SunCast

Can the city known for oil & gas become the center of clean energy?In this powerhouse episode, we meet Jane Stricker, SVP of Energy Transition at the Greater Houston Partnership and Executive Director of HETI (Houston Energy Transition Initiative). Jane shares a front-row view of Houston’s bold strategy to stay the energy capital of the world – not just in oil, but in all forms of energy.Jane breaks down how Houston is scaling clean tech faster than ever before, attracting startups and corporate giants alike, and why over $95 billion has already been invested by local companies into low-carbon technologies.You’ll hear how the city’s industrial infrastructure, diverse workforce, and “speed-to-market” culture are giving it an edge in a global race for clean energy dominance.Expect to learn:🔹 Why 9 new clean energy factories have launched in Greater Houston🔹 How “molecules + electrons” define Houston’s unique approach🔹 The talent pipeline fueling both fossil and renewable energy growth🔹 The economic case for more energy + fewer emissionsIf you think Houston’s stuck in the past, think again.Do you believe Houston can keep it’s “Energy Capital of the World” moniker as Clean Energy takes the lead?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

Solar is finally getting smarter. And faster - thanks to…robots?Recorded live at RE+ 2025, this episode takes you behind the scenes of solar’s most advanced innovations — from automation in engineering to AI-driven O&M and digital twins. Hosts Amy Norstedt and Josh Beck sit down with some of the Industry’s most forward-thinking executives to talk real-time transformation across the project lifecycle.Featured in this episode:Tyler Nelson, CEO at Revamp’s outlines how their new software suite (proven on >15% of all new solar built in the US last year!) is facilitating faster project executionMatt Campbell, CEO of Terabase, shares that on-site solar robotics is real, and finally, it’s here,Derek Chase, CEO of OnSight Technologies (Now part of Nextpower) revelas how robotic/ai site inspection is a gamechanger for asset management, and finallyHugh Scott, CTO at Flexgen covers how battery dispatch control is smoothing the grid and making assets more reliableExpect to learn:🔹 How AI is making engineers and robots more effective, not replacing them🔹 Why automation is reducing cost, risk, and delay in construction🔹 The role of predictive inspections in preventing asset failures🔹 How digital twins are reshaping site visibility and performanceIs the energy transition finally getting a digital upgrade?Tune-in, then share your thoughts with us on Linkedin!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

Most people in solar avoid the uncomfortable conversation: what happens when systems age, warranties expire, components fail, and the original installer is long gone.Cesar Barbosa — founder of NuLife Power Services — has built a business around the part of the industry nobody wants to talk about: decommissioning, system remediation, and repowering. In this episode, Cesar breaks down why aging commercial solar is becoming a massive opportunity, the common failure points he’s seeing in the field, and why he believes repowering is the next frontier for EPCs, developers, and asset owners.We also get into the “New Life Method,” the real economics behind end-of-life planning, the ethics of second-life solar in developing markets, and the leadership disciplines required to build a trades business that lasts — including how Cesar’s faith shapes the way he leads.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why repowering may outpace new installs as the next big services waveWhat most asset owners and EPCs get wrong about end-of-life planningThe real-world failure points showing up in aging systemsHow contractors can pivot into repowering and remediation workThe “3 Rs” of end-of-life PV: repurpose, refurbish, recycleIf you're in solar and not thinking about end-of-life... its time to start.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

The rules of the game have changed. Have you figured out the OB3 playbook?From massive tax credit shifts to permitting bottlenecks and foreign entity restrictions, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” has reshaped the future of clean energy in America. At this year’s RE+ 2025, top minds from GoodLeap, Infineon, SEIA, and Wood Mackenzie broke down what OB3 really implicates across solar, storage, and grid infrastructure.Recorded live from the PowerUp Podcast Stage, this episode captures the pulse of an industry in motion. You’ll hear how residential solar is pivoting fast, why semiconductor companies are critical to the grid’s future, and what’s really driving policy conversations in DC.Expect to learn:🔹 Why the 25D tax credit expiration is shaking up residential solar🔹 How semiconductors are the unsung heroes of grid reliability🔹 What the industry is doing about permitting and foreign entity risk🔹 Why demand from data centers is putting stress on gas and renewables alikeWhether you’re a policy wonk, project developer, or just trying to keep up with the latest legislation, this episode delivers high-impact insights you won’t want to miss.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

AI is pushing the grid to its limits — and transformers are now the critical path for both data centers and renewable projects.Today’s guest, Doug Banty, EVP at Forgent (and former CEO of MGM Transformers), sits at the intersection of these two worlds. Half of his week at RE+ was spent across the strip at the Yotta data center conference, where the only topic on everyone’s mind was power. In this episode, Doug explains how AI-driven rack density is rewriting the entire powertrain, why hyperscalers are treating speed like an existential priority, and what this means for developers trying to keep pace.He also breaks down the industrial logic behind Forgent — a merger of MGM, VanTran, States, and PowerCube — and how integrated solutions are becoming essential for execution in an era where timelines matter more than price.Expect to learn: ⚡ Why data centers are moving at crisis-level urgency ⚡ The difference between power and distribution transformers ⚡ What MGM’s 500,000 sq ft Waco factory means for lead times ⚡ How Forgent reduces execution risk through integrated packages ⚡ The single most effective way developers can avoid delaysHit play — and see what the future of the grid really looks like.🕒 TIMESTAMPS/Chapters00:00 — Welcome + AI power demand framing01:07 — MGM/VanTran history and capabilities03:38 — Why Forgent was formed (4-company merger)05:15 — Non-obvious advantages for customers (execution, risk reduction)06:19 — Are transformers still the bottleneck? (nuanced answer)07:58 — MGM’s 500,000 sq ft Waco facility ramping output09:12 — Data center vs. renewables urgency10:35 — Why AI demand is an existential challenge for hyperscalers12:05 — How powertrain design is changing14:34 — What developers need to know about speed and execution17:24 — Rack density and rapid engineering cycles18:52 — How developers can save weeks on their project timelines20:29 — Why early partnership unlocks allocation20:45 — Closing thoughtsCheck 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