Best Distributing Solar Podcasts (2025)

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How Illinois passed its third big clean-energy bill in a decade 1:26:17

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3d ago1:26:17

1:26:17

Why is a deregulated state like Illinois suddenly embracing central planning? In this episode, I talk with Kady McFadden and John Delurey about the state’s decision to empower its utility commission to directly procure clean energy. We discuss why capacity markets are too slow for the current environment and their strategy of aggressively framing r…

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Leveraging Distributed Power Plants To Lower Costs — (Bonus) Episode 258 of Local Energy Rules 14:48

2d ago14:48

14:48

Learn about pending Minnesota legislation to enable distributed power plants and their potential impact on energy affordability.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/MN-virtual-power-plants-ler258/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| D…

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A Blueprint for Scalable Cooperative Solar Energy — Episode 257 of Local Energy Rules 47:53

2d ago47:53

47:53

What happens when you combine cooperative solar ownership with a clever standardized design meant to match the scale and capacity of local communities and their grids?| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/maine-cooperative-community-solar-ler257| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https:…

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What's going on in electricity world? 9:58

8d ago9:58

9:58

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.volts.wtf With load growth projections all over the map and politicians zeroing in on high electricity prices, I take a step back in this audio essay to ask how we should build the grid in the face of massive uncertainty. The answer lies in modular, distributed technologies that stre…

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State Solutions for Local Energy Action — (Bonus) Episode 256 of Local Energy Rules 13:01

10d ago13:01

13:01

Learn how state legislatures can pave the way for cities to advance clean energy and equitably address climate change.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/state-solutions-local-action-ler256/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| Don't …

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What's the deal with balcony solar? 1:07:20

10d ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Will cheap, DIY solar reach American renters? In Germany, millions of people plug solar panels directly into wall outlets like any other appliance, but in the US, red tape makes it ludicrously costly. I chat with Cora Stryker of Bright Saver about how “balcony solar” (AKA “plug-in solar”) is booming in Europe and making its way to America, starting…

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Clean electrification is inevitable 1:22:34

15d ago1:22:34

1:22:34

Energy strategist Kingsmill Bond joins me to explain why the transition to “electrotech” is unstoppable, whether or not politicians care about climate change. It’s not the reduced emissions, it’s physics (electrotech is more efficient) and economics (it’s cheaper). Despite political headwinds in the US, China and emerging economies are racing ahead…

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Data Centers, Nukes, And The Grid 8:50

15d ago8:50

8:50

AI is hungry for power, but the grid’s most precious resource isn’t just generation—it’s time. We dig into a headline‑grabbing plan to build a 1,500‑megawatt nuclear‑powered data campus in South Texas and unpack why the near‑term reality starts with on‑site gas, not fission. From regulatory approvals and factory build‑outs to fuel and financing, mo…

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The rise of solar and hope for the future | Bill McKibben 32:51

16d ago32:51

32:51

In this episode of Climate Positive, Gil Jenkins speaks with Bill McKibben: author, educator, and one of the most acclaimed environmental voices of our time. His latest book, Here Comes the Sun, traces the rise of abundant, inexpensive solar power and argues that if we keep accelerating, we have a real chance not only to limit climate damage, but a…

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How to Raise the Bar for Community Solar in Minnesota — (Bonus) Episode 255 of Local Energy Rules 27:20

17d ago27:20

27:20

Learn about the recent improvements to Minnesota's community solar program and what can be done to better encourage cooperative ownership models.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/mn-community-solar-ler255/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules…

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The Oregon Trail To Community Microgrids — Episode 254 of Local Energy Rules 51:03

17d ago51:03

51:03

Learn how this state developed a community microgrid law to enhance community resilience against power shutoffs and grid failure.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/or-community-microgrids-ler254/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ |…

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What's the deal with indoor air quality? 1:03:03

17d ago1:03:03

1:03:03

Environmentalism has typically focused on outdoor air quality, but climate change is pushing more people indoors more of the time, even as airborne pathogens and wildfire smoke challenge indoor air quality. I discuss the fight for better indoor air with Dr. Georgia Lagoudas, who recently coordinated a global pledge declaring it a basic human right.…

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Captura's high-stakes gamble 30:21

17d ago30:21

30:21

Back in January, Captura CEO Steve Oldham was sitting in a conference room in Hawaii, entertaining reps from the company’s first potential customer. What the customer didn’t know was that Captura’s ocean-based carbon removal pilot –the whole reason for the visit – still wasn’t working. The stakes were high. Steve’s team needed to prove they could p…

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The State Fighting The Feds to Lower Energy Costs – (Bonus) Episode 253 of Local Energy Rules 25:21

24d ago25:21

25:21

Learn how this state is ramping up the fight with the feds for local, clean energy affordability and access. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/MN-fights-feds-ler253/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, s…

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How to make a market for distributed energy flexibility 1:06:48

24d ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Distributed energy resources are everywhere, but connecting buyers and sellers is a coordination nightmare; I talk with James Johnston, whose company Piclo is tackling that problem head-on. He explains how they’ve built a transparent, open marketplace where utilities and other buyers can procure flexibility as a simple commodity from a wide range o…

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So, there were some elections. How'd they go? 1:01:47

26d ago1:01:47

1:01:47

In this episode, I welcome back Caroline Spears from Climate Cabinet for a post-election debrief that, unlike last year’s, is full of good news. We explore how a slate of pro-climate candidates defied expectations in tough districts across the country, driven by a powerful backlash against the Trump administration. This is a public episode. If you'…

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Boston Metal’s path to carbon-free steel 37:38

29d ago37:38

37:38

This year in the U.S., steel manufacturers will produce more than 71 million tons of steel – enough to build nearly 200 Empire State buildings. It's a stunning statistic, but not surprising. The steel industry has fueled economic growth and innovation in America since the early 1800s. But for every ton of conventional steel produced, two tons of CO…

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Octopus extends its tentacles into America 53:50

29d ago53:50

53:50

In this episode, I chat with Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, about bringing the company’s customer-focused, tech-forward model to America. We get into the details of how Octopus simplifies home energy management for its retail customers and its plan to help regulated utilities do the same. We also touch on ambitious ideas like the “Zero Bill…

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Energy Update | Week 5 – Oct 2025: Nuclear Revival, Offshore Wind Setbacks & AI Grid Innovation 6:51

29d ago6:51

6:51

In this Week 5 – October 2025 Energy Update, I take a look at another eventful week in U.S. energy — one defined by offshore wind setbacks, renewed nuclear ambitions, and AI-driven grid innovation. I start with Shell’s withdrawal from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, which leaves EDF Renewables as the sole developer after a key EPA permit was pulled.…

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The Minnesota Lawmaker Tackling Energy Problems Head-On — (Bonus) Episode 252 of Local Energy Rules 15:17

1M ago15:17

15:17

Learn about how this Minnesota lawmaker wants to tackle her state’s energy problems. Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/acomb-ler252/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your friends, leave a rec…

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Distributed Power Banishes Blackouts In Puerto Rico — Episode 251 of Local Energy Rules 40:42

1M ago40:42

40:42

It’s been eight years since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing one of the longest power outages in U.S. history and leaving behind a fragile electric grid. But Puerto Ricans have taken their future into their own hands, and thousands of locals have invested in solar panels and batteries to keep the lights on for themselves and for everyone…

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Hey governors: you can salvage sustainable transportation, but you need to do it quick! 53:16

1M ago53:16

53:16

With the White House actively dismantling clean transportation policy, what can states do to salvage progress? I talk with former DOT policy advisor Liya Rechtman about a little-known authority that lets states transfer highway dollars to fund transit, EV charging, and bike lanes. We explore how governors can use this tool, but only if they act qui…

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Michael Liebreich on a "pragmatic climate reset" 42:59

1M ago42:59

42:59

Lately, everyone from Tony Blair to Daniel Yergin is calling for a “climate reset,” so I brought on clean-energy analyst Michael Liebreich to discuss his own, very different version. While others push expensive distractions, Liebreich argues that the inexorable growth of cheap renewables is already on track to displace fossil fuels, a “tortoise” st…

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Energy Update | Week 4 – Oct 2025: Nuclear Revival, UAE Solar Boom & China’s Battery Surge 5:25

1M ago5:25

5:25

In this week’s Energy Update, I take a look at some of the biggest developments shaping the global energy landscape — from a nuclear revival in South Carolina to solar and battery breakthroughs overseas. South Carolina’s Santee Cooper has selected Brookfield as its partner to restart the long-abandoned 2.3 GW V.C. Summer nuclear plant, signaling re…

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The Job No One Does Well — (Bonus) Episode 250 of Local Energy Rules 17:53

1M ago17:53

17:53

No state in America is currently doing utility regulation well. But there’s hope.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/states-all-do-a-bad-job-ler250/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share with your frie…

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The escalating battle over renewable energy certificates (RECs) 1:09:28

1M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

In this episode I’m joined by Wilson Ricks and Killian Daly, who are involved in the process of updating the Greenhouse Gas Protocol that governs (among other things) corporate clean-energy procurement. We explore the proposed shift to requiring hourly, local matching for Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), a change designed to end the “race to t…

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Electing clean energy champions where it matters most | Caroline Spears, Climate Cabinet 40:27

1M ago40:27

40:27

In this episode of Climate Positive, Guy Van Syckle and Gil Jenkins sit down with Caroline Spears, Executive Director of Climate Cabinet, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting clean energy and climate policy leaders at state and local levels. These often-forgotten races are sometimes decided by a couple hundred votes and can also decide the fate of b…

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Energy Update | Week 3 – Oct 2025: NY Grid Strains, U.S. Fusion Plan & Amazon’s Nuclear Move 4:35

1M ago4:35

4:35

Energy Future: Powering Tomorrow’s Cleaner World with Peter Kelly-Detwiler explores the forces reshaping the global energy landscape — from grid reliability in the U.S. to renewable breakthroughs in Europe and Asia. Each episode dives into the week’s most important developments across clean energy, power markets, EVs, nuclear innovation, hydrogen, …

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BlackRock Bought Minnesota Power. What’s Next? — (Bonus) Episode 249 of Local Energy Rules 27:11

1M ago27:11

27:11

BlackRock just bought Minnesota Power. But these consumer advocates haven’t stopped fighting for utility accountability.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/after-BlackRock-ler249/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, share…

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How to Fix the Country’s Biggest Power Market — Episode 248 of Local Energy Rules 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

The PJM electricity market is embroiled in a crisis where ratepayers are being gouged to line the pockets of generation owners.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/how-to-fix-PJM-ler248/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forg…

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Can "second life" EV batteries work as grid-scale energy storage? 59:08

1M ago59:08

59:08

Redwood Materials has long dominated EV battery recycling, but what if they could drain every last drop of energy from those batteries before recycling them? I talk with the company’s CTO, Colin Campbell, about Redwood Energy, a new division doing just that by deploying used batteries as grid-scale storage at a massive scale. This isn’t just a side…

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The thermal battery transforming cold storage for India’s dairy farmers 40:37

1M ago40:37

40:37

In 2007 Sam White, co-founder of Promethean Power Systems, was traveling through India looking for a rural electrification problem to solve. He and his team had just won a $10,000 grant in an MIT competition, and they wanted to find an industry in India that needed their help. After looking at the sugar industry and the grape industry, they finally…

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Yes, you weenies: a war on cars 1:09:11

2M ago1:09:11

1:09:11

I chat with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, the hosts behind the unapologetic podcast “The War on Cars,” about their new book and the fight to reveal our car-dominated world as a political choice, not an inevitability. We explore the many ways automobiles suck, from the “motonormativity” that makes us angrier and more isolated behind the wheel to t…

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Should We Celebrate When Monopoly Utilities Embrace Distributed Energy? — (Bonus) Episode 247 of Local Energy Rules 24:25

2M ago24:25

24:25

A landmark utility proposal to own energy storage on customer property also cements its monopoly power. Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/monopoly-utilities-distributed-energy-ler247/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget…

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How to get New York back on track toward its climate targets 49:55

2M ago49:55

49:55

New York passed one of the most ambitious climate laws in the country, but is now struggling to meet its goals. I’m joined by Doreen Harris, president of NYSERDA, the agency on the front lines of implementing the law. We explore what’s working, from community solar to new transmission lines, and what isn’t, including the slow pace of scaling up ren…

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Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson on governing a blue city in 2025 1:08:17

2M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

In this episode, I talk with Seattle mayoral candidate Katie Wilson, a longtime transit and housing organizer who scored a surprise primary victory against the city’s establishment-friendly incumbent. Wilson makes the case for why her deep experience as a community organizer and coalition-builder is precisely the kind of leadership needed to restor…

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Super-deep geothermal drilling ... with microwaves 44:40

2M ago44:40

44:40

In this episode, I chat with Quaise CEO Carlos Araque about unlocking geothermal energy on a planetary scale by drilling miles into the Earth’s crust. He explains how his company’s technology vaporizes rock with microwaves to reach depths where intense heat sends the water supercritical, packing ten times the energy density of conventional geotherm…

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This VC wants climate tech to play hardball in Washington 48:46

2M ago48:46

48:46

Clean energy founders love to talk about technology, capital, and scale. But few are prepared for the fourth pillar of success: government. Shomik Dutta, a co-founder and managing partner at Overture VC, learned that lesson firsthand after a career that spanned Obama’s White House, private equity, and venture capital. His takeaway: “If you’re not a…

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Pay attention to the most important political race of 2025 1:03:31

