Podcasts about benoy thanjan

In this episode, Benoy Thanjan speaks with João Barreto, CEO of EDPR NA Distributed Generation, at the ACORE Finance Forum. They explore the rapid evolution of distributed generation (DG) in the U.S., community solar market trends, and how EDPR is deploying capital to meet growing clean energy demand. Topics Covered: The origin and growth of EDPR NA DG and its 12 GW+ installed capacity in North America Why distributed generation is a key complement to utility-scale solar and wind EDPR's strategic focus on Northeast and California DG markets Insights on the impact of the House tax bill on renewable investment timelines The policy-driven nature of community solar, and why California's program rollback was a missed opportunity EDPR's balanced strategy between greenfield development and co-development partnerships The challenge of navigating interconnection and permitting inconsistency across the U.S. How EDPR differentiates in the DG space through experience, local presence, and global customer relationships Perspectives on integrating storage with DG, and current limitations in markets like New York Key Quote: “Distributed generation is policy-driven—and understanding how to position in the right markets at the right time is what creates long-term value.” – João Barreto   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  João Salvação Barreto Chief Executive Officer, EDPR NA Distributed Generation João Salvação Barreto is the CEO of EDPR North America Distributed Generation, the distributed solar and storage business unit of EDP Renewables NA. Promoted to this role in June 2024, Barreto leads a fast-growing platform that manages over 280 MW AC of solar and storage assets across 25 U.S. states—with substantial expansions in key markets like New York, Maine, and Illinois.  He joined EDP in 2014 as part of its Global M&A and Corporate Development group. Over the next decade, he held leadership roles including Chief Commercial Officer, during which he oversaw major acquisitions such as Sunseap (now EDPR APAC) and C2 (now EDPR NA DG). He also chaired EDP's Investment Committee from 2020 to 2023, guiding the company's strategic investment priorities João's professional experience spans 23 years in real estate, 13 years in medical investments, and work in the defense industry, where he built relationships with international governments and organizations He holds a degree from the Nova School of Business and Economics and is fluent in leveraging his multidisciplinary background to advance distributed solar finance, partnerships, and grid resilience  Under his leadership, EDPR NA DG is focused on expanding its community solar, C&I, and behind-the-meter portfolios while emphasizing partnerships, innovation, and operational excellence. João is a frequent participant and speaker at industry finance events, including the Financial Times/Nikkei Investing in America Summit and Infocast Solar Power Finance & Investment forums, where he highlights the importance of distributed generation in the energy transition   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   João Salvação Barreto Website:  https://www.edp.com/en Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/joão-salvação-barreto-90929a3b/ WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Location: Gotham Hall, New York City Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector  Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones  The link to register is below. https://wrise20thanniversarygala.rsvpify.com/?mc_cid=2c22b50623&mc_eid=0dfa02be45&securityToken=qZn8wqQI1mC1uMRPyb08kNwbscQ23wtX

Episode Overview In this episode, recorded live at the ACORE Finance Forum in NYC, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Ray Long, President & CEO of ACORE. They discuss the evolving clean energy finance landscape, grid permitting challenges, policy battles around the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the exponential demand for power driven by AI and electrification. Ray also shares the history and mission of ACORE—from its origins connecting Wall Street to developers in 2001, to its current role as a leading voice in renewable energy policy and finance. Key Themes & Takeaways Explosive Growth in Power Demand U.S. energy demand remained flat for decades—but is now rising due to: AI and cloud computing Electrification of buildings and manufacturing EV charging infrastructure Urgent need for scalable solutions—wind, solar, storage, and natural gas are critical in the next 5–10 years IRA Threatened by Tax Bill “Big Beautiful Bill” proposes eliminating key tax incentives from the IRA Would undermine progress and financing certainty across clean energy markets Industry needs a thoughtful, phased approach, not abrupt disruption Permitting & Interconnection Bottlenecks Interconnection Crisis Major ISOs like PJM are overwhelmed—some developers face 7+ year delays Load centers like Virginia see 100+ data center projects awaiting connection ACORE's Macro Grid Initiative pushes for regulatory fixes and grid modernization Bipartisan Momentum & Strategy ACORE promotes an “all of the above” strategy—recognizing solar, wind, storage, natural gas, and emerging tech Urges policymakers to emulate China's aggressive infrastructure and energy approach Emphasizes renewables as a national competitiveness issue—not just environmental Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.  Ray Long Ray Long leads the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) as President and Chief Executive Officer.   ACORE is the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to expanding the use of renewable energy technologies for American homes and businesses. This mission is as important and relevant today as it was back in 2001. As CEO, Long is privileged to lead a team of dedicated professionals and an equally passionate group of members and contributors who enable ACORE's strategic initiatives.   ACORE's members operate in all 50 states, and in 2022, they financed, developed, built and owned over 90% of new, utility-scale renewable energy projects. Under Long's leadership, ACORE continues to expand the framework that has enabled the industry's growth through bipartisan outreach, accurate and compelling analysis, and effective collaboration.  Long is a respected energy executive, having spent over 25 years representing and growing conventional and renewable energy companies in the United States. Most recently, Long was Senior Vice President of External Affairs and a member of the management team at Clearway Energy. Throughout his career, Long helped to build successful government, regulatory and communications teams, utilizing a campaign management approach to policy and project development challenges.   Long earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Administration from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife.     Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Ray Long Website:  https://acore.org/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-long-a89a816/   WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Location: Gotham Hall, New York City Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector  Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones  The link to register is below. https://wrise20thanniversarygala.rsvpify.com/?mc_cid=2c22b50623&mc_eid=0dfa02be45&securityToken=qZn8wqQI1mC1uMRPyb08kNwbscQ23wtX

Unlocking Energy Storage Value: PJM Market Reforms with Brattle Group's Serena Patel Episode Overview: In this special live episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, recorded at the 2025 Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Industries Association (“MSSIA”) Solar & Storage Insight Conference in New Brunswick, NJ, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Serena Patel, Energy Research Associate at The Brattle Group, to unpack critical energy storage market reforms in the PJM interconnection. The conversation focuses on a groundbreaking report from Brattle, commissioned by the American Clean Power Association, that lays out a roadmap for unlocking the full value of energy storage across U.S. energy markets. Key Topics Covered: Why PJM's current market design undervalues flexible storage resources The two most urgent market reforms: ▪ Opportunity cost bidding for energy storage ▪ Creation of new ancillary service and ramping reserve products How suppressed price signals hinder storage operators' revenue Lessons from other RTOs like CAISO and NYISO that PJM can implement now The case for all-source procurement in local reliability planning The critical role of stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy to push reforms forward Featured Report: Energy Storage Market Design Reforms: A Roadmap to Unlock the Potential of Energy Storage By: Brattle Group for the American Clean Power Association Released: April 2025 https://www.brattle.com/insights-events/publications/brattle-experts-prepared-an-energy-storage-market-reform-roadmap-for-several-us-electricity-markets/ Notable Quotes: “Our current systems were built for legacy fossil fuel generators. If we don't reform the markets now, we risk undervaluing the flexibility that storage offers.” – Serena Patel “Opportunity cost bidding would help storage developers maximize revenue by bidding strategically, rather than being constrained by outdated market rules.” – Serena Patel   Takeaway for Developers & Policymakers: To accelerate storage deployment, developers must actively engage in PJM stakeholder processes and advocate for reforms that enable revenue stacking and flexibility compensation. The Brattle report offers actionable insights to guide that involvement.   Thanks to MSSIA: Special thanks to the MiSSIA for hosting the Solar Maverick Podcast at their first annual conference and for their continued solar and storage advocacy in NJ, PA, and DE.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.    Serena Patel  Serena Patel is an Energy Research Associate at The Brattle Group, where she focuses on electricity market design and energy storage economics. She was a lead author on the ACP-sponsored market reform report and is deeply involved in clean energy policy development.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Serena Patel Website:  https://www.brattle.com/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/serena-naresh-patel/   Summer Solstice Fundraiser Join Reneu Energy, Rosemawr Management, Polar Racking, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser! This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. Event Highlights: -Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy. -Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening. -Tickets: $50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with JD Dillon, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at Tigo Energy. This conversation dives into how Tigo is transforming residential solar with a smarter, service-driven approach. JD shares insights from his unique career journey — from West Point and semiconductors to helping lead the turnaround at Enphase, and now steering Tigo's growth as a public company. The discussion explores the growing importance of software and service in solar, the booming market for repowering legacy systems, and why bipartisan support makes solar a winning issue across the political spectrum. JD also highlights lessons from semiconductor manufacturing, the value of veteran leadership in clean energy, and how Tigo's open ecosystem and installer-first mindset are setting the company apart. Key Topics Covered: Tigo's evolution from MLPE to full energy solutions Why service and software will define the next era of solar Repowering as a high-growth opportunity for residential solar How open ecosystems and rapid install feedback drive innovation The intersection of military leadership and renewable energy U.S. vs. global rooftop solar adoption rates — and how to catch up What the solar industry can learn from semiconductors Why solar transcends political divisions and continues to scale Trends in storage, energy independence, and grid resilience Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.    James (JD) Dillon CHIEF MARKETING & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE OFFICER at Tigo Energy JD leads branding, demand generation, and communications functions in addition to the technical service and support teams at Tigo Energy. His experience spans the U.S. Armed Forces, semiconductors, solid-state drives, as well as solar hardware and software solutions. His functional leadership has impacted pricing, new product introduction, customer experience, and communications at all levels. Prior to joining Tigo in 2020, JD spent over 3 years as the VP of Marketing and Pricing at Enphase Energy. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   JD Dillon Website:  https://www.tigoenergy.com/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jd-dillon/   Summer Solstice Fundraiser Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser! Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. Event Highlights: -Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy. -Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening. -Tickets: $50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652  

In this inspiring episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Bernie Jordan and Lucas Barreto from the Let's Share the Sun Foundation to discuss their recent solar installations in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. Recorded on-site after a powerful week of hands-on work, this conversation highlights the transformative impact of bringing solar and storage to families with critical 24-hour medical needs. Benoy, Bernie, and Lucas reflect on the mission-driven approach of Let's Share the Sun, the collaborative spirit of the solar delegation, and the real-world outcomes of providing clean, resilient energy in vulnerable communities. From logistical challenges to emotional moments with families, this episode sheds light on how solar energy can directly improve lives—and how listeners can get involved. Don't miss this heartfelt and motivating discussion on how renewable energy is changing lives one rooftop at a time.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.     Bernie Jordan Executive Director, Let's Share the Sun Foundation Bernie Jordan is the Executive Director of Let's Share the Sun Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing solar energy to communities living in energy poverty around the world. With a background in solar development and a passion for social impact, Bernie has helped drive solar installations in underserved areas across Puerto Rico, Haiti, Nepal, and beyond. Under Bernie's leadership, Let's Share the Sun has created powerful partnerships with solar companies, local governments, and mission-driven volunteers to deliver reliable, renewable energy to families with critical needs—especially those requiring 24/7 electricity for medical care. His work sits at the intersection of clean energy, humanitarian relief, and environmental justice. Bernie brings deep insight into how solar can be a tool for both sustainability and equity, and he continues to inspire others to use their expertise for global good.   Lucas Barreto – Director of Operations, Let's Share the Sun Foundation Lucas Barreto serves as the Director of Operations at Let's Share the Sun Foundation, where he leads on-the-ground efforts to bring solar energy to off-grid and underserved communities around the world. With a strong background in engineering, project management, and international development, Lucas plays a vital role in designing and executing solar installations that provide life-changing energy access to families in need. His work spans diverse geographies—from coordinating solar + storage systems in Puerto Rico for families with medical dependencies to deploying clean energy in rural villages in Central America and the Caribbean. Lucas is known for his hands-on leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to building local capacity and community partnerships. Driven by a belief that energy is a human right, Lucas is helping transform the way renewable energy is used for social impact.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Bernie Jordan Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadette-jordan/ Website:  https://www.letssharethesun.org/   Lucas Barreto Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-barreto-652b06189/ Website:  https://www.letssharethesun.org/     If you are interested in donating to Let's Share the Sun, the link is below.   https://www.letssharethesun.org/contribute     Previous Episodes that Let's Share the Sun Foundation was on the Solar Maverick Podcast https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-129-learn-about-a-great-non-profit-called-let-s-share-the-sun-foundation/   https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-132-update-on-the-great-progress-of-let-s-share-the-sun-foundation/   Let's Share the Sun Vidoes https://www.youtube.com/@LetsShareTheSun       Thank you to AMS Renewable Energy for Sponsoring this Episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast! This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by our sponsor—AMS Renewable Energy. AMS is a top-tier solar EPC that operates with the precision and mindset of a commercial general contractor. Headquartered in the Bronx, New York—and licensed nationwide—AMS has over 30 years of construction experience, tackling even the most complex solar projects with unmatched expertise and craftsmanship. Whether it's a challenging C&I rooftop, ground mount, or full turnkey solution, AMS is committed to best-in-class service and results that last. If you're looking for a solar EPC partner who understands construction inside and out—AMS Renewable Energy should be at the top of your list. Learn more at [ams-renewable.com] and tell them the Solar Maverick sent you!    Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference  Benoy Thanjan will be hosting a live Solar Maverick Podcast Interview at Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference on May 6, 2025 in New Brunswick, NJ.  The link is below. https://whova.com/web/AVRBHPdoRkL-XvNBu2m3OvHy6VIA89QrX7muVARCKeo=/   Summer Solstice Fundraiser Join Reneu Energy, Rosemawr, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser! Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. Event Highlights: -Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy. -Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening. -Tickets: $50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652                                                    

Episode Summary: In this replay episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan kicks off the debut episode of Sunvoy's new podcast series, What Solar Installers Need to Know? With over 20 years of experience in the energy industry, Benoy joins Joe Marhamati, co-founder of Sunvoy, for a candid and insightful conversation covering the real-world challenges and opportunities shaping solar today. Topics Covered: The ongoing headaches of interconnection and how to navigate them How community solar is opening up new possibilities Why project financing is evolving—and what you need to know now The overlooked potential of renewable energy credits (RECs) How tariffs are disrupting the solar supply chain What's next: battery tech, blockchain, and vehicle-to-grid innovation Whether you're deep in solar development or just passionate about clean energy and grid transformation, this episode is packed with practical insights and future-focused takes.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.   Joe Marhamati What gets me out of bed every day is helping solar installers learn from my lived experience in building and selling an eight-figure solar business, not just the successes but also the mistakes. In my current role as co-founder and CFO of Sunvoy, I help solar installers build their brands by building a white-labeled customer portal and fleet management platform to bring together all of their fleet data into a single location. I'm also passionate about helping solar installers with their tech stack, growth strategy, management and leadership direction, and exit plans. My results: → Spent nearly 10 years at the U.S. Department of Energy // Obama White House helping to catalyze the modern cleantech industry → Built and scaled Ipsun Solar 0-$12M in revenue → Grew a team of over 60 in service of the mission of installing residential and commercial rooftop solar → Started Sunvoy to help solar installers worldwide scale their businesses → In April 2024 exited solar construction business to help other solar business owners with Sunvoy → During the last 16 months I've helped more than 50 solar businesses throughout North and South America and Europe to build their brand equity and grow referrals with Sunvoy When I coach solar business owners, I teach them how to build efficient, profitable revenue growth, how to go to market the new way, a relentless focus on the customer, team, speed, execution, brand & culture. And build an ecosystem around their company. If you want to connect with me, reach out via the Sunvoy website: https://sunvoy.com/blog or send me an email: joe@sunvoy.com.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Joe Marhamati Sunvoy Website:  https://sunvoy.com/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/marhamati/ Email:  joe@sunvoy.com Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-road-to-2050-whats-next-for-renewables/id1807739671?i=1000703572338      Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference  Benoy Thanjan will be hosting a live Solar Maverick Podcast Interview at Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference on May 6, 2025 in New Brunswick, NJ.  The link is below. https://whova.com/web/AVRBHPdoRkL-XvNBu2m3OvHy6VIA89QrX7muVARCKeo=/   Summer Solstice Fundraiser Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser! Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. Event Highlights: -Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy. -Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening. -Tickets: $50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan speaks with Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Principal Analyst and Senior Research Manager at Wood Mackenzie and host of The Interchange: Recharged podcast. Sylvia specializes in utility-scale solar and shares valuable insights on the evolving landscape of the solar industry. Topics Covered Include: The impact of tariffs on solar equipment and the broader market Key trends driving the utility-scale solar sector Policy and regulatory developments to watch Sylvia's long-term outlook for solar deployment and adoption   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.     Sylvia Leyva Martinez Sylvia is a Principal Analyst (Senior Research Manager) at Wood Mackenzie, a leading global provider of data, analysis, and consulting services to the energy, chemicals, metals, and mining sectors. With over 9 years of experience in renewable energy finance and strategy, Sylvia lead the research and analysis of the North American utility-scale solar market, delivering insights and recommendations to clients across the industry value chain. As part of my role at WoodMac, Sylvia is currently the host of The Interchange Recharged podcast, where every two weeks I do a deep dive into the main policies, actors, and issues shaping the energy transition.   My core competencies include solar capacity forecasting, market trend adoption, supply chain dynamics, procurement strategy development, contract structure evolution, renewable asset valuation, risk mitigation strategies, debt-equity structures, and alternative financing. Syliva also has a strong background in power market modeling, transaction support, and due diligence of solar, wind, and storage assets in North America and Latin America.   Sylvia holds a Master's degree in Renewable Energy from EPF - Ecole d'Ingénieur-e-s in France and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics from ITESM Monterrey in Mexico. Sylvia is fluent in Spanish, English, and French. Sylvia is a seasoned public speaker with experience presenting at international conferences, and to C-suite and senior stakeholders. Sylvia is a people-first, value-driven manager and a leader deeply invested in my team. Sylvia is passionate about supporting women (within the renewables space and beyond), advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy, and empowering stakeholders to make informed and sustainable decisions.     Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Sylvia Leyva Martinez Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solarsylvia/ Website:  https://www.woodmac.com/   Host of the Interchange Recharged podcast: https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/the-interchange-recharged/   Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025 organized by Wood Mackenzie   23 to 24 April 2025   Denver, CO   https://www.woodmac.com/events/solar-energy-storage-summit/   Thank you to AMS Renewable Energy for Sponsoring this Episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast! This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by our sponsor—AMS Renewable Energy. AMS is a top-tier solar EPC that operates with the precision and mindset of a commercial general contractor. Headquartered in the Bronx, New York—and licensed nationwide—AMS has over 30 years of construction experience, tackling even the most complex solar projects with unmatched expertise and craftsmanship. Whether it's a challenging C&I rooftop, ground mount, or full turnkey solution, AMS is committed to best-in-class service and results that last. If you're looking for a solar EPC partner who understands construction inside and out—AMS Renewable Energy should be at the top of your list. Learn more at [ams-renewable.com] and tell them the Solar Maverick sent you!   Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference  Benoy Thanjan will be hosting a live Solar Maverick Podcast Interview at Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference on May 6, 2025 in New Brunswick, NJ.  The link is below. https://whova.com/web/AVRBHPdoRkL-XvNBu2m3OvHy6VIA89QrX7muVARCKeo=/   Summer Solstice Fundraiser Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser! Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. Event Highlights: -Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy. -Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening. -Tickets: $50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652                                                   In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan speaks with Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Principal Analyst and Senior Research Manager at Wood Mackenzie and host of The Interchange: Recharged podcast. Sylvia specializes in utility-scale solar and shares valuable insights on the evolving landscape of the solar industry. Topics Covered Include: The impact of tariffs on solar equipment and the broader market Key trends driving the utility-scale solar sector Policy and regulatory developments to watch Sylvia's long-term outlook for solar deployment and adoption   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.   Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.    Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.     He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.       Sylvia Leyva Martinez   Sylvia is a Principal Analyst (Senior Research Manager) at Wood Mackenzie, a leading global provider of data, analysis, and consulting services to the energy, chemicals, metals, and mining sectors. With over 9 years of experience in renewable energy finance and strategy, Sylvia lead the research and analysis of the North American utility-scale solar market, delivering insights and recommendations to clients across the industry value chain. As part of my role at WoodMac, Sylvia is currently the host of The Interchange Recharged podcast, where every two weeks I do a deep dive into the main policies, actors, and issues shaping the energy transition.   My core competencies include solar capacity forecasting, market trend adoption, supply chain dynamics, procurement strategy development, contract structure evolution, renewable asset valuation, risk mitigation strategies, debt-equity structures, and alternative financing. Syliva also has a strong background in power market modeling, transaction support, and due diligence of solar, wind, and storage assets in North America and Latin America.   Sylvia holds a Master's degree in Renewable Energy from EPF - Ecole d'Ingénieur-e-s in France and a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics from ITESM Monterrey in Mexico. Sylvia is fluent in Spanish, English, and French. Sylvia is a seasoned public speaker with experience presenting at international conferences, and to C-suite and senior stakeholders. Sylvia is a people-first, value-driven manager and a leader deeply invested in my team. Sylvia is passionate about supporting women (within the renewables space and beyond), advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy, and empowering stakeholders to make informed and sustainable decisions.     Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Sylvia Leyva Martinez Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solarsylvia/ Website:  https://www.woodmac.com/   Host of the Interchange Recharged podcast:  https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/the-interchange-recharged/   Solar & Energy Storage Summit 2025 organized by Wood Mac   23 to 24 April 2025   Denver, CO   https://www.woodmac.com/events/solar-energy-storage-summit/   Thank you to AMS Renewable Energy for Sponsoring this Episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast! This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by our sponsor—AMS Renewable Energy. AMS is a top-tier solar EPC that operates with the precision and mindset of a commercial general contractor. Headquartered in the Bronx, New York—and licensed nationwide—AMS has over 30 years of construction experience, tackling even the most complex solar projects with unmatched expertise and craftsmanship. Whether it's a challenging C&I rooftop, ground mount, or full turnkey solution, AMS is committed to best-in-class service and results that last. If you're looking for a solar EPC partner who understands construction inside and out—AMS Renewable Energy should be at the top of your list. Learn more at [ams-renewable.com] and tell them the Solar Maverick sent you!    Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference  Benoy Thanjan will be hosting a live Solar Maverick Podcast Interview at Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Insight Conference on May 6, 2025 in New Brunswick, NJ.  The link is below. https://whova.com/web/AVRBHPdoRkL-XvNBu2m3OvHy6VIA89QrX7muVARCKeo=/   Summer Solstice Fundraiser Join Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast for the 2025 Summer Solstice Fundraiser! Celebrate the warm weather with us at the Summer Solstice Fundraiser, hosted by Reneu Energy, Positive Deviancy ,and the Solar Maverick Podcast. This special evening will take place on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 PM to 10 PM at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ. We'll also be raising funds for the Let's Share the Sun Foundation, which aids impoverished communities in harnessing solar energy. Event Highlights: -Venue: Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse co-owned by Benoy, CEO of Reneu Energy. -Time: 6 PM to 10 PM, with delicious food throughout the evening. -Tickets: $50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/reneuenergy/1653652                                                    

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan is joined by co-host and clean energy advocate Nate Jovanelly, CEO of Sunraise Capital. Together, they dive into the evolving dynamics of the residential solar market and why now is a pivotal time for homeowners and investors alike. The discussion explores how increasing electricity rates are fueling a greater need for residential solar adoption, the current lag in solar penetration across the U.S., and how solar tax credits can be a game-changing financial strategy for investors.  

