The Energy Show

Barry Cinnamon

Every week Barry hosts The Energy Show, a 30 minute informative talk show that covers a broad variety of energy related topics spanning technology, economics, policy, and politics that are shaping the future of how we generate and consume electricity, along with practical money-saving tips on ways to reduce your home and business energy consumption.

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29 episodes
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Avg 28 min
English

Episodes 29

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Wednesday · 25 min
California’s new balcony solar (AKA plug-in solar) law takes effect January 1, 2027
On this week's The Energy Show, host Barry Cinnamon welcomes Kevin Chou, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Bright Saver, the nonprofit helping bring balcony solar to communities across the United States. Inspired by the explosive growth of balcony solar in Germany and Europe, Bright Saver is working to make DIY solar affordable, simple, and accessible to everyday Americans. And the numbers are surprisingly compelling. Episode Highlights: • California's SB 868: What the new balcony solar law means for renters • Why balcony solar could challenge traditional utility business models • The $400 solar system that could save approximately $365 annually • California's 1,200-watt limit and important UL safety requirements • How Bright Saver helped advance balcony solar legislation across 10 states • The future of balcony solar combined with battery storage • Why Barry believes balcony solar could introduce a new generation to clean energy #BalconySolar #PlugInSolar #SB868 #CaliforniaSolar #BrightSaver #KevinChou #BarryCinnamon #TheEnergyShow #CinnamonEnergySystems #SolarEnergy #PGandE #DIYsolar #SolarPanels #SolarForRenters #CaliforniaEnergy #SolarSavings #RenewableEnergy #UtilityRates #HomeElectrification #CleanEnergy #SolarLegislation #SolarPower #EnergyIndependence #SolarBatteryStorage #ElectricBills
October 28 · 25 min
California's $400 Solar Loophole Has Utilities Sweating.
Starting January 1, 2027, California's new balcony solar law, SB 868. On this week's The Energy Show, host Barry Cinnamon welcomes Kevin Chou, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Bright Saver, the nonprofit helping bring plug-in solar to communities across the United States. Inspired by the explosive growth of balcony solar in Germany and Europe, Bright Saver is working to make DIY solar affordable, simple, and accessible to everyday Americans. And the numbers are surprisingly compelling. Episode Highlights: • California's SB 868: What the new balcony solar law means for renters • Why plug-in solar could challenge traditional utility business models • The $400 solar system that could save approximately $365 annually • California's 1,200-watt limit and important UL safety requirements • How Bright Saver helped advance plug-in solar legislation across 10 states • The future of plug-in solar combined with battery storage • Why Barry believes balcony solar could introduce a new generation to clean energy #BalconySolar #PlugInSolar #SB868 #CaliforniaSolar #BrightSaver #KevinChou #BarryCinnamon #TheEnergyShow #CinnamonEnergySystems #SolarEnergy #PGandE #DIYsolar #SolarPanels #SolarForRenters #CaliforniaEnergy #SolarSavings #RenewableEnergy #UtilityRates #HomeElectrification #CleanEnergy #SolarLegislation #SolarPower #EnergyIndependence #SolarBatteryStorage #ElectricBills
October 14 · 35 min
Smart Energy Technology. Dumb Energy Policies.
