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
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
Tuesday Dec 31, 2019
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.
Insights from this episode:
- 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
Resources Mentioned:
Podcasts mentioned:
Create Your Life Series by Kevin Y. Brown
The School of Greatness by Lewis Howe
SMP 32: The New Jersey Solar Market with Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters
Sponsor:
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.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Timothy Roman
LinkedIn: Timothy Roman
Website: Roman Media Group
Podcast: The Formula
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
Tuesday Dec 24, 2019
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.
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
Resources Mentioned:
Opportunity Zone Boot Camp on Oct 2019 in NJ
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
Solar Energy Renewable Credit (SREC)
New Jersey Property Assessed Clean Energy
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
Sponsor:
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.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Patrick Morand
LinkedIn: Patrick Morand
Website: Duane Morris LLP
Email: PLMorand@duanemorris.com
Victoria Zelin
LinkedIn: Victoria Zelin
Website: NJPace
Twitter: @VictoriaZelin
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
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.
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
Resources Mentioned:
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.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Laura Taylor
LinkedIn: Laura Taylor
Website: Team Silverline Communications
Twitter: @SilverlineComms
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
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.
Insights from this episode:
- 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
Podcasts Mentioned:
SMP 20: The Solar Intrapreneur Story: How Nate helped IGS with Benoy Thanjan and Nathan Jovanelly
Good by Jocko Willink
Resources Mentioned:
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Nathan Jovanelly
Website: IGS Solar
LinkedIn: Nathan Jovanelly, PE
Twitter: @NateJov
Email: Nathan.Jovanelly@igs.com
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
Episode Summary
In this episode of Solar Maverick, Benoy shares what he learned from the Solar Power International conference, including solar trends, other speakers he met, and what the conference will be like in 2020. Benoy talks about other conferences, past and present, he has been involved with and Benoy and Li also touch on how politics affects renewable energy projects, how legislation is affecting the outlook for solar, and how other countries treat renewable energy.
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.
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:
- Benefits of attending the Solar Power International conference and how it has changed over the years Benoy has been attending.
- Details on the step-down of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and how that is affecting solar investments.
- Strategies for people who plan to attend the Solar Power International conference to allow them to have a better experience.
- Details on other conferences relating to solar power and renewable energy and the Reneu Energy holiday party.
- Strategies for people interested in investing in the hospitality industry.
Quotes from the show:
- “Don’t let what you can’t control affect you, only focus on what you can control.” – Li Wang, Episode #57
- “When you go to other countries, their energy policy is on a national basis, but in the US (United States) it’s different. It’s actually a state-by-state basis.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
- “One of the reasons I got excited about solar was that it could make the United States energy independent with renewable energy resources.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
- On the outlook for solar: “Yes there’s challenges, but the industry has always been creative and unique to figure out how to be competitive.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
- “The hospitality industry is a very competitive industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
- Benoy’s advice on business investing: “The first thing is about trusting the partners that you’re either working with or investing with.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #57
Podcasts Mentioned:
SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham
SMP 44: Community Solar 201 With Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters
Resources Mentioned:
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Conferences Mentioned:
The Reneu Energy Holiday Party will be on Thursday, Dec. 5th from 6pm to 9pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City. We will also be celebrating the holidays and the 50th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast which is one of the most popular podcasts in solar. The cost to attend the event is $10 and food will be served.
Reneu Energy's CEO Benoy is also a co-owner of the event venue, Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse.
Solar Power International Conference
2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar
Opportunity Zone Boot Camp & Pitch Competition - Newark, New Jersey October 17
National Brownfields Conference Coming to Los Angeles, California December 11-13
Sponsor:
We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services.
Infinity 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 732-370-2446
We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Li Wang
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Episode Summary
In this episode, Benoy and Suzanne celebrate Suzanne’s 10th podcast episode with the Solar Maverick Podcast and talk about the upcoming Reneu Energy Holiday Party. They also update us on the New Jersey Community Solar Pilot Program and recap some previous Solar Maverick podcasts before covering energy consumed by cannabis grow facilities and the inevitable inclusion of renewable energy.
