Podcasts about solar policy

Labour has come to the solar party, with both sides of the aisle now hoping to woo voters with solar policies. Labour has matched National's policy to deliver low-interest solar loans paid back through rates - but is attempting to one-up its opponents by proposing subsidies to help lower income families and renters pay for the kit. Political reporter Giles Dexter reports.

FIRST WITH YESTERDAY'S NEWS (highlights from Wednesday on Newstalk ZB) Let's Make Everything as Difficult as Possible/Free Money, Anyone?/Living Somewhere Livable?/Getting the Big Tech Genie Back In Its Bottle/Please, Stop Calling Me!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is Episode 35 of the League.  You give us five minutes, we'll give you the best clean energy news. Benoy and David recap NYC Climate Week and the week's biggest energy storylines: a reported Trump-era policy pivot away from solar (ITC cuts, federal-land limits, tariffs) and what that could mean for installs; FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) supply-chain uncertainty; Blue Ridge Power layoffs.  Plus, takeaways from nuclear policy sessions and stubbornly rising power prices. Host Bio: David Magid David Magid is a seasoned renewable energy executive with deep expertise in solar development, financing, and operations. He has worked across the clean energy value chain, leading teams that deliver distributed generation and community solar projects. David is widely recognized for his strategic insights on interconnection, market economics, and policy trends shaping the U.S. solar industry. Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmagid/   Host Bio: Benoy Thanjan Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, solar developer and consulting firm, and a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups. Over his career, Benoy has developed over 100 MWs of solar projects across the U.S., helped launch the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered $45 million in Renewable Energy Credits (“REC”) transactions. Prior to founding Reneu Energy, Benoy was the Environmental Commodities Trader in Tesla's Project Finance Group, where he managed one of the largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated REC trades and co-developed a monetization and hedging strategy with senior leadership to enter the East Coast market. As Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, Benoy crafted project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. His role at Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with 125 MWs of U.S. renewable assets, involved evaluating investment opportunities and maximizing returns. He also played a key role in the sale of the firm's renewable portfolio. Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young, following an internship on the trading floor at D.E. Shaw & Co., a multi billion dollar hedge fund. Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from NYU Stern, where he was an Alumni Scholar. Connect with Benoy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoythanjan/ Learn more: https://reneuenergy.com If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.

In this episode Sean is joined by Gil Hough, Executive Director of the Tennessee Solar & Storage Association. Broadcasting live from the Power Up Live Pro Studio at RE+, Sean and Gil explore the unique landscape of solar and storage in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region. Gil shares the history and structure of TVA, the challenges and opportunities in the seven-state territory, and the rapid growth of solar and storage in Tennessee. The conversation covers TVA's integrated resource planning and the upcoming Tennessee Solar + Storage Conference.   Topics Covered: The New Deal TVA = Tennessee Valley Authority TVA's seven-state territory Tennessee Solar + Storage Conference TVA's (IRP) Integrated Resource Plan Solar and storage market growth 2025 Tennessee Valley Solar + Storage Conference (October 28-30, 2025) LPCs = Local Power Companies FERC = Federal Energy Regulatory Commission TVA's River management SEIA = Solar Energy Industries Association SEPA = Smart Electric Power Alliance TenneSEIA = Tennessee Solar Energy Industries Association 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations NorCal Solar = Northern California Solar Energy Association Nonprofit vs. business association roles Lobbying and policy advocacy   Reach out to Gil Hough and TenneSEIA here: Website: www.tenneseiasolar.com Conference registration: www.tenneseiasolar.com/conference   Register for my Tenneseia class here

How do you scale a 1.3 GW C&I solar platform while navigating policy shifts, AI integration, and long-term asset performance? Catherine spoke with Elizabeth Brennan, COO of Luminace, a Brookfield Renewable company, at the Solarplaza AMNA conference in San Diego about: 

