologies, U.S. solar deployment forecasts, and the growing challenges of connecting data centers to the grid. The conversation also explores solar project quality, the financial impact of equipment failures, and why reliable operations and maintenance will become increasingly important as more developers transition into asset ownership. Key Highlights • 4-Hour Batteries Challenge Gas Peaker Economics: New research suggests that four-hour battery storage is now less expensive than open-cycle gas turbines across all 43 markets included in the comparison. (Solar Power World Online) • The Next Frontier for Battery Storage: As batteries increasingly serve evening peak demand, the hosts consider how storage could reshape other periods of electricity demand and what role wind and other technologies might play. (Ember reports) • Solar Manufacturing and a Patent Dispute: The hosts examine a dispute involving an American company based in Rochester and a Chinese supplier over patents related to photovoltaic crystal-growing machinery. • U.S. Solar Deployment and the Tax Credit Cliff: BloombergNEF projections point to several years of strong U.S. solar additions before growth potentially slows as clean energy tax credits phase out. (Bloomberg) • China's Solar Market Slows While Other Markets Grow: The hosts discuss projections that China's solar installations could decline by 29% in 2026 while installations elsewhere increase by 15%. (PV Magazine) • China Restricts Exports of Solar Manufacturing Technologies: China is reportedly limiting exports of 12 photovoltaic-related technologies, including technologies associated with perovskite-silicon modules and polysilicon production. (Bloomberg report) • FERC Rejects Most of PJM's Large-Load Interconnection Proposal: Tim explains why the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's decision could add uncertainty to the process of connecting large electricity consumers, including data centers. (Utility Drive) • Project of the Week: A Nearly 2 MW Rooftop Solar Installation: John shares progress on a commercial rooftop solar project with approximately 1.8 MW of DC capacity and 990 kW of AC capacity. (John Weaver's LinkedIn) • Solar Quality Issues Could Increase LCOE by More Than 20%: The hosts review research showing how component failures, inverter downtime, and other system issues can increase the levelized cost of electricity. (PV Tech) What You'll Learn • Why four-hour battery storage is becoming competitive with gas peaker plants. • How solar-plus-storage could reshape electricity pricing and peak demand. • What China's solar technology export restrictions could mean for U.S. manufacturing. • Why global solar deployment patterns are changing. • How data center growth is complicating grid interconnection. • Why solar system quality and ongoing maintenance matter to project economics. • What developers should consider when evaluating monitoring and energy management solutions. Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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The Business of Solar EPC: Profitability, Policy Risks, and Project Delivery #376

Solar EPCs face growing pressure to deliver projects on time, manage costs, secure financing, and navigate changing energy policies. So how can smaller companies grow while protecting their profitability and reputation? In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Forrest Cohn, co-founder of Utopian Power, to discuss building a reliable solar and battery storage business in a changing market. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Utopian Power develops renewable energy projects. It provides engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for municipalities, municipally owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and other project developers. The company focuses primarily on projects under 10 MW, with experience across the Midwest and other US markets. Whether you're a solar developer, EPC contractor, project owner, or clean energy professional, this episode offers practical insights into growing a solar business without compromising on project delivery. IN THIS EPISODE • How Utopian Power grew from a startup founded in 2020 into a renewable energy developer and EPC contractor. • Why municipalities and smaller utilities can create opportunities for solar developers. • How EPC companies can partner with developers to deliver community solar projects. • Why bonding capacity matters when pursuing larger construction contracts. • How financial discipline and responsible project selection help protect profitability. • How Utopian Power approaches hiring, project pipelines, and business growth amid market uncertainty. • How tariffs, equipment restrictions, and changing federal tax credit policies affect solar project costs. • Why state policies and utility programs remain important to commercial solar deployment. • What solar companies can do to build trust and strengthen the industry's reputation. Connect with Forrest Cohn, Utopian Power Forrest Cohn | LinkedIn Utopian Power Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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How to Make Affordable Housing Solar Work | Resonant Energy #375