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.
Suzanne Waters
Suzanne Waters is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution and collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion-dollar projects. In addition, Suzanne has extensive experience in many aspects of the PV industry, with an unmatched enthusiasm for its capabilities and a BA in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University.
Insights from this episode:
- Details on what it is like to be on a podcast, upcoming Solar Maverick podcasts, and what to expect from Solar Maverick in the future.
- Strategies on applying for the New Jersey Community Solar Pilot Program.
- Benefits of sophisticated grow facilities and how they work.
- Details on specific energy usage of cannabis cultivation.
- Benefits of the integration of two growing industries, solar and cannabis.
Quotes from the show:
- On the cannabis industry: “It’s a huge growth area in the solar industry, especially as cannabis gets legalized in more and more states throughout the United States.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55
- The way that Reneu Energy is different from other developers: “ We believe that solar is not the only solution. That it is a multi-prong solution.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #55
- On indoor grow facilities: “You know you’re yielding a better product which will give you better revenue.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55
- “Most people in the cannabis industry are about, obviously, using less electricity and, obviously, renewable forms of electricity.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #55
- On Benoy touring MMD Shops: “It sounds very intricate, actually. I feel like there’s a lot of details behind-the-scenes that you don’t realize go into actually growing the plants.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55
- “I’m still stuck on the amount of power that goes into running these facilities.” Suzanne Waters, Episode #55
- “It will just be interesting to see how these industries, solar and cannabis, … it will be interesting to see how they grow and progress, complimenting one another.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #55
- On the outlook of solar and cannabis industries: “Both industries are growing exponentially and both will be growing for a very long time.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #55
Podcasts Mentioned:
SMP 42: Live Event - How Solar Technology is Changing the World
SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham
Resources Mentioned:
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC)
Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA)
Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Industries Association (MSSIA)
Can solar help the legal marijuana growing industry? by Kelly Pickerel - Solar Power World Online
Can solar help the legal marijuana growing industry? by Benoy Thanjan - Solar World Online
Achieving Affordable, Clean Energy Goals Through Off-Site Corporate PPAs - Renewable Energy World by Benoy Thanjan - Renewable Energy World
'A model of sustainable commerce': carbon footprint, grid concerns push SoCal weed industry to be more green by Melissa Daniels - Desert Sun
Conferences Mentioned:
The Reneu Energy Holiday Party will be on Thursday, Dec. 5th from 6 pm to 9 pm at Hudson Hall in Jersey City. We will also be celebrating the holidays and the 50th episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast which is one of the most popular podcasts in solar. The cost to attend the event is $10 and food will be served.
Reneu Energy's CEO Benoy is also a co-owner of the event venue, Hudson Hall, a Czech biergarten and smokehouse.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn:Benoy Thanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Suzanne Waters
Email: suzanne@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Suzanne Waters
Website: www.reneuenergy.com
Facebook: Reneu Energy
Sponsor:
We would like to thank our sponsor for this podcast episode Infiniti Energy Services.
Infinity 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 732-370-2446
We interviewed Michael Kushner who is the President at Infiniti Energy Services on Episode 49 of the Solar Maverick Podcast.
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
Tuesday Nov 12, 2019
Episode Summary
In this episode Benoy is speaking with Mishka and Steve Ashbel, brothers and owners of MMD Shops of California, on the intricacies of entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry, the important role passion plays in growing your business, and the future of the cannabis industry across the country. They discuss the power consumption of cannabis cultivation, how that growing industry will create an opportunity in renewable energy, and the inevitable integration of solar and cannabis industries.
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.
Mishka and Steve Ashbel
MMD owners and brothers, Steve and Mishka Ashbel, opened their first medical marijuana dispensary in North Hollywood, California in 2006, and have been at the forefront for advocating for safe and legal access to cannabis for over a decade.