This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Anoushka Tamhane, an MIT Climate Systems Engineering student who's researching battery storage and exploring an ingenious approach to geothermal heating and cooling. The technology is brilliant. The politics? Not so much. While students at MIT are developing the next generation of energy solutions, research funding cuts and changing policies are making their work more difficult. Barry and Anoushka discuss what happens when technological progress runs headfirst into political reality. Plus, Barry shares a few stories about working on experimental solar homes at MIT in 1978. Episode Highlights: • Why California homeowners are investing in battery storage while other states lag behind • How electricity rates and net metering policies influence solar and battery economics • Why backup power and blackout protection are driving battery adoption • Virtual power plants and getting paid to support the electric grid • Networked geothermal and sharing heating and cooling across entire neighborhoods • Turning waste heat from data centers, grocery stores and wastewater into usable energy • Massachusetts' geothermal pilot projects and the potential for lower installation costs • How outdated utility regulations and government policies slow clean energy innovation • The impact of federal research funding cuts on MIT and the next generation of energy engineers • Barry's early solar and geothermal research at MIT—and how far the technology has come • Why smarter energy technology needs smarter policies to succeed #TheEnergyShow #BarryCinnamon #MIT #CleanEnergy #SolarEnergy #EnergyPolicy #BatteryStorage #GeothermalEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyInnovation #VirtualPowerPlants #ElectricityRates #ClimateTechnology #EnergyTransition #AnoushkaTamhane
October 7 · 24 min
Solar’s Next Act, According to Tom Werner
This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits down with Tom Werner, who led SunPower from 2003 to 2020 and helped build it into one of the world's largest solar companies. Tom has ridden the solar coaster through booms, busts, policy changes and technology revolutions. And his assessment of 2026? It's actually worse than he expected. In some U.S. markets, Tom says residential solar is down 25–50% or more, as the industry deals with the loss of the residential tax credit, changing net-metering economics and a difficult transition to new financing models. But zoom out, and the picture gets much more interesting. Episode Highlights: • How badly the market has fallen since the tax credit disappeared • Why falling battery prices could change the equation • Why exploding electricity demand could revive distributed solar • How AI and data centers are creating enormous new grid loads • Why Virtual Power Plants could finally become a major opportunity • Why Tom, once skeptical of solar financing now says installers have to embrace it • How homes are slowly becoming their own miniature utilities
September 30 · 14 min
Your EV Has a Giant Battery. Why Aren’t We Using It?
This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits down with longtime solar industry leader Tom McCalmont, CEO of Paired Power and president of McCalmont Engineering, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing electrification: how do we add massive new electrical loads when there simply isn’t enough grid capacity? Tom's answer is surprisingly straightforward: stop thinking of the grid as the only source of power. By combining existing grid capacity with solar, battery storage, and intelligent energy management, Paired Power says it can install roughly six times as much EV charging capacity as the available grid connection could otherwise support. Episode Highlights: • How solar can dramatically expand available charging capacity • Why falling battery prices are changing the economics again • Why most EV drivers don't actually need ultra-fast charging • The coming shift toward Vehicle-to-Grid and Vehicle-to-Home • Why Tom still sees powerful tailwinds for solar and storage • What two 25-year solar veterans think happens after the latest ride on the “solar coaster”
September 16 · 45 min
Solar Service at Scale: John Berger on Pairing AI With People
Solar Is Installed. Now Who Keeps It Running? There are millions of solar panels, batteries, EV chargers and other energy systems installed on homes and businesses around the world. There's just one little problem: Someone has to keep all that stuff working. This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits down with John Berger, founder and CEO of Otovo Energy, to talk about what may be one of the biggest—and most overlooked—opportunities in clean energy: service and maintenance. Episode Highlights • Why solar installation and solar service are completely different businesses • Who maintains solar and batteries when the original installer disappears • Why recurring service could become a major clean-energy business • How AI is transforming customer service, scheduling and dispatch • Why AI could dramatically reduce the cost of running energy-service companies • What homeowners should demand before choosing a solar installer • How Virtual Power Plants depend on reliable, well-maintained batteries • Why rising electricity rates continue to improve solar economics • How AI data centers are putting enormous new pressure on the electric grid • Why distributed solar and batteries could become part of the solution One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is John's experience deploying AI throughout Otovo. The company is using AI not simply as a chatbot, but across customer care, scheduling, dispatch, sales and technician support. John argues that the technology is moving so quickly that "the humans have to catch up."
September 10 · 25 min
Aurora Solar CEO: Why 2027 Could Be Solar’s Comeback Year
With the 30% residential solar tax credit gone, the industry entered the year expecting installations to fall by as much as 20–30%. But rising electricity rates, cheaper batteries, new financing products and an increasingly unreliable grid are changing the math yet again. This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon talks with Charlie Herche, CEO of Aurora Solar, about where the residential solar and storage industry actually stands and what comes next. Episode Highlights: • Why residential solar installations are down in 2026 • Why batteries are becoming even more important to solar economics • How prepaid leases and PPAs can still capture federal tax incentives • What homeowners should look for when buying solar and storage • Why Virtual Power Plants could become a major source of value • How AI is changing solar design, sales and permitting • Whether balcony solar could become the "gateway drug" to rooftop solar • What installers need to do to survive and thrive in this market • Why Charlie expects solar and storage growth to begin recovering in 2027
September 2 · 36 min
Raghu Raps on Rising Sun Opportunities
2025 was a record year for residential solar and batteries. 2026 is shaping up to be a record bad one. The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone ... is residential solar in serious trouble? Not so fast. This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Raghu Belur, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Enphase, to talk about what comes next for homeowners, installers and the solar industry. Raghu and Barry have both been riding the solar coaster since the early days of residential solar and they've seen enough downturns to know that today's bad market doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow's bad business. Episode Highlights: • How prepaid leases can help homeowners capture economics similar to the former 30% tax credit • Enphase's new IQ9 microinverter and upcoming G5 battery • Why Enphase says its G5 battery costs are about 40% lower • Bidirectional EV charging and turning your car into a giant home battery • AI-powered solar, battery and home energy management • Why installers should go back to their existing customers • Expanding into EV charging, HVAC and commercial solar • Balcony solar as a gateway into home electrification • Falling battery costs and the next generation of power electronics
August 19 · 35 min
No Tax Credit, No Problem. The New Math for Home Solar.
