“AI is the greatest threat to your business ever.”

That’s how Sheldon Kimber opens this episode—and it only gets bolder from there.

Live from the Kiterocket Lounge during ACP CleanPower 2025, Sheldon returns to SunCast to unpack the real story behind energy-hungry data centers, the rise of hybrid power solutions, and why clean energy is no longer about purity—it’s about pragmatism.

As CEO of Intersect Power, Sheldon’s built one of the most forward-thinking development firms in the sector. He shares how Intersect is co-locating massive renewables with gas, batteries, and even grid backup—forming what might just be the future of baseload power. This is a must-listen for anyone monitoring how clean energy collides with digitalization, electrification, and AI.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why the U.S. grid is fundamentally broken—and who’s really to blame

🔹 The hybrid power recipe Intersect is using to power Google-scale data centers

🔹 How political oscillation—not gas—is the real threat to climate progress

🔹 Why Intersect is building its own control software instead of relying on VC-backed startups

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Forget what you thought you knew about data centers.

Ryan Abbott of Clayco (a major datacenter design/build firm) joins Nico to explain how today’s hyperscale data centers are flipping traditional construction and energy planning on their heads. With AI workloads multiplying and compute demand skyrocketing, the real constraint isn't land—it’s power. And not just any power. Reliable, sustainable, redundant power systems that can handle 24/7 cooling, computing, and connectivity.

In this conversation, you’ll learn how data centers are being redesigned for the AI age—everything from chilled water loops to rooftop geometry to satellite data transmission all have an impact on the efficiency of what could be the most important structures to be built in a generation.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why data center siting now revolves around power, not land

🔹 What “heat rejection” really means and why roofs matter more than you think

🔹 Why water use and air-cooled chillers are becoming make-or-break issues

🔹 What next-gen data center design teaches us about renewable integration

🔹 The reason Arizona—not Alberta—may be the new hub for AI compute

This one is for the builders, the planners, and the visionaries driving clean energy forward. Listen in and learn why the future of computing is all about collaboration—with the grid.

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

What makes someone actually care about solar? It’s not the data. It’s the story.

On this special “SundayCast”, Nico sits down with the Reverend himself—Aaron Nichols (okay, not officially a Reverend, but the story behind that title is worth tuning in for). Aaron has made waves as a marketing & advocacy specialist at Exact Solar, helping the company thrive in a time when many others in solar are shrinking. His secret? Telling stories that spark action.

From a school greenhouse in Philly to a donated community solar project, Aaron shares how real narratives—not kilowatt stats—are driving leads, national press, and community engagement. If you’re tired of wonky white papers and want to learn how to make clean energy compelling, what you’ll learn in this episode needs to be part of your playbook.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why “facts are for the in-group, stories are for the out-group”

🔹 How a single solar story got NPR, local press, and a Congressman’s attention

🔹 The storytelling tactics Aaron uses to turn readers into leads

🔹 How to make your next LinkedIn post actually get seen (and shared)

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

What if a renewable energy power plant could achieve capacity factors above 70%? Wouldn’t that make it, finally, FIRM baseload power, dispatchable and “reliable” for the grid?

Can ai help? What else is required?

The simple answer is hybridization, but a long-time industry pioneer is here to tell us more.

Martin Hermann has spent the last 2 decades pioneering the future of utility-scale solar. From founding 8minutenergy, one of the first to bring Utility-scale solar parks to the US, to launching BrightNight, focused now on making solar dispatchable, Martin’s mission has stayed consistent: make renewables not just clean—but reliable.

In the latest episode of SunCast, you’ll hear how BrightNight is rethinking the way we build power plants, why Martin deliberately didn’t hire solar industry veterans, and how AI is changing the way utilities plan for grid stability.

This isn’t about adding more megawatts—it’s about turning renewables into baseload power, with capacity factors north of 70%.

Martin shares how he’s using hybridization (wind + solar + batteries + market integration) to unlock grid value, and what it takes to design dispatchable renewables from the ground up.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why utility-scale solar must escape the “real estate developer” mindset

🔹 How BrightNight’s software optimizes entire systems—not just individual tech stacks

🔹 The future of long-duration storage and why multi-day batteries are on the verge

🔹 Why AI could become the most important tool in designing next-gen power plants

Ready to rethink solar's role in the power stack? Hit play.

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

“Even the most unsinkable ship can sink.”