They currently have four shops in California and are a leading resource for cannabis entrepreneurship across the country. They are currently pursuing the idea of taking MMD Shops public.
Insights from this episode:
- The origins of MMD Shops and entrepreneurship in the cannabis industry, including licensing and legal challenges.
- A brief history of legal cannabis and the issues early cannabis entrepreneurs faced paving the way for a new and growing industry.
- How the continued normalization of cannabis will affect the landscape of retail competition.
- The energy consumption involved in cannabis cultivation and the role of solar power and renewable energy will play in replacing traditional power sources.
- How the thriving cannabis industry will create an increased demand for solar power and lead to an integration of profitable, growing industries.
Quotes from the show:
- On solar power in the cannabis industry: “...they are inevitably bound to make a marriage together, that’s going to happen.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54
- “It is becoming such a big and real industry that it’s not just for people who love consuming cannabis, it is developing as an industry” – Steve Ashbel, SMP #54
- On discussing partnerships in new cannabis markets: “If it happens to be that somebody, in wherever they’re listening, and cannabis is new and emerging and they are looking for a strategic partner that has license operational experience, we are very much open to those discussions.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54
- “The right to choose your health and wellness and what you put into your body is incredibly important and we’re incredibly passionate about that.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54
- On using cannabis to alleviate illness symptoms: “We never say it’s a cure. We say it’s about the quality of life.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54
- “We very much encourage that everybody get into the licensed cannabis space. Don’t go into the illegal trade. Those days are over. We need to move on and turn this into an industry. It needs to be taxed, it needs to be regulated.” – Mishka Ashbel, SMP #54
- On the normalization of cannabis: “We are not competing with other cannabis retailers, we are competing with Starbucks.” – Steve Ashbel, SMP #54
- “I think a lot of people are scared of failure, but failure is the best teacher in life. That’s where you learn to adapt.” – Benoy Thanjan, SMP #54
- “Cannabis producers use way too much energy; it’s not efficient, it’s not efficient at all.” – Mishika Ashbel, SMP #54
Podcasts Mentioned:
Tiffany Pham
SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham
Event Announced:
Resources Mentioned:
Interim Control Ordinances (ICOs)
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Mishka and Steve Ashbel
Website: MMD Shops
Instagram: MMD Long Beach
LinkedIn: Mishka Ashbel
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Episode Summary
For the first time on the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy is discussing permitting in the solar industry with Allison Rohrs while at the Solar Power International Conference ("SPI"). They delve into the details of the process of permitting, why permitting is necessary, and possible problems that might interfere with permitting.
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.
Allison Rohrs
Allison Rohrs has joined SWCA’s Pittsburgh office as Senior Renewable Energy Project Manager, contributing to the continuing development of SWCA’s work in renewable energy throughout the central and eastern U.S. Allison joins SWCA from the Saint Francis University Institute for Energy, where she was the Executive Director for nearly seven years, overseeing a wide range of energy related initiatives in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Her unique and diverse work experience spans operations and maintenance of electric (wind) generators, renewable energy site development, energy policy research, and community outreach.
Allison has well established relationships with renewable energy developers, investors, manufacturers, policy makers, and other key stakeholders. She studied Environmental Science at the University of Colorado and received her master’s degree in Energy and Mineral Engineering from Penn State. Allison is also a Certified Energy Manager by the Association of Energy Engineers.
Insights from this episode:
- What permitting is and why it is important for the solar industry.
- The possible effects of energy projects on cultural and natural resources through Critical Impact Assessment ("CIA").
- The specifics of types of permitting required and how they can be impacted by different factors.
- The benefits of applying for applications early and having a plan of action for your project.
- How solar projects can be affected because of regulations varying from state to state.