2M ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Why should you care about a utility commission race in Georgia? Because it’s a national bellwether, a sign of how voters are going to react to skyrocketing power prices and a test of whether Democrats can get their act together. I talk with candidate Peter Hubbard and activist Brionté McCorkle about the state’s Public Service Commission, its cozine…

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Finally a Bright Spot for California Rooftop Solar — Episode 246 of Local Energy Rules 34:10

2M ago34:10

34:10

There’s still a chance to breathe new life into California’s rooftop solar ambitions.| Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/bright-spot-for-CA-solar-ler246/| Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/| Don't forget to subscribe, share with your …

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Can advance market commitments jumpstart climate’s hardest sectors? 36:56

2M ago36:56

36:56

In this episode, I chat with investor Clay Dumas of Lowercarbon Capital about the growing use of “advance market commitments” (AMCs). We discuss how this simple idea — a group of buyers commits to purchasing a set amount of a product if it can be produced — can derisk investment and jumpstart innovation in the climate economy’s toughest sectors. Cl…

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Could we get hyperscalers to buy heat pumps for households? 1:06:58

2M ago1:06:58

1:06:58

Data centers are creating a grid crunch, so what if they paid to solve it by upgrading our homes? I chat with Rewiring America’s Ari Matusiak and PG&E’s Carla Peterman about a new report proposing that hyperscalers fund household electrification to free up the grid capacity they desperately need. We explore how this reframes households as crucial e…

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Africa Minigrids Program: Global Women in Clean Energy Episode 1 36:35

2M ago36:35

36:35

Valentina Guido, Senior Associate at RMI, joins as guest host on this episode of The Energy Talk podcast recorded in Kampala, Uganda during the Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) in 2025. We discuss the Global Women in Clean Energy Fellowship program that recently launched its first cohort in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Zambia. This episode also incl…

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A New Coalition for a Distributed Energy Future — Episode 245 of Local Energy Rules 16:05

2M ago16:05

16:05

Learn about how Common Charge is fast-tracking a future where your distributed energy assets make the electric grid work better for everyone. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/energy-democracy/common-charge-ler245 | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast…

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How to clean up beer brewing and other low-temperature industries 1:00:39

2M ago1:00:39

1:00:39

High-temperature industrial heat for things like steel gets a lot of attention in clean energy world, but its somewhat less sexy cousin low-temperature industrial heat could use a little more. In this episode, I talk with Teresa Cheng (Industrious Labs) and Richard Hart (ACEEE) about how industries like beer, milk, and paper can decarbonize with in…

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Shortening the nuclear development cycle from decades to years 47:51

2M ago47:51

47:51

For decades, nuclear has struggled with cost overruns and delays — Georgia’s Vogtle plant being the latest example. Kairos Power co-founder and CEO Mike Laufer thinks the solution is to flip the script: focus first on non-nuclear demonstrations and then iterate quickly. It’s a counterintuitive and potentially risky strategy . Rapid iteration isn’t …

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A new age of wind propulsion for cargo ships | Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower 22:36

2M ago22:36

22:36

In this episode of Climate Positive, Gil Jenkins and Kenny Gayles speak with Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Norsepower, about how rotor sails are helping the maritime industry cut fuel use and emissions. By harnessing the Magnus effect with spinning cylinders mounted on cargo ships, Norsepower is delivering 5–25% fuel savings today—sometimes even more. He…

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How can Africa benefit from the critical-minerals rush? 39:48

3M ago39:48

39:48

In the past, Africa's natural resources have often proven to be a curse, leading to exploitation, corruption, and immiseration of indigenous people. Now it finds itself at the center of another resource boom, this time around the critical minerals that will fuel the clean energy transition (lithium, copper, etc.). Will this time be different? Patri…

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Are we finally getting 3D-printed batteries? 54:20

3M ago54:20

54:20

Dry printing of battery electrodes can avoid the toxic solvents and industrial ovens involved in the conventional wet process, which means a smaller physical and environmental footprint, but engineers have struggled to make it work at the needed scale and speed. Now a company called Sakuu says it has cracked the code. It is selling machines it clai…

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These Solar Tax Credits Are Still Standing — Episode 244 of Local Energy Rules 42:50

3M ago42:50

42:50

Learn how non-profit and public entities can still benefit from solar tax credits, and the three steps to getting them. | Show page available: https://ilsr.org/article/solar-tax-credits-ler244/ | Listen to all of our Local Energy Rules podcast episodes at our site: https://ilsr.org/energy/local-energy-rules-podcast/ | Don't forget to subscribe, sha…