With the 30% residential solar tax credit gone, the effective cost of going solar has jumped dramatically and residential installations are already down roughly 20–25%. For installers that historically relied on cash sales, the drop can be even worse. But before we start writing solar’s obituary, there are a few important plot twists. Electricity rates are still climbing. Blackouts aren’t exactly going out of style. Battery prices continue to improve. And, most importantly, leases, PPAs and prepaid financing can still give homeowners access to the economics of the 30% commercial tax credit. In other words, financing has gone from being something that helps sell solar to something that may determine whether solar gets sold at all. The tail is officially wagging the dog. This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon welcomes back solar finance expert Dan Javen, who correctly predicted many of the financing challenges now hitting the residential market. Episode Highlights: • Why residential solar is down 20–25% in 2026 • How leases, PPAs and prepaid leases can preserve the 30% tax-credit advantage • Which solar and battery companies may be best positioned to survive • Why standalone battery installations and Virtual Power Plants could become one of the industry's biggest opportunities •Why Dan believes the real solar-and-storage recovery may begin around 2028
August 5 · 19 min
VPP: Your Battery's Side Hustle?
Utilities, finance companies, and software aggregators have suddenly discovered something valuable: Your battery. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) promise easy money by letting utilities tap into thousands of home batteries during periods of high demand. Sounds great... until you discover who actually makes the biggest profits. In this week's Energy Show, Barry digs into the fine print behind today's VPP programs and explains why some are a fantastic deal and others are little more than a money grab. If you've invested thousands in a home battery, don't let someone else cash the checks. Before you enroll your battery, watch this first. Episode Highlights: • Why utilities suddenly LOVE your battery • Which VPPs actually pay homeowners and which barely do • Why letting utilities run VPPs is like letting the fox guard the henhouse • Hidden battery wear, cycling, taxes, and blackout risks nobody mentions • California's DSGS vs ELRP programs—which pays more? • Why AI data centers are making VPPs more valuable than ever • How to know if your battery is working for you... or someone else
July 29 · 7 min
DIY Home Energy Hacks That Slash Electric Bills
Everyone wants lower utility bills. Unfortunately, many homeowners start with expensive projects that deliver disappointing returns. That's because most energy audits focus on generic recommendation not the upgrades that make the biggest difference for your home. This week on The Energy Show, Barry shares the Low Hanging Fruit of home electrification, the affordable improvements that often pay for themselves in just a year or two. Episode Highlights: • Which DIY projects deliver the biggest savings • Why utility energy audits often miss the mark • How to eliminate "vampire loads" • When attic insulation makes sense—and when replacing windows doesn't • Why timing matters when running electric dryers and pool pumps • How to prioritize solar, batteries, heat pumps, and EV charging after you've tackled the basics Don't waste money chasing tiny improvements with huge price tags. Start with the upgrades that actually deliver. #HomeElectrification #EnergyAudit #DIYHomeImprovement #EnergyEfficiency #SolarPower #BatteryStorage #HeatPump #ElectricBills #LEDLighting #SmartThermostat #Weatherstripping #HVAC #Insulation #PoolPump #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #HomeEnergy #CaliforniaEnergy #BarryCinnamon #TheEnergyShow
July 22 · 27 min
The Good, The Bad & The Battery
If you're considering solar, adding battery storage, or simply preparing for the next outage, this episode could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of frustration. Battery ads make everything look simple: backup power, lower bills, AI-powered energy management, and easy savings. Reality? Not so much. After installing thousands of battery systems over the last 25 years, Barry shares the candid advice most manufacturers and salespeople never mention. Episode Highlights: • Why complete battery systems matter more than mixing components • The difference between kW and kWh (and why buying the wrong size can leave you in the dark) • How load shedding and essential load panels can keep your home running during a blackout • Why software and mobile apps now matter as much as the battery hardware • Whether Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are actually worth joining • What years of real-world installer data says about battery reliability Barry also explains why local installers often recommend only one or two battery brands—and why that's usually a very good sign. Bigger product catalogs don't necessarily mean better expertise. Whether you're installing your first battery, upgrading an existing solar system, or trying to make sense of all the marketing hype, this episode will help you make a smarter decision before spending thousands of dollars.
