Clean Power Hour

Wildfire smoke from Canada cut solar production across New England by as much as 40 percent, according to ISO New England, a loss of 2,500 megawatts at peak hours compared to the forecast. 
Tim Montague and John Weaver dig into that data, including John's own project numbers, on the Clean Power Hour Live. They also cover a massive BYD battery storage deal in Abu Dhabi, a new gas car ban in China, rising copper prices, and a wave of new battery products hitting the market. 
Whether you're an installer, developer, investor, or simply following the clean energy transition, this episode covers the trends you need to know.
In this episode:
BYD secures an 11.275 GWh battery storage contract for one of the world's largest clean energy projects. (BYD Energy press release)
Wildfire smoke cuts solar production by up to 40% in parts of New England. (WBUR)
China's Hainan province set a 2030 deadline to ban new combustion engine car sales, with plans for new energy vehicles to reach 45 percent of the province's fleet. (Dialogue Earth)
Massachusetts expanded its vehicle-to-grid and virtual power plant programs through the ConnectedSolutions initiative (regional VPP program).
SEIA data shows utility-scale solar occupies just 0.07% of America's prime farmland. John Weaver corrects the math live, and SEIA's own figures show roughly 43 acres of abandoned prime farmland for every acre solar currently occupies. Tim and John debate the politics behind the farmland argument. (PV Magazine)
Octopus Energy launches the Nook Cube smart battery for renters. (Renewable Energy Magazine)
Copper prices continue climbing and what that means for future solar project costs. (BlueSky)
This episode fits solar developers, battery storage professionals, EPCs, and clean energy investors tracking both hardware innovation and real-world grid risk. The BYD deal and Octopus battery launch show where storage economics are heading, while the wildfire smoke data is a preview of a grid challenge more regions will face. Anyone pricing projects around copper costs or watching global EV policy will find useful detail here.
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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:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
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

Power generation is changing fast. As utilities struggle with interconnection delays and growing electricity demand, businesses are looking for faster, more reliable ways to secure power.
In this episode of Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Walt Jordan, Chief Revenue Officer at dGEN Energy Partners, to explore one of the least talked-about emerging technologies in distributed energy: linear generators.
Unlike traditional generators, linear generators have no crankshaft, no spark plugs, no engine oil, and very few moving parts. They are designed to operate continuously, and they run on multiple fuel sources, including natural gas, propane, hydrogen, ammonia, and biogas. Combined with solar, battery storage, and microgrids, they may offer commercial and industrial facilities a new path to reliable, behind-the-meter power that can lower their LCOE.
The conversation also explores why dGEN  Energy is combining roofing, solar, battery storage, and distributed generation into integrated energy solutions that help businesses reduce costs, improve resilience, and avoid lengthy utility interconnection delays.
Whether you work in commercial solar, microgrids, energy storage, EPC development, or distributed energy resources, this episode offers valuable insights into important technology options.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• What a linear generator is and how it differs from diesel generators
• Why dGEN Energy believes linear generators can complement solar and battery storage
• How the technology operates without spark plugs, oil, or traditional engine components
• The fuels linear generators can use, including hydrogen, propane, natural gas, ammonia, and biogas
• How behind-the-meter generation is helping businesses overcome utility interconnection delays and rising energy costs
• Why "speed to power" is becoming a competitive advantage
• How commercial roofing and solar can be combined into a single engineered capital project
• Where batteries, microgrids, and linear generators work together
• The emissions profile and efficiency of modern linear generators
• Real-world commercial and industrial applications for distributed generation
• What EPCs, facility owners, and developers should know before adopting this technology
As utilities struggle to keep pace with growing electricity demand and interconnection delays continue to slow new projects, businesses are being forced to rethink how they generate and manage power. This conversation with Walt Jordan explores why linear generators are emerging as a compelling option alongside solar, battery storage, and microgrids, especially for commercial and industrial facilities that cannot afford to wait years for grid upgrades.
Whether linear generators become a mainstream technology or remain a specialized solution, the bigger story is clear. Speed to power, energy resilience, and flexible distributed generation are becoming just as important as the cost of electricity itself. 
Connect with Walt Jordan:
Walt Jordan | LinkedIn
Website: https://dGEN energy.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:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
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

