The Solar Maverick Podcast is the insiders guide to where the solar and energy markets meet entrepreneurship and trailblazing. Hosted by Benoy Thanjan - a serial entrepreneur and founder of Reneu Energy
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SMP 171: Beyond Boundaries : Benoy Thanjan on Success, Family, and the Jersey Shore
Season 1 · Episode 171
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 • Duration 30:43
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan, the host of the Solar Maverick Podcast, was interviewed by Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco on his podcast called "What Are You Made Of?."
Benoy speaks about current solar industry trends and his entrepreneurship and podcast experience.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco
Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco is the Co-Founder of the innovative tech platform blooprinted, the powerhouse behind the "What Are You Made Of?" podcast, and the best-selling author of ROCKET FUEL Convert Setbacks. Become Unstoppable.
He is a performance coach, author, dynamic public speaker, tech visionary and thought leader.
He has been featured by Yahoo! Finance as one of the Top Business Leaders to Follow in 2020 and is on a mission to build unstoppable people. He is consumed with the passion to help people break free from the confines of complacency and propel to untapped levels of success.
We would like to thank Summit Ridge Energy for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
As the nation’s leading commercial solar company, Summit Ridge Energy merges financial innovation and industry-leading execution to deliver clean, locally generated energy. This has made Summit Ridge one of the fastest-growing energy companies in America.
Since launching in 2017, the company has deployed over $2B into clean energy assets and controls a development pipeline of more than 3GW that will provide solar power to homes and businesses nationwide. Learn more at srenergy.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.
https://srenergy.com/
SMP 169: Innovative Finacing Solution Allowing Developers to Own Solar Projects
Season 1 · Episode 169
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 • Duration 37:16
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy speaks with Jim Howard, President at Dudley Ventures, and Derek Gabriel who is the COO & Head of Originations at SunRocket Capital. They speak about how their structured finance solution ensures access to construction funding and long-term financing for developers who want to preserve their equity in their projects.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
SMP 154: How Aurora Solar is innovating the residential and commercial sales experience through software?
Season 1 · Episode 154
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 • Duration 33:20
Episode Summary
In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy speaks with Paul Grana who is Solar Software Leader and GM of HelioScope at Aurora Solar. Aurora’s cloud-based software transforms solar design, sales, and delivery. With just an address and electric bill, Aurora empowers you to generate a full, accurate, and customizable design for every customer. Paul speaks about many interesting topics like how AI has impacted Aurora, listening to the customer has led to the company being cutting edge, and solar trends.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also an advisor for several solar startup companies. He has extensive project origination, development, and financial experience in the renewable energy industry and in the environmental commodities market.
This includes initial site evaluation, permitting, financing, sourcing equipment, and negotiating the long-term energy and environmental commodities off-take agreements. He manages due diligence processes on land, permitting, and utility interconnection and is in charge of financing
and structuring through Note to Proceed (“NTP”) to Commercial Operation Date (“COD”). Benoy composes teams suitable for all project development and construction tasks. He is also involved in project planning and pipeline financial modeling. He has been part of all sides of the
transaction and this allows him to provide unique perspectives and value. Benoy has extensive experience in financial engineering to make solar projects profitable.
Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity to move into the east coast markets.
Benoy was the Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners which is a national solar installer where he focused on project finance solutions for commercial scale solar projects. He also worked for Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund, where he analyzed potential investments in renewable energy projects and worked on maximizing the financial return of the projects in the portfolio. Benoy also worked on the sale of all of the renewable energy projects in Ridgewood’s portfolio.
SMP 64: How Solar is Powering Extra Space Storage.
Season 1 · Episode 64
Tuesday, January 21, 2020 • Duration 35:15
Episode Summary
In this episode of Solar Maverick, Nathan Vasher discusses how Extra Space Storage is one of the biggest corporate users of solar energy and how they plan to continue growing their solar deployment and also employing energy-conscious initiatives. Nathan also shares his path to solar, trends he’s excited about, and an energy future that looks very bright.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Nathan Vasher
Nathan Vasher is the Manager of Solar at Extra Space Storage, a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Standard & Poor 500 (S&P 500). It is a fully-integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust. Extra Space has properties in 40 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, they own or operate over 1,800 stores comprising approximately 1.3 million units and 135 million square feet of rentable space. Extra Space has become one of the largest corporate users of solar energy according to rankings realized by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The trade group ranked Extra Space in tenth place in terms of the number of solar installations.
SMP 63: 2020 Solar Predictions and Trends
Season 1 · Episode 63
Tuesday, January 14, 2020 • Duration 28:59
Episode Summary
In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy and Li look into the future and define trends in solar energy. Community Solar Programs will continue to rise in popularity along with energy storage and favorable state level renewable energy legislation. Benoy and Li conclude the interview with a personal look toward 2020 and how they stay focused and mindful throughout the year.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Li Wang
Li Wang is a life-long journalist and communications professional. He worked as an intern for the Philadelphia Daily News, during the summer of the O.J. trial, and has since had some fascinating jobs, from being a business reporter to an arts editor, to a film critic. He has since shifted his focus to digital marketing and creative services, and now his company, MJ Wang Media, develops brand messaging and identity through website design and content marketing.
Insights from this episode:
SMP 62: Impact of Renewable Energy on the Future of Real Estate
Season 1 · Episode 62
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 • Duration 44:49
Episode Summary
This episode of Solar Maverick Podcast is a live panel discussion from the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar held in Dallas, Texas from October 2019. Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls, Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong, Benoy Thanjan from Reneu Energy and Todd Samson from Deloitte & Touche participated in a panel discussion on the role of renewable energy in real estate.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Lisa Brown
Lisa Brown joined Johnson Controls in 2003. As national director for municipal infrastructure and smart cities, Lisa is responsible for the growth of the local government market in North America, including the development of strategies, offerings, and innovations for local government service and systems markets. In 2015, Lisa created Johnson Controls' local government urban growth initiative, which combines smart city solutions with community outreach and workforce enhancement for midsize to large municipal customers. Lisa is consistently sought out to deliver keynote presentations and participate on smart city and IoT panels to discuss how data can assist cities to become "smarter" and its relation to climate resiliency, smart infrastructure, and economic growth.
SMP 61: Guest Episode - Start-Up Accelerator, Investing, Solar & Podcasting with Benoy Thanjan on The Formula
Season 1 · Episode 61
Tuesday, December 31, 2019 • Duration 39:50
Episode Summary
On this special episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy is a guest on The Formula with Timothy Roman. Benoy divulges his criteria for investing in different ventures, how he interacts with the companies he’s invested into, and how the movie Back to the Future influenced one of the companies he’s currently working with. Also discussed is the importance of networking, podcasting, and personal branding and Benoy reveals his favorite television show.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Timothy Roman
Timothy Roman is the founder and CEO of Roman Media Group, a passionate team of young entrepreneurs with a proven track record for helping businesses get from zero to 7 figures 100% on the backbone of digital marketing. He was featured in Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk. Tim recently began his podcast The Formula where everyone from real estate titans to self-made entrepreneurs share their formula for success.
SMP 60: Developing Renewable Energy in Opportunity Zones
Season 1 · Episode 60
Tuesday, December 24, 2019 • Duration 44:27
Episode Summary
In this episode Benoy Thanjan, Patrick Morand, and Victoria Zelin present about Developing Renewable Energy In Opportunity Zones at the Opportunity Zone Bootcamp hosted by Brownfield Listing Event in NJ in October 2019. Benoy presents a high-level recap of current federal solar incentive programs and the NJ solar market. Patrick provides details on qualified opportunity zones investments and outlines project financing for solar investments. Victoria gives an in-depth overview on the success of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program financing in the renewable energy market.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Patrick Morand
Patrick practices in the area of energy regulatory law and renewable energy development. Mr. Morand counsels energy clients, including electric utilities, electric distribution companies, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), renewable energy developers, and financial institutions before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state public utility commissions and other federal and state agencies. Mr. Morand has extensive experience in a wide range of energy regulatory matters involving the Federal Power Act (FPA), Public Utility Holding Company Act (PUHCA) and Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005). Mr. Morand also counsels clients in the development of power purchase agreements (PPA); engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements; interconnection agreements; and other project development agreements.
SMP 59: Lessons Learned from Clean Energy Entrepreneur Laura Taylor, CEO and Founder of Silverline Communications
Season 1 · Episode 59
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 • Duration 40:29
Episode Summary
We released today Solar Maverick Podcast-Episode 59: Lessons Learned from Clean Energy Entrepreneur Laura Taylor, CEO and Founder of Silverline Communications. Laura Taylor discusses the journey over the last ten years of her company, Silverline Communications, an integrated marketing and PR agency focused on clean and emerging tech. She also shares her perspectives on the importance of mentorship and diversity within the clean energy market, and why public relations and branding is vitally important for the renewable energy industry. Laura also talks about The Cleanie Awards, the first-of-its-kind industry award designed to recognize innovators in the clean energy community.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Laura Taylor
Laura Taylor is Founder and CEO of Silverline Communications, a nimble, full-service integrated communications agency uniquely focused on the B2B technology sector. As CEO of Silverline, Laura counsels a wide portfolio of enterprises, crafting impactful communications programs tailored to engage and influence key stakeholders and ultimately, drive measurable growth.
SMP 58: Residential Solar Financing and Other Interesting Topics
Season 1 · Episode 58
Tuesday, December 10, 2019 • Duration 01:00:06
Episode Summary
In this episode of Solar Maverick, Nathan Jovanelly of IGS Solar, solar expert and thought leader, discusses his passion for bringing renewable energy to the low-to-moderate income (LMI) residential market, solar projects for non-profit organizations, and whether new legislation to keep the Solar Investment Tax Credit("ITC") at 30 percent will be passed. Nathan talks in detail about the benefits of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), along with solar battery inverters, and all things solar.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, as well as an advisor for several solar startup companies. Reneu Energy is a premier international solar energy consulting firm and developer, and the company focuses on developing commercial and industrial solar, as well as utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges both energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodity transactions.
Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. Before founding Reneu Energy, he was the SREC Trader in the Project Finance Group for SolarCity, which merged with Tesla in 2016. He originated SREC trades with buyers and co-developed their SREC monetization and hedging strategy with the senior management of SolarCity, to move into the east coast markets. Benoy also worked at Vanguard Energy Partners, Ridgewood Renewable Power, and Deloitte & Touche.
Nathan Jovanelly
Nathan Jovanelly is the Director of Business Development with IGS Solar and a thought leader in the solar industry. As an intrapreneur, Nate assisted with launching IGS Solar for both residential and commercial customers. IGS Solar started in 2014 has developed, owns, and operates more than 115MW of solar with another 25MW in construction. IGS Solar operates in 19 states, and has a booming residential division with more than 7,000 customers. In just a few short years IGS has become the 5th Largest Solar Developer based on 2017 data from GreenTech Media.
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Jim Howard
James D Howard, Jr. is the President of Dudley Ventures, LLC is an investment and advisory services firm specializing in congressionally sanctioned tax credits and other tax advantaged investments. DV has a 20+ year track record of success with the vision, staff and values to succeed. Dudley Ventures is a subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), one of the top 30 publically traded banks with $50B in assets,
A native of The Bronx, New York, Mr. Howard earned his degree from The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1980 and a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1984.
Dudley Ventures was founded by Mr. Howard in 1996. Dudley Ventures has been an innovator in tax credit investment and Mr. Howard has authored numerous articles on tax credit investing and is a regular speaker at conferences. Dudley Ventures has invested and manages over $2 billion in tax credit investments.
Mr. Howard is a Board Member of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition.
Derek Gabriel
With over 15 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, Derek is a passionate and driven leader who strives to make a positive impact on the environment and society through innovative and sustainable solutions. As the Chief Operating Officer at SunRocket Capital, Derek oversee the daily administrative and operational functions, as well as the origination, development, and financing of solar projects across various markets and segments. Derek leverage my extensive network of over 15 years in the solar industry, and my deep knowledge of solar policy, tax equity, and debt financing to create value for our clients, investors, and partners.
In his previous role as the Executive Vice President and Head of Originations at Sol-REIT, Derek was responsible for business development in providing debt and arranging tax equity for solar and renewable energy projects, ranging from C&I, community solar, portfolio transactions, to utility-scale. Derek engaged a team of solar lending analyst, underwriters, and established strong relationships with key stakeholders, such as EPCs, developers, off-takers, and lenders. Derek also contributed to the strategic direction and growth of the company, and supported the development of new products and services. Some of the skills that Derek applied and developed in this role include organizational development, business development, negotiation, risk management, and financial analysis.