A 100 kW rooftop can be a meaningful source of energy savings—and a difficult project to finance. How do you make solar work for affordable housing, churches, and nonprofits? In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Ben Underwood and Isaac Baker, founders of Massachusetts-based Resonant Energy, to discuss how they built a solar development business around nonprofits, houses of worship, and low-income multifamily housing. Ben and Isaac explain how a portfolio approach brings buying power and financing to smaller projects, why their business pivoted toward affordable housing, and what developers and installation partners can learn from that model. In the interview, Ben puts completed projects at roughly 5 MW, with about 15 MW in the pipeline. Behind those numbers is years of work aligning customer demand, installation partners, capital, and policy. A central question: do the savings actually reach residents? The conversation distinguishes direct utility-bill benefits from savings that support building operations and improvements, and explores the Connecticut approach described by Isaac. They also discuss changing federal incentives, battery deployment barriers, and the potential of peak-demand compensation. In this episode, you'll hear about: • Why Resonant Energy shifted from anaerobic digestion into community solar and small commercial projects • How the company used community networks to bring solar to churches, nonprofits, and other organizations that struggled to access conventional project finance • Why bundling smaller solar projects into portfolios can make them more attractive to investors • How Resonant Energy moved into affordable multifamily housing after COVID disrupted its faith-based customer base • The role of Massachusetts' net metering and SMART incentive programs in making low-income solar projects viable • How the Inflation Reduction Act helped accelerate Resonant Energy's growth • How solar is becoming increasingly important for all-electric affordable housing developments as electricity costs rise • What a typical 40-unit multifamily solar project looks like, including 75 to 150 kW behind-the-meter systems • How Connecticut's affordable housing solar policy creates a direct benefit for residents • The challenges of deploying batteries on small commercial properties, from local fire codes to federal sourcing requirements • Why rate design and peak-demand compensation matter as federal solar incentives change • Why urban and suburban rooftops and parking canopies could play a much larger role in America's future energy system For developers, EPCs, and affordable housing owners, the takeaway is practical: smaller projects can become a meaningful market when financing, delivery, and resident benefits are designed together. Connect with Guests Ben Underwood | LinkedIn Isaac Baker | LinkedIn Resonant Energy Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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TVA’s Grid Is Under Pressure. Solar, Storage and Microgrids Could Be the Answer #374

Rising electricity demand and prolonged outages are pushing the Tennessee Valley to rethink how it builds and operates the grid. Where do solar, batteries, and community-scale microgrids fit? In episode 374 of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague welcomes Gil Hough, Executive Director of the Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association (TenneSEIA), for a conversation following the organization’s 2026 conference. Gil explains how the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) shapes this distinctive public-power market—and why municipal utilities and electric cooperatives are becoming a source of innovation in solar, storage, and distributed energy. Tim and Gil discuss: • How TVA’s federal public-power structure shapes opportunities for solar and storage developers • Why TVA’s new Integrated Resource Plan includes a distributed-energy strategy alongside utility-scale solar, storage, and other generation • How annual requests for proposals are changing TVA’s approach to large-scale solar and storage procurement • What the invitation-only Resource Solicitation Cluster means for project selection and interconnection studies • How generation flexibility gives local power companies room to develop solar, storage, and virtual power plants • What recent storm outages reveal about the need for local resilience and community-scale microgrids • How TVA’s decision-making and funding model differs from the investor-owned utility model • How TenneSEIA’s committees and utility relationships help developers, manufacturers, and local power companies collaborate For developers and energy professionals, the conversation highlights two routes into the market: TVA’s utility-scale procurement process and partnerships with local power companies pursuing distributed resources. Gil argues that solar, storage, and better load management can help utilities use their infrastructure more effectively and mitigate cost pressures. Tim explores his vision of a grid of community-scale microgrids, with substations serving as hubs for nearby generation and storage. Listen for a practical look at how procurement, utility partnerships, economics, and resilience are shaping the next phase of clean energy in the Tennessee Valley. MEET TIM AT ILREC 2026 Tim Montague will be at the Illinois Renewable Energy Conference (ILREC), October 19-20, 2026, at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott and Conference Center in Normal, Illinois. ILREC brings together leaders from across Illinois' renewable energy industry to discuss the policies, technologies, market trends, and business challenges shaping the state's clean energy future. Learn more and register at https://illinoisrenewableenergyconference.org/ Connect with Gil Hough TenneSEIA website: https://tenneseiasolar.com/ Gil Hough LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilhough Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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California Just Changed the Game for Solar & Batteries

