The Solar Coaster Podcast

The Solar Coaster Podcast

Welcome to The Solarcoaster Podcast — your ultimate guide to navigating the fast-changing solar industry. Each episode delivers actionable insights, industry best practices, and expert strategies to help solar professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders thrive in the renewable energy space. Whether you’re an installer, sales leader, manufacturer, or decision-maker, you’ll learn how to scale your business, optimize lead generation, and stay ahead in an evolving market.

Episodes

Solar Isn’t “Set It and Forget It” — Here’s Why | The Solar Coaster | EP 31

April 8, 2026 • 15 mins
⚠️ AI DISCLOSURE This episode of The Solar Coaster features AI-generated voice narration of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. All content has been reviewed, approved, and reflects general industry insights and discussion topics. This episode is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not represent the specific opinions, advice, or guarantees of the individuals or companies mentioned. 🎙️ THE SOLAR COASTER PO...
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AI Isn’t Breaking the Grid… It Might Save It | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 30

April 1, 2026 • 16 mins
What if everything you’ve heard about AI and energy is wrong? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, host Anna Covert is joined by Alex Herrera to break down one of the most unexpected narratives in the energy space right now: 👉 Generative AI might actually be GOOD for the grid. While most headlines focus on how AI data centers are driving massive electricity demand and putting pressure on infrastructure, this conversation flips ...
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Wait… Solar Tax Credits Are Being Restored?! | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 29

March 25, 2026 • 9 mins
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert and Alex Herrera break down one of the most frustrating developments in the solar industry right now. Just when it seemed like there was clarity around solar tax credits… a new bill has been introduced to restore them. So what happened? And what does this mean for homeowners, installers, and the future of solar? In this episode, we discuss: • Why solar tax credits are so critic...
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AI Data Centers Are Reshaping Solar | The Solar Coaster | EP 108

March 18, 2026 • 10 mins
In this episode of The Solar Coaster, host Anna Covert is joined by Alex Herrera to explore two major developments shaping the future of energy. Solar is experiencing its fastest growth in a decade, yet global emissions are still rising. Why? One major reason: electricity demand is exploding. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, electrification, and new industries are placing unprecedented pressure on the global energy syst...
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Utility Rate Cuts? The Real Story Behind Arizona Power Prices | Solar Coaster | EP 27

March 11, 2026 • 7 mins
Arizona Electricity “Price Cut”? What SRP’s Announcement Really Means In this AI-assisted episode of The Solar Coaster, Anna Covert is joined by Alex Herrera, owner of Sun Energy Today, to break down a recent headline in Arizona’s energy market. Salt River Project announced a temporary summer electricity rate reduction for more than one million customers. At first glance it sounds like a big deal — but once you dig into the numbe...
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Reliability Over Rates: The U.S. Grid Just Changed the Rules | Solar Coaster | EP 26

March 4, 2026 • 18 mins
This special Solar Coaster episode features an AI-assisted conversation between Anna Covert and Alex Herrera of Sun Energy Today. ⚠️ AI Transparency Notice: This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals provided full consent for their voices and likenesses to be used. The insights shared reflect their real-world professional perspectives. This episode is...
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Solar Tax Credit Crackdown + $178B PJM Opportunity | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 25

February 25, 2026 • 15 mins
This special Solar Coaster episode is an AI-assisted industry briefing featuring Anna Covert and Alex Herrera, owner of Sun Energy Today. ⚠️ AI Transparency Notice: This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals provided full consent for their voices and likenesses to be used. The insights reflect their real-world professional perspectives. This episode is...
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Data Centers, BESS & Solar: Why Grid Strain Begins in 2027 | The Solar Coaster | EP 24

February 18, 2026 • 12 mins
This special episode of The Solar Coaster features an AI-assisted conversation between Anna Covert and Alex Herrera, owner of Sun Energy Today. ⚠️ AI Transparency Notice: This episode uses AI-generated voice technology based on the real voices of Anna Covert and Alex Herrera. Both individuals have provided full knowledge and consent for their voices and likenesses to be used in this AI-produced episode. The insights shared reflec...
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Solar Coaster Origins: The Best Closer in Solar on Surviving the Chaos | EP 23

February 11, 2026 • 35 mins
Before The Solar Coaster book… Before the podcast gained momentum… There were foundational conversations with the operators who shaped this industry from the inside. Welcome to Solar Coaster Origins — the special series featuring the interviews that started it all. In this episode, Anna sits down with Greg Field, founder of PGT Energy Solutions and a nearly 17-year solar veteran who has closed through every major market shift th...
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SOLAR COASTER ORIGINS: The Fight for Rooftop Solar & Energy Choice | EP 22 | Bernadette Del Chiaro

February 4, 2026 • 63 mins
Before The Solar Coaster book, before the podcast took off, there were foundational conversations with industry veterans that shaped everything. Welcome to Solar Coaster Origins—a special series showcasing the interviews that started it all. In this Origins episode, I sit down with Bernadette Del Chiaro, Senior Vice President of California at the Environmental Working Group, and one of the most influential voices in rooftop solar ...
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The 92% Open Rate Channel Solar Companies Are Ignoring | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 21