SunRocket Capital and Dudley Ventures Arrange to Provide $100+ Million to Monetize Tax Credits in Commercial, Industrial and Community Solar Developments
He was in the Energy Structured Finance practice for Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services practice at Ernst & Young. Benoy received his first experience in Finance as an intern at D.E. Shaw & Co., which is a global investment firm with 37 billion dollars in investment capital. He has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a BS in Finance and Economics from the Stern School of Business at New York University. Benoy was an Alumni Scholar at the Stern School of Business.
Paul Grana
Paul Grana is the Co-Founder and General Manager of HelioScope at Aurora Solar. HelioScope provides commercial solar installers with an intuitive cloud-based design platform that reduces design costs by 90%. It helps streamline solar design and sales, cuts soft costs, and accelerates project development. Before joining the team, Paul was the co-founder/CRO of Folsom Labs (which made HelioScope software and was acquired by Aurora Solar in 2021). Before that he was on the hardware side of the industry, leading Product Marketing at Tigo Energy. Lastly, he holds an SB in Mathematics from the University of Chicago, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Nathan has 7 years of professional client-facing experience working with public sector, non-profit and international clients through all phases of organization development; providing strategy, performance management, measures development, process improvement, change management, training and business process design services. He has experience providing technical support to advance health programs in the area of supply chain management working in multiple countries including The Netherlands, South Africa, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and Switzerland.
Insights from this episode:
Details on Nathan’s role as Manager of Solar at Extra Space, the history of the company’s solar program strategy, and how that strategy has advanced over the years.
How Extra Space determines what properties to install solar.
How Extra Space runs RFP process with preferred vendors on properties to determine where to install solar.
Why Extra Space has a preference toward owning the solar projects on their properties.
How Nathan uses Extra Spaces’ past successes to guide where they invest in new solar properties.
Strategies to plan for the future when you are dealing with older properties and the inevitable repairs they will need.
Benefits of employing energy-saving initiatives including increased energy efficiency and cost-saving.
Details on the step-down of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), how states are creating their own renewable energy incentives, and how that affects the viability of future solar development.
Quotes from the show:
On the financial feasibility of solar projects: “That’s something that we are always looking at, how do we get the most value for the capital that we spend and solar, up to this point, has been a huge return on our investment.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
“Our wholly-owned [business] portfolio is really simple, if we see an opportunity to put solar on a property, we just move forward with it because we don’t need anyone’s permission.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
On creating partnerships to further the solar program at Extra Space: “We’re just in the nascent stages of really trying to figure out what is best for each of our partners and how we work together with them to do solar [projects].” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
On preparing for the future of older properties: “We plan that in some point in the life of the solar [installation], the roof is going to have to be fully replaced.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
On the biggest challenge of older properties: “Trying to find the right mix, on some of the older properties, of how we can really get the biggest bang for our buck without having to really bend over backward to configure the system.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
“One of the biggest challenges we have is getting the right-sized [solar] system for the property.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
“The biggest benefit to going solar is the cost savings of using solar and not having to pay [for energy].” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #64
“We’re just going to keep going until we run out of roofs.” – Nathan Vasher, Episode #64
“From where I sit, combining solar and storage is a huge opportunity … I think it’s going to be a trend, coupling power plus storage.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #64
We would like to thank RadiantREIT for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
RadiantREIT is the first-ever investment trust to bring mortgage REITs to the solar energy market.
For the solar developers and EPC developers out there, financing with RadiantREIT’s solar mortgage REIT will transform how you think about the business of project development. With RadiantREIT financing, you can increase project cash flow and you can retain ownership of your projects.
The company’s cradle-to-grave financing package includes the entire capital stack. RadiantREIT arranges tax equity, 100% construction financing and up to 99% term financing at competitive rates with no upfront fees including legal and diligence!
Co-Founders Jim Spano and Jeff Just are solar and finance veterans who have brought together a team of experts to create and offer this innovative financing model enabling developers to capture the true value of their development. They are committed to addressing the financing gaps that exist in today’s market, especially for small and mid-sized developers. RadiantREIT will remove the stress of financing or refinancing, and allow you to maintain focus on your projects. Let them be your outsourced, structured finance department.
Visit www.radiantreit.com to learn more and to submit your expression of interest form today.
Benefits from the cultural shift of society regarding renewable energy and climate change that is emerging.
