April 10, 2024

Murder by Solar Drone (Encore)

A solar installer thinks he hears a gunshot while performing a drone solar site survey. The shot--if it was a shot--came from the ranch house of his ex-fiancé. Can the solar installer’s drone footage solve the gunshot mystery? And even if it does, will anyone believe him?

True Solar Takeaways

  • Drones are an increasingly common tool for inspecting and designing residential solar systems.
  • A "POI" is an acronym for a drone circling program. It stands for "Point of Interest."
  • Solar design software incorporates drone footage and photos. The software then sizes and designs the solar system and a visual sales proposal.
  • When preparing a solar design, the installer will gather information about your electric service panel and sometimes inspect your roof's rafters from your attic.
  • As mentioned, this episode incorporated characters from a 10-minute play that Tor wrote, called "Harrison's Choice." It's part of an anthology of 10-minute plays that Tor published in 2008 called "Just Give Me 10 Minutes."

-----

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...

Listen to the Episode
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 ...

Listen to the Episode
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 …

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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....

Listen to the Episode
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 …

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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 …

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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 …

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode