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
Episodes
24 minutes ago
24 minutes ago
Episode Overview
In this episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan speaks with Robb Jetty, CEO of REC Solar. Rob shares insights from his 23-year journey in renewable energy, REC’s behind-the-meter and utility-scale development strategy, and the company’s active role in greenfield projects, energy storage, and asset repowering.
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.
Robb Jetty
Rob Jetty is the Chief Executive Officer of REC Solar, a leading independent power producer (IPP) and clean energy developer focused on delivering innovative behind-the-meter and small utility-scale solar and storage solutions across the U.S.
With over 23 years of experience in the renewable energy industry, Rob has built a career spanning the full lifecycle of clean energy development—from founding a regional EPC firm in 2002 to holding senior leadership roles at some of the industry's most influential organizations, including Recurrent Energy, General Electric, and EDF Renewables.
As CEO of REC Solar, Rob is steering the company’s strategic growth following its 2023 acquisition by ArcLight Capital Partners. Under his leadership, REC is focused on expanding its operating fleet through greenfield development, M&A, and repowering of aging solar assets. The company operates more than 150 solar projects totaling approximately 300 MW across 16 states.
Rob’s deep understanding of project development, corporate procurement, and grid-scale renewables enables REC to serve diverse sectors including food & beverage, cold storage, special districts (MUSH market), and fleet electrification. Notably, the company led the development of a solar-powered EV bus charging hub for the Anaheim Transportation Network, and a microgrid at Kona Village Resort in Hawaii, supporting resilience and clean energy access.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Robb Jetty
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjetty/
Website: https://recsolar.com/
REC Solar Case Studies: https://recsolar.com/resources/case-studies/
6 days ago
6 days ago
Episode Overview
Benoy Thanjan welcomes back Dan French, Executive Producer of the Solar Farm Summit on the Solar Maverick Podcast and they dive deep into the emerging world of agrivoltaics—solar projects that co-exist with agriculture—and the role it will play in the energy and agricultural renaissance.
Dan shares details about the upcoming Solar Farm Summit (Aug 4–7 at McCormick Place, Chicago), the largest agrivoltaics event in North America. They explore U.S. state-level leadership, global innovation, project economics, and transformative benefits such as water conservation, improved crop yields, and rural revitalization.
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.
Dan French – Executive Producer, Solar Farm Summit
Dan French is a nationally recognized leader in renewable energy land use and the Executive Producer of the Solar Farm Summit, the largest agrivoltaics development conference in North America. With a career spanning law, brownfield redevelopment, and clean energy consulting, Dan has become a catalyst for innovation at the intersection of solar energy, agriculture, and sustainable land transformation.
A former environmental and energy attorney, Dan has transitioned into a visionary market maker—organizing events that drive collaboration among farmers, solar developers, policymakers, and conservationists. His work has helped pioneer the concept of “multifunctional PV”—solar projects that generate clean energy while supporting agricultural yields, biodiversity, and rural economic development.
Dan also leads the Virginia Solar Summit and has played a key role in revitalizing polluted and underutilized land through the Brightfields and brownfields-to-solar movements. A passionate advocate for community-based innovation, Dan’s events are known for mixing technical expertise with grassroots accessibility, always striving to "put farming first."
Through the Solar Farm Summit, Dan is helping define the future of land use—where solar power coexists with food production, ecological restoration, and energy resilience on a global scale.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Dan French
Email: dan@solarfarmsummit.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-french-4354047/
Website: https://solarfarmsummit.com/
Dan’s previous interviews on the Solar Maverick Podcast
https://solarmaverick.podbean.com/e/smp-46-why-brownfields-are-ideal-sites-for-solar/
Friday Jul 11, 2025
Friday Jul 11, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends.
Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights!
Episode #30 Briefing Highlights:
-The OBBB is signed: A summary of the high-level impacts
-New executive order intends to tighten 'commencement of construction' rules; details in 45 days
-SPP updates process for faster connection of large 10MW+ loads
If you have any questions or comments, our email is info@reneuenergy.com.
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Tuesday Jul 08, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights!
Episode #29 Briefing Highlights:
-Heat wave impacts, up to $1000/MWhr, and NYC came very close to its all time peak
-June 19th Brattle report: by 2035, 60-90GW additional peak capacity will be needed
-NY Governor Hochul issues NYPA with mandate for 1GW of nuclear to be built
-Latest details on the OBBB and the 'poison pill' for BESS: the foreign entity of concern (FEOC) conditions
If you have any comments or questions, email us at info@reneuenergy.com.
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing on 6/11/25! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights!
- Benoy was at the American Council of Renewable Energy's (ACORE) Finance Forum last week
- Biggest topic was the OBBB causing uncertainty within the industry
- China is continuing to be ultra-aggressive with their solar and energy storage buildout
- While there, Benoy interviewed the COEs of ACORE and EDPR for the
Solar Maverick Podcast
- Life after the ITC (Investment Tax Credit)? Preparing for the worst
- How all sectors of the solar industry will need to become more efficient
- Sunnova and Mosaic bankruptcies
- Consolidation occurring within natural gas, cost and time to build new is not economical.
- PPA (power purchase agreements) pricings trending higher provides opportunities
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at info@reneuenergy.com.
Friday Jun 27, 2025
Friday Jun 27, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, SEIA CEO Abby Hopper discusses the current state of solar policy amid Congress's reconciliation efforts, emphasizing critical priorities like preserving the “commenced construction” timeline, extending and smoothing the ITC phase‑down. Though recognizing short-term uncertainty and potential industry turbulence, Abby remains optimistic about long-term demand, technological innovation, and the growing role of solar+storage in a reliable, affordable energy future.
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.
Abby Hopper
Abigail Ross Hopper is the president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade organization for America's solar and storage industry. Ms. Hopper is a visionary leader who has transformed SEIA into an advocacy powerhouse and the leading voice for the U.S. solar and storage industry, a $64 billion force in our nation’s economy.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Abby Hopper
Website: Follow SEIA at seia.org and solarpowersamerica.org
savemainstreetsolar.org
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-hopper-a3415527/
Call to Action for Mavericks
Make your voice heard—CALL or WRITE your member(s) and senators urging support for:
Commenced construction carve-outs
FEOC practical solutions
Extended ITC phase-out schedules
Share real-life impacts—highlight project/job delays, supply chain headaches, business planning peril.
Participate in grassroots campaigns — sign up for Save Main Street Solar, engage in local/regional advocacy.
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
In this episode, Benoy Thanjan speaks with João Barreto, CEO of EDPR NA Distributed Generation, at the ACORE Finance Forum. They explore the rapid evolution of distributed generation (DG) in the U.S., community solar market trends, and how EDPR is deploying capital to meet growing clean energy demand.
Topics Covered:
The origin and growth of EDPR NA DG and its 12 GW+ installed capacity in North America
Why distributed generation is a key complement to utility-scale solar and wind
EDPR’s strategic focus on Northeast and California DG markets
Insights on the impact of the House tax bill on renewable investment timelines
The policy-driven nature of community solar, and why California’s program rollback was a missed opportunity
EDPR’s balanced strategy between greenfield development and co-development partnerships
The challenge of navigating interconnection and permitting inconsistency across the U.S.
How EDPR differentiates in the DG space through experience, local presence, and global customer relationships
Perspectives on integrating storage with DG, and current limitations in markets like New York
Key Quote:
“Distributed generation is policy-driven—and understanding how to position in the right markets at the right time is what creates long-term value.” – João Barreto
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.
João Salvação Barreto
Chief Executive Officer, EDPR NA Distributed Generation
João Salvação Barreto is the CEO of EDPR North America Distributed Generation, the distributed solar and storage business unit of EDP Renewables NA. Promoted to this role in June 2024, Barreto leads a fast-growing platform that manages over 280 MW AC of solar and storage assets across 25 U.S. states—with substantial expansions in key markets like New York, Maine, and Illinois.