July 15 · 57 min
Beach Explains High Electric Rates
Think your electric bill is high because of rooftop solar? That's exactly what AI told us... and AI IS WRONG. This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Tom Beach, Principal Consultant at Crossborder Energy and one of California's leading experts on utility rate design, to expose what's really driving record-high electricity prices. Spoiler: It isn't your neighbor's solar panels. Episode Highlights: • Why AI repeats utility talking points instead of considering independent expert analyses • Why PG&E says rates are "going down" while your electric bills keep “going up" • The "heads I win, tails you lose” utility business model • Why municipal utilities charge HALF as much as investor owned utilities • The truth about fixed charges, departing load fees, and the so-called "solar cost shift" • How the data center buildout will likely increase your electric bill under the current regulatory framework So…if you've ever looked at your utility bill and thought "This makes absolutely no sense," this episode is for you. #TheEnergyShow #PGE #ElectricBills #CaliforniaEnergy #SolarEnergy #RooftopSolar #EnergyShow #BarryCinnamon #UtilityRates #Electricity #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #CPUC #HomeSolar #EnergyPolicy #DataCenters #EVCharging #HeatPumps #UtilityMonopoly #California #EnergyNews #BalconySolar
July 1 · 17 min
AI vs Heat Pump Expert: Who Wins?
Everyone's asking AI for answers these days. • How big should my heat pump be? • Should I get mini-splits? • Will a heat pump save money? • Can AI actually design a comfortable HVAC system? This week Barry decided to find out. He asked AI a series of common homeowner questions about heat pumps and then brought in heat pump design expert Daniel Rares to see how the answers stacked up in the real world. The results were surprisingly good... and occasionally completely wrong. Turns out designing a heat pump system isn't just about software calculations and internet answers. It's about understanding how people actually live in their homes, how buildings perform, and why the "obvious" answer isn't always the right one. Can AI replace experienced HVAC designers? Not yet. Watch this entertaining battle between artificial intelligence and real-world expertise.
June 24 · 27 min
AI is Eating the Grid
AI is hungry. Very hungry. And it's coming for your electricity. Every ChatGPT prompt, AI image, Google search, streaming video, and cloud application runs inside massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of power. But where will that power come from? And who's going to pay for it? In this episode of The Energy Show, Barry explains why utilities, data centers, and consumers are headed for a collision course over electricity. In this episode: • Why data centers are rated by megawatts instead of computing power • Training AI vs inference AI: what's the difference? • Why AI data centers create massive power spikes • The surprising role batteries play in modern AI facilities • Why utilities are struggling to keep up with demand • The environmental promises Big Tech may not be able to keep • Four possible futures for AI, utilities, and electricity prices Bottom line: AI needs power. Utilities want profits. Rooftop solar and battery storage could solve the problem faster. #DataCenters #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #ElectricityRates #UtilityBills #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #RenewableEnergy #EnergyPolicy #GridInfrastructure #EnergyTransition #RooftopSolar #EnergyStorage #CleanEnergy #PowerGrid #TheEnergyShow #BarryCinnamon #CinnamonEnergySystems #AIInfrastructure #EnergyEconomics
June 10 · 30 min
Don’t Make These 4 Energy Investment Mistakes
The energy world just changed. Again. For years solar, batteries, EVs and heat pumps were sold as clean alternatives. Now they're simply the least expensive alternatives. In this episode, Barry Cinnamon explains why economics -- not politics — is driving the next phase of the energy transition, and why fossil fuel interests are fighting harder than ever to slow this transition down. In this episode: • Why electrons beat molecules every time • The real economics of EVs vs gasoline vehicles • Why solar and batteries keep getting cheaper • The deployment realities of geothermal, nuclear, hydrogen and other "next big thing” technologies • Why Direct Air Capture may be one of the most expensive ways imaginable to solve a CO2 problem • How politics and lobbying distort energy markets • Why homeowners should focus on thermodynamics and economics—not headlines and politician proclamations The future of energy isn't complicated. It's solar. It's batteries. It's EVs. It's heat pumps. And it's happening whether the fossil fuel industry likes it or not. #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #CleanEnergy #EnergyTransition #EVs #ElectricVehicles #HeatPumps #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #Tesla #EnergyShow #BarryCinnamon #ClimateTech #HomeElectrification #EnergyIndependence #LithiumBatteries #SolarBatteries #CleanTech #DistributedEnergy #EnergyEconomics
May 27 · 16 min
Is Balcony Solar BS or The Bomb?