Episode Overview This episode dives deep into the evolving solar landscape—covering key state-level policy battles, rising resistance to distributed solar, the latest federal tax package in Congress, and the long term trends in the solar industry. Fox Swim, Senior Solar Industry Researcher at Aurora Solar, shares expertise on policy, utility rates, and resiliency-minded markets.   Key Themes & Highlights Aurora Solar & Fox's Expertise Aurora provides industry-leading solar design and sales software globally.   State-Level Anti-Solar Trends Utilities favor centralized generation, clashing with distributed energy advocates.   California's AB 942 aims to end grandfathered NEM/NEM 2 contracts when homes are sold, pushing owners into less favorable NEM 3 tariffs—effectively breaking existing contracts.   Resiliency & Distributed Generation Extreme weather, aging grid infrastructure, and power instability are driving demand for solar + storage. Distributed generation is seen as a smarter, faster, and more resilient solution than central utility models. Virtual battery programs in states like Connecticut are emerging as positive examples.   Federal Tax Bill & IRA Disruptions The recent House tax bill introduces critical threats:   Elimination of IRA incentives (including ITC, storage, and battery credits). “Fiat” sourcing restrictions targeting Chinese-manufactured solar components, potentially nullifying battery and panel subsidies. Fox warns of an unplanned “solar winter” where many small players may fold, though core demand won't vanish. Emphasis is shifting toward resilience and independence—not just ROI.   2025 Aurora Solar Snapshot Insights (Backed by Aurora's data on ~12.5 million projects, surveys of 1,000+ homeowners, 1,000 professionals, and 500+ businesses) Resilience over ROI: 76% of homeowners view solar as a good investment (up from 43% in 2023)  Financing shifts: Third‑party ownership (leases/PPAs) are growing; battery demand surges with 78% installers seeing increased interest  Bipartisan appeal: Solar cuts across party lines—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all value solar and IRA  Trust challenges: Installer mistrust doubled—44% of homeowners find trustworthy companies hard to identify  Motivations revealed: Top drivers: bill savings, energy independence, environmental impact (>50% cite environment as a top-3 reason)    Tactical Takeaways for Mavericks Strengthen Trust – Improve transparency and contract clarity; be proactive about ethical sales practices. Refocus Messaging – Highlight solar + storage for resilience and independence—especially in disaster-prone regions. Engage Politically – Contact local/state reps, especially around bills like North Carolina's ITC reinstatement. Diversify Revenue – Build resilience offerings or pivots like community solar and virtual battery programs. Advocacy & Data – Join efforts with industry groups (SEIA, ACORE), and use Aurora's regional data in policymaker discussions.   Quotes from the Interview “76% of homeowners now say solar is a smart investment—it used to be 43%!”   “Installer trust has tanked: 44% of homeowners find it hard to pick a dependable provider.”   “Solar isn't just about ROI anymore—it's energy independence and 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.  Fox Swim Fox Swim is a data-driven activist with a passion for solving complex social and environmental challenges. With expertise in alternative energy, and urban sustainability, she leverages technical research and leadership skills to drive impactful change. Currently a Senior Industry Researcher at Aurora Solar, Fox focuses on advancing renewable energy solutions while advocating for social justice and sustainability. Related Links https://solarbuildermag.com/news/california-committee-passes-bill-that-would-break-net-metering-contracts/ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/solar-panel-types https://www.eenews.net/articles/california-bill-would-slash-solar-benefits/  Aurora Solar's 2025 Snapshot Report   Stay Connected: Benoy Thanjan Email: info@reneuenergy.com  LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com   Fox Swim Website:  https://aurorasolar.com/ Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/fox-swim-6919061a/   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

It's an important day for the future of solar energy in California. Three environmental groups are set to go before the state Supreme Court to challenge a state policy on solar panels. Guest: Malena Corollo, CalMatters and The Markup The California Air Resources Board has launched a mobile monitoring program to collect pollution data from neighborhoods suffering from poor air quality. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Segment 1: Robert Bruno, professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal, a research-based initiative tasked with investigating labor policies in today's economy, joins John to talk about the state of labor in 2024 and how would labor fare under each […]

On 17th March 2024, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the Capital notified the new Delhi Solar Policy, 2024, rolling out larger incentives and subsidies for people to install solar power systems at their homes and businesses. The vision is to make solar energy accessible and affordable for all consumers in Delhi.  In the past months, the government has repeatedly promoted the policy that appears less like an environmental step taken to reduce emissions, but more like a policy to push subsidies and reduce electricity bills. Notably, the policy is being sold to all middle and working-class people. But is it really inclusive? Is it really consumer friendly as the government says? Will the middle class who have access to conventional forms of electricity switch to solar energy? Suno India's Sneha Richhariya spoke to people in Delhi to understand the complexities of residential rooftop solar adoption.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of Flanigan's Eco-Logic, Ted speaks with Dr. Rick Brown, Founder and Chairman of the Board at TerraVerde Energy, an extraordinarily accomplished independent clean energy consulting firm representing school districts, public agencies, and commercial enterprises. TerraVerde supports their clients with the design and deployment of clean energy projects and programs that reduce costs, increase resiliency, and enhance sustainability. Dr. Brown founded TerraVerde in 2009 and served as CEO through December 2019. Since TerraVerde's founding, the consulting firm has supported the successful implementation of close to $650 million worth of distributed solar PV and battery energy storage systems for which they have provided independent technical and financial feasibility analyses, project development support, project implementation management, and continue to provide ongoing asset management services for a portfolio of nearly 400 solar and battery energy storage systems.He and Ted discuss his involvement in California legislation regarding clean energy and numerous regulatory proceedings impacting the growth of solar, storage and other distributed energy resources. He played a central role in the passage of SB 585, California legislation that provided $200 million in funding for the California Solar Initiative rebate program and in budget legislation directing the expenditure of $1.5 billion in Proposition 39 funds.Since retiring as CEO, Dr. Brown has spent a lot of time on advocacy work, through a number of different venues. He continues to work on the State's solar policy, specifically net energy metering, and market and capital innovations in support of decarbonizing and increasing the resilience of the energy and building sectors.