America's electric grid wasn't built for AI, electric vehicles, battery storage, or the rapid growth of renewable energy.
So how do we modernize a system that was built and started in the late 1800s and early 1900s, more than a century ago?
In this episode of Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Zaid Ashai, CEO of Nexamp, the nation's largest community solar developer, to discuss community solar, battery storage, grid modernization, and why policy certainty is essential to building a cleaner, more reliable, and more affordable energy system.
Nexamp operates across 19 states and has become one of the leading developers of community solar, distributed generation, utility-scale solar, and battery storage. The conversation centers on the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, Illinois' new storage law that targets 3,000 megawatts of storage by the end of 2030, with the first procurement round set for August 2026 and two more rounds to follow in 2027 and 2028. Ashai lays out why 
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why America's electric grid needs modernization 
How community solar benefits homeowners, renters, businesses, and utilities 
Why the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act uses an indexed storage credit contract instead of a merchant revenue model 
How storage unlocks additional generation capacity without new transmission and distribution buildout 
What a Massachusetts ISO study found about grid size when storage is left out of the equation 
Why Illinois requires 14 percent of a participating project's workforce to be equity eligible 
How Nexamp's renewable energy fellowship with City Colleges of Chicago grew from 20 students toward a projected 80 by year-end 
Why affordable clean energy starts with predictable regulation 
How flexible interconnection and curtailment could unlock more capacity on the existing grid 
Which states Nexamp is watching next for community solar and storage growth, including Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
If you work in solar, battery storage, utilities, project development, energy policy, grid modernization, or renewable energy investing, this episode offers practical insights into where the industry is headed next.
The first Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) procurement round opens in August 2026, with two more rounds following in 2027 and 2028, so the pricing structure Ashai describes will shape Illinois storage economics for years. 
Illinois already holds the only B grade on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance Community Power Scorecard, ahead of New York, Massachusetts, and California, at a moment when federal support for clean energy programs is pulling back. For developers and investors watching how states balance affordability, reliability, and equity, Illinois is currently the clearest test case in the country.
About Zaid Ashai
Zaid Ashai is the CEO of Nexamp, the largest community solar developer in the United States. Under his leadership, Nexamp has expanded into battery storage, utility-scale solar, and integrated clean energy solutions across 19 states. He is passionate about building an affordable, reliable, and equitable clean energy future through innovation, smart policy, and grid modernization.
Connect with Zaid Ashai 
Zaid Ashai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaid-ahmad-ashai-aa1683/
Nexamp Website: https://www.nexamp.com/
Support the show
Connect with Tim  
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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:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
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