Defining the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) and a how that is allowing significant development of solar
Details on the risks associated with corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and opportunities that will exist in the future for smaller companies.
Benefits of incentive programs and how they can help produce more solar energy.
Details on Green Tariff Programs that utility companies offer customers the ability to purchase green energy.
Benefits of using bifacial solar modules
How tariffs on solar panels impacted the solar market.
Benoy and Li speak about mindfulness and mediation to help achieve their resolutions throughout the year.
Quotes from the show:
“What we see is that it’s really big companies are taking advantage of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) but we think there will be an opportunity for mid-size and smaller commercial and industrial [companies].” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63
On state solar programs and legislature: “There seems to be a focus on incentives to produce more solar energy.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63
“With all these states taking leadership in this position [on incentives] it’s going to lift up the entire industry just by mandating certain standards.” – Li Wang, Episode #63
“There’s a lot of incentives in the pipeline to develop solar [energy] and [energy] storage, both stand-alone and together.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63
On Green Tariff Programs: “For small and mid-size businesses it could be an opportunity for them [to reach] their renewable energy goals.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63
“Politics do matter as far as how the policies reflect the industry, the Trump administration has not been supportive … on their attitudes toward policies that help renewable [energy]. ” – Li Wang, Episode #63
“If you look at state legislation, a lot of states have really been aggressive with passing incentives because the federal government hasn’t passed any new incentives.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #63
“What I have learned, through meditation, is that you can train your mind to become more present.” – Li Wang, Episode #63
We would like to thank Radiant REIT for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
RadiantREIT is the first-ever investment trust to bring mortgage REITs to the solar energy market.
For the solar developers and EPC developers out there, financing with RadiantREIT’s solar mortgage REIT will transform how you think about the business of project development. With RadiantREIT financing, you can increase project cash flow and you can retain ownership of your projects.
The company’s cradle-to-grave financing package includes the entire capital stack. RadiantREIT arranges tax equity, 100% construction financing and up to 99% term financing at competitive rates with no upfront fees including legal and diligence!
Co-Founders Jim Spano and Jeff Just are solar and finance veterans who have brought together a team of experts to create and offer this innovative financing model enabling developers to capture the true value of their development. They are committed to addressing the financing gaps that exist in today’s market, especially for small and mid-sized developers. RadiantREIT will remove the stress of financing or refinancing, and allow you to maintain focus on your projects. Let them be your outsourced, structured finance department.
Visit www.radiantreit.com to learn more and to submit your expression of interest form today.
Lisa was recently nominated to join the Women of Municipal Government committee for the National League of Cities and the Smart Communities Advisory board for the International City Managers Association. For the past three years, she has been the leader of the East Region Women's Resource Network of Johnson Controls and served as a global ambassador for International Women's Day. Lisa served 15 years with the Junior League of Montclair-Newark, four of those years as director of community development and outreach in Newark, New Jersey. Lisa currently is a board member of the Rumson-Fair Haven Education Foundation. In 2016, she was honored as a NY Women of Valor and received the Humanitarian Award from St. Francis Food Pantries and Shelters, which support 1.5 million food-disadvantaged New Yorkers annually.
Susan Nickey
Susan Nickey is a Managing Director at Hannon Armstrong, a leading provider of debt and equity financing to the energy efficiency and renewable energy markets. Susan has over 25 years of executive leadership in the energy and finance sectors. She has focused her efforts on proving that creative solutions and innovation can make the production of clean energy more profitable, competitive, affordable and mainstream. Most recently, she founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Threshold Power. Prior to working at Threshold, she served as Chief Financial Officer at ACCIONA Energy North America. She was named one of Women’s eNews’ 21 Leaders for the 21st Century for her leadership in sustainable development. Susan holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.
Todd Samson
Todd Samson is a Certified Public Accountant and Tax Partner with Deloitte & Touche in the greater Chicago area. Todd was the moderator for the Impact of Renewable Energy on the Future of Real Estate at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar in 2019 and has presented about renewable energy at the Deloitte 2017 Power & Utilities Fall Seminar. He graduated from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business in 2003 with a master's degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Insights from this episode:
Details on how the role of renewable energy has changed and grown over the past several years and the future role renewables will play in the real estate market.
Details on what is driving interest in renewable energy such as sustainability and concern for climate change.
