Probably True Solar Stories
Probably True Solar Stories delves into the world of solar energy through a unique blend of fiction, urban legends, and real-world solar facts. Hosted and written by Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza, a solar pro since 2009 and a former Hollywood screen and television writer, this series aims to entertain and educate listeners about solar technology, its impact on our lives, and the people behind the solar industry.
The podcast episodes are inspired by various genres, including "Solar Noir," action, comedy, fairy tales, and thrillers, showcasing the diverse ways solar energy is integrated into our pop culture and daily lives. Each episode not only tells fictional stories about solar tech, solar workers, and solar homeowners, but also includes a wealth of factual information about the solar industry.
The podcast also weaves in contemporary solar-related issues, such as solar politics, permitting, policies, and supply chain issues, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the industry's challenges and advancements.
Probably True Solar Stories
Bonus Episode:REALLY True Solar Stories -- Live From RE+ 2024!
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we're going rogue for a midseason bonus episode! Instead of the strange and wonderful fictional solar stories that we usually tell, we're going to share some strange and wonderful REALLY True Solar Stories from actual solar workers and solar industry leaders.
There are around 279,000 solar industry workers today. And about 40,000 of those came to the RE+ conference in Anaheim, California in September 2024. And about 100 of those attendees came to my annual Social Views & Brews Happy Hour that I host with the support of the generous and beautiful people who run RE+.
After a few beers, I gave people three prompts to boost their REALLY True Solar Story memories. In alphabetical order, you'll hear stories from:
- Gwen Brown
- Tom Cheney
- Ian Hoffbeck
- Nico Johnson
- Peter Kelly
- Ryan Mayfield
- Spenser Meeks
- Jigar Shaw and Jeff Wolfe (told together)
- Greg Smith
- Jeff Spies
- Sean White
- Jim Wood
- Ben Zientara
After all those stories, I'll tell you my personal story about the solar mentor that I'll always remember and appreciate.
You can also watch this episode on the Probably True Solar YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/DSqi-MQinAE
I hope you enjoy these REALLY true solar stories. If you've never heard our fictional solar stories, explore the last three seasons at ProbablyTrueSolar.com or on your favorite podcast app.
Season Four is coming up this summer!
True Solar Takeaways
- IREC stands for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
- NABCEP stands for the The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
- Listen to Nico Johnson's Suncast podcast here or on your favorite podcast streaming service.
- Listen to Jigar Shah, Katherine Hamilton, and Stephen Lacey on the Open Circuit podcast.
- Brands mentioned in people's stories were Aurora Solar, Trina Solar, and SEG Solar, Planet Plan Sets, and Solar Reviews.
- Solar publications mentioned in this episode included PV Tech, Solar Power World, and Renewable Energy World (aka Factor This).
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