What does it take to turn next-generation solar technology into a bankable commercial product?
Swift Solar is closing the U.S. heterojunction and perovskite tandem solar cell gap. Dr. Gunter Erfurt, managing director at Swift Solar and former Meyer Burger CEO, joins Tim Montague and John Weaver to explain why U.S. module capacity sits near 50 gigawatts while domestic cell capacity trails at 5 gigawatts.
Following Swift Solar's acquisition of Meyer Burger's technology, intellectual property, manufacturing equipment, and engineering team, Dr. Erfurt shares how the company plans to accelerate U.S. solar manufacturing while preparing for the future of perovskite tandem solar cells. John Weaver presses Erfurt throughout on tariffs and real project pricing, drawing on his own current commercial bid.
The conversation explores why heterojunction (HJT) technology is the ideal foundation for perovskites, why bankability matters as much as efficiency, and how domestic solar manufacturing can strengthen energy security and supply chain resilience.
Whether you're a solar developer, EPC, utility professional, investor, policymaker, or clean energy enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into where the solar industry is heading over the next decade.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why Swift Solar acquired Meyer Burger's manufacturing assets and IP
How heterojunction technology supports the future of perovskite tandem solar cells
Why Swift Solar plans to commercialize HJT modules before launching tandem products
The importance of reliability, bankability, and long-term module performance
Why glass-glass solar modules outperform traditional glass-backsheet designs
How domestic U.S. solar manufacturing is evolving, and why module capacity still outpaces cell capacity by a factor of ten
The challenges of scaling advanced solar cell manufacturing
Why the utility scale market is Swift Solar's primary focus
How electrification is expected to triple or quadruple global electricity demand, and why Tim and Dr. Erfurt believe solar, wind, and batteries scale faster than nuclear to meet it
John Weaver's pushback on tariffs, grounded in real project pricing, and Dr. Erfurt's counter on how the IRA tax credit shaped domestic manufacturing growth
What the next five years could look like for solar manufacturing and clean energy
As electrification accelerates and global electricity demand climbs toward a projected tripling or quadrupling in the coming decades, the solar industry faces real pressure to build technology that is efficient, reliable, and ready to scale. This conversation with Dr. Gunter Erfurt, joined by Tim Montague and John Weaver, offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to move breakthrough innovations from the research lab into commercial production. From heterojunction technology and perovskite tandem cells to domestic manufacturing, bankability, and long-term reliability, this episode provides valuable insight into the engineering and business decisions that will shape the next generation of solar. 
Connect with Dr. Gunter Erfurt on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gunter-erfurt-55103850?originalSubdomain=de
Support the show
Connect with Tim  
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Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
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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:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
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

Community microgrids saved lives during a PG&E shutoff in Humboldt County. Lisa Cohn of Microgrid Knowledge has tracked every project getting built in America right now. She tells you what separates the ones that succeed from the ones that fail, and what you need to know before entering this market.
Community microgrids are among the fastest-growing segments in solar and storage, and among the hardest to finance and build. Lisa Cohn is the co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge, a publication she has run for over a decade, covering every major microgrid deployment in the United States. 
In this episode, Lisa joins host Tim Montague to break down the funding models, utility partnerships, and regulatory frameworks that determine whether a community microgrid gets built or abandoned. 
The conversation covers California's shift from the restrictive CMEP program to the MIP, the rise of tribal microgrids, public power's structural advantage over investor-owned utilities, and the emerging model of networked microgrids that share power across adjacent communities. If you work in solar, storage, or clean energy development, this episode gives you a clear picture of where the community microgrid market stands today and where the openings are.
Here is what you will learn from this conversation about community microgrids:
You will hear why Blue Lake Rancheria became the defining case study for community microgrid resilience. When PG&E shut off power across Humboldt County during a wildfire event, Blue Lake's microgrid kept running and saved lives.
Find out how the Redwood Coast Airport microgrid got funded. It secured $5 million from the California Energy Commission and $6.5 million in low-interest USDA loans, and Lisa explains why that funding combination is the model worth studying.
Learn why California's CMEP program failed and how the MIP replaced it. CMEP gave utilities total control and restricted microgrids to outage-only operation. The MIP removed those restrictions, enabling 24/7 operation, grid services, and demand response.
Understand what public power utilities do differently from IOUs when it comes to microgrids. Lisa explains the over-the-fence rule, why tribal land creates exceptions, and why the Portland General Electric model in Beaverton is worth watching.
Find out why legislation comes before market growth, not after. Oregon passed two bills specifically for community microgrids in wildfire-prone areas before the market matured, and Lisa explains why that sequencing matters for every other state.
State legislation in Oregon is already moving community microgrids forward in wildfire-prone areas, and California's MIP program is enabling Clean Coalition to deploy microgrids that run 24/7 and sell grid services. At the same time, the DOE tribal funding program is producing deployments in states like Wisconsin that would not otherwise have the capital to build. The window for solar and storage professionals to get ahead of this market is open right now.
Connect with Lisa Cohn 
cleanenergywriters.com
Lisa Cohn | LinkedIn 
Home | Microgrid Knowledge 
Support the show
Connect with Tim  
Clean Power Hour 
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn 
Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com 
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:  CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
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