January 28, 2026 • 26 mins
What if one of the most overlooked growth channels for solar and home services… is still sitting in your mailbox? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Aaron McDaniel, owner of Valpak of Hawaii, to unpack why direct mail is quietly outperforming crowded digital channels—especially for solar and home service companies. Aaron shares how Valpak’s iconic blue envelope reaches 92% open rates, how curated data (not mass...
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Why Solar Lost Trust—and How It Gets It Back | Solar Coaster | EP 20

January 21, 2026 • 50 mins
What does solar look like before slick software, AI proposals, and easy financing—and what lessons from that era still matter now? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Ellsworth Corum III, a true solar veteran whose journey began in 2008—when solar was $12–$13 per watt, carports were a luxury, and proposals were sketched on graph paper with roof rollers and Solar Pathfinder cameras. Ellsworth shares how he entere...
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Solar Isn't Dying—It's Evolving: The Post-ITC Future | Blake Gailey of Ecotrybe | Solar Coaster | EP 19

January 14, 2026 • 34 mins
What if the end of residential tax credits isn't killing solar—but forcing it to evolve into something better? In this forward-looking episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Blake Gailey of Ecotrybe, who shares his 13-year journey through the solar industry—from early Sunrun pilot programs to building dealer channels at SunEdison and SunPower, and now launching Eco Tribe after the industry shakeups of 2025. Blake's career re...
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SOLAR COASTER ORIGINS: The Conversations That Started It All | EP 18 | James Meringer

January 7, 2026 • 51 mins
Before The Solar Coaster book, before the podcast took off, there were foundational conversations with industry veterans that shaped everything. Welcome to Solar Coaster Origins—a special series showcasing the interviews that started it all. In this Origins episode, I sit down with James Meringer, owner of EVX Solar, who reveals the stark reality of solar's "race to the bottom" in residential markets and why commercial/utility-sca...
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Floating Solar Docks & Highway Microgrids: The Future of Renewable Energy | Solar Coaster | EP 17

December 31, 2025 • 31 mins
What if the future of renewable energy isn't just rooftop solar—but floating power microgrids in harbors, cargo boxes that charge while you commute, and highway medians transformed into utilities? In this visionary episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Anthony Baro—founder of E2Sol and inventor behind the award-winning Power Docks system—who left a senior position at a defense contractor 15 years ago to innovate in renewabl...
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Sold 2.5 Million Watts of Solar: The 'No Matter What' Sales Strategy | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 16

December 24, 2025 • 35 mins
What if the secret to generating a seven-figure income in solar sales came from the same philosophy that helped someone overcome addiction and avoid jail? In this inspiring episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Michael O'Donnell—co-founder and VP of Sales at Sun Solar Solutions and author of the award-winning book "No Matter What (Even If Your Ass Falls Off)." Broadcasting live from my battleship on the beautiful island of ...
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Orphaned Solar Homeowners: The Crisis Nobody's Talking About | Solar Coaster Podcast | EP 15

December 17, 2025 • 18 mins
What if the biggest threat to solar isn't policy changes or technology—but "software fatigue" that paralyzes homeowners with too many options? In this incredibly detailed episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Brian Kelly, founder of Sea Bright Solar—one of America's largest solar companies with locations in New Jersey, New York, and California. Brian reveals how he went from attending solar trainings two decades ago to buil...
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Why Don't More Churches Have Solar? Reverend Kevin Taylor Explains the Barriers | Solar Coaster | EP 14

December 10, 2025 • 40 mins
What if the future of clean energy depends on unlikely partnerships between oil and gas companies and climate advocates? In this thought-provoking episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Reverend Kevin Taylor—a faith leader who's navigated the intersection of ministry, clean energy innovation, and controversial industry partnerships. Reverend Taylor reveals how his solar journey began when a Boston church became the first in ...
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Solar's 25-Year Marketing Mistake: Industry Veteran Tells All | Solar Coaster | EP 13

December 3, 2025 • 32 mins
What if the biggest challenge facing solar isn't technology or policy, but the way the industry has marketed itself for 25 years? In this unfiltered episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Paul Sullivan—a solar industry veteran who's seen more uphill climbs than downhill coasts and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Paul reveals how he helps get renewables on the grid faster and cheaper than traditional energy, why the 2008 ...
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The Business of Greenery—Growing Client Loyalty One Plant at a Time | Solar Coaster | EP 12

November 26, 2025 • 19 mins
What if the secret to explosive client retention in solar wasn't another sales tactic—but a living, breathing gift? In this episode of The Solar Coaster, I sit down with Lawrence Hanley, Founder & CEO of Desk Plants, who's revolutionizing how solar companies show appreciation to their clients. Discover why a batch of cookies gets forgotten but a plant creates lasting connection, how high-perceived value gifts drive referrals and re...
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