SunCast

• 835: Inside the Machine: How Nextracker Is Rewiring Utility-Scale Solar | Jonathan Eastwood

  Nextracker has proven its market dominance for more than a decade, and has practically rewritten the playbook on utility-scale solar globally. Lately, they’ve been on an acquisition spree, further fueling their market dominance and diversifying to better serve their customers. If you, like us, are on the outside looking in wondering “how they heck do they do it?”, then this episode will give you a glimpse inside the magnificent machine that is NXT!Jonathan Eastwood, Nextracker’s SVP of Sales, has seen the clean energy industry evolve from the ground up—literally. In this long-awaited episode, Jonathan joins Nico to share how product innovation, customer obsession, and strategic M&A are helping solve solar’s most urgent challenges, from logistics chaos to catastrophic hail risk.It’s a rare peek behind the curtain on how NextTracker has become more than just another manufacturing partner—offering not just parts, but fully integrated systems that EPCs and owners trust to perform. From solving logistics bottlenecks with proprietary software to designing hail-proof stow systems that win over insurers, Eastwood shares the innovations—and the culture—that keep NextTracker at the front of the pack.You’ll hear what most people get wrong about trackers, how customer feedback led to some of NextTracker’s biggest breakthroughs, and why integrated solutions—not just price—are winning deals in 2025. Expect to learn:🔹 The sales innovation that helped NextTracker stay 2–3 years ahead🔹 How HailPro tech saves projects and unlocks lower insurance premiums🔹 Why integrated platforms are winning over cost-focused EPCs🔹 How customer feedback shapes everything at Nextracker🔹 The secrets behind NextTracker’s elite sales culture🎧 Don’t miss this candid and career-spanning conversation with one of the industry’s sharpest operators—Eastwood’s story is proof that customer-driven innovation is still the ultimate differentiator in solar.If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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/nicomeo

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• 834: The New Solar Standard You Should Know About | w/Amanda Bybee & Karo Fernandez

  What happens when a solar technician calls themselves a “Level 2,” but no one knows what that actually means?For years, solar O&M has lacked the structure and standardization seen in other trades. The result? Confusing job titles, wage inflation, inconsistent training, and safety risks. But that’s all about to change.In this Tactical Tuesday episode, Nico Johnson is joined by Amanda Bybee, CEO of Amicus O&M Cooperative, and Karo Fernandez, Technical Training manager at AES Clean Energy. Together, they have helped create and rollout ANSI/SEIA 301, the first ANSI-accredited standard defining technician levels in the solar industry! They share how a diverse coalition of stakeholders—from co-ops to giants like AES—came together to define skill levels, competencies, and a real career ladder for solar techs.Amanda breaks down the origin of the standard, why it’s necessary, and how it was shaped through broad consensus (60+ companies!). Karo brings it to life, showing how AES is rolling out hands-on, real-world training that prioritizes safety and clarity.If your business hires solar technicians—or wants to keep them—this episode is a must-listen.Expect to Learn:🔹 Why lack of technician standards leads to industry-wide wage inflation🔹 How ANSI/SEIA 301 enables clear career pathways for solar workers🔹 The 5 learning modalities AES uses to implement tech training🔹 The surprising data benefits of standardized technician levelsIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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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• 833: 73% of Solar Damage from One Threat? Inside Solar Risk Assessment with Jason Kaminsky

  Your solar project is one storm away from financial disaster!That’s not just fear-mongering—it’s the reality many developers are waking up to. In this episode, Nico sits down with Jason Kaminsky, CEO of KWH Analytics, the data-driven company reshaping how solar projects are financed and insured. You’ve probably already read this year’s Solar Risk Assessment—that’s the genius and hard–work of Jason’s team on full display, and the latest SRA dropped in Mid-June, so we’re here to cover the details for you.We’re presently in a high-stakes reality of asset performance, from the rise of “big and floppy” modules to the silent cost of wildfire smoke and hail storms. You’ll hear how the kWh Analytics team built a robust data infrastructure from scratch (literally by asking for spreadsheets from anyone who’d listen) and turned it into risk mitigation tools Wall Street trusts.More than just an insurance firm, KWH Analytics is building financial scaffolding for a volatile climate future—and they’re doing it with a mission to make solar stronger.Expect to Learn:🔹 Why 73% of solar financial losses come from just 6% of hail events🔹 How module design changes are quietly increasing system fragility🔹 The evolution of the Solar Revenue Put and risk-resilience insurance🔹 How wildfire smoke and cyber threats are reshaping performance expectationsDon’t miss this deep dive into what’s next for solar risk, resilience, and reliability.If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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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• 832: Solar After the Megabill: Tax Credits, Tariffs & What’s Next |Christian Roselund