He joined EDP in 2014 as part of its Global M&A and Corporate Development group. Over the next decade, he held leadership roles including Chief Commercial Officer, during which he oversaw major acquisitions such as Sunseap (now EDPR APAC) and C2 (now EDPR NA DG). He also chaired EDP’s Investment Committee from 2020 to 2023, guiding the company’s strategic investment priorities
João’s professional experience spans 23 years in real estate, 13 years in medical investments, and work in the defense industry, where he built relationships with international governments and organizations
He holds a degree from the Nova School of Business and Economics and is fluent in leveraging his multidisciplinary background to advance distributed solar finance, partnerships, and grid resilience
Under his leadership, EDPR NA DG is focused on expanding its community solar, C&I, and behind-the-meter portfolios while emphasizing partnerships, innovation, and operational excellence. João is a frequent participant and speaker at industry finance events, including the Financial Times/Nikkei Investing in America Summit and Infocast Solar Power Finance & Investment forums, where he highlights the importance of distributed generation in the energy transition
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
João Salvação Barreto
Website: https://www.edp.com/en
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joão-salvação-barreto-90929a3b/
WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector
Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones
The link to register is below.
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, recorded live at the ACORE Finance Forum in NYC, host Benoy Thanjan sits down with Ray Long, President & CEO of ACORE. They discuss the evolving clean energy finance landscape, grid permitting challenges, policy battles around the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the exponential demand for power driven by AI and electrification.
Ray also shares the history and mission of ACORE—from its origins connecting Wall Street to developers in 2001, to its current role as a leading voice in renewable energy policy and finance.
Key Themes & Takeaways
Explosive Growth in Power Demand
- U.S. energy demand remained flat for decades—but is now rising due to:
- AI and cloud computing
- Electrification of buildings and manufacturing
- EV charging infrastructure
- Urgent need for scalable solutions—wind, solar, storage, and natural gas are critical in the next 5–10 years
IRA Threatened by Tax Bill
- “Big Beautiful Bill” proposes eliminating key tax incentives from the IRA
- Would undermine progress and financing certainty across clean energy markets
- Industry needs a thoughtful, phased approach, not abrupt disruption
Permitting & Interconnection Bottlenecks
Interconnection Crisis
- Major ISOs like PJM are overwhelmed—some developers face 7+ year delays
- Load centers like Virginia see 100+ data center projects awaiting connection
- ACORE’s Macro Grid Initiative pushes for regulatory fixes and grid modernization
Bipartisan Momentum & Strategy
- ACORE promotes an “all of the above” strategy—recognizing solar, wind, storage, natural gas, and emerging tech
- Urges policymakers to emulate China’s aggressive infrastructure and energy approach
- Emphasizes renewables as a national competitiveness issue—not just environmental
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.
Ray Long
Ray Long leads the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) as President and Chief Executive Officer.
ACORE is the oldest nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to expanding the use of renewable energy technologies for American homes and businesses. This mission is as important and relevant today as it was back in 2001. As CEO, Long is privileged to lead a team of dedicated professionals and an equally passionate group of members and contributors who enable ACORE’s strategic initiatives.
ACORE’s members operate in all 50 states, and in 2022, they financed, developed, built and owned over 90% of new, utility-scale renewable energy projects. Under Long’s leadership, ACORE continues to expand the framework that has enabled the industry’s growth through bipartisan outreach, accurate and compelling analysis, and effective collaboration.
Long is a respected energy executive, having spent over 25 years representing and growing conventional and renewable energy companies in the United States. Most recently, Long was Senior Vice President of External Affairs and a member of the management team at Clearway Energy. Throughout his career, Long helped to build successful government, regulatory and communications teams, utilizing a campaign management approach to policy and project development challenges.
Long earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Policy and Administration from Suffolk University and a Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University Law School. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Ray Long
Website: https://acore.org/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-long-a89a816/
WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector
Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones
The link to register is below.
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the evolving solar landscape—covering key state-level policy battles, rising resistance to distributed solar, the latest federal tax package in Congress, and the long term trends in the solar industry. Fox Swim, Senior Solar Industry Researcher at Aurora Solar, shares expertise on policy, utility rates, and resiliency-minded markets.
Key Themes & Highlights
- Aurora Solar & Fox’s Expertise
Aurora provides industry-leading solar design and sales software globally.