Recorded on 03/30/23 A novel intersection has emerged between classical trade policy, national security, and climate policy, resulting in the most consequential U.S. solar policy ever passed. With this unprecedented policy support, many businesses in the solar value chain stand to benefit. Our guests in this episode are John Miller, ESG & sustainability policy analyst for TD Cowen Washington Research Group, and Jeff Osborne, TD Cowen senior research analyst covering alternative energy, mobility technology & industrial technology. TD Cowen's Thematic Outlook Podcast Series focuses on emerging growth and disruptive innovation and is hosted by Bill Bird, TD Cowen's Head of Thematic Content. For Disclosures, click here bit.ly/3cPHkNW

Aaron and our new host, Jason, bring on guests from BayWa r.e. and Enphase to discuss 2023 policy effects on our industry and updates to IQ8 microinverters The post Solar Tech Talk E17: Solar Policy to Watch and Valuable Updates on Enphase IQ8 appeared first on BayWa r.e. Solar Systems.

In this episode of Power Forward! with Solar Builder, David Dunlap, our VP of Product Strategy, dives into the policy changes in 2022 and what they mean for installers in 2023. The post Solar Policy Review: Look back on 2022 legislation and prepare for 2023 appeared first on BayWa r.e. Solar Systems.

Meghan Nutting's work speaks for itself; She has advocated for and contributed to numerous Solar policies and solutions over the past decade-plus. Additionally, she cut her teeth in public affairs, has worked as a Legislative Director for New York State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, and as a Press Secretary for former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. She then served at SolarCity as the Director of Policy and Electricity Markets as the industry pulled out of the last recession way back in 2009. Presently, Meghan serves as the Executive Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova Energy Corporation (a leading U.S. residential solar and storage services provider.) Her background displays the considerable breadth of her experience, which lends her the unique lens to evaluate the Clean Energy industry and chart a way forward using policies that foster and secure a sustainable business environment for Solar electricity generation. It also makes for a particularly stellar episode as she is well-versed on the key issues facing this industry. We discuss: her time in public service (including her thoughts on how to unify our lobbying efforts), regulatory bottlenecks preventing progression in key markets the NEM battle in Florida how to work towards a unified vision with those "across-the-aisle" The list goes on, but I won't drop anymore spoilers! Honored to highlight the work of this longtime #SolarWarrior as another shining example of the phenomenal female leadership we have in the Solar industry as we continue to highlight Key Women in Tech this Women's History Month. Enjoy! If you want to connect with today's guest, check out the https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/ (show notes) over on the blog. SunCast is presented by https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow (Sungrow), the world's most bankable inverter brand. You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you, here: https://www.mysuncast.com/sponsors (www.mysuncast.com/sponsors) Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today's guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 450 other founder stories and startup advice athttps://www.mysuncast.com/ ( www.mysuncast.com). You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo (Twitter), https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus/ (LinkedIn) or email.

Meghan Nutting's work speaks for itself; She has advocated for and contributed to numerous Solar policies and solutions over the past decade-plus. Additionally, she cut her teeth in public affairs, has worked as a Legislative Director for New York State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal, and as a Press Secretary for former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe. She then served at SolarCity as the Director of Policy and Electricity Markets as the industry pulled out of the last recession way back in 2009. Presently, Meghan serves as the Executive Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova Energy Corporation (a leading U.S. residential solar and storage services provider.) Her background displays the considerable breadth of her experience, which lends her the unique lens to evaluate the Clean Energy industry and chart a way forward using policies that foster and secure a sustainable business environment for Solar electricity generation. It also makes for a particularly stellar episode as she is well-versed on the key issues facing this industry. We discuss: her time in public service (including her thoughts on how to unify our lobbying efforts), regulatory bottlenecks preventing progression in key markets the NEM battle in Florida how to work towards a unified vision with those "across-the-aisle" The list goes on, but I won't drop anymore spoilers! Honored to highlight the work of this longtime #SolarWarrior as another shining example of the phenomenal female leadership we have in the Solar industry as we continue to highlight Key Women in Tech this Women's History Month. Enjoy! If you want to connect with today's guest, check out the https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/ (show notes) over on the blog. SunCast is presented by https://www.mysuncast.com/sungrow (Sungrow), the world's most bankable inverter brand. You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you, here: https://www.mysuncast.com/sponsors (www.mysuncast.com/sponsors) Remember you can always find the resources and learn more about today's guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 450 other founder stories and startup advice athttps://www.mysuncast.com/ ( www.mysuncast.com). You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo (Twitter), https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus/ (LinkedIn) or email.

