SunCast

• 880: Why Smart Homeowners Are Choosing Flexible Backup Power

  What’s your plan when the power goes out?If you think a generator is your only option, think again.Today’s conversation, live from our RE+ PowerUp Live stage, Rachel Stotts of Jackery breaks down a new category of home energy backup: flexible, modular systems that you can easily scale and take with you. Whether you're facing tornadoes or planning a weekend tailgate, portable energy solutions cover everything from your fridge to your CPAP machine, and they’re becoming increasingly popular with prosumers who don’t want the hassles of traditional energy storage.No permits. No permanent installs. Just plug-and-play resilience. And up to 30% federal tax credit if you act before year’s end.Rachel and Josh Beck explore why this product category is resonating with both outdoor enthusiasts and homeowners fed up with power outages.You’ll hear:🔹 Why energy independence doesn’t have to mean going off-grid🔹 How modular power systems adapt to your lifestyle and grow with you🔹 The secret behind Jackery’s rise from camping gear to home backup leader🔹 Simple steps to claim your federal clean energy tax credit before Dec 31This episode will make you rethink what backup power really means. If you're looking for a simpler, smarter way to stay powered up - no matter the storm - you're in the right place. Tap in and hear how Jackery is changing the game.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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• 879: “Speed to Power” is the new race — but can the grid keep up? Hugo Mena, Electric Power Engineers

  “Speed to Power” is the new race — but can the grid keep up?Hyperscalers, AI, and industrial demand are pushing load growth from flat to vertical. Yet most projects still take five to seven years just to interconnect.That’s the bottleneck Hugo Mena is tackling as Chief Growth Officer at Electric Power Engineers (EPE).This live conversation addresses the forces shaping the grid of the future — and what it’ll actually take to deliver power at the speed innovation demands. Hugo shares how developers, utilities, and data centers can collaborate to unlock speed to power without sacrificing reliability or long-term vision.Expect to learn: 🔹 Why the “best available electron” isn’t always the cleanest 🔹 How hyperscalers are driving off-grid and hybrid microgrids 🔹 What Order 2023 (OB3) really means for developers 🔹 How software, siting, and partnerships define the next decade of grid planningThis is one of the most pragmatic and forward-looking conversations you’ll hear on how clean energy actually scales.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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• 878: Three Ways to Make Real Climate Impact This Giving Tuesday

  This Giving Tuesday, SunCast brings you three powerful stories of how clean energy is transforming communities, saving lives, and unlocking local climate action.Host Nico Johnson sits down with leaders working across three different fronts of the climate fight:• Robin Swanhuyser — Twende SolarElectrifying community hubs in places like rural Ghana, turning schools and clinics into resilience engines for entire villages.• Will Heegaard — Footprint ProjectDeploying portable solar microgrids after hurricanes and wildfires, from Jamaica to Western North Carolina.• Jack Hanson — Run on ClimateEmpowering local leaders to pass real climate policy—proving the most effective climate action often starts at your city council.These are tangible, hopeful, boots-on-the-ground solutions you can support today.Expect to learn: 🔹 Why “being connected to the grid” doesn’t always mean having reliable energy 🔹 How solar-powered microgrids restore communication, water, and medical services after disasters 🔹 Why local elections and city-level policies are quiet climate superpowers 🔹 How small actions—like a $50 donation or even buying a solar-themed puzzle—can create outsized impactHope this episode is more than a way to pass the time; pay it forward by donating or sharing w/your community!Listen in, get inspired, and consider giving where it matters most.Support all three organizations here:https://www.suncast.media/giving-tuesday-2025

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• 877: Frustrated by Permit Delays? How SolarAPP Provides Immediate Solutions

  Can getting a solar permit be as fast as ordering takeout?Permitting may be the most boring part of solar, but it's also the biggest bottleneck.That’s what Matthew McAllister is working to fix. As CEO of SolarAPP, he’s leading a quiet revolution that helps installers skip the paperwork and get to work faster with instant, automated approvals.In this episode, we dive into Matthew’s journey from the West Wing to the frontlines of the clean energy transition. With a background in government technology and big public wins like launching Colorado’s universal preschool platform, he knows what it takes to move bureaucracy at startup speed. Now he’s using that know-how to help solar installers and local governments solve one of the industry’s oldest problems.We explore how SolarAPP grew from a small NREL pilot into a platform adopted by more than 525 jurisdictions across the country. But the real innovation isn't just instant permits — it's about creating consistency, clarity, and confidence on both sides of the table.Expect to learn:🔹 Which soft costs are killing solar’s ability to scale and how SolarAPP is tackling them🔹 How standardizing permitting helps both installers and local governments🔹 What public sector trust-building looks like behind the scenes🔹 Why installers should take another look at SolarAPP’s expanded capabilitiesThis episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to streamline solar deployment and scale with confidence.And for those of you in the USA who are listening to this when it publishes, Happy Thanksgiving! Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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• 876: This Startup Is Reinventing Rare Earth Refining - Without New Mines

  America’s about to make a big bet on critical minerals and rare earths. In case you missed it, the DOE just reorganized and announced a major initiative around the refining of this critical element in our energy and defense future. Why? Because the energy and defense sectors are dangerously dependent on China’s refining power; but, what if we could change that without opening a single new mine? We recently covered a company that’s rethinking rare earth and critical mineral supply chains from the ground up. Mark LaVerghetta, VP at ReElement Technologies, explained that their secret weapon is a closed-loop chromatography-based refining system that can extract and purify vital materials from recycled batteries, magnets, and even coal waste, all on U.S. soil. Mark shares how the leadership team pivoted from distressed coal assets to inventing a modular, small-footprint solution that could rewrite the rules of critical mineral processing and eliminate America’s reliance on toxic, capital-intensive Chinese methods and imports. It can also liberate us from the supply constraints imposed by the ever-growing trade war between the two countries for materials that are critical path to our clean energy future.Expect to learn:🔹 How chromatography replaces hundreds of toxic chemical stages in rare earths refining🔹 What rare minerals are hidden in EV batteries, coal waste, and wind turbines🔹 Why ReElement's tech is scalable in the nation’s abandoned strip malls, not megafactories🔹 How they’re restoring U.S. supply chain independence through innovationThis is more than a conversation about minerals. It’s about resilience, security, and a cleaner future built right here at home.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

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