Solar Maverick Podcast

Recent Episodes

1. SMP 300: 300 Episodes Later, Why We’re Still Bullish on Solar

   Sep 18, 2026

   In this milestone 300th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, host Benoy Thanjan celebrates with longtime co-host Nate Jovanelli, Founder and CEO of SunRaise Capital, reflecting on the evolution of the residential solar industry since the podcast's inception. They discuss how much has changed since 2018—including the shift from viewing batteries as solar accessories to positioning solar as a battery accessory, the persistent challenge of customer acquisition costs, the advantages of regional installers over national players, and the critical role of rising electricity costs in driving adoption. The conversation covers policy uncertainty, interconnection complexities, changing customer demographics, and why solar plus storage represents the industry's greatest opportunity over the next decade. Both remain bullish on solar's long-term growth despite near-term headwinds.

2. SMP 299: From 9/11 Survivor to Solar Maverick: A Life Driven by Purpose

   Sep 10, 2026

   Benoy Thanjan, founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and host of the Solar Maverick Podcast, sits down with co-host Li Wang to share his personal account of surviving the September 11 terrorist attacks while inside One World Trade Center. Benoy recounts being in the lobby when the first plane struck at 8:46 a.m., narrowly escaping death by mere seconds, and describes witnessing the chaos, evacuating alongside first responders, and seeing the second plane hit. The conversation explores how this traumatic experience fundamentally shifted his life purpose, leading him away from fossil fuel finance toward renewable energy and solar development, and how he channels survivor's guilt into meaningful work including community solar projects in New York and disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

3. SMP 298: When Energy Becomes a National Security Issue

   Sep 1, 2026

   Benoy Thanjan and David Magid examine how clean energy is becoming increasingly connected to national security, grid resilience, and government policy. They discuss Michigan's new statewide permitting process for utility-scale solar, Westinghouse's proposed nuclear microreactor at Fort Drum, the national-security risks of foreign-made solar and storage equipment, and California's record renewable-energy curtailment.

4. SMP 297: Solar Gets Complicated: AI, Storage, Inverters & Grid Challenges

   Aug 26, 2026

   David Magid joins host Benoy Thanjan to discuss how the solar and clean energy industry is becoming increasingly complex, driven by policy uncertainty, storage integration, supply chain concerns around inverters, and grid constraints. The conversation covers Massachusetts' 83E energy storage solicitation, ERCOT's massive queue of data center applications, and the critical importance of understanding tariffs, cybersecurity, interconnection, permitting, and financing alongside traditional solar development.

5. SMP 296: The Race for Reliable Power: Storage, Nuclear and AI Data Centers

   Aug 18, 2026

   Benoy Thanjan discusses major developments shaping power markets, including a New York court ruling classifying battery energy storage as a public utility, New Jersey's nuclear procurement plan, and the urgent electricity demands from AI data centers. The episode explores how solar, storage, natural gas, nuclear, and other technologies must work together to meet the race for reliable 24/7 power, with competitive advantage going to companies that can navigate permitting and infrastructure deployment fastest.

6. SMP 295: Building a Brand in Clean Energy: Marketing, LinkedIn & Thought Leadership

   Aug 13, 2026

   Jacob Yang, founder and CEO of Amp Your Story, discusses the evolution of marketing in clean energy and renewable energy sectors. The conversation covers common marketing mistakes in solar and clean energy companies, the critical role of thought leadership and personal branding on LinkedIn, demand generation strategies, and how executives can build authentic brands. Yang shares insights on emerging platforms like Reddit and Medium, LinkedIn algorithm updates, and practical marketing tactics tailored to different clean energy segments.

7. SMP 294: Solar’s New Reality: Capital, Storage, and the Race to Execute

   Aug 4, 2026

   Benoy Thanjan, Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and host of the Solar Maverick Podcast, discusses the dramatic shift in solar development capital, market consolidation, and the rising complexity of project execution. He and host Peter Pongracz examine why early-stage solar projects struggle to attract investment, why solar-plus-storage is becoming the market standard, and the critical role of local relationships and regulatory navigation in project success. The episode highlights the paradox that while solar technology is simple, the financing, permitting, interconnection, and delivery mechanisms have become increasingly complex.

8. SMP 293: Why Execution Will Decide the Next Clean Energy Winners

   Jul 29, 2026

   Benoit and David discuss key takeaways from the Solar Energy Industry Association's recent finance, tax, and buyer seminar in New York City (June 23-24, 2026). They cover clean energy market strength, execution challenges including permitting and interconnection delays, policy uncertainty around tax credits, and domestic manufacturing investments. The episode also examines ISO New England's transition cluster study results showing significant infrastructure upgrade costs, and trends in nuclear project development concentrated in the Southeast, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

9. SMP 292: Where the Capital Is Flowing: Inside S&P Global’s Clean Energy Investment Trends Report

   Jul 21, 2026

   James Gutman, Senior Principal Analyst at S&P Global Energy Capital Insights, discusses findings from S&P Global's Clean Energy Investment Trends Report produced in partnership with ACORE. The conversation covers record capital flows into U.S. renewable energy, Texas's dominance in solar and wind deployment, the critical role of transmission infrastructure, FIAC compliance concerns, battery storage economics, and the emerging challenge of data center power demand reshaping electricity markets. Gutman also addresses the industry's transition toward market-based competition as federal tax credits phase out.

10. SMP 291: How Bees, Biodiversity Data, and Agrivoltaics Are Transforming Solar Farms

    Jul 15, 2026

    Matt Coleman, CEO of Davis Hill Development and Principal of Skyview Ventures, discusses the company's innovative partnership with HiveTracks, a biodiversity monitoring program that uses beehives as environmental biosensors on solar sites. The conversation covers how HiveTracks analyzes honey, pollen, and environmental DNA to track ecosystem health, inform habitat restoration decisions, and demonstrate community stewardship. Matt also explores agrivoltaics initiatives including grazing, hay production, and cranberry bog projects, the importance of long-term farmer partnerships, and Skyview's broader portfolio spanning renewable energy credits, venture investing in cleantech startups, and EV charging infrastructure.