On this week's episode of Solar Disruption Theory, we sat down with Freedom Forever's Policy Director, Steven Letendre, to discuss the future of solar and what you can do to help curb the climate crisis. You won't want to miss this episode! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dan and EESI Senior Associate Miguel Yañez-Barnuevo spoke with Denise Abdul-Rahman, a field organizer for the National NAACP Environmental Climate Justice Program, about the NAACP Equitable Solar Policy Principles. These principles can help develop a shared understanding of equitable solar policy and assist advocates and policymakers craft solutions. Dan, Miguel, and Denise discuss the formation of these principles, how they can be applied, and how they can be used to spur an equitable transition to clean energy.

This week we sit down with Will Giese who is the Southeast Regional Director of the Solar Energy Industry Association. Find out how Will went from an EMT to working on Solar Policy, learn some new terms and follow along in general as I learn about solar power and what the future of that could look like.   Follow Look What I Did at www.instagram.com/lwidproject You can support on Patreon at www.patreon.com/lookwhatidid Rate, Review and Subscribe!

What gets decided in California has broad implications for the rest of the United States. Our June 2021 industry roundtable explains why the Golden State is a policy battleground for our solar installation industry nationwide. The post BayWa r.e. Solar Town Hall — June 24: Your State Is a Solar Policy Battlefield (Episode 203) appeared first on BayWa r.e. Solar Systems.

Each show, our trusted Product Managers Aaron Bingham and Kate Collardson share residential and commercial solar equipment news, deep dives, and big ideas for our U.S. contractor community. The post Solar Tech Talk, Episode 3: Build Back Better for the Country, Net Energy Metering in States, and Other Movements in U.S. Rooftop Solar Policy appeared first on BayWa r.e. Solar Systems.

Jared & Micah explain why solar varies so drastically by state, walk through available solar incentives like accelerated depreciation and SRECs and - yes - offer is a detailed explanation of how solar energy is generated and priced. They knew you wouldn't do without some banter on energy rates, so they threw that in, too. Discussed in this episode:  Nationwide legislative and incentive programs Accelerated depreciation FERC Deregulated markets How energy and electricity is generated and sold Energy pricing in different states State incentive programs SRECs explained State solar standards Get out and vote!  

Copyright 2019 - The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon The United States is a representative democracy. Citizens vote for politicians who, theoretically, advocate for their needs: things like better healthcare, lower taxes, cleaner air, and new technologies such as solar. But one cannot check off the “solar” box on a voting ballot. Instead, we have to vote for elected officials whom we trust will work on solar policy on our behalf. Vote Solar was founded in 2002 by Adam Browning and David Hochschild to bring solar into the mainstream by helping to shape solar policy. Among the policy wins that Vote Solar has achieved includes incentives (tax credits and rebates), modernizing our electric grid, expanding access to solar and storage technologies across all economic sectors, and advocating for solar + storage friendly electric rates. Polls across the U.S. show that solar and renewable energy rate 90% and higher in the minds of voters . The challenge is turning that latent voting power into actual political power. Please Listen Up to this week's Energy Show as Adam Browning, Vote Solar's Executive Director, explains how their advocacy efforts have achieved so many solar wins to date — along with the hard work we all have ahead of us as we make solar a mainstream energy source throughout the U.S.

Solar energy is growing by leaps and bounds in the Southeast and becoming a way for schools to save money. In this episode, we visit two Virginia schools to better understand the key role policies play in whether schools can go solar. Support the show (https://www.southernenvironment.org)

Australia’s suite of stop-start solar policies is driving some parts of the industry crazy with frustration, as the phone stops ringing in Victoria and strict new workplace rules are imposed in Queensland.

