Alex Honnold, the world-famous rock climber and philanthropist, has pushed the physical boundaries of human potential with his climbing pursuits, but in his travels to some of the world’s most remote and beautiful locations he’s come face-to-face with one of the world’s most urgent challenges: energy access.

Alex has never been one to stand by and let others do the hard work. Before his rise to fame with his harrowing, albeit Oscar-winning performance on Yosemite’s most famous of all big walls, El Capitan, Honnold has had a soft spot for those without energy access. He points out that at its most fundamental level energy brings opportunity. That’s why he created his eponymous foundation to help expand solar energy access and empower underserved communities while promoting conservation in some of the most remote and vulnerable regions on the planet. And he’s been donating a third of his income to every year to help underserved communities acquire solar energy since long before achieving international recognition for his climbing feats.

If you’ve been paying attention over the last few years, though, Honnold’s “objectives” (climber speak for projects) have blended the thrill of climbing with the responsibility of creating a lasting impact by helping preserve the environment in more ways than just environmental protection.

Thanks to Cary Hayes & the REC Solar team, who have been an ongoing corporate partner for Honnold Foundation, Nico recently had a chance to spend the day with Honnold at his home gym outside Las Vegas, NV. (yes, you read that right - we actually got to go to his HOME climbing gym, in his garage, and climb with him! More on that in a forthcoming LI Post…)

In this wide-ranging conversation, Alex offers a rare perspective on how personal ambition can align with global progress, and why he believes solar power is a great social justice tool. From free soloing ascents of big walls to addressing energy inequity, Honnold is truly reaching new heights.

Tune in to discover:

• How he balances family life, climbing, and building the Honnold Foundation
• How Big Horn sheep helped shape his outlook on life
• Why solar energy provides more leverage to address social inequality
• How lessons from climbing translate to building lasting impact and entrepreneurship
• And much, much more (really, we learned a lot from this #SolarWarrior!)

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling:

No matter how you think about marketing your product or service in clean energy in 2025, your marketing plan is incomplete until you have nailed down your events schedule!

Attending the right event(s) sets the stage for networking, collaboration, innovation, and ultimately business growth. That’s why nailing your events strategy (and budget) is critical. Most of you have already gotten your head around the MAIN events (RE+, ACP, Intersolar), but are you clear on what else is happening that you should have considered?

In this episode, Nico Johnson unveils the top [mostly clean] energy events every company should have on their radar this year. If you’re a marketer managing budget, this is especially for you as we’ve included our team’s comprehensive guide to ALL THE EVENTS we are tracking in N. America (and more than a handful around the world too!)

Nico also shares actionable tips to maximize your presence at these events, from leveraging live podcast stages to showcasing your team’s brilliance and innovation with in-booth video interviews. Plus, hear about exciting plans as SunCast celebrates 10 years of leading conversations in the clean energy space.

Curious about which events made the cut? Tune in to find out and learn how to make 2025 your most impactful year yet.

Don’t forget to grab a free, comprehensive “cheat sheet” of all the clean energy events we’re tracking at mysuncast.com/2025events

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

Despite decades of progress, the commercial solar market remains bogged down by slow development cycles and complex approvals, leaving millions of buildings and temporary power needs underserved. This challenge extends even to large-scale events like the Super Bowl & Burning Man, where fossil fuel generators dominate, contributing to significant carbon emissions. With the right innovation, this “messy middle” could unlock a massive opportunity for faster, more sustainable energy deployment.

Dr. Ryan Wartena, founder and CEO of Southern Beams Builds has developed Dragon Wings. This novel modular solar generator unfolds from a shipping container to reveal 60 solar panels, roughly 30kW of power. Drawing on his background in electrochemical engineering and experience founding Geli, an energy storage operating system acquired by Qcells, Ryan has created a solution designed for applications as diverse as temporary power, EV charging, and commercial solar. Dragon Wings have been deployed to support large public events from last year’s Super Bowl to Burning Man camps, and Dragon Wings shows the potential of scalable, factory-built modular solar.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How Ryan is leveraging new composite solar panels, EV batteries, and factory-built design to scale this novel tech.
• The role of Dragon Wings in replacing fossil fuel generators at public events like Burning Man
• Wartena's entrepreneurial journey, including lessons learned from the successful exit
• of Geli and advice for other founders

Explore how Dragon Wings is advancing renewable energy deployment in the commercial sector and helping phase out traditional gas generators. Listen now!

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

This special episode compiles insights from some of the most influential voices in the solar and clean energy sector. Introducing a fun new “5 in 5” segment to SunCast, Nico asks industry leaders to answer five key questions (in 5 minutes) reflecting on the year that has gone and the future ahead.