- State-Level Anti-Solar Trends
Utilities favor centralized generation, clashing with distributed energy advocates.
California’s AB 942 aims to end grandfathered NEM/NEM 2 contracts when homes are sold, pushing owners into less favorable NEM 3 tariffs—effectively breaking existing contracts.
- Resiliency & Distributed Generation
Extreme weather, aging grid infrastructure, and power instability are driving demand for solar + storage.
Distributed generation is seen as a smarter, faster, and more resilient solution than central utility models.
Virtual battery programs in states like Connecticut are emerging as positive examples.
- Federal Tax Bill & IRA Disruptions
The recent House tax bill introduces critical threats:
Elimination of IRA incentives (including ITC, storage, and battery credits).
“Fiat” sourcing restrictions targeting Chinese-manufactured solar components, potentially nullifying battery and panel subsidies.
Fox warns of an unplanned “solar winter” where many small players may fold, though core demand won’t vanish.
Emphasis is shifting toward resilience and independence—not just ROI.
- 2025 Aurora Solar Snapshot Insights
(Backed by Aurora’s data on ~12.5 million projects, surveys of 1,000+ homeowners, 1,000 professionals, and 500+ businesses)
Resilience over ROI: 76% of homeowners view solar as a good investment (up from 43% in 2023)
Financing shifts: Third‑party ownership (leases/PPAs) are growing; battery demand surges with 78% installers seeing increased interest
Bipartisan appeal: Solar cuts across party lines—Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all value solar and IRA
Trust challenges: Installer mistrust doubled—44% of homeowners find trustworthy companies hard to identify
Motivations revealed:
Top drivers: bill savings, energy independence, environmental impact (>50% cite environment as a top-3 reason)
Tactical Takeaways for Mavericks
Strengthen Trust – Improve transparency and contract clarity; be proactive about ethical sales practices.
Refocus Messaging – Highlight solar + storage for resilience and independence—especially in disaster-prone regions.
Engage Politically – Contact local/state reps, especially around bills like North Carolina’s ITC reinstatement.
Diversify Revenue – Build resilience offerings or pivots like community solar and virtual battery programs.
Advocacy & Data – Join efforts with industry groups (SEIA, ACORE), and use Aurora’s regional data in policymaker discussions.
Quotes from the Interview
“76% of homeowners now say solar is a smart investment—it used to be 43%!”
“Installer trust has tanked: 44% of homeowners find it hard to pick a dependable provider.”
“Solar isn’t just about ROI anymore—it’s energy independence and resilience.”
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.
Fox Swim
Fox Swim is a data-driven activist with a passion for solving complex social and environmental challenges. With expertise in alternative energy, and urban sustainability, she leverages technical research and leadership skills to drive impactful change. Currently a Senior Industry Researcher at Aurora Solar, Fox focuses on advancing renewable energy solutions while advocating for social justice and sustainability.
Related Links
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/solar-panel-types
https://www.eenews.net/articles/california-bill-would-slash-solar-benefits/
Aurora Solar’s 2025 Snapshot Report
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Fox Swim
Website: https://aurorasolar.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fox-swim-6919061a/
WRISE 20th Anniversary Gala
Date & Time: Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Location: Gotham Hall, New York City
Occasion: Celebrating 20 years of championing women and underrepresented groups in the renewable & sustainable energy sector
Host & Highlight: Presented by Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE); evening includes networking, recognition of community leaders, and celebration of industry milestones
The link to register is below.
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Welcome to our weekly Renewable Energy Briefing! Stay informed on the latest industry trends. Join us for a comprehensive analysis that combines expert commentary with up-to-the-minute news, offering you a strategic overview of the renewable energy market. Don't miss out on the crucial details that can impact your investment decisions. Tune in weekly for your essential dose of Renewable Energy insights! Episode #27 Briefing Highlights:
- Four executive orders signed to boost nuclear power
- Empire Wind's stop work order has been lifted
- One Big Beautiful Bill impacts on IRA and renewable energy
- Potential major changes to the bill after deliberations in the Senate, an important time now to petition your senators and representatives before it is too late.
If you have any questions or comments, you can email us at info@reneuenergy.com.