Quotes from the show:
- Talking about the tiny house tour in Pennsylvania: “We could show that, even on cloudy days or days it was raining, that we are still making electricity here. And that is really powerful when you’ve been talking to a community that has only seen coal for the last hundred years. “ – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53
- “Anyone in the solar/renewable energy space is an entrepreneur in their own way.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53
- “As an industry I think that we should be, and we are, in the business of doing good things for the environment and … I think regulation kind of ensures that is what is happening.” – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53
- On the permitting process: “Start these processes early because they take a lot of time and a lot of energy and very often they can stop a project.” – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53
- “Be prepared that you might run into issues.” – Allison Rohrs, Episode #53
- On attending the Solar Power Initiative ("SPI") conference: “I was blown away with how many people are exhibiting and how packed the convention center is.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53
- Talking about the book Ego is the Enemy: “We are all biased toward our perspective.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53
- “We think Pennsylvania is one of the next big markets for solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #53
Events Mentioned:
Podcasts Mentioned:
Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu
Books Mentioned:
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Ego is the Enemy and Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday
Resources Mentioned:
SWCA “Sound Science, Creative Solutions”
Solar Power International Conference
Sept. 23 - Sept. 26, 2019 Salt Lake City, Utah
All Solar Power Events are produced by SEIA and SEPA, including the development of cutting-edge educational programs offered at each show. What sets Solar Power Events apart from other conferences is the support of these two organizations. All proceeds from the events go straight back into the industry.
State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO)
Oct. 10 - Oct. 12, 2019 San Diego, California
INFLUENCER Magazine presents the first-ever conference exclusively for up-and-coming influencers, by experienced influencers, on how to grow your personal brand, monetize your content, reach more people, and dramatically scale your business.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Allison Rohrs
Email: allison.rohrs@swca.com
Website: SWCA
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Tuesday Oct 29, 2019
Episode Summary
In this episode, Benoy and Li discuss Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), their effect on solar industry financing, and what benefits long-term solar investments can provide to businesses and homeowners in the growing solar industry. In addition, Benoy talks about upcoming conferences and events he will be attending.
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.
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:
- Details on upcoming conferences that Benoy will be attending.
- Books and podcasts that have influenced Benoy and Li and the Solar Maverick Podcast.
- The crucial role customer service plays in business and how you represent your brand.
- The details on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and how they are affecting financing and the development of the solar pipeline.
Quotes from the show:
- “We are firm believers that if you own a brand you have the right to express how you want to carry that culture.” – Li Wang, Episode #52
- “Personal branding is so huge.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- On news that US Utility Solar Pipeline has hit a new high: “It shows you that people are confident about what is happening in the solar industry. Not all these projects in this pipeline are going to get developed, but it shows you that people are confident about what is happening in the solar industry.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- “But, really, just get involved in the industry. We think all parts of the industry are going to grow.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- “The real value that we are seeing from a career perspective is a project developer.“ – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
- “Any investment involves risk, but combined with the federal incentives and the terms I’m looking at it seems like accessibility to financing is pretty good for those who do want to get involved in solar.” – Li Wang, Episode #52
- “In the past, there were a lot of good projects and not enough financing. Now there is so much financing and not a lot of good projects.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #52
Quoted by Benoy: “Ultimately, there's one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself. Nobody can take away what you've got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven't used yet.” - Warren Buffett
Podcasts Mentioned:
SMP 45: Productivity Tips and Entrepreneurial Advice from the CEO and Founder of the Number 1 Millennial Platform Called Mogul with Benoy Thanjan and Tiffany Pham
SMP 42: Live Event - How Solar Technology is Changing the World
SMP 43: 2019 Energy Storage Trends with Benoy Thanjan and Li Wang
SMP 47: Solar Financing 101 with Benoy Thanjan and Li Wang
Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu
Books Mentioned:
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Girl, Wash Your Face and Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Resources Mentioned:
The Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
PV Magazine; Off-site, In Mind
Achieving Affordable, Clean Energy Goals Through Off-Site Corporate PPAs
Conferences Mentioned:
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 New York, New York
Benoy was the Dean of the Hustle Track at the Mogul X innovative conference; made up of transformative classrooms, immersive experiences, and networking opportunities – all of which dive into the key aspects of a Mogul’s life including Failures, Work, Relationships, Health & Wellness, Travel, Finance, and Entrepreneurship. Each class is taught by the best of the best: world-class CEO’s, top executives, celebrities, and professors – taking their lifetime of learnings and expertise and turning it into actionable lessons for you.
