SunCast

The rules of the game have changed. Have you figured out the OB3 playbook?From massive tax credit shifts to permitting bottlenecks and foreign entity restrictions, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” has reshaped the future of clean energy in America. At this year’s RE+ 2025, top minds from GoodLeap, Infineon, SEIA, and Wood Mackenzie broke down what OB3 really implicates across solar, storage, and grid infrastructure.Recorded live from the PowerUp Podcast Stage, this episode captures the pulse of an industry in motion. You’ll hear how residential solar is pivoting fast, why semiconductor companies are critical to the grid’s future, and what’s really driving policy conversations in DC.Expect to learn:🔹 Why the 25D tax credit expiration is shaking up residential solar🔹 How semiconductors are the unsung heroes of grid reliability🔹 What the industry is doing about permitting and foreign entity risk🔹 Why demand from data centers is putting stress on gas and renewables alikeWhether you’re a policy wonk, project developer, or just trying to keep up with the latest legislation, this episode delivers high-impact insights you won’t want to miss.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

AI is pushing the grid to its limits — and transformers are now the critical path for both data centers and renewable projects.Today’s guest, Doug Banty, EVP at Forgent (and former CEO of MGM Transformers), sits at the intersection of these two worlds. Half of his week at RE+ was spent across the strip at the Yotta data center conference, where the only topic on everyone’s mind was power. In this episode, Doug explains how AI-driven rack density is rewriting the entire powertrain, why hyperscalers are treating speed like an existential priority, and what this means for developers trying to keep pace.He also breaks down the industrial logic behind Forgent — a merger of MGM, VanTran, States, and PowerCube — and how integrated solutions are becoming essential for execution in an era where timelines matter more than price.Expect to learn: ⚡ Why data centers are moving at crisis-level urgency ⚡ The difference between power and distribution transformers ⚡ What MGM’s 500,000 sq ft Waco factory means for lead times ⚡ How Forgent reduces execution risk through integrated packages ⚡ The single most effective way developers can avoid delaysHit play — and see what the future of the grid really looks like.🕒 TIMESTAMPS/Chapters00:00 — Welcome + AI power demand framing01:07 — MGM/VanTran history and capabilities03:38 — Why Forgent was formed (4-company merger)05:15 — Non-obvious advantages for customers (execution, risk reduction)06:19 — Are transformers still the bottleneck? (nuanced answer)07:58 — MGM’s 500,000 sq ft Waco facility ramping output09:12 — Data center vs. renewables urgency10:35 — Why AI demand is an existential challenge for hyperscalers12:05 — How powertrain design is changing14:34 — What developers need to know about speed and execution17:24 — Rack density and rapid engineering cycles18:52 — How developers can save weeks on their project timelines20:29 — Why early partnership unlocks allocation20:45 — Closing thoughtsCheck out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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

What’s your plan when the power goes out?If you think a generator is your only option, think again.Today’s conversation, live from our RE+ PowerUp Live stage, Rachel Stotts of Jackery breaks down a new category of home energy backup: flexible, modular systems that you can easily scale and take with you. Whether you're facing tornadoes or planning a weekend tailgate, portable energy solutions cover everything from your fridge to your CPAP machine, and they’re becoming increasingly popular with prosumers who don’t want the hassles of traditional energy storage.No permits. No permanent installs. Just plug-and-play resilience. And up to 30% federal tax credit if you act before year’s end.Rachel and Josh Beck explore why this product category is resonating with both outdoor enthusiasts and homeowners fed up with power outages.You’ll hear:🔹 Why energy independence doesn’t have to mean going off-grid🔹 How modular power systems adapt to your lifestyle and grow with you🔹 The secret behind Jackery’s rise from camping gear to home backup leader🔹 Simple steps to claim your federal clean energy tax credit before Dec 31This episode will make you rethink what backup power really means. If you're looking for a simpler, smarter way to stay powered up - no matter the storm - you're in the right place. Tap in and hear how Jackery is changing the game.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

“Speed to Power” is the new race — but can the grid keep up?Hyperscalers, AI, and industrial demand are pushing load growth from flat to vertical. Yet most projects still take five to seven years just to interconnect.That’s the bottleneck Hugo Mena is tackling as Chief Growth Officer at Electric Power Engineers (EPE).This live conversation addresses the forces shaping the grid of the future — and what it’ll actually take to deliver power at the speed innovation demands. Hugo shares how developers, utilities, and data centers can collaborate to unlock speed to power without sacrificing reliability or long-term vision.Expect to learn: 🔹 Why the “best available electron” isn’t always the cleanest 🔹 How hyperscalers are driving off-grid and hybrid microgrids 🔹 What Order 2023 (OB3) really means for developers 🔹 How software, siting, and partnerships define the next decade of grid planningThis is one of the most pragmatic and forward-looking conversations you’ll hear on how clean energy actually scales.Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolarIf you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.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/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus

This Giving Tuesday, SunCast brings you three powerful stories of how clean energy is transforming communities, saving lives, and unlocking local climate action.Host Nico Johnson sits down with leaders working across three different fronts of the climate fight:• Robin Swanhuyser — Twende SolarElectrifying community hubs in places like rural Ghana, turning schools and clinics into resilience engines for entire villages.• Will Heegaard — Footprint ProjectDeploying portable solar microgrids after hurricanes and wildfires, from Jamaica to Western North Carolina.• Jack Hanson — Run on ClimateEmpowering local leaders to pass real climate policy—proving the most effective climate action often starts at your city council.These are tangible, hopeful, boots-on-the-ground solutions you can support today.Expect to learn: 🔹 Why “being connected to the grid” doesn’t always mean having reliable energy 🔹 How solar-powered microgrids restore communication, water, and medical services after disasters 🔹 Why local elections and city-level policies are quiet climate superpowers 🔹 How small actions—like a $50 donation or even buying a solar-themed puzzle—can create outsized impactHope this episode is more than a way to pass the time; pay it forward by donating or sharing w/your community!Listen in, get inspired, and consider giving where it matters most.Support all three organizations here:https://www.suncast.media/giving-tuesday-2025