Solar and storage are moving into a new phase, and this week's Clean Power Hour Live covers the technologies, policies, and market shifts shaping that transition. Tim Montague and John Weaver break down the latest developments across solar, batteries, wind, grid infrastructure, and electrification. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation supporting virtual power plants and making plug-in solar officially legal. The hosts discuss what these changes could mean for distributed energy, grid flexibility, consumers, and the future of behind-the-meter solar. They also cover US solar manufacturer ratings, a Google pilot for hourly carbon accounting with battery storage, solar repowering, UK grid interconnectors, the world's tallest wind turbine, and the 45X tax credit. These stories land as California utilities report record profits and power costs in the state run twice the US average. Episode Highlights: Governor Newsom signed bills to contain utility spending and pay customers who let batteries, EVs, and appliances ease grid stress (Canary Media). Finlay Colville rates US solar manufacturers from AAA to C, with First Solar at number one (PV Magazine). A Google-backed pilot demonstrates hourly carbon accounting for US battery energy storage using granular certificates (Energy Storage News). A Foundry Logic study argues replacing old panels adds significant new capacity to the grid (Heatmap News). An insider quoted by Roth says, "We are moving into a positive political environment for solar" (Roth). Roughly 10 GW of UK grid interconnectors link Britain to Europe (Financial Times). Germany installed the world's tallest wind turbine at 300 meters, as tall as the Eiffel Tower. Tim questions the economics, and John points to a higher capacity factor at greater heights. This episode suits solar professionals, battery storage professionals, project developers, policy watchers, and clean energy investors. California's new VPP and plug-in solar laws, the 45X tax credit debate, and the growth of solar repowering all affect project decisions right now. Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Why Batteries Are the Key Technology Behind the Next Energy Economy with Simon Engelke #373

A battery only earns its keep when it can connect to the grid and get to work. What does it take to turn better battery technology into a viable energy project? In episode 373 of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague speaks with Dr. Simon Engelke, founder of Battery Associates and Battery MBA and host of the Battery Insiders podcast. They explore the technology, economics, and expertise needed to scale storage across the grid, transportation, and emerging industries. Drawing on his Cambridge PhD in lithium-ion batteries and his work advising and training industry professionals, Simon explains why chemistry is only part of the story. Utilization, manufacturing scale, maintenance, investor confidence, and grid access all shape whether a battery project succeeds. Tim and Simon discuss: • Stationary storage and mobility: where Simon sees demand growing and how vehicle-to-grid programs can put parked EV batteries to work • Battery technology explained: LFP and NMC cathodes, silicon anodes, sodium-ion batteries, and what changes when the electrolyte becomes solid • Manufacturing scale: why increasing production can drive battery costs down through learning and process improvements • Vanadium flow batteries: Tim raises G&W Electric's experience, while Simon discusses pump and seal failures he has encountered and the challenge of proving a bankable business case • Project economics: why cycling, utilization, operating reliability, and a track record matter to developers and investors • Interconnection bottlenecks: Simon describes investors in Germany ready to deploy batteries that cannot yet connect, leaving assets idle while they continue to age • U.S. manufacturing: Simon's view that repurposing automotive battery factories could temporarily expand stationary storage supply, with EV demand changing that equation • New applications: how data centers, drones, humanoid robots, and electric aviation are expanding the conversation beyond solar and EVs • Battery careers: why engineers, solar professionals, business leaders, and people from other disciplines need to understand the full battery value chain • Inside Battery MBA: a 12-week online program built around live industry experts, office hours, and collaborative case studies, with group enrollment options for employers Simon also shares a Battery MBA case study exploring how a data center battery could serve both as backup power and as storage for an island grid. His message to professionals: start with the skills you enjoy using, then look for where they can contribute to the battery industry. For solar, storage, and microgrid professionals, this conversation connects battery innovation with the practical decisions behind project deployment, workforce development, and long-term business strategy. Learn more about Simon Engelke: Dr. Simon Engelke | LinkedIn Battery Associates | Training, Consulting & Insights BatteryMBA | CPD-Accredited Battery Course All Battery Insiders podcast episodes Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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The Battery Boom Is Moving Beyond EVs