Each offers fresh perspectives on the industry’s most pressing challenges and bold predictions for 2025.

Hear from:

• Abby Hopper, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
• Jon Bonanno, Managing Partner, Factor
• Ryan Wartena, CEO and Founder, Southern Beams Builds
• Julia Pyper, Vice President of Public Affairs, GoodLeap
• Bryan Wagner, President & GM, Chint Power Systems Americas
• Amy Heart, Senior Vice President of Policy, Sunrun
• Jigar Shah, Director, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

A little gratitude for the holiday season. 🙏

Can solar projects do more than generate clean energy?

How about enhance the health and diversity of local ecosystems?

Sometimes viewed critically for their land use, solar farms can actually offer a unique opportunity to restore habitats and integrate agricultural practices. Lightsource bp, one of the world’s largest utility-scale solar developers, is a pioneer in what they refer to as “responsible solar”; with over 2 GW of projects contracted with farming families, Lightsource is helping to sustain rural livelihoods, revitalize ecosystems, and drive the energy transition through utility-scale solar.

Alyssa Edwards is Senior VP of environmental & External Affairs and Virginia Brown is Director of Ecosystem Services at Lightsource bp. Together, they discuss how Lightsource bp is balancing the scaling of their solar farm operations with the responsibilities of being stewards of vast land areas through their Responsible Solar movement. Nico Johnson and Kerim Baran, of Solar Academy, speak with them to better understand what this holistic view of solar development entails and why Lightsource finds investment in this arena valuable to their development process and goals.

Expect to learn:

• How solar projects can enhance biodiversity and habitat through intentional land management over time.
• How the specific strategies Lightsource is deploying on projects today are both cost saving and good for all stakeholders.
• What is included in Lightsource bp's agrivoltaics approach like integrating sheep grazing, pollinator habitats, and other agricultural practices

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

The commercial and industrial (C&I) solar market, often called the "messy middle," has lagged behind the rapid growth of residential and utility-scale projects. Yet, with vast rooftop spaces on commercial buildings offering significant untapped potential, the opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint and optimize energy costs is more compelling than ever. But the economics of C&I solar are finally, at long last, shifting for the better. With transferable tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act and rising electricity costs,it’s never been a better time for commercial rooftop solar in America. Versiris Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of New Energy Equity, is focused specifically on capturing market opportunity as the C&I sector takes flight.

Nick Kerwin, Senior Vice President, and Rocky Shoemaker, VP of Engineering & Construction, bring 30 years of combined solar expertise to Versiris Energy. Rocky, an electrical engineer and one of New Energy Equity’s first employees, has extensive experience managing complex C&I projects. Nick, who joined in 2021, specializes in solar finance, acquisitions, and distributed generation. Together, they lead Versiris Energy with startup agility and the backing of an established parent company, addressing the unique challenges of the C&I solar market.

Expect to learn:

• The strategic decision-making process behind spinning out Versiris from New Energy Equity
• Why rising electricity rates are opening new C&I markets in regions like Alabama and Indiana
• How transferable tax credits from the IRA unlock opportunities for commercial property owners.
• How advancements like the UL 3741 standard are reducing costs and simplifying C&I solar installations.

Hit play to explore how a business idea inside one of the industry’s most successful developers becomes a successful standalone venture, as Rocky and Nick share their intrapreneurial journey of launching Versiris Energy.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

When Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville and western North Carolina, it left communities with widespread power outages, overwhelmed hospitals, and destroyed critical infrastructure. Months later, many are still navigating the long road to recovery after one of the most severe natural disasters to hit the region. For Nico Johnson, who calls North Carolina home, the storm was an urgent reminder of the escalating intensity and unpredictability of extreme weather.

In the immediate aftermath, organizations like the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) and Footprint Project took decisive action—mobilizing solar microgrids, portable solar generators, and atmospheric water generators to provide relief to those hardest hit.

Matt Abele, Executive Director of NCSEA, and Will Heegaard, Operations Director of Footprint Project, detail their coordinated response. Matt shares how NCSEA rallied local support and resources, while Will recounts deploying renewable technologies ahead of the storm’s landfall to ensure they were ready when disaster struck. Proactive measures—such as staging solar equipment and partnering with local solar companies can save lives, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and pave the way for more sustainable recovery efforts.

Hear how clean energy transformed disaster relief in North Carolina and learn how you can support efforts to build resilient communities prepared for future crises.

Our continued thoughts and prayers to those still recovering from this storm.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2