In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Richard Weihe, Managing Director of Rosemawr Sustainable Infrastructure Management. Rich shares valuable insights on unlocking capital in the renewable energy sector, key trends shaping the solar industry, and why solar should be considered a national security asset. Rosemawr Management is a credit-focused investment firm specializing in municipal finance, sustainable infrastructure, and charter schools. Founded in 2008, the firm currently manages over $1 billion in assets. Its sustainable infrastructure portfolio spans solar, energy storage, wind, and energy efficiency projects across the United States.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.   Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.    Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.     He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.       Rich Weihe   ​Richard Weihe is the Managing Director of Rosemawr Sustainable Infrastructure Management, a division of Rosemawr Management LLC. Rosemawr Management, established in 2008, is an alternative investment management firm specializing in the U.S. municipal, not-for-profit, and sustainable infrastructure sectors.  He has over 20 years of experience in energy.     Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Rich Weihe Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-weihe-020b6a7/ Email:  rweihe@rosemawr.com Website:  https://www.rosemawr.com/   Recent Press Releases from Rosemawr   AC Power and Rosemawr Announce Development Capital Financing Partnership Book Discussed During the Podcast   https://www.einpresswire.com/article/781010074/ac-power-and-rosemawr-announce-development-capital-financing-partnership   RIC Energy and Rosemawr Announce Financing Partnership to Deploy Solar and Energy Storage Projects in New York   https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241106262035/en/RIC-Energy-and-Rosemawr-Announce-Financing-Partnership-to-Deploy-Solar-and-Energy-Storage-Projects-in-New-York     Book Recommendations from Rich Volt Rush https://www.amazon.com/dp/0861546199/?bestFormat=true&k=volt%20rush&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_9&crid=WI6IBFJPRBWF&sprefix=Volt%20Rush   The War Below https://www.amazon.com/War-Below-Lithium-Copper-Global/dp/B0C7XY6H2B/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KQBCIFDWK1RL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hPL3uDd44m2KVunWhZsJ_TdsnRo_2W237lW4wbqItJ7Z9UcqS3MPwFmkKS1gTv9CdJMZ1Yl93idHDsyv4adQASAJTUrUnY8doo7knbk6CL1w_bAECIuVq1evpCR1snx4Fn00JYqHyXHFBiT8sg8-KDbPCg2_xcSU9dUXOb8hggycDSrQscHtbp9bvmMagzxTGboauJvM73nI-Ny3KXovj7vj9-sdthNuYvsXlKUJMIE.x-j6J9q95haB864FW-CO11xlAtLhmArWHkF3kbNf77Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+war+below&qid=1742482496&sprefix=The+war+below%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1                                                              

In this special 200th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan and co-host Li Wang, Marketing Director of Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast, reflect on their journey to this milestone. They discuss key insights on the future of the solar industry, the transformative role of AI in renewable energy, and valuable entrepreneurship advice. A huge thank you to our listeners for your incredible support in making the Solar Maverick Podcast one of the most popular in the industry! Thank you to everyone who attended our LA FireAid Fundraiser at Intersolar! Your support made this event a success, and we are incredibly grateful for your generosity. A special shoutout to our amazing sponsors—AMS Renewable Energy, RST Cleantech, Clean Footprint, Reneu Energy, and the Solar Maverick Podcast—for making this fundraiser possible.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.   Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.    Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.     He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.       Li Wang Squarespace Website Designer, Marketing Director of Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast   I'm a former journalist turned website designer. I work solely on the Squarespace platform and have embraced its esthetic beauty and ease of use. I work with people who have a strong vision for their business and I simply unearth what makes them shine. I tell your brand story through the same processes I used as a former newspaper reporter. I currently have a waitlist for website design projects, but you can reserve your place here.   Squarespace Circle Member Squarespace Authorized Trainer Background and philosophy   Better every day. That's the way I aspire to live.   I was born in 1973 in Philadelphia. My parents immigrated from Taipei and my dad's first job out of graduate school was in Philadelphia. I'm a die-hard Eagles fan and being raised in that city has shaped my identity. Hip-hop culture served as my first artistic influence. Run-DMC, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys shaped how I created my own environment.   During the summer of O.J. trial I interned at the Philadelphia Daily News. I became hooked on journalism. I went on to another internship at the Des Moines Register and started my career as a business reporter for the Times of Trenton. I was the arts editor for the Honolulu Weekly and then the film critic for the Harrisburg Patriot-News.   Website design   I could see the end of the print industry so I decided to get a professional certificate in digital marketing from New York University. I started an agency with a partner doing SEO, PPC , content creation and website design. My partner decided to focus on software development and I turned my attention to website design.   Today I help small business owners shine online with compelling websites to resonate with their target audiences.   Personal interests   I'm a fitness enthusiast (CrossFit), watch collector (14060M, PAM112, SBGA085), and father (Matthew and Noemi).     Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang Email:  li@littleoxworkshop.com Website:  https://www.littleoxworkshop.com     Book Recommendations George Lucas: A Life by Brian Jay Jones   https://www.amazon.com/George-Lucas-Brian-Jay-Jones-ebook/dp/B01DSTTRBW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1RBXXD7XKH43Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-IoPSlTJA5SNa2QBh6cfyG75T1muc08nEtyk-Xm4ULq6hohaS7ohX9zo6eAXsh9duyxUDygHDy43QZwusNtOBpIDp019XuhNKrAiGhJ6dUN4uS6vXPtfxvhfYMvkm_amPYdRWsYF9Pl16rqzdE6vJ65eKWhxQlEYSldTgD_e6c1kVrOFUKiALgl1FppeMDYPVlAKggKEBLUPbF5ZDfip8Tl0PO5SnMj1TN7Vn8wd9Jg.3kIAOYFE-qXr6_u1jEkilLJsWqPkXPqb-_ytmG0gSEM&dib_tag=se&keywords=george+lucas+book&qid=1741022082&sprefix=george+lucas%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1     How to Start Worry and Start Living by Dale Carnegie https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N3SO9I/?bestFormat=true&k=how%20to%20start%20worrying%20and%20start%20living&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k0_1_16&crid=2YEBAKJ2VEJW2&sprefix=how%20ot%20start%20wor     Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear https://www.amazon.com/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break-ebook/dp/B07D23CFGR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1EFELZ83PXDEE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.y8ep0gjO0LaPjilbBqM79Xc2YZxFFvDOy7Lc27uggak-q5YmV5RsUlyRu-CTr0npJ0gRUx0ASicl9MOtJyk6fGTJ0Xxd_XDVFXJvb0BcmZ6vwNqmBzA93KU45puZNkdVopAqqtIUFTo2KYCA7-FJzr0371JvAVDlwQ7CSTShNRN-ggiCHNBVjWziBnegWzCkyP-xlax-3lklbAtiFh-3vYOZr3tuO8IgL4BHttFHJEE.ZO5fa3V0ar5nZ8XBYE6kqezA8wGK2ShncgzV9u9TqEY&dib_tag=se&keywords=atomic+habits&qid=1741022424&sprefix=atomic%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1     The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime by MJ DeMarco https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Fastlane-Crack-Wealth-Lifetime-ebook/dp/B004BDOUAI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K46KWSB09QMW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.z4MidZRm4ZWE0T1HY7abuwdeo5CqTw10yZQVXYGCxm9DNaZTpMC_23RRaoL8h8-wnOy1BK3Rov0urj7ai8FISV54JO5KAlx_iBOMAydfX0zeWL6hKJ_oLbsHJeVGcFjo4joyU6H5OKeK8ncIQ0RuZJ7j-2v4TCrfEL6JYdeweYwUDkMM9L0DSV3B7BDed7DnYCVgfMJgzBXhqTvYNwjOuimnJsQA-aMtW7OYgz8Zvts.tSyBkDMxEzpxkotL3Me02V25R6WP4caU8e66-MLlea0&dib_tag=se&keywords=millionaire+fastlane+by+mj+demarco&qid=1741022902&sprefix=milionair+f%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1       Thought Leaders in Renewable Energy on Linkedin   Abby Hopper   https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-hopper-a3415527/   Jigar Shah https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc/   John Moran https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-moran-03a3b3a/                                                                                                                                          

⚡ The League ⚡-Weekly Energy Insights Episode #11 is LIVE! 

Power Up with the Latest in Renewable Energy!

Power Up with the Latest in Renewable Energy!

⚡ The League ⚡-Weekly Energy Insights Episode #8 is LIVE!

Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan, the host of the Solar Maverick Podcast, was interviewed by Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco on his podcast called "What Are You Made Of?." Benoy speaks about current solar industry trends and his entrepreneurship and podcast experience. Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.     Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco is the Co-Founder of the innovative tech platform blooprinted, the powerhouse behind the "What Are You Made Of?" podcast, and the best-selling author of ROCKET FUEL Convert Setbacks. Become Unstoppable. He is a performance coach, author, dynamic public speaker, tech visionary and thought leader. He has been featured by Yahoo! Finance as one of the Top Business Leaders to Follow in 2020 and is on a mission to build unstoppable people. He is consumed with the passion to help people break free from the confines of complacency and propel to untapped levels of success. Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco "What Are You Made Of?" Podcast https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mike-ciorrocco/episodes/Beyond-Boundaries-Benoy-Thanjan-on-Success--Family--and-the-Jersey-Shore-e2bv210   We would like to thank Summit Ridge Energy for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. As the nation's leading commercial solar company, Summit Ridge Energy merges financial innovation and industry-leading execution to deliver clean, locally generated energy. This has made Summit Ridge one of the fastest-growing energy companies in America. Since launching in 2017, the company has deployed over $2B into clean energy assets and controls a development pipeline of more than 3GW that will provide solar power to homes and businesses nationwide. Learn more at srenergy.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. https://srenergy.com/            

 Power Up with the Latest in Renewable Energy!    We're thrilled to bring you the latest episodes of the League Newsbriefing, your go-to source for renewable energy updates!  Hosted by David Magid and Benoy Thanjan, each episode packs a punch with key insights and trends. You give us 5 minutes, we give you the latest clean energy trends. Check out the highlights from episodes #5 to #9: Episode #7 Highlights: FERC Order 1920 Appalachian Power's 800MW RFP Increasing clean energy-related tariffs  Don't miss out on these episodes! Tune in now.  Your 5-Minute Guide to Clean Energy Trends!  #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #EnergyNews    If you have questions or comments, please email us at info@reneuenergy.com. --

Power Up with the Latest in Renewable Energy!    We're thrilled to bring you the latest episodes of the League Newsbriefing, your go-to source for renewable energy updates!  Hosted by David Magid and Benoy Thanjan, each episode packs a punch with key insights and trends. You give us 5 minutes, we give you the latest clean energy trends. Check out the highlights from episodes #5 to #9: Episode #6 Highlights: High interest rates impacting the energy transition EIA study on the future of solar energy in the USA DOE's identification of 10 critical transmission corridors for the energy transition Maryland SREC updates  Don't miss out on these episodes! Tune in now.  Your 5-Minute Guide to Clean Energy Trends!  #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #EnergyNews   If you have questions or comments, please email us at info@reneuenergy.com.     

 Power Up with the Latest in Renewable Energy!    We're thrilled to bring you the latest episodes of the League Newsbriefing, your go-to source for renewable energy updates!  Hosted by David Magid and Benoy Thanjan, each episode packs a punch with key insights and trends. You give us 5 minutes, we give you the latest clean energy trends. Check out the highlights from episodes #5: Episode #5 Highlights: FERC Order 2023: Major changes to the NYISO interconnection process and the wholesale market Tax credit transfer market forecasts President Biden's transmission upgrade plan Massachusetts' expanded net metering    Don't miss out on these episodes! Tune in now.  Your 5-Minute Guide to Clean Energy Trends!  #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #SolarEnergy #BatteryStorage #EnergyNews  If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us info@reneuenergy.com  

The League is a new podcast with my co-host David Magid! You give us 5 minutes, we give you the latest clean energy trends. Weekly Energy Briefings Episode #1 is live . Episode 2 – Jan 2024 Briefing Highlights: -NY has 2GWh of Community Solar. -Largest Storage CA Project -Midwest Community Solar Opportunity -A Lot of M&A Activity Exclusive insights from industry experts navigating the constantly changing renewable energy industry. Keeping YOU in the know and empowered, this series is your weekly power hub for the latest in project finance, renewable energy, and power generation. IF you have any questions or comments, reach out to us info@reneuenergy.com.

The League is a new podcast with my co-host David Magid! You give us 5 minutes, we give you the latest clean energy trends. Weekly Energy Briefings Episode #1 is live . Episode 1 – Jan 2024 Briefing Highlights: -Interest Rates increase as impacted solar development -Transferibility Update of Tax Credits -Domestic Adder-IRA   -Update on Brookfield Transactions Exclusive insights from industry experts navigating the constantly changing renewable energy industry. Keeping YOU in the know and empowered, this series is your weekly power hub for the latest in project finance, renewable energy, and power generation. IF you have any questions or comments, reach out to us info@reneuenergy.com.      

In this episode, your host, Mike C-Roc, engages Benoy Thanjan in a deep and insightful discussion that takes us from the bustling streets of Philadelphia to the shores of Jersey. The episode kicks off with laughter as Benoy shares his excitement about being on the show. He commends Mike for creating excellent content and expresses his love for Philadelphia, reflecting on the city's remarkable sports dynasty. Mike and Benoy dive into the essence of what makes a person, exploring the profound question displayed on the wall behind Mike: "What are you made of?" Benoy responds with a multi-faceted answer, emphasizing passion, resilience, positivity, value-driven leadership, discipline, consistency, and a positive outlook—crucial components of his personal and entrepreneurial journey. As the conversation unfolds, Benoy shares snippets of his remarkable life story. Born to immigrant parents from India in New Jersey, Benoy witnessed the sacrifices and hard work his parents invested in building successful businesses in the Bronx, New York. From a young age, he actively participated in running his parents' businesses, gaining invaluable experience in entrepreneurship. The episode takes us on a journey through Benoy's upbringing, highlighting the influence of his parents' entrepreneurial spirit on his own path. The family eventually moved to Northern New Jersey, where Benoy continued to draw inspiration from watching his parents take risks and achieve success. Now residing in Jersey City, just across the water from New York City, Benoy reflects on the joys of living in a commuter town and shares his love for the Jersey Shore. The conversation takes a delightful turn as Mike and Benoy reminisce about the summers spent at the Jersey Shore, discussing favorite beach towns and the unique charm of the coastal experience. The episode offers listeners a blend of personal anecdotes, entrepreneurial insights, and reflections on the differences between the Jersey Shore and the Hamptons. Benoy's journey from witnessing his parents' hard work to building his own successful career is both inspiring and enlightening. Tune in to this engaging episode as Mike C-Roc and Benoy Thanjan explore the diverse elements that make up a person's identity, the impact of upbringing on entrepreneurial endeavors, and the unique charm of life on the Jersey Shore. Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com/services Social Media Links/Handles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/ https://www.instagram.com/benoit0212/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/Benoit212/

Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy speaks with Albie Fong who is the Sr. Director of Business Development at Erthos.  Erthos offers a full suite of products and services aimed at helping developers dramatically reduce the levelized cost of energy (“LCOE”) on utility-scale solar power plants. Albie discusses how Erthos innovates utility solar construction, how the company has gotten investors comfortable with their new innovative technology, and Albie speaks about the book that he wrote about Solar Project Development.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies.  He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.   This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the Environmental Commodities Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016.  He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of Tesla to move into the east coast markets.  Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects.  He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio.  Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood's portfolio.   He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University.  Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.     Albie Fong Albie Fong is the Sr. Director of Business Development at Erthos.  He has over 16 years in the solar industry.  He has worked at Idemitsu Renewables, Solar Frontier, Cogenra Solar, Talesun Solar, and Albiasa. Solar Project Development Book discussed on the podcast written by Albie Fong. Project Development in the Solar Industry by  Albie Fong  (Editor), Jesse Tippett  (Editor) Below is the Amazon Link. https://www.amazon.com/Project-Development-Solar-Industry-Albie/dp/0367576619/ref=sr_1_5?crid=36MI64HYLEMYV&keywords=solar+project+development&qid=1687177550&sprefix=solar+project+development%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685 Stay connected: Benoy Thanjan Website: www.reneuenergy.com Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Facebook: Reneu Energy   Albie Fong Website: www.erthos.com Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/albiefong/ Email:  Albie.Fong@erthos.com  Reneu Energy and the Solar Maverick Podcast Holiday Fundraiser and Networking Event on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 from 6pm to 10pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City, NJ.   It is $64 to attend. Part of the Admission Fee goes to two charities that we are fundraising at the event and covering our expenses for the event. Appetizers will be served and make sure to come hungry.   At our last two events, we raised $1,450 for the Boys & Girls Club and $1,450 for Let's Share the Sun Foundation. We are raising money for both charities at this event.     The eventbrite link is listed below.   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reneu-energy-solar-maverick-podcast-holiday-fundraiser-networking-event-tickets-739318971947?aff=oddtdtcreator   If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please email Reneu Energy at info@reneuenergy.com.   PROMO Code MAVERICK to attend the New York Solar Summit for 15% discount   The New York Solar Summit is coming up on November 9th in Albany, NY which is a great event about the NY Solar and Storage Market organized by New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA).  Reneu Energy is a member of NYSEIA and our CEO Benoy Thanjan has spoken at past New York Solar Summits.     New York leads the clean energy revolution with ambitious distributed solar and storage goals as part of its historic climate legislation that was passed in 2019. The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act helps to bring these goals within reach, and clean energy leaders are gathering on November 9th to discuss the necessary solutions to challenges along the way.    When you register for the New York Solar Summit, you will be joining over 600 clean energy leaders for ample networking and learning opportunities, expert panel discussions, and a trade show filled with leading clean energy companies! Plus, we have exciting keynote addresses from Doreen Harris, CEO and President of NYSERDA, and Jigar Shah, Director of Loans Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy.   Don't miss the New York Solar Summit, hosted by New York Solar Energy Industries Association and presented by NYSERDA, on November 9th at the Albany Capital Center! Visit www.nyseia.org for more information and register today. Register using the promo code MAVERICK for a 15% discount on tickets and hope to see you there!   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, YouTube, and most of the major podcast platforms.   This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.  

Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market. Tune in to discover the average breakeven period for homeowners embracing solar power, gaining insights into when your investment starts paying off. Benoy also reveals the essential factors to consider when determining who should refrain from adopting solar for their house, shedding light on the situations where it might not be financially viable or practical. Plus, don't miss out on the invaluable advice Benoy shares regarding the biggest mistake to avoid when venturing into the world of solar energy, ensuring that you make informed and cost-effective choices for a sustainable energy future. Episode Highlights: How long is the average breakeven for Residential Solar energy? Who should NOT get Solar for their house? Biggest mistake to avoid with Solar. LINKS: Benoy's Solar Maverick Podcast Renue Energy Profit & Loss Template Save Taxes: Free Consultation  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/thepatdarby

Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick Podcast, John Chaimanis and Benoy Thanjan talk about Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure (KSI), how it was founded and how it can differentiate itself from its competitors. Their conversation in this episode goes into development capital, John's ideal projects, his thoughts on frictionless close, why he discourages discounting electricity for community projects, and how he values solar projects and renewable energy.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also hedges energy and environmental commodities. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   John Chaimanis John Chaimanis is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure (KSI), a leading development and asset management firm that positively impacts the world through direct investments into distributed scale sustainable infrastructure assets such as clean energy and water projects. He is a recognized thought leader, lecturer, and author. He consults regularly with sustainable business startups, investors, and institutions on the topics of sustainability and project finance and is an adjunct faculty in the finance division at Babson College.   Prior to his career in clean energy investing, Mr. Chaimanis co-founded a charter school in the greater Boston area. Mr. Chaimanis holds an M.B.A. from Babson College, a B.S. in Finance from Villanova University, and a US SIF for Sustainable and Responsible Investing (SRI) certification.   He has been featured in the 2014 Journal of Environmental Investing “Most Influential Investors” edition, the Institutional Investing in Infrastructure “In Focus” interview web series, the Family Office Review, the SunCast Podcast with Nico Johnson, the Experts Only Podcast, the Solar Maverick Podcast, the EM2U Podcast, and is the author of a graduate-level energy investment business case.   Insights from this episode:  Details about Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure (KSI) How KSI differentiates itself from other competitors Insights into development capital John's ideal projects Why John discourages discounting electricity for community projects Insights into valuing a solar project Trends in the industry (renewable energy) Insights into the value of DER (distributed energy resources)   Quotes from the show: “The first transactions are always the most difficult. If you are able to get through that, it seems like it's a lot more scalable” -Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast  “It can be a very bad situation when you staff a development inside an organization that just doesn't know how to deal with development capital and development risk” -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast “Development capital is very risky. If you don't have the structure right, you don't have the right alignment, there can be disagreement and challenges” -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast “There are not enough projects out there to meet investors' appetite” -Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast “What we see is the value of DER (distributed energy resources) to be the single most valuable kilowatt power on the system” -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast “We make electricity, just like anybody else that makes electricity, but we get the privilege of selling our electricity at a discount. It just does not make sense why we should be discounting it” -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast “A frictionless close can be done when you have trust in a relationship or a partnership” -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast “We have been really fortunate to find like-minded professionals that are as interested in making a good profit as they are in dealing in dignity and respect”  -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast “There is always gonna be a lot of room for a local regional developer: could be an individual, could be three people” -John Chaimanis, Solar Maverick Podcast   Stay connected:   Benoy Thanjan Website: www.reneuenergy.com Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Facebook: Reneu Energy   John Chaimanis Website: www.kendallsustainableinfrastructure.com/ LinkedIn: John Chaimanis    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, YouTube, and most of the major podcast platforms.   This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick Podcast, Nigel Morris and Benoy Thanjan discuss the differences between the Australian and U.S solar markets and the varying pricing costs. Benoy highlights the high solar prices, especially in the U.S, and the factors contributing to the costs. Finally, he provides lessons that the Australian market can learn from the U.S solar industry and what he thinks is the future of the U.S solar market.    Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Nigel Morris With 30 years of experience in solar energy Nigel Morris is a Solar Technology Advocate and was recently added to a list of the world's Top 20 Solar Influencers. He is an experienced and passionate solar professional and co-host of Solar Insiders, one of the world longest running and best-ranked solar industry podcasts, and Great Solar Business, a new series exploring the secrets of building solar companies. He is obsessed with electric motorcycles, vehicle to grid, and the power of data.   Insights from this episode:  Differences between the U.S and the Australian solar market Differences in pricing in the U.S and the Australian solar market Insights into why solar prices are in the U.S Insights into the competitive landscape of solar energy in the U.S What the Australian solar market can learn from the U.S   Quotes from the show: “The west of the U.S and Hawaii have a high solar radiance, so it makes a good market for residential solar” -Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast “Australia has relatively expensive energy prices” -Nigel Morris, Solar Maverick Podcast “The price of batteries are going down substantially, specifically lithium iron technology ”-Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast “We [Australia] do not have the experience that you guys [U.S] do in the large scale space, although we are chasing quickly there”  -Nigel Morris, Solar Maverick Podcast “There is so much disruption that is happening in the industry” -Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast “If you want that low-cost energy in Australia, if you want the cheapest energy, to top up your EV, you do that from a home solar system; you don't do it from grid power” -Nigel Morris, Solar Maverick Podcast   Stay connected:   Benoy Thanjan Website: www.reneuenergy.com Email:  info@renewenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Facebook: Reneu Energy   Nigel Morris LinkedIn: Nigel Morris  Facebook: Nigel Morris    Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, YouTube, and most of the major podcast platforms.   This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick Podcast, Kent Halliburton takes us on his journey into the solar industry and bitcoin mining. Starting immediately after college, he worked at REC Solar for a few years before moving to Real Goods. He picked up his dream of traveling and began pursuing his passion for crypto. He takes us through the journey of how he was able to bring together his passion for crypto and tie it to his passion for solar energy. Kent talks about bitcoin mining and its benefits and renewable energy potential.    Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Kent Halliburton Kent is the Chief Operating Officer of Saz Mining Inc, overseeing the development of renewable energy-driven Bitcoin mining operations. He is an expert in solar energy and crypto. Kent graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Computer Engineering B.S. from California Polytechnic University. He helped develop Solar Energy Industry Alliance's Sales Training program. Prior to his position at Sazmining, Kent's last prolific role was leading sales and business development efforts for a publicly-traded solar energy company.    Insights from this episode:  Strategies for bitcoin mining How to generate passive income from bitcoin mining How to manage the income from bitcoin mining Strategies on how to tap into the opportunities in the solar industry Secrets to bitcoin mining and renewable energy   Quotes from the show: “What I realized about bitcoin mining is that it is not intuitive, it takes some time to get there, but it is a perfect compliment for renewables” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “I think within 2-5 years, we are going to see an unparalleled explosion of growth within these two technologies [renewable energy and bitcoin mining]” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “Bitcoin mining could be a great opportunity for renewable energy” -Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast “It's just interesting how things work and how fortuitous things are when you put yourself out there” -Benoy Thanjan, Solar Maverick Podcast “You never know where the networks and the relationships you make are going to take you” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “What's brilliant about bitcoin mining is that it is the only manufacturing chain in the world that can be turned off in an instant” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “The only way that we are gonna keep our quality of life is by electrifying the grid, we got to electrify the grid, and decarbonize” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “Bitcoin mining is this energy that wants the cheapest energy, which is the energy that nobody else wants” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “There is no bigger honey pot in the world for attackers to go after than the bitcoin network” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast “There is no network on the planet that is more secure than bitcoin” -Kent Halliburton, Solar Maverick Podcast   Stay connected:   Benoy Thanjan Website: www.reneuenergy.com Email: info@renewenergy.com LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Facebook: Reneu Energy   Kent Halliburton Website: Sazmining Medium: Kent Halliburton  LinkedIn: Kent Halliburton  Twitter: Kent Halliburton   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, YouTube, and most of the major podcast platforms.   This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry.

Mike Ham is joined by CEO and Founder of Reneu Energy and the host of the Solar Maverick podcast, Benoy Thanjan. The two discuss renewable energy, the benefits of it, how to secure financing, different types of state and federal grants available, why New Jersey is a great place for solar energy, and more! With over 13 years of experience in solar energy, Benoy provides some incredible insights into all aspects of the industry! Benoy Thanjan - Reneu Energy benoy@reneuenergy.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solar-maverick-podcast/id1441876259 Follow us on Instagram: @TheMorningSpotlight Email us at: themorningspotlight@gmail.com www.themorningspotlight.com

SMP 83:  NJ Solar Market Overview Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan, the host of the podcast, discusses the NJ Solar Market which has been top ten state for solar deployment in the United States and has an ambitious goal of 100% clean energy by 2050.  He discusses a lot of the new developments in the NJ Solar market for example new solar state level incentive and the community solar pilot.      Our Host Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities.   Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   NJ Community Solar Pilot https://www.njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/programs/community-solar   NJ Solar Transition Stakeholder Process https://njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/program-updates-and-background-information/solar-proceedings   Book Recommendation from the Podcast: FEARVANA: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness by Akshay Nanavati https://www.amazon.com/FEARVANA-Revolutionary-Science-Health-Happiness/dp/1630476056    Top 5 Solar Energy Podcasts You Must Follow in 2020 Thank you to Feedspot for having the Solar Maverick Podcast as one of the top 5 Solar Energy Podcasts You Must Follow in 2020.  Below is the link with more information. https://blog.feedspot.com/solar_energy_podcasts/   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes,Podbean, and YouTube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)    

Our guest: Benoy Thanjan is the founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an adviser for several solar startup companies. He was the SREC trader in the project finance group for Solar City, which merged with Tesla in 2016. Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partner. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable power. His extensive financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities markets. Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by BlockFi and Cogent Law Group. our listeners can visit https://blockfi.com/sazmining for an exclusive offer for cryptocurrency management and check out Cogent Law Group (https://www.cogentlaw.co) for all of your legal needs. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sazmining/support

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, John Lee Dumas("JLD"), founder and host of the Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast, talks about his experiences with solar power in Puerto Rico, shares the three things that make entrepreneurs successful, and where is the future of the podcast industry.   With over 2,500 episodes, 1 million + listens a month, and seven-figures of annual revenue, JLD is just getting started!   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   John Lee Dumas JLD was born and raised in Maine where he went to Massabesic High School and then to Providence College on an ROTC scholarship to get his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2002.  After graduating, he was commissioned in the US Army as an officer.  During his four years of active duty, he served eighteen months in Iraq and at the age of 23, JLD became the Armor Platoon leader responsible for men and tanks.  After that, he served four years in the Army Reserves before becoming a civilian. After serving in the army, JLD struggled to find his next goal. He tried his hand at law school and dropped out in the first semester. Later he joined the John Hancock Life Insurance company in Boston but after working for two years with the organization, he decided to quit and took a commercial real estate job, which didn’t last more than a year. After spending a lot of time in his car, commuting during the jobs and having no interest in radio, JLD started listening to podcast interviews and instantly fell in love with their free and inspiring content and decided to start his own podcast. The distinguishing feature of his podcast was that it was a 7-day-per-week podcast where he interviewed several successful entrepreneurs. Despite not generating any revenue for the first nine months, he still remained confident and loyal to his listeners and his work. Since then, the podcast has grown and generated over $16 million in revenue with more than one million monthly listeners. After the success of his podcast, Dumas has started a free Podcaster Course which teaches everything a person needs to know to start their own podcast. JLD has also written several books on podcasting and productivity. The Freedom Journal: Accomplish Your #1 Goal in 100 Days The 100-Day Goal Journal: Accomplish What Matters to You The Mastery Journal: Master Productivity, Discipline, and Focus in 100 Days The Podcast Journal: Idea to Launch in 50 Days Podcast Launch: How to Create & Launch Your Podcast Kindle Edition The Common Path to Uncommon Success - available March 23, 2021   Insights from this episode: Reasons why JLD is incorporating solar and other sustainable features into his lifestyle.  Details on Puerto Rico’s energy situation and how solar power and the increase in the future in available electric vehicles can help. How to be a successful entrepreneur by being productive, disciplined, and focused. Details on trends in podcasting, what JLD is working on now, and what his future holds.   Quotes from the show: On why JLD installed solar in his home: “I’ve really wanted to continue to move a little more self-sufficient, a little more or the grid in different areas of my life to include energy.” – John Lee Dumas, Episode #81 “Successful entrepreneurs [are] productive, disciplined, and focused human beings.” – John Lee Dumas, Episode #81  “The future of podcasting is niche.  Niche is going to win.” – John Lee Dumas, Episode #81 “I think you always mention, be your authentic true self as well and that really resonates.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #81 “What I recognized is, the path to this uncommon success is not complicated.  It’s not super difficult.  It’s a common path.” – John Lee Dumas, Episode #81 “The problem is people get off the pathway too early.  They may start on the right path but they just don’t know how to continue in the right direction and continue with the right focus.” – John Lee Dumas, Episode #81   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   John Lee Dumas Website: eofire.com Podcast: Entrepreneurs on Fire  Twitter: @johnleedumas Facebook: John Lee Dumas   Top 5 Solar Energy Podcasts You Must Follow in 2020 Thank you to Feedspot for having the Solar Maverick Podcast as one of the top 5 Solar Energy Podcasts You Must Follow in 2020.  Below is the link with more information. https://blog.feedspot.com/solar_energy_podcasts/   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy talks with Andy Klump of Clean Energy Associates about how the rising demand for solar power has also created a rising need for greater quality assurance within the solar industry. Andy discusses what quality assurance in solar means, what sets CEA apart from their competitors, and what he sees as key trends in the solar and energy storage supply chain.  As an American company based in China, Andy shares how COVID-19 specifically affected their operations and how it disrupted business overall.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Andy Klump Andy is the founder and CEO of Clean Energy Associates.  Clean Energy Associates works with developers, independent power producers (IPPs), and engineering procurement construction (EPC) customers in 55+ countries.  Founded in 2008, Clean Energy Associates provides technical advisory services in the areas of quality assurance, supply chain management, and engineering services.  Their 125-plus member team comprised of over 85 in-house engineers serving the needs of project developers, IPPs, EPCs, financial institutions, and other downstream partners that value supply chain transparency and quality solutions in the global storage and solar energy fields. Andy’s area of expertise is storage and solar energy, with a track record of 14 years of leadership experience in the field of storage and solar energy along with 17 years of experience working within Asia.  Prior to CEA, Andy served as the Vice President of Business Development for Trina Solar, where he headed the company’s international expansion plans covering supply chain, international business development, capital raising, and corporate development. During the period from 2006 to 2008, the management team successfully raised nearly $500 million in capital during Trina’s IPO, follow-on, and convertible bond offerings on the New York Stock Exchange.  Additionally, Andy also served as an active Board Member of the U.S. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Being proactive towards society and entrepreneurial in nature, Andy also co-founded KIDSIQProject.org in 2015, a non-profit organization advancing drug development for reversible Intellectual disability disorders with an initial focus on Kleefstra Syndrome. Andy is also an active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization in Shanghai.    Insights from this episode: Details on starting Clean Energy Associates and the services they provide, what quality assurance is, and how they enhance the solar supply chain. Benefits of overseeing the whole solar process including being able to better identify trends in solar power and storage. Difficulties of incorporating different technologies and software into energy storage. How to help clients incorporate software capability when acting as a technical advisor of solar assets. Strategies China is employing to push its solar and storage agenda forward and how the automotive industry is helping that agenda. Details on what key trends are happening in the solar market including cost reduction and higher output modules. Difficulties Clean Energy Associates faced in China in the early days of COVID-19, how they are still being impacted, and how it caused them to evolve as a company. Suggestions Andy has for solar entrepreneurs to create a successful company with a great culture.   Quotes from the show: On what CEA provides: “We created this comprehensive, on-site quality assurance program that really starts with a factory audit, with a rigorous team and a rigorous methodology and a thousand-point checklist.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80 “Our core customer is the end-owner of solar and storage assets who cares about consistent, reliable, and optimized performance and having a ‘Wow’ customer experience.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80 “Everyone is talking about energy storage and the cost of energy storage, the duration of the batteries, and then coupling it with solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #80 “The reality is that the overall Asian supply chain, particularly in China, has a dominant path to cost reduction and that’s where we’ve seen these dramatic cost reductions and that is what is going to allow the industry to grow.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80 “Once you combine storage with solar to balance a system you’re really adding a lot of value to your clients, your asset owners.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #80 “We’re going to see more and more large-scale deployment of energy storage in the future but, still, I think the primary focus has been on the manufacturing side and that’s where China has significant scale advantages.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80 “If I had to make one bold prediction, it’s on the technology-adoption side, and I see module power classes continue to make leapfrog steps forward.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80 “Everything keeps getting re-engineered because the technology changes so if you’re able to know what’s going to happen in the future, you’re able to design for it in the beginning, and I think that’s a huge advantage to the asset owner.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #80 “We believe that by helping our clients and stakeholders deploy solar and storage solutions worldwide, we are creating a better future.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80 CEA’s vision statement:  “By 2025 we want to become the leading global solar and storage engineering services firm that creates tangible impact with every customer.” – Andy Klump, Episode #80   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Andy Klump LinkedIn: Andy Klump Website: www.cea3.com Sponsor: We would like to thank Solar Energy Systems for sponsoring this episode of the podcast.  Solar Energy Systems, LLC (SES) is a solar energy photovoltaic design/build firm headquartered in Brooklyn, NY and serving the Northeast U.S.  Founded in 1998, the company designs, builds, and maintains solar photovoltaic (PV) systems within the public and private domain.  I interviewed David Buckner who is the Founder and CEO of SES on Episode 65:  20 Year Solar Veteran and Entrepreneur Provides Perspective on the Solar Market. To learn more about Solar Energy Systems, check out their website which is www.solaresystems.com.  Email SES at info@solaresystems.com or Call 718-389-1545. Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

Benoy the CEO of Reneu Energy tells you why solar in the B2B Space isn't a pain in the butt that you think it is You can check him out at https://www.ReneuEnergy.com/

    Episode Summary This episode of Create Your Life Series will motivate you to make and keep your resolutions this year.  Kevin talks with Benoy Thanjan, owner of Reneu Energy, about his path to entrepreneurship in the solar energy industry and his passion project, the Solar Maverick podcast.  Benoy and Kevin look back on their journeys over the past year and discuss what it takes to be successful in entrepreneurship, podcasting, and life.     Benoy Thanjan  Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Kevin Y. Brown Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author.  The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free.  Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia, and Osaka, Japan.  Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.    Insights from this episode: Details on Reneu Energy, how the company became involved with Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), and how states are employing them to incentivize solar development. How to create a more eco-friendly lifestyle on a daily basis and incorporate renewable energy into any household. Strategies on goal-setting, forming a work plan, and taking action steps to attain those goals. How to create a successful podcast in a niche market, facing challenges, and making your own opportunities. Details on how Benoy and Kevin became podcasters and what that process has taught them.    Quotes from the show:  “My first background in energy was at Deloitte & Touch and then I knew that renewable energy sustainability was my passion.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 “There’s a lot of exciting things that are happening with the (renewable energy) industry, specifically related to solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On having a renewable lifestyle: “There’s the Three R’s that we could all incorporate into our whole lifestyle, which is Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On what it takes to become an entrepreneur: “A lot of time, in pursuit of running your own company, it takes a while.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172 On entrepreneurship: “It’s not easy to just go (out) and then suddenly start a company and take that leap, it definitely takes time.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On attaining goals: “Every day I come up with a task list… of what are the biggest things that are going to move the needle to get me closer to my goals.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On making Solar Maverick: “It’s important to take the feedback that you get from the podcast but it’s also important to be what you wanted the show to be about.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On listening to Solar Maverick: “Solar is here to stay and it is something that is becoming bigger and bigger and more a part of our daily lives and with that, we need to be informed and that’s why I tune in to the Solar Maverick podcast” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172 On Kevin creating the Create Your Life Series: “It was being a professional speaker and I wanted a way to engage with my listeners and audience members on a continuous basis.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172 On what Kevin has learned through his guests on the Create Your Life Series: “You have to be bold and authentic and actually be doing what it is that aligns with you.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172   Resources mentioned Solar Maverick with Benoy Thanjan Create Your Life Series: Episode 134 with Kevin Y. Brown  How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan: www.reneuenergy.com www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/   Kevin Y. Brown: www.kevinybrown.com www.instagram.com/kevinybrown www.twitter.com/kevinybrown www.facebook.com/kevbrown001   Create Your Life Series: https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/  https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on  iTunes, google play, stitcher and www.createyourlifeseries.com/podcast   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Manish Nayar, the founder and managing partner of OYA Solar, shares his entrepreneurial experience and perspective with Benoy and discusses how a Canadian company made its home in the United States solar market.  Whether you are in the research stage or a veteran business owner, this episode is a ray of light for solar entrepreneurs.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.   Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Manish Nayar Manish Nayar is the founder and Managing Partner of OYA Solar. Manish has led the growth of the company and its resulting 1000MW+ North American development pipeline. Manish has developed, constructed or transacted on over 500MW of solar assets in the last 10 years. Prior to OYA, Manish was with the investment banking group at Merrill Lynch & Co. where he focused on corporate finance, M&A and restructuring of companies in the diversified industrials group. Prior to Merrill, he was CEO of Judricks Enterprises Ltd, a global tier 1 supplier of powertrain and transmission components to the automotive and heavy equipment industries. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management with majors in Analytical Finance and Strategy as well as a B.E.Sc in Computer Engineering and a B.Sc in Applied Mathematics from the University of Western Ontario. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario.   Insights from this episode: Details on OYA Solar, the reason Manish founded the company, and what their plans are for future growth. Benefits of not having a government-sponsored Investment Tax Credit. Strategies for finding solar markets to focus on in the United States and where OYA Solar is developing projects. How development in community solar and utility-scale projects have matured. Benefits of extending access to the solar market to include low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. How OYA Solar approaches different solar trends, including storage and electrification targets. Details on what it takes to be an entrepreneur in the solar industry and key traits that will help you succeed.    Quotes from the show: On switching from Canada to a United States solar market: “We foreshadowed that the market would slow down and ultimately close as the government incentives were starting to step down pretty drastically. That’s when we pivoted to the US [United States].” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 On the Investment Tax Credit: “If we’re putting the economics aside, I think it would be more beneficial for us, as developers and owners, but perhaps less-attractive for tax-equity investors.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 On OYA Solar’s projects in New York: “For us, we felt that size and the scale of the market were really attractive and we felt that we had a good differentiating factor in our development process.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 “I think developers have gotten much better at anticipating the needs of the community and the stakeholders.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 “It’s pretty amazing how the tenure [of solar contracts] has changed so quickly in such a short amount of time.” 一 Benoy Thanjan, Episode #70 On increasing solar access to the LMI [low-to-moderate income] community: “This is really democratizing solar for all of us and LMI [low-to-moderate income] is a key component to that so we think that we have to be part of the solution to solve it.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 “You pretty much do everything.” 一 Benoy Thanjan, Episode #70 “Community solar projects represent more near-term development for us and we think we can add a lot of value on the utility side, as well.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 On current trends in the solar market: “The biggest that we are seeing right now is storage. I really believe that storage prices are going to follow the same trend as module prices.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70 “This is all exciting stuff. It’s basically disruption of the traditional electricity industry and it sounds like you guys are in the forefront with doing solar and storage.” 一 Benoy Thanjan, Episode #70 “As an entrepreneur, you have a vision for what you want your company to be and for what you want to do and I think, regardless of what you hear from other people, if you’re really committed and dedicated to it, you’ll make it happen.” 一 Manish Nayar, Episode #70   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com     Manish Nayar Email:  manish.nayar@oyaventures.com  LinkedIn: Manish Nayar Twitter:  OYA Solar Facebook: OYA Solar, Inc. Website: https://oyaventures.com Sponsor: We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets.At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients. In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar.If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com. Steve Schwerd who is the Owner of Schwerd Consulting was interviewed on Episode 17 and Episode 48 of the Solar Maverick Podcast and Episode 42 of which he was on panel discussion on How Solar Technology is Changing the World. They are involved with the trends, technologies, vendors, policies, utilities, codes, and financial considerations for the industry. Therefore, value add for them is not just a slogan, it’s what they practice in order to have loyal customers and gain trust. Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

    Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick, Benoy asks Daryl Pilon and Bob Burwasser about why roofing and solar are important and how roof restoration with solar allow more rooftop solar projects to be constructed.  This discussion is an in-depth look at what roof restoration entails, what makes a good solar platform, and how the cost-saving benefits will last well into the future.     Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Daryl Pilon  Daryl Pilon is the Director of Business Development for Standard Solar, a vertically integrated commercial and industrial EPC company, providing superior solar energy solutions since 2004.  Their goal is to invest their capital in new projects and drive the solar industry forward. Daryl comes from a background in engineering and worked on roofing systems before joining Standard Solar three years ago.   Bob Burwasser Bob Burwasser has been in the commercial roofing business for 29 years and Regional Technical Manager for Everest Systems Co. Everest Systems Co. boasts over 30 years experience in the roof coatings industry. Insights from this episode: Strategies for evaluating what projects make good candidates for rooftop solar installations. – Daryl   Details on rooftop restoration versus roof replacement, what restoration entails, and how restoration helps to enable the solar industry. – Bob How Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) help non-profit organizations attain solar solutions. Benefits of restoration and incorporating roof restoration and solar installation simultaneously. How to match the solar array to the roof and ensure the installation does not void the roof warranty.   Quotes from the show: On SMP 11:  The Marriage of Roofing and Solar: Innovative and Economic Solutions: “It was a very popular podcast. We actually got a lot of great feedback about the integration of roofing and solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #69 “What we try to avoid is roof replacement which gets extremely costly.” – Bob Burwasser, Episode #69 On the liquid material employed in roof restoration: “It was initiated as a material in the New York World’s Fair in 1964, GE Silicones - the inventor of silicone - showcased the product in Flushing, New York, it’s been used ever since and seems to be exploding recently in the roofing marketplace.” – Bob Burwasser, Episode #69 “We can do it very cost-effectively and quickly by incorporating [roofing and solar] simultaneously.” – Daryl Pilon, Episode #69 “I think there are many, many companies and many, many roofs out there that are great possibilities for roof restoration and solar.” – Daryl Pilon, Episode #69 On restoration and installation benefits: “It’s the two coming together in one solution in the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that I think it’s a beautiful option for many clients.” – Daryl Pilon, Episode #69 On preparing roofs for solar: “I think a soft benchmark is 5 to 7 years old as a minimum, anything older than that and we would want to restore that roof and get them to a brand new 25-year warranty.” – Bob Burwasser, Episode #69 On roof replacement: “It’s a costly, time-consuming, disruptive procedure that has killed a lot of solar deals and that is something that, of course, we want to avoid, we want to enable more solar deals.” – Bob Burwasser, Episode #69 On roof restoration warranties: “You’re getting a superior warranty, you’re getting a superior product at a much lesser cost and when we incorporate that into Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) it helps everybody.” – Daryl Pilon, Episode #69 “It really is the marriage of roofing and solar, the next level.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #69 Resources Mentioned: SMP 11:  The Marriage of Roofing and Solar: Innovative and Economic Solutions with Benoy Thanjan, Daryl Pilon and Bob Burwasser   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com    Daryl Pilon Cell Phone:  347-633-2502 Email: daryl.pilon@standardsolar.com Website: www.standarsolar.com LinkedIn: Daryl Pilon   Bob Burwasser Office Phone:  212-689-4440 Cell Phone: 917-287-4370 Email: bburwasser@everestsco.com Website:  https://www.everestsystemsco.com LinkedIn: Bob Burwasser   Sponsor: We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets.At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients. In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar.If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com.   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on iTunes, Podbean, and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Jon Powers shares the origin story of CleanCapital and how they went from an idea to a start-up to a successful investment capital firm in clean energy.  Jon discusses how CleanCapital studied what was working in other business sectors to create an internal technology platform to identify and acquire clean energy assets, underwrite them efficiently, and bring new capital into the clean energy market.    Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Jon Powers  Jon leads corporate strategy, operations, investor relations, and marketing for CleanCapital.  He is a clean energy and national security expert committed to making clean energy accessible to everyone.   Prior to joining CleanCapital, Jon led public sector business development at Bloom Energy.  His passion for clean energy stems from his time serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq, where he learned how vital clean energy is in protecting America’s national security.  He helped to revolutionize the U.S. Army’s energy program, first as Special Adviser for Energy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army and later as Director of Outreach for the Army’s Energy Initiatives Task Force.  In 2012, Jon was appointed to the post of Federal Chief Sustainability Officer by President Obama. Jon is a graduate of John Carroll University and Johns Hopkins University. He was named to Washington Life’s Top 25 Tech Leaders in D.C., 2016 and Renewable Energy World’s inaugural Solar 40 Under 40 list.   Insights from this episode: How to use technology to bring efficient solutions to the clean energy sector by analyzing what has worked in other industries such as real estate. How to create a technology platform that provides value, expedient execution, and workflow solutions.  Strategies for managing challenges in entrepreneurship and creating a successful company. Details on how CleanCapital continues to make adjustments to their business model to open new opportunities for investment.   Strategies for attracting investors that were not previously interested in the solar energy market. Details on the types of projects CleanCapital focuses on, what an ideal project looks like for them, and trends they are seeing in the solar financing industry. Details on Jon’s experience in the Army and how that led him into the clean energy sector, becoming a member of Operation Free and working for the White House under President Obama.   Quotes from the show: On working with partners in clean energy: “We don’t just acquire the assets, we actually stay in and actively manage them on behalf of our partners.  What we’ve done really well, to date, is our ability to really efficiently and quickly underwrite and close deals.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68 “We have a very clear underwriting process that’s enabled by technology so we are able to move as fast as the seller.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68 “What is unique about our technology is that we didn’t try to overly engineer a perfect solution, we built what we needed to execute.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68  “Technology aside, the thing we do best is just [having] a really great culture and great teammates that are mission-driven.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68 On preferred projects: “We love to be able to do the transaction directly with the seller because it brings efficiency, it cuts out the middleman, and [the seller] can get more out of the deal when they are not paying an advisor.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68  “The longer the contracted period, the better for the economics of the project.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #68 “Our biggest strength is our ability to transact and to do it quickly.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68 “It’s important to have a good reputation in [the clean energy investment] space because it’s not a huge market.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68  On creating the Experts Only podcast: “What I wanted to focus on was the intersection of energy, innovation, and finance.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68 On how corporations are influencing the renewable energy market: “It’s interesting how [corporations] are actually creating opportunities and demanding access to renewable energy which is then allowing the states and utilities to change to be able to get that business.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #68 On successful entrepreneurship: “Everything is going take way longer than you think it will, you can’t do it all yourself, you need to think about how to build-out a good team and be willing to follow the path that the market sends you on.” – Jon Powers, Episode #68 Resources Mentioned: CleanCapital Experts Only podcast hosted by Jon Powers SMP 14: How Institutional Investment Capital is Transforming the Renewable Energy Market with Thom Byrne with Benoy Thanjan and Thom Byrne Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security experts who believe oil dependence and climate change pose threats to our national security and advocate for securing America with clean energy.   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Jon Powers LinkedIn: Jon Powers Website: CleanCapital Twitter: @CleanCapital_  Sponsor: We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets.At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients. In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar.If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com. Steve Schwerd who is the Owner of Schwerd Consulting was interviewed on Episode 17 and Episode 48 of the Solar Maverick Podcast and Episode 42 of which he was on panel discussion on How Solar Technology is Changing the World. They are involved with the trends, technologies, vendors, policies, utilities, codes, and financial considerations for the industry. Therefore, value add for them is not just a slogan, it’s what they practice in order to have loyal customers and gain trust. Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Kushagra Nandan provides a unique international perspective on the solar industry that comes from his early days in the United States solar market, starting his company, SunSource, in India, and his experience working on over 300 solar projects across many countries throughout India, Asia, and Africa.  While talking about his journey with SunSource, Kushagra gives an in-depth overview of the entire Indian solar market from its inception to its future.     Benoy Thanjan  Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Kushagra Nandan As Co-Founder and President of SunSource, Kushagra has guided the company’s strategy, project execution, technology and engineering efforts, with a primary focus on client-specific solar solutions and international market development.  He has played an active role in helping shape SunSource’s offerings for domestic and international markets. Kushagra has pioneered efforts towards providing end-to-end engineering solutions beginning from initial scoping and capacity building to actual project design, engineering, supervision, and construction.  Kushagra is actively engaged in building the capability to handle a challenging portfolio of solar projects and focused on deeply entrenching the philosophy of minimizing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Kushagra brings a vast amount of experience in leading teams that have developed, designed and installed multi-megawatt solar PV projects.  Prior to SunSource, Kushagra worked with global solar majors including SunPower and GE. As one of the core members of the SunDurance Energy team, he led the technical group and helped grow the team and capability to develop, engineer-build projects ranging from 100’s kilowatt to multiple megawatts.  Kushagra has also had roles at New Energy Options, Inc., AstroPower Inc. (currently GE Energy), and the Center for Sustainable Energy at the University of Massachusetts. Kushagra holds a Master’s degree in Solar Energy Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.  He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology. Kushagra has also successfully completed a Solar PV Technology Assessment Certification from Florida Solar Energy Center & Villanova University along with Electrical Safety for Qualified Electrical Workers Certificate from Louisiana Tech University.  He is a Lifetime Member of the Solar Energy Society of India and was a member of the interconnection group at the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Association to assist New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities to help define State’s solar policy implementation.   Insights from this episode: Details on SunSource, their future growth plans, and ownership targets that will allow further international expansion. Strategies for deciding what solar projects SunSource invests in and, more importantly, when and where to invest. Details on the similarities and differences between the solar markets in the United States and India. How to bring more solar projects into the Indian ecosystem to reduce the dependence on diesel fuel in the commercial/industrial market. The secret to generating repeat business and being a successful entrepreneur.   Quotes from the show:  “Similar to the US [United States], every state here in India has its own regulatory guidelines even though there is a full perspective on the federal side.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 On working in the United States solar market: “Virtually in front of my eyes, I saw how the whole market started evolving and the financing started coming in.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 On the changing solar market in the United States: “I remember doing a 500-kilowatt project in 2005 (in) Atlantic City [New Jersey] and making the national news and now nobody talks about a 500-kilowatt project.  Even a 500-megawatt project barely makes the news.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 “India, over the last so many years, has become one of the leading consumers of solar power.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 On solar trends in India: “What we are seeing, additionally, is now solar plus storage is starting is starting to take shape.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 “Your reputation is only as good as your last project, so you don’t take it easy, you keep on delivering.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 Benoy summarizing SunSource’s success: “The goal, eventually, was always to finance the projects and then once financing was available it seemed to really scale with the right partnerships and the right people.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #67 On entrepreneurship: “It doesn’t matter if you win or if you lose, you definitely learn a lot.” – Kushagra Nandan, Episode #67 On entrepreneurship: “Everyone should try it out.  It’s an experience and you learn a lot from it because you’re required to wear a lot of different hats.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #67 On the international solar market: “It’s still very early so there is plenty of opportunity, especially in the Indian market.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #67 Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Kushagra Nandan   Email: knandan@sunsource-energy.com LinkedIn: Kushagra Nandan Website: sunsource-energy.com Sponsor: We would like to thank RadiantREIT for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.   RadiantREIT is the first-ever investment trust to bring mortgage REITs to the solar energy market.  For the solar developers and EPC developers out there, financing with RadiantREIT’s solar mortgage REIT will transform how you think about the business of project development. With RadiantREIT financing, you can increase project cash flow and you can retain ownership of your projects. The company’s cradle-to-grave financing package includes the entire capital stack. RadiantREIT arranges tax equity, 100% construction financing and up to 99% term financing at competitive rates with no upfront fees including legal and diligence! Co-Founders Jim Spano and Jeff Just are solar and finance veterans who have brought together a team of experts to create and offer this innovative financing model enabling developers to capture the true value of their development. They are committed to addressing the financing gaps that exist in today’s market, especially for small and mid-sized developers. RadiantREIT will remove the stress of financing or refinancing, and allow you to maintain focus on your projects. Let them be your outsourced, structured finance department. Visit www.radiantreit.com to learn more and to submit your expression of interest form today. Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.  This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Rich Walsh shares his journey to founding Madison Energy Investments with his two other partners, why Madison Energy Investment focuses on the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solar market, and their goal of owning solar projects in every state.  The overall discussion is a very high-level look at trends in the solar industry, the complicated financing of solar projects, and where to continue to find value in solar sectors.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Richard Walsh Rich oversees all activities relating to business development and strategy at Madison Energy Investments.  This includes project origination, new market analysis and partner and customer relations. Rich spent 5 years at WGL Energy where he led business development activities related to solar.  He originated over $300 million of projects across dozens of state markets with clients ranging from the federal government to professional sports teams. Rich also previously worked in renewable energy advisory with Sterling Planet.  Rich currently serves as the US Representative for the World Energy Council’s future energy leaders programme. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Samford University.   Insights from this episode: Details on how Madison Energy Investments was founded, the partnerships they formed, and the role they play in the solar investment industry. How to differentiate your company using diversity, assuming risk, and adding value. Benefits of building strong, long-term relationships with developers of solar projects. Details on community solar projects and other solar programs across the United States that Madison Energy Investments is involved with. Secret to creating a strong business brand in a specialized market by identifying where that market has the most need. Benefits of creating many good partnership opportunities instead of focusing on only one large scale opportunity.   Quotes from the show: On the company motto Certainty, Speed, and Trust: “It’s to remind us that every time we introduce ourselves to someone we truly mean we are going to do exactly what we tell you we are going to do and we’re going to do it fast.” – Richard Walsh, Episode #66 “The only way to get [larger scale projects] is to aggregate, the only way to aggregate is to have a team that understands what they’re doing, that has experience, and the only way to find the deals is to have long-term relationships.” – Richard Walsh, Episode #66 On what makes Madison Energy Investments successful: “The whole key is being able to aggregate and manage assets effectively, which we have shown we can do both of those.” – Richard Walsh, Episode #66 “We hope to be in every single state at some point and we will probably be in 20 by the end of next year (2020).” – Richard Walsh, Episode #66 On the challenges faced by smaller solar energy firms: “It’s very difficult if you’re not one of these large energy companies that has a very experienced energy department, to understand the contracting [for solar financing].  It’s very difficult to get renewable energy.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #66  On being in the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) market: “There is this massive disconnect, this massive gap between community solar and utility-scale [projects] that is rife with opportunity.” – Richard Walsh, Episode #66  On the importance of diversified partnerships: “If you work with one partner and do one deal you’re losing money as the owner and operator.” – Richard Walsh, Episode #66 “Always the first transaction is the hardest to close and then it becomes more scalable [with] more transactions.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #66 Resources Mentioned: 5 Observations on the Commercial Solar Market  by Richard Walsh for GreenTechMedia Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel Transition Renewable Energy Credit Program (TREC)   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Richard Walsh Email: rwalsh@madisonei.com LinkedIn: Richard Walsh Website: Madison Energy Investments Sponsor: We would like to thank Silverline Communications for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Sillverline Communications, an integrated marketing and PR agency focused on clean and emerging tech, is headquartered in DC with satellite offices in Chicago and Salt Lake City. What defines them? They are: Independent. Agile. Absolutely invested in their clients and their teams. They are storytellers and connectors at heart, grounding programs with insights to achieve real business objectives and shape outcomes that influence markets and policy. They use every tool in the communication arsenal to translate complex ideas into breakthrough campaigns that drive stakeholder action. The team that gets it done? Silverline Communications. Strategic, smart professionals with unrivaled expertise in energy, policy and emerging technologies. In short:  They know their stuff. They believe in what they do. They believe in what their clients do. When their clients succeed, the world is a better place. To learn more about Silverline, go to teamsilverline.com.  You can reach Silverline at 703-286-5500 or info@teamsilverline.com. Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, David Buckner recounts how and why he left the world of finance to start Solar Energy Systems, a full-service solar energy company that has become a leader in the Northeastern solar market.  David and Benoy talk about specialization in the solar industry, how to grow as a company in an evolving industry, and what they both love about the solar market.     Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   David Buckner As a founding member of Solar Energy Systems (SES), David has been with the company since its inception in 1998.  His first two years building SES were spent after-hours “moonlighting” on his day job. He’d been a government bonds broker for a Wall Street brokerage firm and enjoyed most of it, but yearned for more diversity in his daily activity, including time outside, and he discovered he loved being up on the roofs.  So he quit his Wall Street gig in 2000 to dedicate everything to SES. Today as President, David does everything from meeting with clients and vendors to taking a delivery if no one is available or if he just needs some exercise.  He thinks longevity in the solar industry is an asset: “I’ve seen many ups and downs as the industry has grown from a heavily subsidized start-up to what is increasingly becoming a mature space. I respect the effort it takes to organize people and get projects constructed. And I enjoy developing new opportunities, but it's really about executing for the clients who have already committed to working with us.”  He believes that life is a team sport. David has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Fordham University and is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).  He was actually one of the first to take and pass the test back when NABCEP began testing in 2004. David has 5 bikes and 4 BMX scooters — he likes to take clunkers and put minimal cost and effort into making them rideable.   Insights from this episode: Details on Solar Energy Systems’ early decision to focus on the commercial/industrial sector of the solar energy industry over the residential solar energy sector. Details on the challenges of installing solar panels in New York City. How to determine good business opportunities for Solar Energy Systems and how they take advantage of those opportunities. Benefits of creating a business plan in the changing solar market that allows for adjustment and provides the most value. Strategies for becoming an entrepreneur in general and specific advice for gaining entry into the solar market. Quotes from the show: On Solar Energy Systems’ decision to focus on commercial solar energy: “It just became more interesting and more fun for us to figure out how to do larger projects and work together as a small team.” – David Buckner, Episode #65 “Our bread and butter is still the commercial rooftop, but we are moving a little bit into the larger ground mount [solar] sector as well.” – David Buckner, Episode #65 “There’s a lot of challenges in New York City from a physical perspective, but there is as much support here as anywhere.” – David Buckner, Episode #65 “There is so much opportunity in so many different [areas] now in the [solar] industry that you could focus on … it can be overwhelming.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #65 On writing a business plan in an evolving solar industry: “Plans are made to be changed.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #65 “That’s one thing I like about the [solar] industry, it’s growing and evolving.” – David Buckner, Episode #65 David’s advice for solar entrepreneurs: “I think that you need to segment and specialize, whether that’s engineering, development, installation work, financing … everybody is trying to throw their money into [the solar] industry.” – David Buckner, Episode #65 “What I love about the [solar] industry … is everything is changing so quickly and there is no typical day and it’s growing so exponentially.  And it’s becoming more mature, but I think that we are still in the early stages of the solar industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #65   Resources Mentioned: Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Partnership Fund for New York City City University of New York (CUNY) Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC)   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   David Buckner Email: info@solaresystems.com LinkedIn: David Buckner Website: Solar Energy Systems Sponsor:  We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets. At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients.   In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services. Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar. If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting.  Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com. Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Nathan Vasher discusses how Extra Space Storage is one of the biggest corporate users of solar energy and how they plan to continue growing their solar deployment and also employing energy-conscious initiatives.  Nathan also shares his path to solar, trends he’s excited about, and an energy future that looks very bright.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.   Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche. Nathan Vasher Nathan Vasher is the Manager of Solar at Extra Space Storage, a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Standard & Poor 500 (S&P 500).  It is a fully-integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust. Extra Space has properties in 40 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, they own or operate over 1,800 stores comprising approximately 1.3 million units and 135 million square feet of rentable space.  Extra Space has become one of the largest corporate users of solar energy according to rankings realized by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).  The trade group ranked Extra Space in tenth place in terms of the number of solar installations. Nathan has 7 years of professional client-facing experience working with public sector, non-profit and international clients through all phases of organization development; providing strategy, performance management, measures development, process improvement, change management, training and business process design services. He has experience providing technical support to advance health programs in the area of supply chain management working in multiple countries including The Netherlands, South Africa, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and Switzerland.   Insights from this episode: Details on Nathan’s role as Manager of Solar at Extra Space, the history of the company’s solar program strategy, and how that strategy has advanced over the years. How Extra Space determines what properties to install solar.   How Extra Space runs RFP process with preferred vendors on properties to determine where to install solar. Why Extra Space has a preference toward owning the solar projects on their properties.  How Nathan uses Extra Spaces’ past successes to guide where they invest in new solar properties. Strategies to plan for the future when you are dealing with older properties and the inevitable repairs they will need.   Benefits of employing energy-saving initiatives including increased energy efficiency and cost-saving. Details on the step-down of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), how states are creating their own renewable energy incentives, and how that affects the viability of future solar development.   Quotes from the show: On the financial feasibility of solar projects: “That’s something that we are always looking at, how do we get the most value for the capital that we spend and solar, up to this point, has been a huge return on our investment.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 “Our wholly-owned [business] portfolio is really simple, if we see an opportunity to put solar on a property, we just move forward with it because we don’t need anyone’s permission.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 On creating partnerships to further the solar program at Extra Space: “We’re just in the nascent stages of really trying to figure out what is best for each of our partners and how we work together with them to do solar [projects].” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 On preparing for the future of older properties: “We plan that in some point in the life of the solar [installation], the roof is going to have to be fully replaced.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 On the biggest challenge of older properties:  “Trying to find the right mix, on some of the older properties, of how we can really get the biggest bang for our buck without having to really bend over backward to configure the system.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 “One of the biggest challenges we have is getting the right-sized [solar] system for the property.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 “The biggest benefit to going solar is the cost savings of using solar and not having to pay [for energy].” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #64 “We’re just going to keep going until we run out of roofs.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64 “From where I sit, combining solar and storage is a huge opportunity … I think it’s going to be a trend, coupling power plus storage.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #64   Resources Mentioned: Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) Request for Proposal RFP The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)   Sponsor: We would like to thank RadiantREIT for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. RadiantREIT is the first-ever investment trust to bring mortgage REITs to the solar energy market. For the solar developers and EPC developers out there, financing with RadiantREIT’s solar mortgage REIT will transform how you think about the business of project development. With RadiantREIT financing, you can increase project cash flow and you can retain ownership of your projects. The company’s cradle-to-grave financing package includes the entire capital stack. RadiantREIT arranges tax equity, 100% construction financing and up to 99% term financing at competitive rates with no upfront fees including legal and diligence! Co-Founders Jim Spano and Jeff Just are solar and finance veterans who have brought together a team of experts to create and offer this innovative financing model enabling developers to capture the true value of their development. They are committed to addressing the financing gaps that exist in today’s market, especially for small and mid-sized developers. RadiantREIT will remove the stress of financing or refinancing, and allow you to maintain focus on your projects. Let them be your outsourced, structured finance department. Visit www.radiantreit.com to learn more and to submit your expression of interest form today.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Nathan Vasher Email: nvasher@extraspace.com LinkedIn: Nathan Vasher Website: Extra Space Storage   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary This episode of Create Your Life Series will motivate you to make and keep your resolutions this year.  Kevin talks with Benoy Thanjan, owner of Reneu Energy, about his path to entrepreneurship in the solar energy industry and his passion project, the Solar Maverick podcast.  Benoy and Kevin look back on their journeys over the past year and discuss what it takes to be successful in entrepreneurship, podcasting, and life.   Kevin Y. Brown Kevin Y. Brown is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) Center For Public Trust (CPT) “Being A Difference” award recipient, international speaker, entrepreneur, and author.  The former MTV Networks host and NYC fashion marketer has created an international following as a speaker on personal excellence, effective communication, and leadership. Kevin has been featured by Black Enterprise magazine as a “Modern Man of Distinction” and highlighted in various publications for his self-help speaking work and helping students graduate college debt-free.  Recognized for his commitment to empowering foster care youth and as a foster care system alumnus, he has also delivered the keynote address at the International Foster Care Organizations Conference in Sydney, Australia and Osaka, Japan.  Kevin is currently the creator/host of Sirius XM’s “Create Your Life” series, a fellow in the New York Chapter of the Startup Leadership Program, and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.  Benoy Thanjan  Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Insights from this episode: Details on Reneu Energy, how the company became involved with Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), and how states are employing them to incentivize solar development. How to create a more eco-friendly lifestyle on a daily basis and incorporate renewable energy into any household. Strategies on goal-setting, forming a work plan, and taking action steps to attain those goals. How to create a successful podcast in a niche market, facing challenges, and making your own opportunities. Details on how Benoy and Kevin became podcasters and what that process has taught them.    Quotes from the show: “My first background in energy was at Deloitte & Touch and then I knew that renewable energy sustainability was my passion.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 “There’s a lot of exciting things that are happening with the (renewable energy) industry, specifically related to solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On having a renewable lifestyle: “There’s the Three R’s that we could all incorporate into our whole lifestyle, which is Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On what it takes to become an entrepreneur: “A lot of time, in pursuit of running your own company, it takes a while.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172 On entrepreneurship: “It’s not easy to just go (out) and then suddenly start a company and take that leap, it definitely takes time.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On attaining goals: “Every day I come up with a task list… of what are the biggest things that are going to move the needle to get me closer to my goals.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On making Solar Maverick: “It’s important to take the feedback that you get from the podcast but it’s also important to be what you wanted the show to be about.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #172 On listening to Solar Maverick: “Solar is here to stay and it is something that is becoming bigger and bigger and more a part of our daily lives and with that, we need to be informed and that’s why I tune in to the Solar Maverick podcast” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172 On Kevin creating the Create Your Life Series: “It was being a professional speaker and I wanted a way to engage with my listeners and audience members on a continuous basis.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172 On what Kevin has learned through his guests on the Create Your Life Series: “You have to be bold and authentic and actually be doing what it is that aligns with you.” – Kevin Y. Brown, Episode #172   Resources mentioned   Solar Maverick with Benoy Thanjan Create Your Life Series: Episode 134 with Kevin Y. Brown  How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie Stay Connected:   Create Your Life Series: https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/  https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/   Kevin Y. Brown: www.kevinybrown.com www.instagram.com/kevinybrown www.twitter.com/kevinybrown www.facebook.com/kevbrown001   Benoy Thanjan: www.reneuenergy.com www.instagram.com/benoit0212 www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on  iTunes, google play, stitcher and www.createyourlifeseries.com/podcast   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy and Li look into the future and define trends in solar energy.  Community Solar Programs will continue to rise in popularity along with energy storage and favorable state level renewable energy legislation.  Benoy and Li conclude the interview with a personal look toward 2020 and how they stay focused and mindful throughout the year.   Benoy Thanjan  Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche. Li Wang Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insights from this episode:   Benefits from the cultural shift of society regarding renewable energy and climate change that is emerging. Defining the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) and a how that is allowing significant development of solar Details on the risks associated with corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and opportunities that will exist in the future for smaller companies. Benefits of incentive programs and how they can help produce more solar energy.  Details on Green Tariff Programs that utility companies offer customers the ability to purchase green energy. Benefits of using bifacial solar modules How tariffs on solar panels impacted the solar market. Benoy and Li speak about mindfulness and mediation to help achieve their resolutions throughout the year. Quotes from the show:   “What we see is that it’s really big companies are taking advantage of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) but we think there will be an opportunity for mid-size and smaller commercial and industrial [companies].” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 On state solar programs and legislature: “There seems to be a focus on incentives to produce more solar energy.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 “With all these states taking leadership in this position [on incentives] it’s going to lift up the entire industry just by mandating certain standards.” – Li Wang, Episode #63 “There’s a lot of incentives in the pipeline to develop solar [energy] and [energy] storage, both stand-alone and together.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 On Green Tariff Programs: “For small and mid-size businesses it could be an opportunity for them [to reach] their renewable energy goals.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 “Politics do matter as far as how the policies reflect the industry, the Trump administration has not been supportive … on their attitudes toward policies that help renewable [energy]. ” – Li Wang, Episode #63 “If you look at state legislation, a lot of states have really been aggressive with passing incentives because the federal government hasn’t passed any new incentives.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63 “What I have learned, through meditation, is that you can train your mind to become more present.” – Li Wang, Episode #63   Podcasts Mentioned:  Episode 58: Residential Solar Financing and Other Interesting Topics - with Benoy Thanjan and Nathan Jovanelly Resources Mentioned: The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs) Solar Energy Industries Association Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC)   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22   Sponsor: We would like to thank Radiant REIT for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.   RadiantREIT is the first-ever investment trust to bring mortgage REITs to the solar energy market. For the solar developers and EPC developers out there, financing with RadiantREIT’s solar mortgage REIT will transform how you think about the business of project development. With RadiantREIT financing, you can increase project cash flow and you can retain ownership of your projects. The company’s cradle-to-grave financing package includes the entire capital stack. RadiantREIT arranges tax equity, 100% construction financing and up to 99% term financing at competitive rates with no upfront fees including legal and diligence! Co-Founders Jim Spano and Jeff Just are solar and finance veterans who have brought together a team of experts to create and offer this innovative financing model enabling developers to capture the true value of their development. They are committed to addressing the financing gaps that exist in today’s market, especially for small and mid-sized developers. RadiantREIT will remove the stress of financing or refinancing, and allow you to maintain focus on your projects. Let them be your outsourced, structured finance department. Visit www.radiantreit.com to learn more and to submit your expression of interest form today.   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.  This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary This episode of Solar Maverick Podcast is a live panel discussion from the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar held in Dallas, Texas from October 2019.  Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls, Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong, Benoy Thanjan from Reneu Energy and Todd Samson from Deloitte & Touche participated in a panel discussion on the role of renewable energy in real estate.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Lisa Brown Lisa Brown joined Johnson Controls in 2003. As national director for municipal infrastructure and smart cities, Lisa is responsible for the growth of the local government market in North America, including the development of strategies, offerings, and innovations for local government service and systems markets. In 2015, Lisa created Johnson Controls' local government urban growth initiative, which combines smart city solutions with community outreach and workforce enhancement for midsize to large municipal customers. Lisa is consistently sought out to deliver keynote presentations and participate on smart city and IoT panels to discuss how data can assist cities to become "smarter" and its relation to climate resiliency, smart infrastructure, and economic growth. Lisa was recently nominated to join the Women of Municipal Government committee for the National League of Cities and the Smart Communities Advisory board for the International City Managers Association. For the past three years, she has been the leader of the East Region Women's Resource Network of Johnson Controls and served as a global ambassador for International Women's Day. Lisa served 15 years with the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, four of those years as director of community development and outreach in Newark, New Jersey. Lisa currently is a board member of the Rumson-Fair Haven Education Foundation. In 2016, she was honored as a NY Women of Valor and received the Humanitarian Award from St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters, which support 1.5 million food-disadvantaged New Yorkers annually.   Susan Nickey Susan Nickey is a Managing Director at Hannon Armstrong, a leading provider of debt and equity financing to the energy efficiency and renewable energy markets. Susan has over 25 years of executive leadership in the energy and finance sectors. She has focused her efforts on proving that creative solutions and innovation can make the production of clean energy more profitable, competitive, affordable and mainstream. Most recently, she founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Threshold Power. Prior to working at Threshold, she served as Chief Financial Officer at ACCIONA Energy North America. She was named one of Women’s eNews’ 21 Leaders for the 21st Century for her leadership in sustainable development. Susan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.   Todd Samson Todd Samson is a Certified Public Accountant and Tax Partner with Deloitte & Touche in the greater Chicago area.  Todd was the moderator for the Impact of Renewable Energy on the Future of Real Estate at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar in 2019 and has presented about renewable energy at the Deloitte 2017 Power & Utilities Fall Seminar. He graduated from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2003 with a master's degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting.   Insights from this episode: Details on how the role of renewable energy has changed and grown over the past several years and the future role renewables will play in the real estate market. Details on what is driving interest in renewable energy such as sustainability and concern for climate change. Strategies for addressing and overcoming concerns from government agencies regarding the implementation of renewable energy sources.  How software will be very important to monetize different energy technologies and storage through for example resiliency and demand reduction. Strategies municipalities are employing to create new revenue streams and monetize the renewable energy market. Details on where the most significant opportunities exist in real estate in regards to renewable energy.  How to overcome the challenges of financing renewables in real estate. Details on the United States renewable energy market versus the international renewable energy market and where innovation is going to come from in the future.   Quotes from the show: On the mission of Johnson Controls: “Building renewables into the fabric of our overall holistic projects is definitely a priority for us and we help owners and building developers really pivot toward being more environmentally conscious.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62 “Renewables are converging with energy efficiency and other technologies which is exciting to see.”  – Susan Nickey, Episode #62 On solar power: “As a technology, people have gotten very comfortable with it in a very short period of time … so the conversations are a lot easier than they were.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #62 On people and businesses moving and working in urban areas: “They are demanding, as part of the mandate when they move in, that they need green [renewable energy] and that they are willing to pay higher for it.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62 “The world is watching what North America is doing so developers and municipal leaders … need to be progressive in order to survive.”  – Lisa Brown, Episode #62 “Corporations have been the big drivers and they are forcing cities and states to open up the market to renewable energy.”  – Susan Nickey, Episode #62 “It is very difficult for America, at least for the states, to be able to do sweeping innovation (across) the entire United States because we all adhere to different rules and different forms of government.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62 Resources Mentioned: 2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: Reneu Energy   Lisa Brown LinkedIn: Lisa Brown Website: Johnson Controls   Susan Nickey LinkedIn: Susan Nickey Website:  Hannon Armstrong   Todd Samson LinkedIn: Todd Samson Website: Deloitte LLP   Sponsor:  We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets. At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients.   In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.  Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar. If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting.  Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com. Steve Schwerd who is the Owner of Schwerd Consulting was interviewed on Episode 17 and Episode 48 of the Solar Maverick Podcast and Episode 42 of which he was on panel discussion on How Solar Technology is Changing the World.   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary On this special episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy is a guest on The Formula with Timothy Roman.  Benoy divulges his criteria for investing in different ventures, how he interacts with the companies he’s invested into, and how the movie Back to the Future influenced one of the companies he’s currently working with.  Also discussed is the importance of networking, podcasting, and personal branding and Benoy reveals his favorite television show.  Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Timothy Roman Timothy Roman is the founder and CEO of Roman Media Group, a passionate team of young entrepreneurs with a proven track record for helping businesses get from zero to 7 figures 100% on the backbone of digital marketing.  He was featured in Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk. Tim recently began his podcast The Formula where everyone from real estate titans to self-made entrepreneurs share their formula for success.   Insights from this episode: Details of Benoy’s progression into entrepreneurship and his interest in renewable energy. Strategies on how Benoy chooses what projects to invest in and the various roles he plays in each investment. How to determine if an investment is right for you and how to develop the ability to say no. Benefits yielded from networking, how that leads to new opportunities, and the synergy created between different investments. How to employ personal branding for product development and the impact video marketing can make. Quotes from the show: On what it takes for Benoy to invest: “If you can trust the person, you can see their vision, you can see examples of that (vision) and them having a track record of success.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 “I see so many business opportunities now because I have invested in several businesses and I would say 97% I say no to because it’s not the right opportunity.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 “The restaurant industry is a lot harder than I ever imagined it to be.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 On technology and Reneu Energy: “We are probably very tech-savvy for a solar energy company.  We take a lot of things that we’ve learned from other industries and incorporate it.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 “The network of people is important.  It’s all about who you know.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 “I learn from the entrepreneurs that I’m working with.  I’m learning about other industries and I’m incorporating some of the things I see into my own business.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 The question Benoy starts his day with: “What are the things that are going to move the needle?” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 “If I’m investing money into a business, I’m already accepting that I might not get that money back.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 On determining a good opportunity: “I’m all about being direct, transparent, honest.  There are certain values I’m trying to look for.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 On accelerator programs: “I’ve always been extremely curious about the atmosphere … it sounds like it not only creates amazing network opportunities, it’s also educated a lot [of people].” – Timothy Roman, Episode #61 On evolving marketing techniques: “Written word has obviously taken the back seat a little bit, which is Search Engine Optimization ("SEO"), blogs, and things like that, but video and audio [formats] are the dominant ones.”   – Timothy Roman, Episode #61 “I think everything is about building the personal brand.  People want to see a face that they trust.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61 Resources Mentioned: Startup Leadership Program   Podcasts mentioned: Create Your Life Series by Kevin Y. Brown  The School of Greatness by Lewis Howe SMP 32: The New Jersey Solar Market with Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters   Sponsor: We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets.At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients. In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar.If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com. Steve Schwerd who is the Owner of Schwerd Consulting was interviewed on Episode 17 and Episode 48 of the Solar Maverick Podcast and Episode 42 of which he was on panel discussion on How Solar Technology is Changing the World. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan  Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Timothy Roman LinkedIn: Timothy Roman Website:  Roman Media Group Podcast: The Formula   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary In this episode Benoy Thanjan, Patrick Morand, and Victoria Zelin present about Developing Renewable Energy In Opportunity Zones at the Opportunity Zone Bootcamp hosted by Brownfield Listing Event in NJ in October 2019. Benoy presents a high-level recap of current federal solar incentive programs and the NJ solar market.  Patrick provides details on qualified opportunity zones investments and outlines project financing for solar investments. Victoria gives an in-depth overview on the success of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program financing in the renewable energy market.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Patrick Morand Patrick practices in the area of energy regulatory law and renewable energy development. Mr. Morand counsels energy clients, including electric utilities, electric distribution companies, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), renewable energy developers, and financial institutions before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state public utility commissions and other federal and state agencies.  Mr. Morand has extensive experience in a wide range of energy regulatory matters involving the Federal Power Act (FPA), Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) and Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005). Mr. Morand also counsels clients in the development of power purchase agreements (PPA); engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements; interconnection agreements; and other project development agreements. Mr. Morand is a graduate of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, and a graduate of Michigan State University.   Victoria Zelin Victoria is the Co-Founder of the Center for Regenerative Community Solutions (CRCS) and Director of Development for New Jersey PACE (NJPACE). She speaks publicly and has been published on the subject of sustainability; “Who Will Be the Rock Stars of Corporate Sustainability?” Science, Wisdom, and the Future: Humanity’s Quest for a Flourishing Earth, Collins Foundation Press, 2012. Most recently, she sold Deloitte’s sustainability consulting services to major corporations. Previously, she sold organizational change consulting services to F500 companies. She is masterful at  getting to the heart of the issue, articulating a compelling case for change, and inspiring people to take action. Earlier, she co-founded the Sustainable Leadership Forum, a peer network in Central NJ that empowers people in their own sustainability initiatives. Victoria has an MBA from Yale’s School of Management with a specialization in organizational development and a BA in cultural anthropology from Duke University.   Insights from this episode: Details on Benoy's start in the solar industry, his role within Reneu Energy, and what types of projects Reneu Energy is working on. Benefits of current and upcoming solar incentive programs in NJ and the growth of community solar. Detailed overview on the solar industry, changes that are taking place, and the future of renewable energy. Benefits of qualified opportunity zone business. Details on safe harboring of solar panels to qualify for the 30 percent ITC. Details on how to structure tax benefits in the solar market.  Benefits of using a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to fill in gaps in solar project financing.  Strategies on employing a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) in a qualified opportunity zone. Details on alternatives in states that do not offer Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. Benefits to property owners when they employ Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.     Quotes from the show: On the Investment Tax Credit (ITC): “It’s very difficult, actually, to find solar panels because people are actually using that 5% harboring (of the Investment Tax Credit) for panels.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #60 On state level incentives in New Jersey: “The great thing about New Jersey is that it has very high electricity costs … but it also has a very strong state-level incentive, the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC).” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #60 On safe harbors in qualified opportunity zones: “There’s something very critical to developing a renewable energy project … in particular a community solar project, that is helped by (those) safe harbors.” – Patrick Morand, Episode #60 On Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing: “It’s really low-cost, long-term financing that is for renewables, energy efficiency, and in some states, resiliency.” – Victoria Zelin, Episode #60   Resources Mentioned: Opportunity Zone Boot Camp on Oct 2019 in NJ New Jersey Clean Energy Program Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Solar Energy Renewable Credit (SREC) New Jersey Property Assessed Clean Energy Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)   Sponsor: We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services. Infiniti Energy Services is a turn key solar development company with the focus on origination of opportunities between Maine and Virginia. They use their ability to structure financing and EPC projects as a value add with their partners. To learn more about Infiniti go to their web-site www.infinitienergyservices.net or contact Tom Loredo- Director of Project Origination at 732-370-2446 We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Patrick Morand   LinkedIn: Patrick Morand Website: Duane Morris LLP Email: PLMorand@duanemorris.com   Victoria Zelin   LinkedIn: Victoria Zelin Website: NJPace Twitter: @VictoriaZelin   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary We released today Solar Maverick Podcast-Episode 59: Lessons Learned from Clean Energy Entrepreneur Laura Taylor, CEO and Founder of Silverline Communications. Laura Taylor discusses the journey over the last ten years of her company, Silverline Communications, an integrated marketing and PR agency focused on clean and emerging tech. She also shares her perspectives on the importance of mentorship and diversity within the clean energy market, and why public relations and branding is vitally important for the renewable energy industry. Laura also talks about The Cleanie Awards, the first-of-its-kind industry award designed to recognize innovators in the clean energy community.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.   Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Laura Taylor Laura Taylor is Founder and CEO of Silverline Communications, a nimble, full-service integrated communications agency uniquely focused on the B2B technology sector. As CEO of Silverline, Laura counsels a wide portfolio of enterprises, crafting impactful communications programs tailored to engage and influence key stakeholders and ultimately, drive measurable growth. Previous to Silverline, Laura co-founded and led global and national practice areas and served in management roles with regional high-growth ventures, accumulating over $1 billion in funding. During her tenure at Edelman, she was a founding leader of the agency’s award-winning global clean technology practice. In three short years, Laura led a team that grew the division from zero to a multi-million-dollar, international practice. A few years later, Laura built a clean technology division for Omnicom from the ground up. After establishing programs at the world’s largest and most prestigious public relations agencies, she founded Silverline Communications in 2009. In addition to leading Silverline, Laura continues to innovate and seek opportunities to contribute to the clean energy sector. After realizing a severe shortage of clean tech industry award recognition, Laura launched The Cleanie Awards® in 2018 to highlight notable individuals and companies in the industry. She is a frequent Forbes contributor and serves as Chairwoman on myriad Boards, including Potential Energy DC, CleanTech Open Southeast, and Solas Nua Theatre Company. Past speaking engagements include the Mid-Atlantic Marketing Summit and the Energy Storage Annual Conference and Expo.   Insights from this episode: Details of Laura’s passion to be an entrepreneur and how optimism has shaped her journey. Benefits of being a mentor and making an impact in the lives of other entrepreneurs.  Strategies Laura employed to win support for Silverline Communications in the company’s early days. How to brand companies as they mature in the clean technology market by changing focus and visibility. Secrets to successful branding, including marketing and production.  Details on how The Cleanie Awards grew to become one of the most prestigious awards in renewable energy.    Quotes from the show: “If you think about the what ifs too long, you’re just going to sit in the corner, you’re never going to get it (your goals) done.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59 “I'm an external optimist who doesn't dwell on failure.  We plan for it, but we don't dwell on it.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59 ”I feel like very successful people are able to learn from failure and then adjust and adapt.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59 On the expansion of the solar market: “Everything is changing so quickly, and it is so globalized, there’s no real borders or boundaries.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59 On being a mentor: “I’m very interested in women and making sure that women feel supported within the clean energy community and outside of the clean energy community.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59 On working with clients over time: “It is so wonderful to see them (now) engaging in the Wall Street aspect, in the finance aspect.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59 On the urgent need to combat climate change: “How do we work within this global economy to keep things churning and not burning?” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59   “Personal branding is very important and people really want to see and listen to the people they are doing business with.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59  “I think the Midwest (United States), for renewable energy, is one of the next big markets.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59 “That’s us (Silverline Communications) in a nutshell: just tech geeks.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59 On accomplishment: “You never say never … there’s always a little twist on the adventure.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59 Resources Mentioned: The Cleanie Awards After noticing there was a severe shortage of industry recognition honoring the efforts of those making a positive impact, The Cleanie Awards was established to amplify innovation stories in cleantech and shine a spotlight on funders to global market movers shaping the industry.  Sponsorship Information: We would like to thank Silverline Communications for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. Sillverline Communications, an integrated marketing and PR agency focused on clean and emerging tech, is headquartered in DC with satellite offices in Chicago and Salt Lake City.What defines them? They are: Independent. Agile. Absolutely invested in their clients and their teams.They are storytellers and connectors at heart, grounding programs with insights to achieve real business objectives and shape outcomes that influence markets and policy. They use every tool in the communication arsenal to translate complex ideas into breakthrough campaigns that drive stakeholder action. The team that gets it done? Silverline Communications. Strategic, smart professionals with unrivaled expertise in energy, policy and emerging technologies.In short: They know their stuff. They believe in what they do. They believe in what their clients do. When their clients succeed, the world is a better place.To learn more about Silverline, go to teamsilverline.com. You can reach Silverline at 703-286-5500 or info@teamsilverline.com.   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Laura Taylor LinkedIn: Laura Taylor Website: Team Silverline Communications Twitter: @SilverlineComms   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.  This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Nathan Jovanelly of IGS Solar, solar expert and thought leader, discusses his passion for bringing renewable energy to the low-to-moderate income (LMI) residential market, solar projects for non-profit organizations, and whether new legislation to keep the Solar Investment Tax Credit("ITC") at 30 percent will be passed.  Nathan talks in detail about the benefits of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), along with solar battery inverters, and all things solar.   Benoy Thanjan  Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.   Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Nathan Jovanelly   Nathan Jovanelly is the Director of Business Development with IGS Solar and a thought leader in the solar industry.  As an intrapreneur, Nate assisted with launching IGS Solar for both residential and commercial customers.   IGS Solar started in 2014 has developed, owns, and operates more than 115MW of solar with another 25MW in construction. IGS Solar operates in 19 states, and has a booming residential division with more than 7,000 customers.  In just a few short years IGS has become the 5th Largest Solar Developer based on 2017 data from GreenTech Media.  Insights from this episode: Details on Nathan’s mission within IGS Solar and his focus on low-to-moderate income (LMI) customers. Benefits of the cultural change happening in America in regards to how renewable energy is now viewed as a more viable energy option. Strategies used by non-profit organizations that allow them to use the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and how the credit may also be applied to energy storage. Details on financing solar projects in the low-to-moderate income (LMI) market. Benefits of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the different ways they can be employed by business and residential consumers. Benefits of solar batteries and energy storage and the introduction of inverters to the renewable energy storage market. Details on what Nathan views as upcoming major trends in the solar industry.   Quotes from the show: “I believe that the next generation wants renewable energy, I think they are demanding renewable energy.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58 “We have this huge thermonuclear reactor in the sky that gives us all the power we could ever need and all we have to do is tap into that and we could start solving energy problems globally.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58 On the benefits of using Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): “The appeal of the lease is that you have a flat payment.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58 “I really think solar plus storage is going to be such a great innovation within the (solar) industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58 “Solar, to me, is a standard asset and very easy to understand, but once you couple it with storage, it takes it to another level and we are going to see a huge proliferation of solar plus storage in the near future.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58 One of Nathan’s favorite quotes (by Winston Churchill): “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, while an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58  “If you really believe in something, to you it’s real. It’s tangible, you can feel it, you know it.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58 On what it takes for someone to be successful: “Finding what your passion is, the value add, focusing on your strengths and just being tenacious. Taking the road less travelled.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58 From the podcast Good by Jocko Willink: “Anything bad that happens in your life, there’s always good that comes from it … because you’re going to be put in a situation where you have to adapt.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58  On being mindful in your life: “What we really only can control is the present.  We can’t change what happened in the past, we can’t do anything about the future.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58 “Success is the interest of hard work.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58 Podcasts Mentioned:  SMP 20: The Solar Intrapreneur Story: How Nate helped IGS with Benoy Thanjan and Nathan Jovanelly   Good by Jocko Willink Resources Mentioned: The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Atomic Habits by James Clear The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com    Nathan Jovanelly Website: IGS Solar LinkedIn: Nathan Jovanelly, PE Twitter: @NateJov Email:  Nathan.Jovanelly@igs.com  Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube. This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

                          Episode Summary In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy shares what he learned from the Solar Power International conference, including solar trends, other speakers he met, and what the conference will be like in 2020.  Benoy talks about other conferences, past and present, he has been involved with and Benoy and Li also touch on how politics affects renewable energy projects, how legislation is affecting the outlook for solar, and how other countries treat renewable energy.     Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.   Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Li Wang Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter, to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insights from this episode: Benefits of attending the Solar Power International conference and how it has changed over the years Benoy has been attending.   Details on the step-down of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and how that is affecting solar investments. Strategies for people who plan to attend the Solar Power International conference to allow them to have a better experience. Details on other conferences relating to solar power and renewable energy and the Reneu Energy holiday party. Strategies for people interested in investing in the hospitality industry.   Quotes from the show: “Don’t let what you can’t control affect you, only focus on what you can control.”  – Li Wang, Episode #57 “When you go to other countries, their energy policy is on a national basis, but in the US (United States) it’s different.  It’s actually a state-by-state basis.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57 “One of the reasons I got excited about solar was that it could make the United States energy independent with renewable energy resources.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57  On the outlook for solar: “Yes there’s challenges, but the industry has always been creative and unique to figure out how to be competitive.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57 “The hospitality industry is a very competitive industry.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57 Benoy’s advice on business investing: “The first thing is about trusting the partners that you’re either working with or investing with.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57 Podcasts Mentioned:  SMP 45:  Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham SMP 44: Community Solar 201 With Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters   Resources Mentioned: The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)   Conferences Mentioned:   Reneu Energy Holiday Party The Reneu Energy Holiday Party will be on Thursday, Dec. 5th from 6pm to 9pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City. We will also be celebrating the holidays and the 50th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast which is one of the most popular podcasts in solar. The cost to attend the event is $10 and food will be served. Reneu Energy's CEO Benoy is also a co-owner of the event venue, Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse.   Solar Power International Conference 2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar Mogul X Conference Opportunity Zone Boot Camp & Pitch Competition - Newark, New Jersey October 17 National Brownfields Conference Coming to Los Angeles, California December 11-13 Sponsor: We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services. Infinity Energy Services is a turn key solar development company with the focus on origination of opportunities between Maine and Virginia. They use their ability to structure financing and EPC projects as a value add with their partners. To learn more about Infiniti go to their web-site www.infinitienergyservices.net or contact Tom Loredo- Director of Project Origination 732-370-2446 We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast.   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