Grid storage is growing faster than the industry expected. EVs accounted for more than 70% of global battery deployment in 2025, down from almost 80% in 2024, according to the IEA. On this CPH Live, Tim Montague and John Weaver unpack stationary battery storage growth and follow the batteries to two places: 230 GW of data center interconnection requests and a solar plus storage copper mine in Congo. They also cover China clean tech investment, EV charging costs, and agrivoltaics. These stories show where new batteries are going and why. Episode Highlights: Stationary storage is taking a larger share of global battery deployment. EVs fell to more than 70% in 2025, down from almost 80% in 2024 (IEA), as EV growth ran slower than projected and grid storage grew faster. Tim opened with a 95% EV figure, John corrected it with the IEA data live, and the hosts named CATL, BYD, and Illinois' new grid law as drivers of grid-scale battery storage. Cross Boundary Energy's Kamoa Copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo pairs 233 MW of east-west solar with a 526 MWh battery and 30 MW of output. John calls the roughly 8 to 1 DC to AC ratio the largest he has seen. (Crossboundary Energy) Tim reports 230 GW of data center interconnection applications across the U.S., against a grid running near 500 GW. He argues 20 million Powerwall 3 units, or one in five homes, would match that load. The hosts discuss grid edge computing from Lektra and Base Power's 40 kWh home batteries, which entered Illinois through the state's virtual power plant legislation. China's share of global clean manufacturing investment fell from 71% in early 2023 to 33% in Q2 2026 (Reuters). Tim asked why this counts as good news for solar. Maize under the panels produced 19.6% more dry matter than an open control plot during a drought and heat wave. The panels cut evapotranspiration by 20% (PV Magazine). A Sydney green roof ran 28 degrees Celsius cooler, and its solar outperformed a metal roof array by 11% (Renew Economy). This episode serves battery storage professionals, solar developers, clean energy investors, and policy watchers. Data center load, gas price spikes, and shifting battery demand all affect project economics right now. Tim and John give you the numbers and more. Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Inside a 365 kW Commercial Solar Project: First Solar Series 7 + Custom Racking #372