Did you know that you can plug solar panels into a WALL outlet! Utility executives are spewing out their morning coffee. Who would have thought a good little solar panel could destroy our wicked trillion dollar business! ???????????? Balcony Solar — AKA Plug-In Solar — is coming and is inevitable. Europeans love Balcony Solar. Renters love Balcony Solar. Utilities…they’d rather come down with Ebola. Because these small solar systems let people make their own electricity without paying a huge connect fee and ongoing tolls to utilities. Just to connect to OUR electric grid. In this episode: • How Balcony Solar works • Real world savings from a standard Balcony Solar system • Why utilities are flat-out lying about Balcony Solar • Installing Balcony Solar safely and in compliance with local regulations • California’s pending Balcony Solar law • And watch out...Balcony Solar is a gateway drug to Rooftop Solar Tiny solar systems. Savings for renters. BIG utility drama.
May 20 · 44 min
Mitsubishi Beats Your Heating Bills
Barry’s Heat Pump Promises: 1. Your AC will die on the hottest day of the year 2. PG&E gas rates will keep going up 3. Resistance — to electrification — is futile So… are heat pumps part of the solution, or just part of the precipitate…or problem? This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits down with Dana Fischer from Mitsubishi Electric to explore the truths about modern heat pump systems — and why today’s technology is NOTHING like the loud, inefficient, polluting heating and cooling systems in most homes. In this episode: • Why California’s new “AC2HP” rules could impact your next HVAC replacement • Manual J, no way José • The hidden differences between old-school heat pumps and today’s inverter-driven systems • The #1 sizing mistake that causes comfort problems and high bills • How homeowners are cutting gas usage and moving toward all-electric homes • Heat pump rebates, tax credits, and hidden savings opportunities • Maintenance tips that can save you thousands over the life of your system • How heat pumps can improve indoor air quality while reducing smog and pollution If your AC system is aging — or you’re even THINKING about replacing your HVAC system — this episode could save you from making a very expensive mistake.
May 6 · 16 min
Here’s Why Solar in Australia is Cheaper than the U.S.
Barry' been bashing his head against the wall for over two decades to reduce solar and battery system costs in the U.S. So on his recent “vacation” to Australia, he did a deep dive into solar costs Down Under. As Jigar, Saul and Birchy have observed, solar and battery system costs in Australia are one fourth the price of comparable systems in the U.S. But the REAL reasons for these high costs are not what you may think. • It’s not greedy installers — although there are still too many sleaze bags. • It’s no longer permitting — although improvements can still be made. • It’s not because we don’t manufacturer the equipment in the U.S. — although we can and should. It’s because we have lousy energy policies in the U.S. -- from the Federal government down to local city councils. Barry identifies four specific policy changes that will make solar much more affordable in the U.S. So tune into this week’s Energy Show for a detailed solar and battery cost breakdown, capped off with the changes we need to make in the U.S. to reduce solar and battery costs for homes and businesses.
April 22 · 47 min
Replacing Your Air Conditioner MAY Be Illegal!
That’s right, in many California cities you MUST replace a broken air conditioner condenser with a dual-purpose heat pump. These Reach Codes — also known as AC2HP Requirements — are currently in effect in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Mountain View and Alameda. Barry’s guest on this week’s Energy Show is nationally-known HVAC expert Nate Adams, “The House Whisperer.” Nate and Barry provide a no-BS breakdown of what’s changing, relative costs and savings, and how you can make the smartest decision when your AC is no longer cool. Episode Highlights: Why cities are forcing AC 2 Heat Pump upgrades The REAL upgrade costs: it’s complicated Why heat pumps are now outselling traditional AC systems How a heat pump will make your home more comfortable, efficient and safer The best ways to find a contractor that knows new AC2HP requirements

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