Strategies for addressing and overcoming concerns from government agencies regarding the implementation of renewable energy sources.
How software will be very important to monetize different energy technologies and storage through for example resiliency and demand reduction.
Strategies municipalities are employing to create new revenue streams and monetize the renewable energy market.
Details on where the most significant opportunities exist in real estate in regards to renewable energy.
How to overcome the challenges of financing renewables in real estate.
Details on the United States renewable energy market versus the international renewable energy market and where innovation is going to come from in the future.
Quotes from the show:
On the mission of Johnson Controls: “Building renewables into the fabric of our overall holistic projects is definitely a priority for us and we help owners and building developers really pivot toward being more environmentally conscious.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62
“Renewables are converging with energy efficiency and other technologies which is exciting to see.” – Susan Nickey, Episode #62
On solar power: “As a technology, people have gotten very comfortable with it in a very short period of time … so the conversations are a lot easier than they were.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #62
On people and businesses moving and working in urban areas: “They are demanding, as part of the mandate when they move in, that they need green [renewable energy] and that they are willing to pay higher for it.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62
“The world is watching what North America is doing so developers and municipal leaders … need to be progressive in order to survive.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62
“Corporations have been the big drivers and they are forcing cities and states to open up the market to renewable energy.” – Susan Nickey, Episode #62
“It is very difficult for America, at least for the states, to be able to do sweeping innovation (across) the entire United States because we all adhere to different rules and different forms of government.” – Lisa Brown, Episode #62
We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets.
At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients.
In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.
Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar.
If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com.
Steve Schwerd who is the Owner of Schwerd Consulting was interviewed on Episode 17 and Episode 48 of the Solar Maverick Podcast and Episode 42 of which he was on panel discussion on How Solar Technology is Changing the World.
Details of Benoy’s progression into entrepreneurship and his interest in renewable energy.
Strategies on how Benoy chooses what projects to invest in and the various roles he plays in each investment.
How to determine if an investment is right for you and how to develop the ability to say no.
Benefits yielded from networking, how that leads to new opportunities, and the synergy created between different investments.
How to employ personal branding for product development and the impact video marketing can make.
Quotes from the show:
On what it takes for Benoy to invest: “If you can trust the person, you can see their vision, you can see examples of that (vision) and them having a track record of success.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
“I see so many business opportunities now because I have invested in several businesses and I would say 97% I say no to because it’s not the right opportunity.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
“The restaurant industry is a lot harder than I ever imagined it to be.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
On technology and Reneu Energy: “We are probably very tech-savvy for a solar energy company. We take a lot of things that we’ve learned from other industries and incorporate it.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
“The network of people is important. It’s all about who you know.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
“I learn from the entrepreneurs that I’m working with. I’m learning about other industries and I’m incorporating some of the things I see into my own business.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
The question Benoy starts his day with: “What are the things that are going to move the needle?” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
“If I’m investing money into a business, I’m already accepting that I might not get that money back.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
On determining a good opportunity: “I’m all about being direct, transparent, honest. There are certain values I’m trying to look for.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
On accelerator programs: “I’ve always been extremely curious about the atmosphere … it sounds like it not only creates amazing network opportunities, it’s also educated a lot [of people].” – Timothy Roman, Episode #61
On evolving marketing techniques: “Written word has obviously taken the back seat a little bit, which is Search Engine Optimization ("SEO"), blogs, and things like that, but video and audio [formats] are the dominant ones.” – Timothy Roman, Episode #61
“I think everything is about building the personal brand. People want to see a face that they trust.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #61
We would like to thank Schwerd Consulting for sponsoring this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
Schwerd Consulting is a leading solar consulting firm dedicated to design, engineering, and owner representation in all areas of solar photovoltaics (PV) for the Commercial & Industrial and Utility markets.
At Schwerd Consulting they like to say that We Know Solar. We don’t just Do Solar. What sets them apart is their 100% focus on solar and understanding the business of their clients.
In its 5 years of business, Schwerd Consulting has provided services for approximately 450 MW of PV across over 330 sites and 15 states plus the Caribbean. That total includes 300MW of completed designs and engineering, and 150MW of consulting and owner rep services.
Let Schwerd Consulting take the burden off you and bring ease and expertise in all areas of Engineering & Design or help you navigate the technical world of solar.