That’s Trevor Noah reflecting on the fragility of democracy, and he’s not just here to make you laugh—he’s here to challenge how you think. At CLEANPOWER 2025, Trevor delivers a brilliant, unscripted dialogue with Jason Grumet, the Chief Executive Officer of American Clean Power, unpacking how stories shape our national psyche—and what that means for the clean energy movement.

This episode is full of surprises. From philosophical riffs on the social power of red lights to how a “thank you” at the front door can restore social cohesion, Trevor delivers a masterful discussion on systems thinking, imagination, and empathy.

Most importantly? He lays out a quietly radical idea: stop selling people what you want—sell them what they need.

Clean energy has a messaging problem, and it’s time we stop preaching morals and start aligning incentives.

You won’t hear a more thought-provoking or entertaining take on American politics, trust, and the future of our energy system all year.

(We recorded this Live Keynote with permission at the American Clean Power “CleanPower 2025” conference - it was delivered the very morning of the Houses passing vote on the Big Beautiful Bill)

👉 In this episode:

🔹 The difference between truth, facts, and perception

🔹 Why clean energy needs better storytelling, not better tech

🔹 How conflict (done right) leads to discovery and love

🔹 The power of human connection in a disconnected world

If you're serious about leading the energy transition, start here—with the questions only a comedian dares to ask.

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

What if the biggest opportunity in solar has been hiding in plain sight?

Josh Goldberg is no stranger to solar. He’s a multi-exit founder who helped shape residential solar finance—and now he’s back to tackle the “messy middle” of commercial solar. After stepping away from the industry, Josh returned with a mission: to unlock the underfinanced, overlooked world of small-to-mid-sized commercial solar.

In this episode, Josh shares how Sunstone Credit is solving a billion-dollar bottleneck—by giving installers and non-rated businesses the financing tools they’ve always needed. He opens up about what’s changed in the market (and what hasn’t), the whiteboard moment that sparked his latest venture, and why the time for this market is finally now.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why the C&I market still hasn’t scaled like residential or utility

🔹 How Sunstone built bank-grade underwriting for an “unbanked” sector

🔹 The real reason pricing in commercial solar hasn’t improved in 15 years

🔹 What it took to convince banks to bet on a “brand new” asset class

If you’ve been wondering when large-scale commercial rooftops will finally go solar (or why it hasnt happened yet…), this one’s for you.

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Winter is coming

If you're a solar or battery developer, especially in utility-scale or C&I, you're likely feeling it already: capital has tightened, exits have dried up, and project timelines are stretching longer than ever. Sound familiar?

Rob Sternthal, co-founder of XIP and a two-decade veteran of clean energy finance, joins Nico to deliver a tactical wake-up call. This isn’t just another “market update”—it’s a field guide for navigating what could be the most turbulent season the industry has faced in most of your careers. Rob breaks down the myths developers are clinging to, the real risks of mid-stage assets, and how to avoid ceding your entire platform to creditors.

You’ll hear why Rob believes the “build and flip” model is on life support, what capital providers are really thinking, and how XIP is helping developers get scrappy, strategic, and solvent in a capital-constrained world.

🧭 Expect to Learn:

🔹 Why the capital markets have gone from firehose to faucet

🔹 The red flags of a distressed developer (and how to know if it’s you)

🔹 Strategies to stay liquid and avoid a fire sale

🔹 What kind of investors to seek (and which ones to run from)

If you’re feeling the pressure to sell early, raise expensive credit, or just keep your team afloat, this episode could be a lifeline.

And if you’re looking for the Linkedin Article that prompted this episode, it’s here: https://bit.ly/RobSternthal-LI-Post

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

What if your rooftop solar could do more than just power your fridge?

Karl Andersen believes it can—and should—power the future of AI.

Karl unpacks the grid’s biggest vulnerabilities, why data centers lack critical power infrastructure, and how we can turn solar-powered homes into the building blocks of a decentralized compute network. Lektra’s tech fuses distributed energy with cloud computing—think “Raspberry Pi meets Tesla Powerwall meets AI.” The result? A game-changing business model where solar homeowners become micro data centers—and start earning like one.

From national security concerns to GPU monetization, Karl walks us through why our energy and data systems are broken—and how his patented solution bridges both.

Expect to learn:

🔹 How Lektra turns excess solar energy into compute power

🔹 Why grid fragility is now a national security issue

🔹 What it takes to patent an entirely new category of energy-tech

🔹 How homeowners could earn 1000x more than selling to the grid

This isn’t really even about solar. It’s about rethinking energy, ownership, and what the next version of the internet could look like.

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

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus