Solar Power World

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers in their own words. We spoke with Billy Parish, founder and president of Mosaic. The company has made recent headlines with its innovative approach to financing solar projects by allowing the public to invest in solar via an online marketplace. You can find out more at joinmosaic.com.

Welcome to another edition from Solar Speaks, Solar Power World's podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry's biggest newsmakers — in their own words. In this chapter of the series, we speak with Tucker Ruberti, director of strategic marketing for Advanced Energy, to get his perspective on where the inverter currently is — and where it is going in the future.

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers in their own words. We spoke with Craig Lawrence, VP of Marketing at SolarBridge Technologies. Craig discussed what the solar leasing industry has to gain from ACPV. More From Craig Lawrence and SolarBridge Technologies: 4 Questions: Are Inverters Getting More Reliable? Don’t Be Fooled By AC Solar Module Pretenders To Snowy Chicago For An ACPV Solar Solution

Welcome to another edition of Contractors Corner, a Solar Power World podcast series in which our editors talk with solar contractors and installers just like you. This podcast series is a companion to the Contractor’s Corner column in the back of our print magazine and on our website, so make sure you read our featured solar contractors in our May issue. In this episode, we are talking to John Morrison, COO of Strata Solar in Chapel Hill, N.C., and a member of Solar Power World’s Top 100 Solar Contractors list. Read more about Strata Solar in our Contractors Corner column here. 

Welcome to another edition of Contractor’s Corner, a Solar Power World podcast series in which our editors talk with solar contractors and installers just like you. This podcast series is a companion to the Contractor’s Corner column in the back of our print magazine and on our website. In this episode, we are talking to Dan Weinman, president of PPC Solar in Taos, N.M., and a member of Solar Power World’s Top 100 Solar Contractors list.

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers — in their own words. We’re spoke to Peter Lynch, an advisor to Principal Solar Institute, investment banker and expert in renewable energy. He also penned the December 2012 cover story on feed-in tariffs in Solar Power World. This time, Peter is back to brag about the performance of his solar stocks last year, which is probably better than you might imagine.  Have a suggestion on someone we should talk to? Email fandorka@solarpowerworldonline.com, and we'll see what we can do.

Welcome to another edition of Contractor’s Corner, a Solar Power World podcast series in which our editors talk with solar contractors and installers just like you. In this episode, we are talking with Blake Jones, co-founder/president of Boulder, Colo.-based Namaste Solar. For more podcasts like this, see what's new in our Solar Speaks podcast series. Have a suggestion on someone we should talk to? Email fandorka@solarpowerworldonline.com, and we'll see what we can do.  

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers — in their own words. In this podcast, we featured  someone who made significant news at PV America 2013. Editorial Director Frank Andorka talked to Rob Threlkeld, renewable energy manager for General Motors. GM announced in February 2013 that they were going to be joining SEIA. (For our take on the announcement at the time, read Editorial Director Frank Andorka's breaking news article). Give the podcast a listen and let us know what you think.

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers — in their own words. Today we’re speaking with Damon Turley, Solar Business Development Manager, at Festo Corp. He has some interesting ideas on how to bring down the production costs of solar equipment.

As solar panel prices “dropped like a rock,” AllEarth Renewables CEO David Blittersdorf shifted his company’s focus from home wind turbines to the AllSun Tracker, a dual-axis solar tracker. “You need to be flexible and operate with speed,” the 30-year veteran of renewable energy says in this Solar Speaks podcast. Blittersdorf also discusses the federal budget cuts known as the sequester, which impact 1603 grants for solar installations. “We’ve decided to not start construction on projects until we have something out of Washington. Right now, everyone is running around saying, ‘Are they going to do anything?’” The CEO also talks about his Vermont-based company and the challenges it faces in regard to anti-wind legislation filtering through the state legislature. Studies show that just 10 to 15% of Vermont residents are opposed to wind energy, Blittersdorf says, yet well-funded and vocal NIMBY groups have put all renewable energy development in the state at risk, despite Vermont having very progressive renewable energy policies. Blittersdorf, the former CEO of NRG Systems, a leader in wind measurement devices, also touches on the challenges small wind faces and how it compares to solar. “Wind is sort of the step-child in the small renewables business,” at least in the Northeast, he says.

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers in their own words. We spoke with Rick Gilbert, vice president of Solar Source (which is one of Solar Power World’s Top 100 Solar Contractors). As a Florida-based solar installer, Rick tells us why, at this moment, the “Sunshine State” is actually one of the least solar friendly. Florida actually lags behind many others on total installed capacity. In fact, Rick says the state actually has policies that block solar development on any kind of medium to large scale.

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers in their own words. In this podcast, Richard Grant, principal at Russell Corrosion Consultants, discusses the role coatings play in protecting solar farms from corrosion and how the industry uses the company’s services.

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers in their own words. We spoke with Suni Ball, General Manager at Enerworks. In light of the call for entries for the 2013 Intersolar Awards, we discussed one of last year’s winners: Enerworks’ Oxford Gardens Solar Park in Eastern Canada. Suni told us more about Enerworks and what makes this project award-winning material. Intersolar will be accepting applications for 2013 project awards through March 28. And whether you’re part of a nominated solar project or just part of the industry don’t forget to make time to attend Intersolar North America this July 8-11 in San Francisco, California. Our Solar Power World team attends every year so we’ll see you there!

Welcome to another edition of Solar Speaks, Solar Power World’s podcast series that gives you the opportunity to hear from the industry’s biggest newsmakers in their own words. We spoke with George Caraghiaur, Simon Property Group’s senior vice president of sustainability. Your average shopping mall has food and clothing but George tells why Clay Terrace Mall in Indiana has something more. He describes the mall’s recent electric vehicle charging installation, which combines solar power and battery storage technology to create a plug-in ecosystem.

Editorial Director Frank Andorka sat down with SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch and SEPA President and CEO Julia Hamm at the PV America event in Philadelphia last week. In a wide-ranging discussion, Resch and Hamm discussed what they've seen so far in 2013 for the solar industry and what may lay in store as the year continues. In Part  Two  of the interview, Resch and Hamm discuss how they determine the policy positions are determined at SEIA and the plans for Solar Power International in Chicago in October.. Listen to Part Two of the interview, and let us know what you think.