How do you take a 365 kW commercial solar project from a customer conversation to steel in the ground? In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague goes behind the scenes of a 365 kW commercial solar project for Griffin Beverage in West Branch, Michigan, with Jordan Rhyne of Countryside Energy and Kyle Sinclair of Sinclair Designs & Engineering. The project brought together domestic-content solar modules, custom racking engineering, structural analysis, field installation lessons, and a challenging interconnection process with Consumers Energy. Jordan and Kyle walk through what it took to make the project work, including why the customer wanted a truly domestic solar system, how First Solar Series 7 modules changed the racking design, and what the team learned from taking the system from engineering drawings into the field. In this episode, you’ll learn: • How Countryside Energy identified Griffin Beverage as a strong commercial solar customer • Why the customer prioritized a truly domestically sourced solar array • How First Solar Series 7 modules created unique racking and engineering challenges • Why the racking team developed a purpose-built bracket and clip connection • How structural analysis and FEA helped validate the module-to-racking connection • What installers need to consider when working with frameless thin-film modules • Lessons from module handling, breakage, installation speed, and field tolerances • What EPCs should know before taking on their first First Solar Series 7 project The 365 kW system was designed to offset 110% of the facility's load, the maximum allowed by Consumers Energy for the project. The team also had to coordinate an upgrade of the site's service transformer from 250 kVA to 500 kVA before the system could be energized. Connect with Guests Jordan Rhyne | LinkedIn Kyle Sinclair | LinkedIn Learn more about Sinclair Designs & Engineering: https://www.sinclair-designs.com/ Learn more about Countryside Energy: https://countryside-energy.com/ Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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This Startup Pays You to Run AI on Your Solar Power #371

What if your solar system could earn far more by powering AI compute than by selling electricity back to the grid? In this episode of Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague talks with Karl Andersen, founder and CEO of Lektra, about a different approach to the growing power demands of AI. Lektra places GPU servers alongside distributed energy resources such as solar and batteries, turning homes, businesses, and other energy sites into small-scale data centers. Instead of exporting excess solar to the grid, an energy host can use that electricity to power GPU workloads and earn revenue from the compute generated. Karl says Lektra typically gives energy hosts 80% of the resulting revenue while retaining 20% for providing the compute marketplace and infrastructure. The conversation explores why rapidly growing AI demand is exposing limitations in today's electric grid, and whether distributed energy, microgrids, batteries, and edge computing could form part of a more decentralized Grid 2.0. In this episode, Tim and Karl discuss: • Why AI is creating a new market for distributed energy • How Lektra turns solar and other energy assets into edge-scale data centers • The economics of selling compute instead of electricity • How Lektra's 80/20 revenue-sharing model works • Why edge computing could benefit autonomous vehicles, robotics, logistics, and physical AI • How distributed compute could help address data-center grid constraints • Lektra's approach to data sovereignty and on-premises AI • What a more decentralized energy system could look like over the next several decades The future of AI will require enormous amounts of energy. This conversation explores whether some of that demand can be met where energy is already being generated, and whether compute can provide the economic incentive to build a more distributed and resilient energy system. Connect with Karl Andersen, Lektra Karl Andersen | LinkedIn Lektra - Powering Intelligence Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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The U.S. Needs 230 GW of New Power. Where Will It Come From? #370

America may need more than 230 GW of new power capacity through 2030. Regulated utilities are expected to deliver only about 93 GW. So where does the rest come from? Tim Montague takes that question to Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Director of North America Utility-Scale Solar at Wood Mackenzie, on a crossover with her show Interchange Recharged. They work the gap from opposite ends of the industry: utility-scale generation versus C&I, community solar, storage, and microgrids. They cover safe harbor strategy under the ITC phase-out, how projects get financed, and how the AI data center boom reshapes demand. Tim makes his case that distributed energy deploys faster than the interconnection queue allows, and lands on his thesis that the future grid is a grid of microgrids. Tim and Sylvia work the gap between what the U.S. needs and what utilities will build: Where does utility scale end and distributed generation begin? How does the ITC phase-out drive the safe harbor rush? Why do most C&I projects skip PPAs for commercial loans? What does the 230 versus 93 gigawatt gap mean for developers? Which states give community solar its strongest footing? Why does Tim believe the future is a grid of microgrids? Links Interchange Recharged | Wood Mackenzie Climate Restoration Book — Peter Fiekowsky Sylvia Leyva Martinez | LinkedIn Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Solar, Vanadium Flow and a Flywheel: Inside G&W's Microgrid #369