Solar Power International Conference
Sept. 23 - Sept. 26, 2019 Salt Lake City, Utah
2019 Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar
Oct. 2 - Oct. 4, 2019 Dallas, Texas
Benoy spoke at the Deloitte Renewable Energy Seminar on Friday, October 4 in a panel on “Impact of renewable energy on the future of real estate” with Lisa Brown from Johnson Controls and Susan Nickey from Hannon Armstrong.
Oct. 10 - Oct. 12, 2019 San Diego, California
INFLUENCER Magazine presents the first-ever conference exclusively for up-and-coming influencers, by experienced influencers, on how to grow your personal brand, monetize your content, reach more people, and dramatically scale your business.
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Li Wang
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
Tuesday Oct 22, 2019
Episode Summary
In this episode, Benoy and Suzanne provide a general overview of the Community Solar program in various states and have a high-level discussion about the Community Solar initiative in New Jersey, including a deep-dive into tax credits and how they affect the development of solar projects.
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and he is also 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 and utility-scale solar plus storage projects. The company also sources financing for solar projects and hedges energy and environmental commodities. Reneu Energy has brokered $27 million in environmental commodities 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.
Suzanne Waters
Suzanne Waters is an experienced solar professional with a broad knowledge of the industry, including project development administration, marketing best practices, financial strategy, and team leadership. Before joining Reneu Energy, Suzanne worked as the Business Development Manager and Proposal Team Leader at Vanguard Energy Partners, a national solar developer, and their affiliate firm, Vanguard Energy Capital. She oversaw proposal development and contract execution and collaborated on structured finance for large scale, multimillion-dollar projects. In addition, Suzanne has extensive experience in many aspects of the PV industry, with an unmatched enthusiasm for its capabilities and a BA in Economics from Rutgers College at Rutgers University.
Insight from this episode:
- The basics of the Community Solar initiative, including how it is defined by SEIA.
- The differences in the New Jersey pilot program versus other Community Solar programs.
- How Community Solar programs are growing and what challenges are facing those programs.
- How the SREC and ITC may affect the future of these programs and customers.
- Specifics on the New Jersey incentives and their effect on other markets.
Quotes from the show:
- “Community Solar is one of the next big things in solar.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #51
- “Seems like financiers of community solar projects are getting comfortable with having a substantial number of the customers as residential and there is no long-term contracting.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51
- “Politicians love community solar because it provides access to people who would not normally have solar.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51
- Referring to the SREC: “What’s been challenging, actually, for developers who have been trying to develop projects in New Jersey for Community Solar is that they’re not sure they’ll get approved for the project and for the projects built, if they’ll qualify for that 5.1%.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51
- “The word mediocre stings a little bit when you hear it.” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #51
- “If you really want to do big things, you have to be uncomfortable.” – Benoy Thanjan, Episode #51
- “Carpe Solum. For those of you that don’t know, it means: seize the sun” – Suzanne Waters, Episode #51
Benoy’s quote of the day: “If you don’t dream big, you’ll only ever be mediocre.”
Podcasts Mentioned:
SMP 23: Community Solar 101 with Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters
SMP 44: Community Solar 201 with Benoy Thanjan and Suzanne Waters
SMP 19: Customer Acquisition and Billing in Community Solar with Benoy Thanjan and Eric Dahnke
Resources mentioned:
Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) - Community Solar
Stay Connected:
Benoy Thanjan
Email: info@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: @bthanjan
Website: https://www.reneuenergy.com
Suzanne Waters
Email: suzanne@reneuenergy.com
LinkedIn: Suzanne Waters
Website: www.reneuenergy.com
Subscribe to our podcast + download each episode on itunes, Podbean and youtube.
This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)