If you are interested in learning more about Schwerd Consulting, you can call 215-219-6718 or email at admin@schwerdconsulting. Schwerd Consulting’s website is www.schwerdconsulting.com.
Steve Schwerd who is the Owner of Schwerd Consulting was interviewed on Episode 17 and Episode 48 of the Solar Maverick Podcast and Episode 42 of which he was on panel discussion on How Solar Technology is Changing the World.
Mr. Morand is a graduate of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, and a graduate of Michigan State University.
Victoria Zelin
Victoria is the Co-Founder of the Center for Regenerative Community Solutions (CRCS) and Director of Development for New Jersey PACE (NJPACE). She speaks publicly and has been published on the subject of sustainability; “Who Will Be the Rock Stars of Corporate Sustainability?” Science, Wisdom, and the Future: Humanity’s Quest for a Flourishing Earth, Collins Foundation Press, 2012.
Most recently, she sold Deloitte’s sustainability consulting services to major corporations. Previously, she sold organizational change consulting services to F500 companies. She is masterful at getting to the heart of the issue, articulating a compelling case for change, and inspiring people to take action. Earlier, she co-founded the Sustainable Leadership Forum, a peer network in Central NJ that empowers people in their own sustainability initiatives.
Victoria has an MBA from Yale’s School of Management with a specialization in organizational development and a BA in cultural anthropology from Duke University.
Insights from this episode:
Details on Benoy's start in the solar industry, his role within Reneu Energy, and what types of projects Reneu Energy is working on.
Benefits of current and upcoming solar incentive programs in NJ and the growth of community solar.
Detailed overview on the solar industry, changes that are taking place, and the future of renewable energy.
Benefits of qualified opportunity zone business.
Details on safe harboring of solar panels to qualify for the 30 percent ITC.
Details on how to structure tax benefits in the solar market.
Benefits of using a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program to fill in gaps in solar project financing.
Strategies on employing a Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) in a qualified opportunity zone.
Details on alternatives in states that do not offer Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.
Benefits to property owners when they employ Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing.
Quotes from the show:
On the Investment Tax Credit (ITC): “It’s very difficult, actually, to find solar panels because people are actually using that 5% harboring (of the Investment Tax Credit) for panels.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #60
On state level incentives in New Jersey: “The great thing about New Jersey is that it has very high electricity costs … but it also has a very strong state-level incentive, the Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC).” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #60
On safe harbors in qualified opportunity zones: “There’s something very critical to developing a renewable energy project … in particular a community solar project, that is helped by (those) safe harbors.” – Patrick Morand, Episode #60
On Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing: “It’s really low-cost, long-term financing that is for renewables, energy efficiency, and in some states, resiliency.” – Victoria Zelin, Episode #60
We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services.
Infiniti Energy Services is a turn key solar development company with the focus on origination of opportunities between Maine and Virginia. They use their ability to structure financing and EPC projects as a value add with their partners. To learn more about Infiniti go to their web-site www.infinitienergyservices.net or contact Tom Loredo- Director of Project Origination at 732-370-2446
We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
Previous to Silverline, Laura co-founded and led global and national practice areas and served in management roles with regional high-growth ventures, accumulating over $1 billion in funding. During her tenure at Edelman, she was a founding leader of the agency’s award-winning global clean technology practice. In three short years, Laura led a team that grew the division from zero to a multi-million-dollar, international practice. A few years later, Laura built a clean technology division for Omnicom from the ground up. After establishing programs at the world’s largest and most prestigious public relations agencies, she founded Silverline Communications in 2009.
In addition to leading Silverline, Laura continues to innovate and seek opportunities to contribute to the clean energy sector. After realizing a severe shortage of clean tech industry award recognition, Laura launched The Cleanie Awards® in 2018 to highlight notable individuals and companies in the industry. She is a frequent Forbes contributor and serves as Chairwoman on myriad Boards, including Potential Energy DC, CleanTech Open Southeast, and Solas Nua Theatre Company. Past speaking engagements include the Mid-Atlantic Marketing Summit and the Energy Storage Annual Conference and Expo.
Insights from this episode:
Details of Laura’s passion to be an entrepreneur and how optimism has shaped her journey.
Benefits of being a mentor and making an impact in the lives of other entrepreneurs.