G&W Electric's vanadium flow + flywheel microgrid matched a full year of frequency regulation revenue in under three months Vanadium flow batteries rarely anchor a commercial microgrid, but G&W Electric built one around a solar, battery, and flywheel system at its Bolingbrook, Illinois headquarters. John Gounaris, VP of Global Marketing, and John Pederson, Principal Staff Engineer and the project's manager, walk Tim Montague through the build. G&W Electric manufactures switches, reclosers, and grid automation gear used across US utility grids, and its 121-year-old campus needed resilient power to protect production. The project runs on Intelligent Generation's earn, save, protect framework: earn through frequency regulation, save on capacity charges, protect with backup power. Tim presses the guests on capex, opex, and why they skipped lithium-ion. The conversation covers real storm performance in 2026, revenue swings, and how domestic vanadium sourcing shaped the battery choice. Gounaris and Pederson explain the choices behind one of the few flywheel microgrids in operation: Why did G&W skip lithium-ion for a vanadium flow battery? How does a flywheel hold full building load for 62 seconds? What earned G&W more in 10 weeks than all last year? How much of an industrial bill do capacity charges reach? Which US source supplied the vanadium, and why does it matter? How did the microgrid perform during the 2026 Chicago storms? Connect with Guests John Gounaris | LinkedIn John Pederson | LinkedIn G&W Electric | Innovative Power Grid Solutions & Electrical Systems Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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How Do You Get 20 MW When the Utility Offers 7? #368

Speed to power: Bala Ramamurthy of Critical Loop on cutting grid connection from years to days with modular microgrids. Speed to power is the problem Critical Loop was built to solve. Bala Ramamurthy is the founder and CEO of Critical Loop, a California modular microgrid company that brings megawatts to industrial facilities and data centers when a utility interconnection is years away. Before energy, Bala spent 12 years at SpaceX as chief engineer on the first human spaceflight mission, and he applies that same high-reliability systems thinking to the grid. This conversation covers how their Cygnus controller orchestrates batteries and on-site generation to close the gap between what a utility can deliver and what a site needs. Tim pushes Bala on the hard questions: whether Critical Loop competes for scarce batteries, and why a site like San Diego International Airport needs them at all. It matters now because load growth is outpacing what the grid can build. Here is what this conversation reveals about closing the gap between grid capacity and industrial demand: How do you power a 20-megawatt site when the utility offers seven? Why does a rocket engineer see the grid as the same problem as a launch? What does Critical Loop's Cygnus controller actually do on site? When does a temporary bridge microgrid become a permanent asset? Why does San Diego International Airport need Critical Loop at all? What keeps a founder up at night as load growth outpaces the grid? Critical Loop is betting that the fastest way to add power is not to build more grid, but to orchestrate what a site already has. Bala Ramamurthy makes the case that a controller, batteries, and on-site generation can close the gap between what a utility delivers and what a factory or data center needs, turning a years-long interconnection wait into weeks. For anyone building, financing, or powering industrial load right now, this conversation is a look at how speed to power becomes a business. Connect with Guest: Balachandar Ramamurthy | LinkedIn Critical Loop Website Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Section 232 Is a Price Floor, Not a Tariff: Solar Module Prices Explained.

Section 232 tariffs are reshaping solar module pricing across the United States. Tim Montague and co-host John Weaver sit down with returning guest Chris Lettman, a solar module supply chain and technology expert with Imperial Star Solar. Chris explains why the new policy works as a price floor, not a simple tariff, setting a minimum import price plus a 15 percent tax on cells, wafers, and modules. The three break down domestic cell shortages, First Solar litigation, and how developers hedge against monthly price hikes. Anyone buying solar panels before the December 4 deadline needs this pricing and procurement picture. Chris Lettman answers the pricing questions every solar buyer is asking before December 4: Why is Section 232 a price floor instead of a normal tariff? How much do imported, hybrid, and fully domestic modules now cost per watt? Which companies make solar cells in the U.S. today? How is John Weaver stockpiling modules to beat rising prices? Why does only PERC ship domestically while TOPCon stays blocked? What happens to overseas module factories after December 4? Section 232 changes the math for every solar buyer heading into 2027. The tariffs raise prices across all three module tiers and close the gap between imported and domestic panels, with fully imported modules near 45 cents per watt and fully domestic near 53. Imports look set to stop around December 4, domestic cell supply stays tight behind ES Foundry and Saniva, and buyers like John Weaver are stockpiling now to beat monthly price hikes. Tim, John, and Chris disagree on whether the policy drives real U.S. manufacturing or adds cost and friction, but they agree on the takeaway: know your pricing tiers, lock in supply early, and plan procurement through 2027 before the next increase hits. Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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Derek Hansen on what makes a solar company great, not just good #367

