Feb. 28, 2024

Let's Get Married at RE+ in Vegas (Live from Las Vegas)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, you’ll hear a live storytelling about two solar pros who decide to get married at a solar conference in Las Vegas. But when the wedding gets unexpectedly interrupted, the solar industry comes to the rescue.

Watch the live video performance here:
https://youtu.be/YyhWQi1d2ZE

True Solar Takeaways

  • RE+ is the largest annual U.S. solar and renewable energy conference. It's held in various locations every year.
  • Abby Hopper is the head of SEIA, the leading U.S. solar industry advocacy organization, and she was at this live reading and had that line.
  • Solar Power International (SPI) was the old name for RE plus. 
  • Dean Solon is the founder and former CEO of Shoals Technology. Every year, Shoals throws a huge party at RE+. As the saying goes, what happens at the Shoals party stays at the Shoals party. 
  • BOS. stands for "Balance of Systems"
  • NEC stands for the National Electric Code
  • Vegas has had blackouts, but not during a solar conference. However, air conditioners running on high during a heatwave have caused blackouts.
  • Load flexibility is complicated. Read this
  • EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction. They're basically the solar installers.
  • Solar developers can hire EPCs or sometimes they have their own EPC division.
  • PE stands for Professional Engineer. 
  • AHJ stands for Authorities Having Jurisdiction. They're the various local organizations that deal with permitting for solar installations, large and small.
  • KW stands for Kilowatts and kWh stands for Kilowatt-hours. Here's the difference.
  • Interconnection is a difficult process of connecting solar projects to the grid.

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Series Story: "The Solar Heist or How I Got into the Solar Business"

Probably True Solar Stories has a long solar "mini-series." Listen to the Solar Heist series here. Then explore the other shorter stand-alone stories below.

Nov. 30, 2022

Part 3: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The Fa…

In the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories , we continue the story of two neighbors who are part of the solar industry. Charlie is a large-scale utility solar developer while Mazz is a medium-scale thief who successfu...

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June 14, 2023

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 5: The Es…

After almost being shot by a crime syndicate enforcer, Charlie and Mazz go to confront Richard Prout about who really owns the utility solar project. But Richard won’t talk. Worse, he attempts a daring escape that frustrates ...

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June 7, 2023

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 4: The Wa…

Season 2's theme is "Solar Noir," and we start off with a darkly comedic Part 4 of our Solar Heist series. (Catch up to Parts 1-3 here .) In Part 4, Mazz and Charlie are forced by Richard Prout, a …

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Oct. 5, 2022

Part 2: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The No…

In real life, you never hear about the perfect heist. That’s because when a real-life heist is perfect, there are no witnesses, the criminals disappear, and the case goes cold. Boring. Now, in a fictional heist story, somethi...

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Sept. 28, 2022

Part 1: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The Pr…

In this first episode of Probably True Solar Stories , two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, California coffee shop that specializes in dark, rich coffee. Mazz owns a trucking business by day and is a thief at night....

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Aug. 16, 2023

Part 6, The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: Trust

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we end our Solar Noir season where we began. We continue the ongoing story of "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." In this next chapter, it’s all about …

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Sept. 20, 2023

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Parts 1-6

For those solar fiction fans who prefer the longer formats, we've combined all six episodes of "The Solar Heist" into a single two-hour version, including chapter headings. Two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, Calif...

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Jan. 24, 2024

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 7: Monste…

On the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 7 of The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business. When an intruder breaks in and holds a gun to the head of Mazz's …

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Jan. 31, 2024

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 8: Mrs. P…

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, Sylvia Prout, the widow of Richard Prout, visits Mazz and Charlie looking for answers about her husband's apparent murder. After some intense questioning and bourbon Irish coffees, Syl...

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Feb. 7, 2024

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 9: Chico

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, "The Solar Heist" series continues. Charlie goes to Chico, California to hunt for "CATs," --certain awful things--buried at a landfill that’s about to become a new solar farm. Meanwhil...

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Feb. 14, 2024

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 10: Timing

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 10 of "The Solar Heist" series. Mrs. Prout returns to Mazz and Charlie’s house to give them a warning. But Mazz and Charlie are already in Chico. Despite her …

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Feb. 21, 2024

The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business, Part 11: Rewind

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude our limited series, "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." It's about two neighbors who unexpectedly form an odd friendship and work to uncover a solar en...

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