Clean Power Hour

#EP328 Federal funding for tribal clean energy projects has been rescinded. Tribes that invested millions in solar and microgrid projects now face stalled construction, lost jobs, and broken promises. David Harper, CEO of Huurav, is stepping in with bridge loans to keep these projects alive.
David Harper is a tribal member from the Colorado River Indian Tribes on the Arizona-California border. He started his solar career fighting developers who disturbed sacred artifacts and human remains on tribal lands. Today, he runs Huurav, a company providing bridge financing for the 575 federally recognized tribes across the United States. His sister company, 7 Skyline, provides electrical engineering consulting to 80-90 tribes nationwide.
Episode Highlights:
The 2021 Infrastructure Bill allocated $10-15 billion for tribal energy projects. Much of that funding has been clawed back.
Tribes that invested their own money now have stalled projects with no path to completion.
Huurav provides 2-6 year bridge loans that allow tribes to continue construction while securing permanent financing.
Capital stacking allows multiple funders (CDFIs, philanthropy, financial institutions, etc) to share risk on larger projects.
Case study: Guidiville Rancheria in Mendocino County received a $1M bridge loan for a 500kW solar plus 1.5MW battery storage microgrid serving 44 homes.
Huurav has 22 projects in its pipeline with more tribes requesting support.
Tribal communities often suffer brownouts and blackouts because they sit at the end of utility lines. Microgrids offer energy independence.
David Harper's story captures what happens when federal promises disappear overnight. Tribes that did everything right, completed feasibility studies, hired workers, and approved scopes of work, are left holding the bill. 
Huurav fills that gap with bridge loans sized to what tribes can pay back. This model builds credit history, creates jobs, and moves the 22 projects in their pipeline toward completion.
Connect with David Harper
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-harper-ab6b762b5/
Huurav: https://www.huurav.com/
7Skyline: https://www.7skyline.com/
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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

In this week's Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague and co-host John Weaver examine the widening gap between China and the United States in clean energy deployment. The hosts analyze new data from Stanford Professor Mark Jacobson showing China is on track for a clean economy by 2050, while the US lags a century behind. They discuss record battery installations, solar manufacturing shifts, and what these trends mean for energy independence and economic competitiveness.
Episode Highlights:
China projected to reach a clean economy by 2050, US not until 2148 at current pace (PV Magazine)
China installed 65 gigawatt hours of battery storage in December alone, exceeding the US total for the entire 2025 (Benchmark)
Longi joins push to reduce silver content in solar panel production to cut costs by 10-20 percent (Bloomberg)
US solar panel manufacturing reaches 65 gigawatts annual capacity in 2025 (Bloomberg)
Discussion of Dan Wang's book "Breakneck" exploring why China builds infrastructure faster than the US
Analysis of energy independence as a national security strategy in the context of global oil conflicts
First Solar, Qcells, Heliene, and other domestic manufacturers lead US solar production growth
The data shows China moving at unprecedented speed in clean energy deployment, while the US faces a critical choice about accelerating its transition. Energy independence through solar, wind, and storage is both an economic opportunity and a national security imperative. Share your thoughts on how the US can close this gap in the comments below.
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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

#EP327 What if we could remove a trillion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere for $2 billion a year?
Peter Fiekowsky, author of "Climate Restoration" and founder of the Foundation for Climate Restoration, returns to The Clean Power Hour with a solution most people have never heard of: localized ocean iron fertilization. An astrophysicist and semiconductor entrepreneur by training, Peter has spent over a decade researching methods to restore atmospheric CO2 to pre-industrial levels of 300 ppm. His work has taken him from the Vatican to the White House, and he now leads a growing movement to fund and deploy this proven natural process.
KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:
Why the energy transition alone will not prevent 450 ppm by 2050
Localized ocean iron fertilization targets only 1% of the ocean using downwelling eddies
The Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption in 1991 caused global CO2 to flatline for two years
Total cost: $1-2 billion per year (one penny per American per day)
This approach removes 1,000 to 10,000 times more carbon than traditional ocean fertilization methods
Robotic ships could distribute iron pellets without crew costs
The Foundation's "million sponsor" campaign aims to demonstrate public demand for climate restoration
The wind, solar, and battery industries are doing essential work to eliminate 50 gigatons of annual emissions. That fight must continue. But stopping the bleeding is not the same as healing the wound. Peter Fiekowsky's research shows that nature has already solved this problem dozens of times through the Ice Age cycle. The question is whether humanity will choose to replicate what works. For the cost of a penny a day per American, we have the option to return atmospheric CO2 to safe levels within 25 years. The technology exists. The funding is achievable. The only missing ingredient is the collective decision to do it.
Join the Movement: Be one of the million sponsors helping to restore CO2 to safe levels by 2050. 
Donate now: https://foundationforclimaterestoration.org/donate/
Connect with Peter Fiekowsky 
Website: www.peterfiekowsky.com/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/pfiekowsky/
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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