Strategies Laura employed to win support for Silverline Communications in the company’s early days.
How to brand companies as they mature in the clean technology market by changing focus and visibility.
Secrets to successful branding, including marketing and production.
Details on how The Cleanie Awards grew to become one of the most prestigious awards in renewable energy.
Quotes from the show:
“If you think about the what ifs too long, you’re just going to sit in the corner, you’re never going to get it (your goals) done.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
“I'm an external optimist who doesn't dwell on failure. We plan for it, but we don't dwell on it.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
”I feel like very successful people are able to learn from failure and then adjust and adapt.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59
On the expansion of the solar market: “Everything is changing so quickly, and it is so globalized, there’s no real borders or boundaries.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59
On being a mentor: “I’m very interested in women and making sure that women feel supported within the clean energy community and outside of the clean energy community.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
On working with clients over time: “It is so wonderful to see them (now) engaging in the Wall Street aspect, in the finance aspect.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
On the urgent need to combat climate change: “How do we work within this global economy to keep things churning and not burning?” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
“Personal branding is very important and people really want to see and listen to the people they are doing business with.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59
“I think the Midwest (United States), for renewable energy, is one of the next big markets.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #59
“That’s us (Silverline Communications) in a nutshell: just tech geeks.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
On accomplishment: “You never say never … there’s always a little twist on the adventure.” – Laura Taylor, Episode #59
After noticing there was a severe shortage of industry recognition honoring the efforts of those making a positive impact, The Cleanie Awards was established to amplify innovation stories in cleantech and shine a spotlight on funders to global market movers shaping the industry.
Sponsorship Information:
We would like to thank Silverline Communications for sponsoring this episode of the podcast.
Sillverline Communications, an integrated marketing and PR agency focused on clean and emerging tech, is headquartered in DC with satellite offices in Chicago and Salt Lake City.
What defines them? They are: Independent. Agile. Absolutely invested in their clients and their teams.
They are storytellers and connectors at heart, grounding programs with insights to achieve real business objectives and shape outcomes that influence markets and policy. They use every tool in the communication arsenal to translate complex ideas into breakthrough campaigns that drive stakeholder action. The team that gets it done? Silverline Communications. Strategic, smart professionals with unrivaled expertise in energy, policy and emerging technologies.
In short: They know their stuff.
They believe in what they do. They believe in what their clients do. When their clients succeed, the world is a better place.
To learn more about Silverline, go to teamsilverline.com. You can reach Silverline at 703-286-5500 or info@teamsilverline.com.
Details on Nathan’s mission within IGS Solar and his focus on low-to-moderate income (LMI) customers.
Benefits of the cultural change happening in America in regards to how renewable energy is now viewed as a more viable energy option.
Strategies used by non-profit organizations that allow them to use the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and how the credit may also be applied to energy storage.
Details on financing solar projects in the low-to-moderate income (LMI) market.
Benefits of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and the different ways they can be employed by business and residential consumers.
Benefits of solar batteries and energy storage and the introduction of inverters to the renewable energy storage market.
Details on what Nathan views as upcoming major trends in the solar industry.
Quotes from the show:
“I believe that the next generation wants renewable energy, I think they are demanding renewable energy.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
“We have this huge thermonuclear reactor in the sky that gives us all the power we could ever need and all we have to do is tap into that and we could start solving energy problems globally.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
On the benefits of using Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): “The appeal of the lease is that you have a flat payment.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
“I really think solar plus storage is going to be such a great innovation within the (solar) industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58
“Solar, to me, is a standard asset and very easy to understand, but once you couple it with storage, it takes it to another level and we are going to see a huge proliferation of solar plus storage in the near future.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58
One of Nathan’s favorite quotes (by Winston Churchill): “The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, while an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
“If you really believe in something, to you it’s real. It’s tangible, you can feel it, you know it.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
On what it takes for someone to be successful: “Finding what your passion is, the value add, focusing on your strengths and just being tenacious. Taking the road less travelled.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
From the podcast Good by Jocko Willink: “Anything bad that happens in your life, there’s always good that comes from it … because you’re going to be put in a situation where you have to adapt.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58
On being mindful in your life: “What we really only can control is the present. We can’t change what happened in the past, we can’t do anything about the future.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #58
“Success is the interest of hard work.” – Nathan Jovanelly, Episode #58
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