Part 1: The Solar Heist, or How I Got into the Solar Business: The Proposal
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. Charlie is a solar project builder by day and a guy with an international solar problem that can only be solved by Mazz. Will they come to a deal? Or will their neighborly relationship become... awkward?
All Probably True Solar Stories are fiction. If this episode sounds familiar to your experience in the solar industry, get help.
True solar takeaways:
- The solar installation industry is made up of residential, commercial, and utility-scale installers. They're very different.
- Many high-quality solar panels are imported from China. Some are made ethically, and others are made with forced labor. There's a law against importing solar panels made with forced labor.
- Some solar developers hire quality assurance companies to monitor the supply chains and factories.
- All solar installations, regardless of size, can now receive a U.S. 30% tax credit. That's just the start. Big developers can also receive other tax incentives.
- Chinese solar panels still have import tariffs, as of 2022.
- "Procurement" means sourcing, purchasing, and delivering equipment.
- Generally, large solar asset owners hire an experienced solar developer to take care of building the product. The solar developer may in turn hire an "EPC," which stands for engineering, procurement, and construction.
- After the writing of this story, it was reported that the U.S. government has confiscated gigawatts (GWs) of solar panel shipments. That's a lot. BUT... It's also being reported that the confiscated panels are being shipped back to China, not shredded.. It's another reason why we call this podcast "Probably True Solar Stories." The facts are a little different from reality, but the made-up bits make for a good story!
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Listen On
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.
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...
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 ...
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 …
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...
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....
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 …
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...
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 …
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...
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...
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 …
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...