Bonus Episode:REALLY True Solar Stories -- Live From RE+ 2024!
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we're going rogue for a midseason bonus episode! Instead of the strange and wonderful fictional solar stories that we usually tell, we're going to share some strange and wonderful REALLY True Solar Stories from actual solar workers and solar industry leaders.
There are around 279,000 solar industry workers today. And about 40,000 of those came to the RE+ conference in Anaheim, California in September 2024. And about 100 of those attendees came to my annual Social Views & Brews Happy Hour that I host with the support of the generous and beautiful people who run RE+.
After a few beers, I gave people three prompts to boost their REALLY True Solar Story memories. In alphabetical order, you'll hear stories from:
- Gwen Brown
- Tom Cheney
- Ian Hoffbeck
- Nico Johnson
- Peter Kelly
- Ryan Mayfield
- Spenser Meeks
- Jigar Shaw and Jeff Wolfe (told together)
- Greg Smith
- Jeff Spies
- Sean White
- Jim Wood
- Ben Zientara
After all those stories, I'll tell you my personal story about the solar mentor that I'll always remember and appreciate.
You can also watch this episode on the Probably True Solar YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/DSqi-MQinAE
I hope you enjoy these REALLY true solar stories. If you've never heard our fictional solar stories, explore the last three seasons at ProbablyTrueSolar.com or on your favorite podcast app.
Season Four is coming up this summer!
True Solar Takeaways
- IREC stands for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
- NABCEP stands for the The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
- Listen to Nico Johnson's Suncast podcast here or on your favorite podcast streaming service.
- Listen to Jigar Shah, Katherine Hamilton, and Stephen Lacey on the Open Circuit podcast.
- Brands mentioned in people's stories were Aurora Solar, Trina Solar, and SEG Solar, Planet Plan Sets, and Solar Reviews.
- Solar publications mentioned in this episode included PV Tech, Solar Power World, and Renewable Energy World (aka Factor This).
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00:29 - Why Really True Solar Stories
02:46 - Gwen Brown's first day at Aurora Solar
04:02 - Tom Cheyney's reporter-view on the solar coaster
06:41 - Ian Hoffbeck is almost arrested in Afghanistan
10:00 - Peter Kelly's dog story
10:58 - Three really true stories from Nico Johnson
21:04 - Ryan Mayfield's gets his first solar job and an appreciation
23:58 - Spenser Meeks has a solar rat story... sort of.
27:19 - Jigar Shah & Jeff Wolfe remember the solar good ol' days and a colleague
31:26 - Greg Smith remembers an odd customer service call
34:13 - Jeff Spies shares how the modern solar industry got started
39:15 - How Sean White got his first solar job in a bathroom
41:04 - Jim Wood tells how a colleague saved his CEO's life... and his odd reward
44:29 - Ben Zantara tells how a fierce solar advocate called out a utility exec
46:11 - A Solar Fred shout-out to a long-time mentor
47:42 - Thanks for all the really true stories