    Episode Summary In this episode, Benoy and Suzanne celebrate Suzanne’s 10th podcast episode with the Solar Maverick Podcast and talk about the upcoming Reneu Energy Holiday Party. They also update us on the New Jersey Community Solar Pilot Program and recap some previous Solar Maverick podcasts before covering energy consumed by cannabis grow facilities and the inevitable inclusion of renewable energy.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Suzanne Waters  Suzanne Waters is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution and collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion-dollar projects. In addition, Suzanne has extensive experience in many aspects of the PV industry, with an unmatched enthusiasm for its capabilities and a BA in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University.   Insights from this episode: Details on what it is like to be on a podcast, upcoming Solar Maverick podcasts, and what to expect from Solar Maverick in the future. Strategies on applying for the New Jersey Community Solar Pilot Program. Benefits of sophisticated grow facilities and how they work. Details on specific energy usage of cannabis cultivation. Benefits of the integration of two growing industries, solar and cannabis.   Quotes from the show:  On the cannabis industry: “It’s a huge growth area in the solar industry, especially as cannabis gets legalized in more and more states throughout the United States.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55 The way that Reneu Energy is different from other developers: “ We believe that solar is not the only solution.  That it is a multi-prong solution.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #55 On indoor grow facilities: “You know you’re yielding a better product which will give you better revenue.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55 “Most people in the cannabis industry are about, obviously, using less electricity and, obviously, renewable forms of electricity.”   – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #55 On Benoy touring MMD Shops: “It sounds very intricate, actually. I feel like there’s a lot of details behind-the-scenes that you don’t realize go into actually growing the plants.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55 “I’m still stuck on the amount of power that goes into running these facilities.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #55 “It will just be interesting to see how these industries, solar and cannabis, … it will be interesting to see how they grow and progress, complimenting one another.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55 On the outlook of solar and cannabis industries: “Both industries are growing exponentially and both will be growing for a very long time.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #55 Podcasts Mentioned:  SMP 42: Live Event - How Solar Technology is Changing the World SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham   Resources Mentioned: Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA) Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Industries Association (MSSIA) Can solar help the legal marijuana growing industry?  by Kelly Pickerel - Solar Power World Online Greentours.com Can solar help the legal marijuana growing industry? by Benoy Thanjan - Solar World Online Achieving Affordable, Clean Energy Goals Through Off-Site Corporate PPAs - Renewable Energy World by Benoy Thanjan - Renewable Energy World 'A model of sustainable commerce': carbon footprint, grid concerns push SoCal weed industry to be more green by Melissa Daniels - Desert Sun   Conferences Mentioned: Reneu Energy Holiday Party The Reneu Energy Holiday Party will be on Thursday, Dec. 5th from 6 pm to 9 pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City. We will also be celebrating the holidays and the 50th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast which is one of the most popular podcasts in solar. The cost to attend the event is $10 and food will be served. Reneu Energy's CEO Benoy is also a co-owner of the event venue, Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn:Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Suzanne Waters Email: suzanne@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Suzanne Waters Website: www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy Sponsor: We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services. Infinity Energy Services is a turn key solar development company with the focus on origination of opportunities between Maine and Virginia. They use their ability to structure financing and EPC projects as a value add with their partners. To learn more about Infiniti go to their web-site www.infinitienergyservices.net or contact Tom Loredo- Director of Project Origination 732-370-2446 We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast.   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.     This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

  Episode Summary   In this episode Benoy is speaking with Mishka and Steve Ashbel, brothers and owners of MMD Shops of California, on the intricacies of entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry, the important role passion plays in growing your business, and the future of the cannabis industry across the country.  They discuss the power consumption of cannabis cultivation, how that growing industry will create an opportunity in renewable energy, and the inevitable integration of solar and cannabis industries.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Mishka and Steve Ashbel   MMD owners and brothers, Steve and Mishka Ashbel, opened their first medical marijuana dispensary in North Hollywood, California in 2006, and have been at the forefront for advocating for safe and legal access to cannabis for over a decade.     They currently have four shops in California and are a leading resource for cannabis entrepreneurship across the country.  They are currently pursuing the idea of taking MMD Shops public.   Insights from this episode:   The origins of MMD Shops and entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry, including licensing and legal challenges. A brief history of legal cannabis and the issues early cannabis entrepreneurs faced paving the way for a new and growing industry. How the continued normalization of cannabis will affect the landscape of retail competition. The energy consumption involved in cannabis cultivation and the role of solar power and renewable energy will play in replacing traditional power sources. How the thriving cannabis industry will create an increased demand for solar power and lead to an integration of profitable, growing industries.       Quotes from the show:   On solar power in the cannabis industry: “...they are inevitably bound to make a marriage together, that’s going to happen.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54 “It is becoming such a big and real industry that it’s not just for people who love consuming cannabis, it is developing as an industry” – Steve Ashbel, SMP #54 On discussing partnerships in new cannabis markets: “If it happens to be that somebody, in wherever they’re listening, and cannabis is new and emerging and they are looking for a strategic partner that has license operational experience, we are very much open to those discussions.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54 “The right to choose your health and wellness and what you put into your body is incredibly important and we’re incredibly passionate about that.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54 On using cannabis to alleviate illness symptoms: “We never say it’s a cure.  We say it’s about the quality of life.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54 “We very much encourage that everybody get into the licensed cannabis space.  Don’t go into the illegal trade. Those days are over. We need to move on and turn this into an industry.  It needs to be taxed, it needs to be regulated.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54 On the normalization of cannabis: “We are not competing with other cannabis retailers, we are competing with Starbucks.” – Steve Ashbel, SMP #54 “I think a lot of people are scared of failure, but failure is the best teacher in life.  That’s where you learn to adapt.” – Benoy Thanjan, SMP #54 “Cannabis producers use way too much energy; it’s not efficient, it’s not efficient at all.” – Mishika Ashbel, SMP #54 Podcasts Mentioned:    Tiffany Pham   SMP 45:  Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham Event Announced: Reneu Energy Holiday Party   Resources Mentioned:   Interim Control Ordinances (ICOs) Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Mishka and Steve Ashbel   Website: MMD Shops  Instagram: MMD Long Beach LinkedIn: Mishka Ashbel Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

Episode Summary For the first time on the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy is discussing permitting in the solar industry with Allison Rohrs while at the Solar Power International Conference ("SPI").  They delve into the details of the process of permitting, why permitting is necessary, and possible problems that might interfere with permitting.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Allison Rohrs   Allison Rohrs has joined SWCA’s Pittsburgh office as Senior Renewable Energy Project Manager, contributing to the continuing development of SWCA’s work in renewable energy throughout the central and eastern U.S. Allison joins SWCA from the Saint Francis University Institute for Energy, where she was the Executive Director for nearly seven years, overseeing a wide range of energy related initiatives in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Her unique and diverse work experience spans operations and maintenance of electric (wind) generators, renewable energy site development, energy policy research, and community outreach.    Allison has well established relationships with renewable energy developers, investors, manufacturers, policy makers, and other key stakeholders. She studied Environmental Science at the University of Colorado and received her master’s degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering from Penn State. Allison is also a Certified Energy Manager by the Association of Energy Engineers.     Insights from this episode:   What permitting is and why it is important for the solar industry. The possible effects of energy projects on cultural and natural resources through Critical Impact Assessment ("CIA"). The specifics of types of permitting required and how they can be impacted by different factors. The benefits of applying for applications early and having a plan of action for your project. How solar projects can be affected because of regulations varying from state to state.   Quotes from the show: Talking about the tiny house tour in Pennsylvania: “We could show that, even on cloudy days or days it was raining, that we are still making electricity here.  And that is really powerful when you’ve been talking to a community that has only seen coal for the last hundred years. “ – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53   “Anyone in the solar/renewable energy space is an entrepreneur in their own way.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53   “As an industry I think that we should be, and we are, in the business of doing good things for the environment and … I think regulation kind of ensures that is what is happening.”  – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53 On the permitting process: “Start these processes early because they take a lot of time and a lot of energy and very often they can stop a project.” – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53 “Be prepared that you might run into issues.” – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53 On attending the Solar Power Initiative ("SPI") conference: “I was blown away with how many people are exhibiting and how packed the convention center is.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53   Talking about the book Ego is the Enemy: “We are all biased toward our perspective.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53   “We think Pennsylvania is one of the next big markets for solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53 Events Mentioned: Reneu Energy Holiday Party Podcasts Mentioned:    Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu   Lewis Howes Podcasts   Books Mentioned:    High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard   Ego is the Enemy and Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday   Resources Mentioned:   SWCA “Sound Science, Creative Solutions”   Solar Power International Conference   Sept. 23 - Sept. 26, 2019 Salt Lake City, Utah All Solar Power Events are produced by SEIA and SEPA, including the development of cutting-edge educational programs offered at each show. What sets Solar Power Events apart from other conferences is the support of these two organizations. All proceeds from the events go straight back into the industry.   National Geographic   State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO)   US Army Corps of Engineers   Influencer 2019   Oct. 10 - Oct. 12, 2019 San Diego, California INFLUENCER Magazine presents the first-ever conference exclusively for up-and-coming influencers, by experienced influencers, on how to grow your personal brand, monetize your content, reach more people, and dramatically scale your business. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Allison Rohrs   Email: allison.rohrs@swca.com Website: SWCA   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

Episode Summary   In this episode, Benoy and Li discuss Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), their effect on solar industry financing, and what benefits long-term solar investments can provide to businesses and homeowners in the growing solar industry.  In addition, Benoy talks about upcoming conferences and events he will be attending.     Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Li Wang   Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter, to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insights from this episode: Details on upcoming conferences that Benoy will be attending. Books and podcasts that have influenced Benoy and Li and the Solar Maverick Podcast. The crucial role customer service plays in business and how you represent your brand. The details on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and how they are affecting financing and the development of the solar pipeline.     Quotes from the show:   “We are firm believers that if you own a brand you have the right to express how you want to carry that culture.” – Li Wang, Episode #52 “Personal branding is so huge.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52 On news that US Utility Solar Pipeline has hit a new high: “It shows you that people are confident about what is happening in the solar industry.  Not all these projects in this pipeline are going to get developed, but it shows you that people are confident about what is happening in the solar industry.”  – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52 “But, really, just get involved in the industry. We think all parts of the industry are going to grow.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52 “The real value that we are seeing from a career perspective is a project developer.“ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52 “Any investment involves risk, but combined with the federal incentives and the terms I’m looking at it seems like accessibility to financing is pretty good for those who do want to get involved in solar.” – Li Wang, Episode #52 “In the past, there were a lot of good projects and not enough financing.  Now there is so much financing and not a lot of good projects.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52 Quoted by Benoy: “Ultimately, there's one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself.  Nobody can take away what you've got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven't used yet.” - Warren Buffett    Podcasts Mentioned:    SMP 45:  Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham   SMP 42: Live Event - How Solar Technology is Changing the World   SMP 43:  2019 Energy Storage Trends with Benoy Thanjan and Li Wang   SMP 47: Solar Financing 101 with Benoy Thanjan and Li Wang   Lewis Howes Podcasts   Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu   Books Mentioned:   High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard   Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis   Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh   How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie   Resources Mentioned:   Mogul App   Rush Order Tees   The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)   PV Magazine; Off-site, In Mind  Achieving Affordable, Clean Energy Goals Through Off-Site Corporate PPAs SEIA Model Leases and PPAs   U.S. Utility Solar Pipeline Soars to 37.9 GW, A New Record   Conferences Mentioned:   Mogul X Conference   Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 New York, New York Benoy was the Dean of the Hustle Track at the Mogul X innovative conference; made up of transformative classrooms, immersive experiences, and networking opportunities – all of which dive into the key aspects of a Mogul’s life including Failures, Work, Relationships, Health & Wellness, Travel, Finance, and Entrepreneurship. Each class is taught by the best of the best: world-class CEO’s, top executives, celebrities, and professors – taking their lifetime of learnings and expertise and turning it into actionable lessons for you.   Solar Power International Conference   Sept. 23 - Sept. 26, 2019 Salt Lake City, Utah   2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar   Oct. 2 - Oct. 4, 2019 Dallas, Texas Benoy spoke at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar on Friday, October 4 in a panel on “Impact of renewable energy on the future of real estate” with Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls and Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong.   Influencer 2019   Oct. 10 - Oct. 12, 2019 San Diego, California INFLUENCER Magazine presents the first-ever conference exclusively for up-and-coming influencers, by experienced influencers, on how to grow your personal brand, monetize your content, reach more people, and dramatically scale your business. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang   MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22 Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

Episode Summary   In this episode, Benoy and Suzanne provide a general overview of the Community Solar program in various states and have a high-level discussion about the Community Solar initiative in New Jersey, including a deep-dive into tax credits and how they affect the development of solar projects.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Suzanne Waters    Suzanne Waters is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution and collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion-dollar projects. In addition, Suzanne has extensive experience in many aspects of the PV industry, with an unmatched enthusiasm for its capabilities and a BA in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University.   Insight from this episode:   The basics of the Community Solar initiative, including how it is defined by SEIA. The differences in the New Jersey pilot program versus other Community Solar programs. How Community Solar programs are growing and what challenges are facing those programs. How the SREC and ITC may affect the future of these programs and customers.  Specifics on the New Jersey incentives and their effect on other markets.    Quotes from the show: “Community Solar is one of the next big things in solar.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #51  “Seems like financiers of community solar projects are getting comfortable with having a substantial number of the customers as residential and there is no long-term contracting.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51  “Politicians love community solar because it provides access to people who would not normally have solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51 Referring to the SREC: “What’s been challenging, actually, for developers who have been trying to develop projects in New Jersey for Community Solar is that they’re not sure they’ll get approved for the project and for the projects built, if they’ll qualify for that 5.1%.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51 “The word mediocre stings a little bit when you hear it.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #51   “If you really want to do big things, you have to be uncomfortable.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51    “Carpe Solum.  For those of you that don’t know, it means: seize the sun” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #51  Benoy’s quote of the day: “If you don’t dream big, you’ll only ever be mediocre.”   Podcasts Mentioned:   SMP 23: Community Solar 101 with Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters SMP 44: Community Solar 201 with Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters SMP 19: Customer Acquisition and Billing in Community Solar with Benoy Thanjan and Eric Dahnke   Resources mentioned:    Solar Renewable Energy Credit   Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)   Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) - Community Solar   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Suzanne Waters Email: suzanne@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Suzanne Waters Website: www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com) 

Episode Summary   In this milestone 50th episode of the Solar Maverick Benoy and Li discuss getting started in podcasts, read and reply to listener feedback, and recap some previous episodes. Benoy shares his thoughts on climate change and its effect on the solar industry, what part solar recycling might play in the future, and the shape of solar panels in regards to efficiency.  Most importantly, this episode is a HUGE THANK YOU to our listeners.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Li Wang   Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter, to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insights from this episode: Why the first podcast is the hardest and how you can get to 50 episodes. What kind of an investment you need to make in podcast technology. How climate change is affecting the solar industry and panel recycling. The effects of technology on the shape of solar panels and increases in efficiency. The impact of these podcasts and the future of Solar Maverick.   Quotes from the show:   “I always prefer doing the interviews in person because I feel like the dynamics are a lot better, but, you know, there are some people that we would like to interview, but we can’t in person.“ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #50 “It’s just amazing every month the number of downloads are getting bigger and bigger and larger and larger  “ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #50 “It is just amazing to me how many people listen to the podcast. “ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #50  “Solar energy is a way of combating climate change.  Obviously, we are seeing a proliferation of solar coming online and in record amounts.“ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #50 “The future is pretty bright and it’s amazing.“ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #50 “I think in the future there has to be some kind of hat that I can wear that’s going to turn that absorption into energy.” – Li Wang, Episode #50 “Benoy is humble, but he is widely connected.” – Li Wang, Episode #50 On the book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie: “If you can distill down your decision-making process, mostly based on the facts and not your own self-induced stress, then your efficiency in turning around and going forward in decisions is going to be a lot faster.” – Li Wang, Episode #50 To our listeners “Thank you, we couldn’t have done it without you.” – Benoy Thanjan & Li Wang, Episode #50 Podcasts Mentioned:    The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes  Entrepreneurs on Fire with John Lee Dumas Smart Passive Income with Pat Flynn SMP 42: Live Event - How Solar Technology is Changing the World with Benoy Thanjan and panel of guests SMP 13: How to develop a great solar project and many other interesting topics about solar and entrepreneurship with Jim Spano from Spano Partners with Benoy Thanjan and Jim Spano SMP 41:  Solar Entrepreneur Perspective on Development of Solar and Storage Projects with Benoy Thanjan and Ben Levy   Books Mentioned:    Millionaire Fastlane by MJ Demarco   How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie   Resources Mentioned:   SmartFlower   Podcast Laundry   Podcast Movement   ZoomRooms Video Conferencing   SolSuntech, Inc.   Solar Backpacks   Solar Hats   SoSol Hats   BlinkList   Audible   www.podknife.com Benoy will be speaking at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar on Friday, October 4 in a panel on “Impact of renewable energy on the future of real estate” with Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls and Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong.   2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar October 2-4, 2019 | Dallas, TX Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang   MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22 Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)   

Episode Summary  In this episode, Michael and Benoy discuss how consultative approach to solar development and financing add the most value to the customer to make the best decision.   In addition, they discuss the importance of transparency and close relationships in success in business.    Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Michael Kushner Michael is responsible for Operations at Infiniti Energy Services.  He leads the project management staff to ensure all initiatives are completed on time and on budget, while focusing on the safety of all construction team members and quality of all installations.  He is involved in project strategy formulation during project development, as well as strategy implementation through completion.   Michael has more than 10 years of experience in managing operations in the residential, commercial and renewable energy sectors.  Before joining Infiniti Energy Services, Michael held an east coast regional operations manager position with SunEdison, where he successfully managed the development, execution and installation of more than 50MW in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland and Georgia.  He also held the position of Director of Construction at Pro-Tech Energy Solutions, LLC for two and a half years. During this time, he oversaw a project management and construction staff of twenty, while they successfully installed and interconnected over 120MWs of commercial and utility projects throughout the East Coast.   Insights from this episode: What separates Infiniti Energy Services from competitors and what markets they are focused on. How PPAs and the difficulties of financing can affect potential projects. How a background in real estate development can make it easier to develop solar projects and mitigate perceived risk.  How educating customers adds value to projects and being transparent creates stronger relationships and better business.  The benefits of the pilot program in New Jersey and how similar programs going forward will affect the industry. What entrepreneurship in solar means and ways to succeed in business ownership by developing a loyal staff. Different methods used to successfully balance life and business, such as meditation and turning off notifications.   Quotes from the show:   “Sometimes when you are so close to it you don’t necessarily take a moment to step back to see the strides you’ve already made because you’re focused on the strides you want to make.” – Michael Kushner, Episode #49 “You’re basically customizing solutions that add the most value to the customer. Whereas other parties might try to push a solution that might not necessarily be a good fit.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #49 “We like to be able to bring creative solutions to folks who want to move forward with potential projects. ” – Michael Kushner, Episode #49 In regards to financing solar “It shouldn’t be as complicated, I think, as some other finance companies make it. ” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #49 “When you conduct business transparently and openly, there is so much time that you can save. ” – Michael Kushner, Episode #49 “Beyond business, it’s just human interaction. ” – Michael Kushner, Episode #49 On creating a business team “It isn’t only about are they right for my company, but is my company right for them. ” – Michael Kushner, Episode #49 Regarding approach to success in entrepreneurship “You always have to think strategically.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #49   “Everyone’s path is different, right?  We’re all the same, but different ” – Michael Kushner, Episode #49   Resources Mentioned: New Jersey Clean Energy Program   Headspace - meditation and sleep app   Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®     Benoy spoke about Steve Raeder who is CEO of Summit Ridge Partners and he is also SunEdison alumni like Micheal who was interviewed in Episode 26 of the Solar Maverick Podcast. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Michael Kushner    Email: infinitiES@optimum.net  Facebook: Infiniti Energy Services Website: Infiniti Energy Services Twitter: @InfinitiEnergy LinkedIn: Infiniti Energy Services   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.   This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)   

 Episode Summary   In this episode of Solar Maverick we recap  the How Solar Technology is Changing the World live event with Steve Schwerd while covering Steve’s top three    things to look for in a business partner. In addition, Steve and Benoy cover the misrepresentation of solar efficiency in comparison to other resources and the benefits of recycling and reusing solar panels.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Steve Schwerd   With over 25 years in Consulting Engineering, Mr. Schwerd has proven accomplishments in engineering design; project, client, staff and financial management; business development; engineering operations; and firm leadership. Experience ranges from creating small MEP (Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing) departments to a Principal/Shareholder role as the engineering leader for a large multi-office, international full service Architectural & Engineering firm.   With energy and sustainable design a key focus for years, Steve then became involved in renewable energy and design in 2008 as Solar PV became an increasingly viable option.  He developed and led a full-service engineering team that emerged as a nationally recognized engineering leader for solar, having completed over 350 projects and 300MW across 25 states prior to his departure.  Upon establishing Schwerd Consulting, Steve can now follow his passion for renewable energy and be fully committed to and active in the Solar industry.      Insights from this episode: What three things you want in a business partner. Why proven results are a must. The benefits to business of interacting socially and professionally. How to build strong relationships with customers.  How recycling solar panels can further the strong idea of renewable energy. What trends may be affecting the solar industry. How the efficiency of solar transfer is perceived.   Steve Schwerd’s three things you want in a business partner:   1: They have to have proven results in their field.   2: They have to be able to develop business.   3: They have to be someone you want to have a beer with.       Quotes from the show:   “Clients and customers they don’t pay for your skills, they don’t pay for your knowledge, they pay for the application of that result. ” – Steve Schwerd, Episode #48 “You need to be able to enjoy their company socially because it can be challenging enough professionally.” – Steve Schwerd, Episode #48  “These are huge points that anyone can use in any type of partnership.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #48 “I think that people are looking for people that are authentic, that are themselves. I think people appreciate it.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #48 “Quality and value is first and foremost, but we want everybody involved in the process to be comfortable.  You have to have a likeability factor because at the end of the day people are putting their trust in you. ” – Steve Schwerd, Episode #48  “Don’t let the business overwhelm you.” – Steve Schwerd, Episode #48  “The sun is there everyday.  We are going to be wasting it if we’re not taking that and converting it to electricity. ” – Steve Schwerd, Episode #48   “Is there ever business as usual?” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #48 Resources Mentioned:   Schwerd Consulting LLC   SEIA - Solar Industries Energy Association   Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®   www.podknife.com   2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar October 2-4, 2019 | Dallas, TX   Benoy will be speaking at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar on Friday, October 4 in a panel on “Impact of renewable energy on the future of real estate” with Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls and Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong. Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Steve Schwerd   Email: admin@schwerdconsulting.com Facebook: Schwerd Consulting Website: Schwerd Consulting LLC Twitter: @schwerdsolar LinkedIn: Schwerd Consulting   Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.     This episode was produced and managed by  Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)   

SMP 47: Financing Solar 101   Episode Summary In this episode of the Solar Maverick we dive into Benoy’s finance origin story going back as far as his 7th grade stock/finance class. In addition we also learn about Benoy’s parents influence on his entrepreneurial path, secrets to financing solar projects and upcoming tax incentives for solar investing.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Li Wang   Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter, to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insights from this episode: The benefits and importance of early financial education How internships shape your future The importance of mentors and relationships  How and why video helps to establish trust Secrets to financing Solar Projects The blueprint to solar financing 101 Insight to solar tax incentives and upcoming changes      Quotes from the show:   “The ITC has created hundreds of thousands of jobs, sparked more than 150 billion in private investment and helped grow solar deployment by more than 10,000 percen”t – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #47   “The reason I push people to do video is it helps establishes trust.” – Li Wang, Episode  #47   “Fortunately or Unfortunately more people prefer to watch videos than to read” – Li Wang, Episode  #47   “I have 10 years of experience in the solar industry, I don't consider myself just a financing person because I’ve been on all sides of the transactions and on all of the development aspects of it and even on the construction side” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #47    “It’s interesting because 10 years of experience in the solar industry, you’re considered a veteran because it’s such a new industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #47   Resources Mentioned: Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency®   Solar met 2.7% of U.S. electric demand during the first half of 2019   How a battery can be eligible for the ITC today and possibly in the future   Model Leases and PPA   www.podknife.com Benoy will be speaking at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar on Friday, October 4 in a panel on “Impact of renewable energy on the future of real estate” with Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls and Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong.   2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar October 2-4, 2019 | Dallas, TX Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Li Wang   MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22 Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.  

Episode Summary   In this episode, Benoy interviews Dan French, the Founder and CEO of Brownfield Listings. Dan discusses opportunity zones and brownfields, explaining how these topics intersect with solar advancement. Dan also discusses his experiences in creating Brownfield Listings and shares his entrepreneurial advice.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Dan French   Dan French is the Founder and CEO of Brownfield Listings. Dan is a trained attorney and transaction expert with domestic and international experience. His U.S. practice has focused on real estate transactions, environmental risk transfer and redevelopment. Long a student of the deal his watchword is ‘due diligence’, which helps explain why Dan has been trusted to lead transaction support initiatives for some of the largest companies in the world. His transactional experience encompasses thousands of properties of all conditions across two dozen states, with more than a billion dollars of property and environmental liability successfully transacted.   He has received an LL.M. in Business Law from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, a J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law, and a B.A. in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dan is leading a redevelopment renaissance within the larger real estate revolution—a technological, civic, social and market-based movement lifting the form and function of humanity’s built-environment to new heights, taking the health and wealth of our communities with it. He believes proactive due diligence is the difference in successful real estate transactions and in life.   Insights from this episode:   Strategies on understanding opportunity zones Strategies to understanding brownfields Secrets to solar market mixers How to make a market when it does not already exist Strategies on how brownfields can help the solar industry   Quotes from the show:   “Brownfield listing is a property market place and project marketplace for real estate with reuse challenges. Dan [French] is a trained attorney and transaction expert with domestic and international expertise. His U.S. practice is focused on real estate transactions, environmental risk transactions, and redevelopment.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #46   “Solar is one of our biggest segments. We have a tag, or species, in our taxonomy… called brightfield, so you can tag your site as a brightfield, which [tells] the market that you’re interested in pursuing solar development… You can be a greenfield… We have greyfields. It’s a rainbow of opportunities on the property side and professional side.” – Dan French, Episode #46   “We built a great educational program with speakers, public and private sector folks, along the two tracks tilted towards our different segments of the audience. So we had the solar, developer, and vendor track, and then the land owner and community track… and our idea is to coach them up and then throw them in the solar market mixers.” – Dan French, Episode #46   “I think the market mixers are a great idea. I mean as a speaker of the event, meeting with the different land owners, you are really able to build a relationship with them. And you know it’s a lot easier to follow up with them once they’ve met you, and they’re a lot more responsive than say… if it was a cold sort of call or… they received some sort of letter.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #46   “A brownfield is a real estate parcel that may or may not be contaminated, so it’s land that has been previously developed. We’re not quite sure what was there before, sometimes you know for sure, but sometimes you don’t. It may have been a factory a hundred years ago.” – Dan French, Episode #46   “If you’re selling commercial real estate or industrial property, you need to undertake an environmental investigation before you buy it, or you may step into the chain of liability. So if you buy a brownfield, and do not do your environmental homework, then you may be partly liable, even if you didn’t actually do the pollution yourself.” – Dan French, Episode #46   “There needed to be a place that you could be in your pajamas at midnight. Like it was really hard! How do we get our environmental liabilities out there in a way that the market can understand? Get in front of a lot of people at once? There was no market, there was no simple place to list in five minutes. That’s what the kernel of Brownfield Listings was, and from that we grew into this ecosystem.” – Dan French, Episode #46   “We’re doing that again [the Opportunity Zone Boot Camp and Pitch Competition] actually, in Newark, New Jersey at NJIT on October 17th. We run on the same format. There is going to be a great educational program in the morning through midafternoon, and then a pitch competition in the early evening, and that reception in the evening we’ll announce the winners.” – Dan French, Episode #46     Resources Mentioned:   Learn more about the Opportunity Zone Boot Camp & Pitch Competition Coming to Newark, New Jersey October 17   Learn more about the National Brownfields Conference Coming to Los Angeles, California December 11-13 Benoy was on webinar with Dan French called Powering up Brightields  Benoy speaks about the Virginia Solar Market and Dan speaks about the opportunity to redevelop brightfields with solar.   Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Dan French   Email: info@brownfieldlistings.com Call: 312-988-0256 Website: https://brownfieldlistings.com/     Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes and Podbean  

Episode Summary   In this episode, Benoy interviews Tiffany Pham, the Founder and CEO of Mogul. Tiffany describes how she runs her business successfully from the inside out, and how she’s able to handle the stress that comes with it. She discusses her key company values and her main strategies for maximum productivity and efficiency.     Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Tiffany Pham   Tiffany Pham is the Founder and CEO of Mogul, a global platform and mobile app that provides tools to individuals and organizations, to achieve optimal productivity and growth. Disrupting the $30 billion productivity tech market, Mogul provides an ecosystem, including their Mogul app & platform, that enables top diverse talent to reach their goals and realize their full potential. Mogul then partners with top workplaces worldwide to attract and advance their top diverse talent — from rising talent to the most senior women worldwide — through their technology products. With the revenue they earn, Mogul provides free educational resources to women in need through international partners such as the United Nations.   Tiffany Pham is the author of several books including You Are a Mogul: How to Do the Impossible, Do It Yourself, and Do It Now, and Girl Mogul: Dream it. Do it. Change the World. In Girl Mogul, she speaks directly to teens and young adults, sharing insights from her own life as well from the lives of the most incredible and inspiring women on Mogul. Tiffany Pham has proven that with the right attitude, the right people, and the right vision, there’s nothing girls can’t do.   Insights from this episode:       Strategies to being productive and efficient     How to stay in the present     How to manage your time     Strategies to finding future talent and consumers     How to have a healthy company environment     How to use Dale Carnegie’s advice   Quotes from the show:   “If you’re not familiar with Mogul, Mogul is a global platform reaching millions of women across 196 countries and 30,470 cities, disrupting the $30 billion productivity technology market. Mogul is enabling users world-wide to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #45   “I did get inspired to attend Yale and Harvard Business School from watching movies. As an immigrant, here in the U.S. I couldn’t help but be influenced by movies, because that’s how I ended up learning English when I was younger. I watched movies and watched t.v. shows, listened to the radio, and soon I would have been listening to podcasts, had I been at this time growing up.” – Tiffany Pham, Episode #45   “As a B to B software company, we partner with other companies to create incredible technology that they can subsequently license in order to attract, and retain, and advance the talent from within our ecosystem into their workplaces as well. And as a result, increase their diverse workforce by 74.4% per year on average, and ultimately create a more equal work force.” – Tiffany Pham, Episode #45   “Despite all the big impact that Mogul is having now, it all started initially with one person. My grandmother. She was this big inspiration for me. Such a role model, such an amazing maverick of her time. She ran newspapers across Asia. She ran other businesses that always ultimately provided others in need with information and opportunities.” – Tiffany Pham, Episode #45   “On October 15th, there will be a refresh across the ecosystem, across our app, across our web and mobile app platform, to unify it all; so as, to be cohesive across every part of our ecosystem, so that you can access all your to-do’s, all your goals, no matter which channel you’re on, across our web, mobile web, or the app.” – Tiffany Pham, Episode #45   “[The] final key thing is staying present in the moment, and over-delivering on that moment. In any moment that I’m in, I’m concerned on over-delivering on that moment alone. I do not think back about that past moment. I do not think about what’s going to happen next.” – Tiffany Pham, Episode #45   “The biggest book that had an impact on me was How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie. And my dad actually gave it to me, when I was seventeen years old, because I [was] actually running division one track on a track scholarship, and then I got a serious knee injury. Where basically, I didn’t have that opportunity anymore. But that book really helped me as far as setting myself up for success.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #45   “Talent today is different than talent has ever been before in previous generations. Talent today, Millennials, Gen Z, look at a company to really understand: what is its social impact? What are they doing in terms of diversity and inclusion? What are they doing in terms of work-life integration and learning development? They care so much about these four and more aspects that that’s ultimately how a company can find its future talent and its future consumers.” – Tiffany Pham, Episode #45     Resources Mentioned:   You can:   Download the Mogul App Read You Are Mogul and Girl Mogul by Tiffany Pham Buy a ticket to the Mogul X Conference Read How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie     Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan   Email: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn: @bthanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Tiffany Pham   Instagram: @tifftpham @onmogul Twitter: @tifftpham @onmogul LinkedIn: @onmogul Facebook: @tiffanypham @onmogul     Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes and Podbean

Episode Summary:    Led by Suzanne Waters, VP of Business Development at Reneu Energy, Benoy Thanjan joins three other solar industry leaders on a panel called How Solar Technology is Changing the World hosted by Reneu Energy and JCTech Meetup. The panel discusses solar energy, how it’s affecting us, what the future looks like, and how it’s impacting Jersey City. Coming from different sectors, each panelist offers their unique knowledge base to create a thorough picture of the field. Topics include industry growth, incentives, solar energy careers, obstacles & threats, community solar projects, and more.    About the Guests:    Suzanne Waters: Suzanne Waters is the Vice President of Business Development at Reneu Energy. She is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution. Additionally, she collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion dollar projects.   Steve Schwerd: Steve Schwerd is the owner of Schwerd Consulting, LLC. Schwerd Consulting is dedicated to design, engineering, representation, and support in all areas of solar photovoltaics. He has nearly 30 years in Consulting Engineering and an extensive background in Electrical Engineering. He became involved in renewable energy and design in 2008 and formed Schwerd Consulting in 2014 to allow for 100% dedication to the solar sector.    Juan Truyol: Juan Truyol works as a Project Estimator at Strata Solar, LLC. He is an experienced estimator with a background in estimating, procurement, and a demonstrated history working in civil construction as well as the renewables and environment industry. Truyol earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S in Construction Infrastructure and Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He’s skilled in construction engineering, project estimation, construction, and scheduling.    Chris Grablutz: Chris Grablutz is the Director of Business Development at PV Pros, Inc. He entered the solar industry in 2010 and has experience in engineering, project management, and operations. Grablutz joined PV Pros in 2017 and assists clients with owner’s engineering, testing, maintenance, and repair solutions. He’s passionate about solar energy and views his career as an exciting chain of challenges that continue to prevail.    Benoy Thanjan: Benoy Thanjan, Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, advises several solar startup companies about investment and development. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer. The company focuses on developing commercial, industrial, and utility scale solar, plus storage projects. Additionally, the company sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Insights from Episode:   What technology goes into solar energy  Why building owners and land owners should use solar energy The incentives and benefits of using solar energy  How solar energy has changed in the last 10 years and where it will be in 30 years  How to enter the solar energy field as a career  The downsides and threats to solar energy Resources to learn more about solar energy  What community solar is and how people can benefit from it  How solar panels are recycled and reused   Quotes from the Show:   When asked about the technology that goes into solar energy… “In terms of technology, really just capturing data, having it, knowing how to sort it, and then knowing how to use it and evolve from it in the future is a tremendous resource for operations and maintenance of PV systems.” Chris Grablutz, Episode #42    Why should building/land owners look into going solar? “Building owners should definitely look into solar in New Jersey, it’s a way of saving money and going green. There’s green incentives for solar energy. There’s the 30% investment tax credit. There’s also solar depreciation.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #42   “Landowners should look at (solar energy) because you could potentially have a solar field and could receive rent or someone could buy land as they develop a project.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #42   What advice would you give to people looking to break into the solar industry? “The industry is great, so if you’re thinking about it, my first suggestion would be- do it. It’s a great industry, you’ll find many great people.” Chris Grablutz, Episode #42    “Our industry the cost goes down every year and other industries go up- steel, copper, aluminum. Solar goes down, so it will be the cheapest, most cost effective form of energy in the future.” Juan Truyol, Episode #42    “With energy storage, with policies continuing to drive the proliferation of solar, what it means for the benefit of the environment is fossil fuel plants will be shut down in large scales. Even PSEG recently announced their goal is by 2046, they will have no fossil fuel plants except for two of the newest natural gas plants.” ” Steve Schwerd, Episode #42    “Do not feel intimidated to come into the solar industry. We were all somewhat hesitant in the beginning and it turned out ok. No, for real, it’s not intimidating and there’s a lot of good people. There’s ups and downs like any industry, but overall 70/30, it’s good people wanting to teach you, mentor, and just have more cool people to work with ultimately.” Juan Truyol, Episode #42    Stay Connected:    Benoy Thanjan info@reneuenergy.com www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/ www.reneuenergy.com   Suzanne Waters  suzanne@reneuenergy.com www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-waters-01bb6077/ www.reneuenergy.com   Juan Truyol jtruyol@stratasolar.com www.linkedin.com/in/juan-truyol-4995b958/ https://stratasolar.com/ www.facebook.com/strata.solar/ www.twitter.com/StrataSolar www.youtube.com/channel/UCx9ml4yKbGoaDkJxNyXfQMQ   Steve Schwerd www.schwerdconsulting.com/ admin@schwerdconsulting.com  www.linkedin.com/company/schwerd-consulting/about/ www.linkedin.com/in/steveschwerd/ www.facebook.com/Schwerd-Consulting-744150758955130/ www.twitter.com/schwerdsolar   Chris Grablutz https://pvpros.com/ info@pvpros.com www.linkedin.com/in/cgrablutz/ www.twitter.com/PVProsInc   Jersey CIty Tech Meetup We would like to thank you to Jersey City Tech Meetup for partnering with Reneu Energy on this great solar event.  For more information on Jersey City Tech Meetup. Please follow the links below.   https://jctechmeetup.com   https://www.meetup.com/Jersey-City-Tech-Meetup/

SMP 41:  Solar Entrepreneur Perspective on Development of Solar and Storage Projects    Episode Summary   Solar entrepreneur, Ben Levy joins Benoy on the podcast this week to talk about his passion for solar and his company Round Trip Energy. Ben has a diverse background and unique perspective on what it means to be a solar developer and consultant. Their conversation spans topics such as the Washington DC solar market, dealing with massive shut downs like what happened with the hurricane in Puerto Rico, Ben’s experience and advice as an entrepreneur, and current trends and projections in the larger solar community.    About our Guest:   Benjamin is the Founder and Executive Director of Round Trip Energy, a growing renewable energy consulting and development startup, specializing in the development, financing, operation, and management of commercial and utility-scale solar, wind, energy storage, and energy efficiency projects. The company develops world-class greenfield and behind-the-meter projects that are optimized for performance and speed to deploy with Round Trip’s proprietary cost-risk-mitigation development approach.   Benjamin is a project developer, engineer, and construction manager with experience in cradle-to-grave development of world-class renewable power generations facilities across the US and Caribbean. His career in construction of sustainable projects also includes 5 years in energy efficiency project development at military bases and other Federal government campuses as well as success with leading HVAC, lighting, water, building envelope, and water treatment retrofit projects. Mr. Levy was previously a manager of Project Development at Constellation Energy and Sr. Manager of Engineering and Construction at Sonnedix, both developer-owners of large-scale power generation facilities and pioneers in the utility-scale renewable space. He led the design and construction of the 58MW solar, 22MW energy storage Oriana Solar Park, the largest solar plant in the Caribbean. Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche. Insight from this episode:   What Round Trip Energy does, what makes them different, and why Ben started the company. The underserved areas of the solar business   Ben’s take on the DC market and what makes it uniquely challenging What it’s like to work on projects in Puerto Rico including the impact of hurricanes and managing a crisis of that magnitude The potential of energy storage projects in the future and which markets are strong for this opportunity  Suggestions and advice for people looking to be an entrepreneur in a world that enforces the “stable 9-5 employee” job structure  Quotes from the show:   “There’s a lot of companies doing off grid residential, and  there’s a lot of suppliers providing PCS and batteries together, but there’s not a lot of companies that are integrating and providing the full permitting and analysis and implementation scope.” Ben Levy, Episode #41    “What’s different about D.C. is we have a true confinement of the supply of SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates). That’s because D.C. is essentially a 9 mile by 9 mile grid that’s totally packed with residential houses and commercial office buildings. There’s very limited space to add solar.” Ben Levy, Episode #41    “The investors that win projects are the ones that are comfortable with taking a certain portion of merchant SREC risk.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #41    “Financiers and investors are willing to take a little bit more merchant risk than they used to be and that is a product of who are the tax equity and sponsor equity investors and what’s their comfort and risk level.” Ben Levy, Episode #41    “I believe over the next 3 or 4 years regulators, policy makers, utilities, and local jurisdictions are going to be catching up and creating structures where developers and builders out there will be able to connect the real technology with the clients who need them.” Ben Levy, Episode #41    “Our bills especially here on the east coast are shifting to being more demand heavy than energy heavy because they’re realizing that they need to incentivize people to get their demand down in the times where it’s quite congested.” Ben Levy, Episode #41     “It’s a lot easier to get power back onto the grid from the storage devices.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #41  Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan: info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn.com/bthanjan www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy Ben Levy  www.roundtripenergy.com  info@roundtripenergy.com LinkedIn - Round Trip Energy Facebook: Round Trip Energy 

Episode Summary   Li Wang, Director of Marketing at Reneu Energy, returns to the podcast as co-host. Listen as he and Benoy catch up about current events and discuss some hot topics in solar right now including solar energy projects in low income areas.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Li Wang   A life-long journalist and communications professional, Li Wang was hooked on the news as an intern at the Philadelphia Daily News during the summer of the O.J. trial. He has been a business reporter, arts editor and film critic. He has shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services. His company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.    Insight from this episode:   Thoughts on the topic of India becoming a leader in solar with their tariff exemption.  The state of solar business in other countries and how it compares to solar in the US.  Low income housing and solar opportunities in the New York market.  The benefits of solar projects in low income communities.  A review of current state of solar industry including state and federal level legislation, tariffs, jobs, and the investment tax credit. The normalization and social acceptance of solar as it is becoming more mainstream.  Quotes from the show:   “The perception has been that solar, at least in the US, is just for the wealthy.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #40   “Community solar is one of the fastest growing types of solar in the US but states are requiring that a certain percentage of it be low income.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #40   “You’re providing solar and energy to a population that doesn’t have it, and also promoting renewable energy, allowing people to lower their carbon footprint, and allowing people who would not normally receive solar to get solar energy and be involved in the process.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #40   “After the initial investment it’s been shown to actually be able to lower utility bills which is significant.”  Li Wang, Episode #40     “Solar has an opportunity now to become more accepted in the mainstream instead of a privilege for the rich.” Li Wang, Episode #40   Resources Mentioned: Shark Tank  Grant Cardone    Book: The Power of Broke by Daymond John    Sponsors for Recent Reneu Energy Events  Infiniti Energy Services  Spano Partners  Schwerd Consulting  CBL Markets    To request a media kit send an email to info@reneuenergy.com    Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn.com/bthanjan www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy Li Wang  MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22 

Episode Summary   Reneu Energy’s Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters talk in detail about what landowners need to know about going solar. They discuss the reasons why a landowner should look into going solar for generating income through a utility scale or community solar project, a description of different incentives available, and logistically how they would go about doing it.    Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Suzanne Waters    Suzanne Waters is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution, and collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion-dollar projects. In addition, Suzanne has extensive experience in many aspects of the PV industry, with unmatched enthusiasm for its capabilities and  a BA in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University.   Insight from this episode: The many benefits of leasing your land for solar projects. Federal incentives for solar systems owner such as the investment tax credit. The effects of the investment tax credit and the current safe harboring trend on the availability of solar panels.  The difference in the residential vs. the commercial investment tax credit percentage drop-down.  Other federal incentives such as MACRS (“Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System”)  The impact of state level incentives.   Infrastructure and types of systems for solar farms. How landowners would go about qualifying their land and what makes a location ideal for utility scale solar projects The importance of accessibility and proximity to transmission infrastructure    Quotes from the show:   “The system owners can recover their costs up front instead of over a 20-25 year period which is pretty much the life of the system. So, that’s something that definitely makes the projects more attractive to system owners.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #39     “The cost of panels have decreased. The efficiency of the panels are going up. It makes the whole situation a win-win” Suzanne Waters, Episode #39     “The federal incentives make up 50-60% of the cost of the project and that doesn’t include the state level incentives. If you have strong state level incentives it really helps” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #39    “In states that have better incentives the land owners are going to benefit from that” Suzanne Waters, Episode #39    Upcoming Event discussed on the podcast: Summer Solar Special:  How Solar Technology is Changing the World Reneu Energy is partnering with JC TechMeetup.  It is on Tuesday, July 30 from 6:30 to 9 at Surf City in Jersey City. Benoy Thanjan who is the CEO and Founder of Reneu Energy will be moderating.  The other panelists are Suzanne Waters from Reneu Energy, Chris Grablutz from PV Pros, Steve Schwerd from Schwerd Consulting, and Juan Truyol from Strata Solar. The event is free to attend and you can RSVP in the link below. https://www.meetup.com/Jersey-City-Tech-Meetup/events/262598987/  Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn.com/bthanjan www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy   Suzanne Waters suzanne@reneuenergy.com  Linkedin: Suzanne Waters www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy

Episode Summary   Suzanne Waters, Vice President of Business Development at Reneu Energy, returns to the show to talk with Benoy about why commercial and industrial building owners should go solar. This episode serves as an excellent primer for building owners who are potentially looking to go solar as Benoy and Suzanne cover topics such as the benefits of solar, types of systems, and financial opportunities for building owners.   Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.  Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Suzanne Waters  Suzanne Waters is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution, and collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion-dollar projects. In addition, Suzanne has extensive experience in many aspects of the PV industry, with unmatched enthusiasm for its capabilities and  a BA in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University.   Insight from this episode:   The benefits of going solar.  Different types of systems, their pros and cons, and who they’re best suited for.  Three major financing methods and tax incentives for solar.  The rise of offsite solar, how it is structured, and opportunities it’s creating.  Community solar as a potential revenue opportunity for building owners.  Quotes from the show:   “If You’re going to go solar, you’re definitely going to reduce your electrical cost.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #38     “Most solar systems can live between 20 and 30 years so you’re going to have a relatively short return on your investment for an asset that you’re going to have for a really long time.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #38      “The fixed electric pricing definitely makes is easier to forecast and budget plan so you can hedge against electricity price volatility and inflation.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #38   “Customers and employees are looking for companies that can say that they’re sustainable and they’re making sustainable efforts.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #38   “As solar becomes more acceptable as an asset to finance, the returns are getting lower and lower.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #38    “Last year there was 6.53 gigawatts of corporate renewable deals, both wind and solar, and it was actually the highest ever.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #38   Resources mentioned:    Solar + Roofing Episode #11 For more detailed information or questions about topics from this episode email info@reneuenergy.com   Upcoming Event discussed on the podcast: Summer Solar Special:  How Solar Technology is Changing the World   Reneu Energy is partnering with JC TechMeetup.  It is on Tuesday, July 30 from 6:30 to 9 at Surf City in Jersey City.   Benoy Thanjan who is the CEO and Founder of Reneu Energy will be moderating.  The other panelists are Suzanne Waters from Reneu Energy, Chris Grablutz from PV Pros, and Steve Schwerd from Schwerd Consulting.   The event is free to attend and you can RSVP in the link below.   https://www.meetup.com/Jersey-City-Tech-Meetup/events/262598987/  Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn.com/bthanjan www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy   Suzanne Waters suzanne@reneuenergy.com  Linkedin: Suzanne Waters www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy

About our Guest: As the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, Benoy Thanjan took his passion for sustainability and renewable energy and turned it into a company that has traded $27 billion in solar renewable energy credits (SREC). He attributes his success to his time working as a SREC trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, a company that merged with Tesla in 2016. With a BS in finance and economics from the Stern School of Business and an MBA in finance from Rutgers University, Benoy has an extensive financial background. Having previously worked as the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. In addition, Benoy used his financial expertise while working for Ridgewood Renewable Power, Deloitte and Touche, Ernst & Young, and D.E. Shaw and Co. His current company Reneu Energy provides consultation for other companies looking to save money, modernize their energy use, and implement solar energy practices.    Episode Summary  Alternative energy sources have been gaining in popularity over the past several decades. However, public knowledge still lags behind when it comes to clean energy such as solar. Many people are unaware of the substantial benefits, including a reduction in financial burden, that result from switching to renewable energy. Benoy Thanjan, a juggernaut in the solar energy world, explains how he decided to make the leap to entrepreneurship, creating a company that combines his passion, his knowledge of finances, and his goal of making an impact in the world.   Insight from this episode: How to build passive income streams while succeeding at your primary job. Strategies for continuing to evolve as an entrepreneur.  How to add additional value to your company. Strategies for strengthening relationships with clients. Why giving back and community are so important for entrepreneurs. How to take a more proactive approach to goal setting. Benoy’s strategies for deciding what projects demand his time and attention.   Quotes from the show: “Not getting overconfident. Continue to be humble. Continue to develop myself. Continue to add value to our clients.” - Benoy Thanjan, on being successful as an entrepreneur, Episode 134   “If I never tried starting my business, there would always be a regret in my life. Even if I failed, there would always be the regret of never trying.” - Benoy Thanjan, Episode 134   “I feel like entrepreneurship’s a lot about instincts and gut feel.” - Benoy Thanjan, Episode 134     “When you wait on people, you give your power away.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Episode 134   “They’re not willing to make the sacrifice and the discipline and put the work and take the failure. They don’t realize how much failure. They see the outside and they don’t see behind the scenes.” - Benoy Thanjan, on the misconception about starting a business, Episode 134     “A lot of times in entrepreneurship, you can’t control a lot of things that are happening. It’s a journey and it’s mentally controlling yourself. And mentally realizing what you can control and what you can make the difference. And there’s a lot of things you can’t control. And that makes a huge difference on being successful or not in life.” - Benoy Thanjan, Episode 134    “We’re focused on progression, not perfection.” - Kevin Y. Brown, Episode 134   Resources Mentioned: Apple hardware Google apps Google Voice Google Calendar Gmail Headspace app   Favorite Book: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg   How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie     Favorite Quote:  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” - Reinhold Niebuhr “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” - Vince Lombardi   3 keys to Create Your Best Life:   Do what you’re passionate about, because that’s your true self Accept failure Never give up     Stay Connected:   Create Your Life Series:   https://www.facebook.com/cylseries/  https://www.instagram.com/cylseries/   Kevin: www.kevinybrown.com www.instagram.com/kevinybrown www.twitter.com/kevinybrown www.facebook.com/kevbrown001   Benoy Thanjan: www.reneuenergy.com www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/ info@reneuenergy.com Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on  itunes, google play, stitcher and www.createyourlifeseries.com/podcast

Episode Summary   Li Wang returns to the podcast as co-host for this week’s episode. Li is the Director of Marketing at Reneu Energy, founder of MJ Wang Marketing, and also Benoy’s publicist. The two of them catch up with a chat about branding and marketing practices and then go on to discuss in depth the current state of solar. Also, included are recommended resources for anyone interested in solar energy.   Benoy Thanjan   Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar and utility scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities transactions.    Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.   Li Wang   A life-long journalist and communications professional, Li Wang was hooked on the news as an intern at the Philadelphia Daily News during the summer of the O.J. trial. He has been a business reporter, arts editor and film critic. He has shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services. His company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.  Insight from this episode:   The importance of branding and ways Reneu Energy is working to establish their brand identity and recognition.  Why you absolutely must be using video in your marketing efforts.  Podcast sponsorship opportunities.  The state of the solar industry in Q1 including current trends and the implications of recently imposed tariffs on solar. Detailed explanation of the solar investment tax credit and how to qualify.  Investment incentives for renewable energy relative to fossil fuel incentives.  Quotes from the show:   “If you do create content for your company or brand, video packs a huge punch. not only with engagement you’re actually speaking to an audience literally, but also in search.” Li Wang, Episode #36     “Always remember that YouTube is the #2 search engine behind Google” Li Wang, Episode #36     “If you’re going to put your effort into one thing, and you can and you feel comfortable, I encourage you to do video.” Li Wang, Episode #36     On the value of podcast sponsorships: “One of keys to why our sponsorships are effective is because of the distinct audience that our podcast reaches.” Li Wang, Episode #36     “Solar keeps growing exponentially. We keep seeing the cost of solar going down and the efficiencies of panels increasing.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #36    “What we’re seeing is that solar companies are trying to build as quickly as possible to qualify for this 30% because it’s a huge part of the economics of the project.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #36    “The issue with the incentives going down is that potentially solar might not be as cost effective.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #36    “There was a time when there were a lot of good projects but not a lot of financing.” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #36   “A lot of real estate developers are telling me, ‘Hey, we’re developing projects in opportunity zones can we pull solar in it?’” Benoy Thanjan, Episode #36    “The rise of the corporate PPAs has allowed a lot of development of renewable energy.”  Benoy Thanjan, Episode #36  Resources Mentioned:   Podcast Laundry  Create Your Life Series Podcast  PV Magazine  Renewable Energy World  UtilityDive.com   Book: Relentless by Tim S. Grover    Sponsors for Reneu Energy Summer Solstice Event  Infiniti Energy Services  Spano Partners  Schwerd Consulting  CBL Markets    To request a media kit send an email to info@reneuenergy.com    Stay Connected:   Benoy Thanjan info@reneuenergy.com LinkedIn.com/bthanjan www.reneuenergy.com Facebook: Reneu Energy Li Wang  MJWangMedia.com  Instagram: @liwang22