  Is the “Big Beautiful Bill” about to choke the life out of solar & wind? Can energy storage be solar’s savior? Isn’t Solar inevitable? We don’t need no stinking subsidies, right? Right?If you haven’t had a chance to catch up yet on all that the bill implies, keep reading (seriously at the bottom I’ve linked a ton of recommended reading!) In this episode, policy analyst, Christian Roselund, returns to SunCast to unpack the real implications of the recently passed Megabill—a sweeping piece of legislation that redefines how the solar (and wind) industry can operate in the U.S. From shifting timelines to aggressive FEOC (foreign entity of concern) ownership rules, the bill undoes decades of positive momentum, but could hasten the inevitable - that solar + batteries will be at or below grid-parity with or without incentives.With residential solar already faltering and manufacturers scrambling to comply with 45X and FEOC rules, this episode delivers an unfiltered look at the legislative changes that could derail billions in investment.Christian—known for making complex policy digestible—breaks down what the new rules actually say (well, what was known at the time at least!), what’s still misunderstood, and how companies should prepare for a volatile few years ahead. Note to Listener: Since this conversation was recorded, the final version of the OBBB was passed with some significant updates: most notably, the 25D and 48E residential solar tax credits were retained, as was transferability (a huge collective sigh!), and the 45X manufacturing credit remains in place, though compliance with FEOC rules will continue to challenge supply chains. The ITC/PTC windows under 45Y and 48E are now expected to run at full value through the early 2030s, providing much-needed policy certainty. Below, we’re providing you with PLENTY of links to the latest reading Nico and the team have been doing wrt this huge megabill and it’s impact to the solar industry. Recommended reading:https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text -> The ACTUAL Bill text - have fun!But if you want to save some time…https://zenodo.org/records/15801701 - Princeton professor Jesse Jenkins and his REPEAT Project analysis team’s takehttps://www.cruxclimate.com/insights/one-big-beautiful-bill-act-passes-senate - Crux Climate summary - they are also hosting a webinar on the 9th that you still have time to sign up for Energy Changemakers’ blog is predicting more grid defection: https://energychangemakers.com/big-beautiful-bill-distributed-energy-trends/ https://www.mwe.com/insights/the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-navigating-clean-energy-tax-credits-in-a-new-era/ - MWE gives one of the better legal reviews I’ve seenAs does Novogradac:

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• 831: Saving Your Solar Project From Cancellation, with Amanda Foley of Kiterocket

  Solar projects getting canceled? Clean tech CEOs burned out doing their own PR? Amanda Foley has seen it all.As the CEO of Kiterocket, Amanda leads one of clean energy’s most influential PR firms, helping clients go from misunderstood to market-ready. Recorded live at CleanPower 2025, this conversation dives into why even great technology companies struggle with messaging—and what to do about it.From overcoming community opposition to engineers writing their own press releases (spoiler: don’t), Amanda and Nico explore the gaps that often hold clean energy companies back from widespread adoption. They also unpack how today’s media landscape—from YouTube creators to AI-driven news cycles—is reshaping how clean tech companies need to communicate.Whether you’re an early-stage founder still wearing the marketing hat yourself or leading a growth-stage company ready for scale, Amanda offers real-world advice on when (and how) to invest in PR.Expect to Learn:🔹 The #1 mistake founders make when scaling their marketing efforts🔹 How to craft messaging that speaks to engineers, policymakers, and consumers🔹 The real role of press releases—and why most quotes are throwaways🔹 Why the Fourth Industrial Revolution is a communications goldmine (if you know how to tell the story)🔹 When founders should finally let go and hire real marketing leadershipIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.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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