#EP326 Happy Holidays! Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague breaks down his top 5 episodes of 2025, featuring conversations that shaped how we think about solar, storage, virtual power plants, microgrids, and AI. From Jigar Shah's call for the industry to become a political force to Spark AI's permitting breakthroughs, these episodes capture where clean energy is headed.
Key Episodes Covered:
Episode 304 - Jigar Shah
85% of new grid capacity will be solar, wind, and batteries
Fossil fuels outspend clean energy 10:1 on political lobbying
VPPs could shift 20% of peak load by 2030
20% of Americans struggle to afford their electricity bills
Episode 274 - Ryan Mayfield and Jayson Smith 
CPS America's Gonzo containerized battery (125-256 kWh)
20-millisecond switchover for grid-forming capability
Daisy chain up to 12 units for megawatt-scale deployments
60% of CPS workforce dedicated to service
Episode 307 - Peter Kelly-Detwiler 
1,500 MW of data center load disconnected in Virginia incident
PJM capacity prices jumped from $30 to $329 per MW-day
California VPPs dispatched 535 MW from 100,000 homes
Episode 310 - Jeff St. John (Canary Media) 
93% of new U.S. grid additions were solar, batteries, and wind
Texas ERCOT grid now 50% solar, wind, and batteries
California VPPs show 2:1 cost-benefit ratio
Texas allocated $1.8B for microgrids after Winter Storm Uri
Episode 322 - Julia Wu and Anuj Saigal (Spark AI) 
Platform compresses 4-10 hours of research to seconds
Standard Solar reduced acquisition diligence from months to one week
Three core use cases: site selection, regulatory monitoring, acquisition due diligence
Bonus: Episode 296 - Mark Palmer (Conductor Solar)
Most listened to and shared episode on Spotify
Covers PPAs, project finance, and tax credit swapping
Discusses tariffs, supply chain pressures, and state policy importance
Episodes Mentioned
Ep 304 - https://youtu.be/lGv6NoDlf70
Ep 274 - https://youtu.be/QxLIzBSM-lQ
Ep 307 - https://youtu.be/apMrWUz7TV8
Ep 310 - https://youtu.be/76PDeZ7ZGps
Ep 322 - https://youtu.be/B3t0cpvTT-Y
Ep 296 - https://youtu.be/aj_zNnpAUk8
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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com

#EP325 Home battery storage sits at less than 1% market penetration in America. The solar industry spent years focused on small urban systems while whole-home backup solutions remained out of reach for most homeowners. 
Tim Montague sits down with James Showalter, founder and CEO of EG4 Electronics, to discuss whole-home backup solutions that provide true energy independence. James shares his journey from installing off-grid systems at age 15 to building one of America's fastest-growing solar and battery companies. 
EG4 Electronics is a premier solar manufacturer based in Texas, dedicated to delivering high-quality, affordable, and reliable energy solutions. EG4 is committed to empowering homes and businesses with energy independence.
KEY DISCUSSION POINTS:
Battery storage adoption remains below 1% of American homes, with James predicting a majority will have batteries in his lifetime, as costs decline and whole-home solutions become viable across broader geographic markets
Industry concentration on small urban residential systems left whole-home backup opportunities underserved in suburban and rural markets 
EG4's product strategy offers installers a choice between different battery configurations, letting them select the right solution for each customer's needs and budget constraints
Whole home backup requires different economics than partial backup systems popular in dense urban areas, driving EG4's focus on affordability and power capacity for homes with higher energy loads
Partnership approach with LG Energy Solutions provides one path for installers needing domestic content compliance, while maintaining imported options for projects where upfront cost determines feasibility
The residential battery market hasn't scratched the surface. Current adoption sits below 1%. The solar industry concentrated on one narrow segment while whole-home storage opportunities in broader markets went largely unaddressed. EG4's approach focuses on those overlooked opportunities.
Connect with James Showalter, EG4 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-showalter-9a0599156/
Website: https://eg4electronics.com/
Support the show
Connect with Tim
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Clean Power Hour on YouTube
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Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts

The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/

The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com