In this episode of the Energy Wakeup podcast, we sat down with Brad Klein, senior attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center. He and the team at ELPC were instrumental in bringing Illinois’ Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016, and Klein takes us behind the scenes to discuss exactly what that process – long and arduous as it sometimes was – looked like. Whether it was the threatened closure of nuclear plants or the coal industry piping up near the end of the process to get involved, Klein says what ultimately brought about the law was the willingness of the solar industry, in conjunction with community organizations and environmental justice groups, to stick together in the face of overwhelming pressure from well-organized opponents. He says it would have been easy to cut several different deals among the different participants, and the utilities are skilled at making that happen. But no one on the solar side blinked, and that’s why the bill has such a strong solar component to it. Listen to the whole discussion to hear Klein discuss the details of the negotiations and why, despite some early growing pains and speed bumps along the way, he believes the Future Energy Jobs Act has laid the foundation for a strong, vibrant solar industry in Illinois for years to come.

In this episode I speak with Meghan Nutting, a solar veteran that has worked in policy roles at SolarCity and Sunnova over the past decade. Meghan is running for the State Legislature in the very powerful 5th district. The current legislator in this district is the Speaker of the House, Crisanta Duran. This is a safe democratic seat which leads the winner of the primary to likely take general election. As an advocate, I see a big need for more solar pros like Meghan to run for office, electric coop boards and other appointments. Having solar leaders in the discussion yields more expertise that leads to great policy. You can help Meghan win her primary. She's been raising money and you can donate on her website, www.meghannutting.com. You can also lend your time and energy by contacting friends that live in Denver or make phone calls for her campaign. Follow her on twitter @meghannutting Donate to the campaign www.meghannutting.com

Bernadette del Chiaro is the Executive Director of CalSEIA, solar's most successful State policy advocates. Bernadette comes from a history of State policy advocacy in energy and the environment and has been leading CalSEIA for many years. Running CalSEIA as a lean and mean advocacy group that puts members first is Bernadette's goal. Every policy call is open to the over 400 members and has an elected board. Legislators in Sacramento know and understand that CalSEIA represents the California solar industry and respects the work it does alongside its consultants and lobbyists. The conversation about SEIA and State Chapters comes up and we discuss how the two groups co-exist at the State level. SEIA does maintain full-time staff in California which, at times, has caused issues in the advocacy.

GUESTS: David Williams, President, Taxpayer Protection Alliance—Solar Subsidies; Emory Belton, Attorney and Lobbyist, Energy and Utility Issues—What Happened in Louisiana on Solar Policy; Pat Lyons, Public Regulatory Commissioner, New Mexico—Inside Solar Policy in New Mexico and Nationally

Solar Energy USA is built around people with proven backgrounds in national home improvement companies, manufacturing, large scale operation implementation and personalized customer service support. Our network is built on satisfied customers spreading the word, and benefits of alternative energy solutions. Even though our efforts are wide spread and our reach is large, our company and message of our collective communities cannot be heard without the support of every customer. Solar Energy USA is an accumulation of engineers, project development leaders, operation officers and solution managers that have all been drawn together to form an entity that has the technical, practical and customer centric expertise to meet the vast needs of both our commercial and residential clients. We let our manufacturing partners create the best new products based on the latest technology. From the most effective and durable solar panels to the best inverters on the market today, we get to choose the best product for your application with you. We are not forced to sell a one-size-fits-all because of product limitations.  

How a Non-Profit’s projects with Business Partners provide environmental and other public benefits with a Madison Avenue impact. Bob Harris is president and one of three founders of Black Bear Solar Institute, a unique non-profit based right outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in East Tennessee.  The Great Smoky Mountains receive eleven million visitors each year, so Black Bear Solar Institute concentrates on education through demonstration to teach visitors and residents of the area lessons in ecology, sustainable living, environmental stewardship, and successful coexistence with our wildlife neighbors.  Using technology to teach ecology, Black Bear Solar Institute strives to show in tangible ways what is possible for people to achieve right now using today’s technologies and practices. With a background in renewable energy, electric transportation, manufacturing automation, and wildlife rehabilitation facility operation, Bob combines this experience with another of the founder’s 22 years in wildlife rehab to plan construction of a sustainability showcase for Park visitors, centered around a solar-powered wildlife center to care for orphaned or injured animals, from bears to bunnies.  Black Bear Solar Institute operates an Educational Center in Townsend, Tennessee, and additionally owns and operates around 8% of the public Electric Vehicle charging stations in Tennessee, including all of those installed in the Tennessee State Parks.  You can find more information about projects and programs which are expanding from Tennessee into surrounding States, including Georgia, at www.BlackBearSolarInstitute.org and www.Facebook.com/BlackBearSolarInstitute