Clean energy company culture is what separates good solar EPCs from great ones, and Mynt CEO Derek Hansen has a name for how he builds it: inspire, empower, support. Company culture in the solar and storage industry gets talked about far less than it should, and this episode makes the case for why that needs to change. Derek Hansen is CEO and co-founder of Mynt, a vertically integrated development, engineering, and construction firm that builds solar and battery storage projects for commercial real estate owners and other solar developers. Tim Montague hosts this conversation, framing it around a question that gets skipped in the industry: what actually separates a good company from a great one. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Mynt is shifting its project mix from mostly solar toward majority battery storage How Derek Hansen's inspire, empower, support philosophy drives EPC leadership What personality assessments and one-on-one conversations reveal about a team member's strongest work How Mynt built a buddy system to pair complementary skill sets on project teams Why Mynt chose to unionize its install crews under IBEW after California's new prevailing wage mandate The reason Hansen ties personal significance and legacy to day-to-day work at a growing EPC If you work in solar, storage, microgrids, or the broader energy transition, this conversation offers practical insights into building stronger teams, creating meaningful company cultures, and preparing for the next phase of distributed energy. Connect with Derek Derek Hansen | LinkedIn MYNT Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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What does it take to build solar that lasts 30+ years? #366

Solar asset management inside a 35-year ownership model: CJ Colavito and Jay Smith of Standard Solar explain what it actually takes to own distributed generation projects for decades, from evaluating tracker and inverter reliability to redesigning inverter specs around eventual failure. In this episode of Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with CJ Colavito, General Manager of Integrated Project Teams, and Jay Smith, VP of Operations and Maintenance and Asset Management, to discuss what they have learned from developing, building, owning, and operating commercial and community solar projects. The conversation goes deep on one of the biggest challenges facing the solar industry: how to balance cost, performance, reliability, and long-term asset value. Tim, CJ, and Jay also discuss: • Why thorough project diligence can reduce delays, change orders, and budget overruns • Standard Solar's integrated project team model and its focus on execution excellence • The challenges of rooftop solar and why project scale matters • Connector reliability, wire management, and lessons from thermal events • What Standard Solar looks for when selecting tracker technology • Tracker reliability, maintenance, snow shedding, and hail protection • Standard Solar's approach to inverter selection and long-term reliability • Why inverter failures can have a much greater financial impact than the initial equipment cost • The importance of manufacturer support and warranties over the life of a project • How changing supply-chain and foreign entity requirements are affecting equipment decisions • Adding AC-coupled batteries to existing community solar projects • How Standard Solar is adapting its business as the solar market and technology continue to evolve The episode comes at an important moment for the industry. As solar portfolios grow and assets age, the focus is increasingly shifting from simply adding megawatts to ensuring those assets can perform reliably over the long term. Listen to the full conversation for an inside look at how an experienced solar owner-operator thinks about technology, reliability, O&M, project execution, and the future of distributed solar. Connect with Guest Jay Smith LinkedIn CJ Colavito LinkedIn Standard Solar Website Support the show Connect with Tim Clean Power Hour Clean Power Hour on YouTube Tim on Twitter Tim on LinkedIn Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/ The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

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