America needs more electricity. But between recognizing that need and actually putting new power on the grid sits a complicated mix of policy, manufacturing, permitting, interconnection, capital, and community trust.
Recorded live at the CHESSA Energize Summit, this conversation looks at that challenge from three different points in the industry. Robin Dutta, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Solar & Storage Association, explains how policy and industry advocacy shape the market companies are trying to build in. Carlos Class, CEO of Goldi America, offers a firsthand look at the capital, certification, supply-chain work, and risk involved in bringing solar manufacturing back to Virginia. And Drew Price, co-founder of Hexagon Energy, shares what years of project development have taught him about interconnection uncertainty, resilient project portfolios, and why relationships with local communities can determine whether a good project ever gets built.
Together, the conversation gets beyond the simple call to “build more power” and into what doing that actually requires.
Expect to Learn:
🔹 Why interconnection and permitting delays are killing viable solar projects
🔹 How changing federal policies threaten domestic manufacturing investments
🔹 Why building American solar supply chains takes years, not months
🔹 How community trust can determine whether a project gets built
If you build, finance, manufacture, permit, or advocate for energy projects, this episode offers a practical look at the work between policy and power.
The technology is ready. The demand is here. What's stopping deployment?
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.
If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.
Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!
You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.
Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 950 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.
We'd love if you'd leave us a 5 ⭐ rating & review and it's never been easier: https://www.ratethispodcast.com/suncast
Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/
You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus
(00:00) Bridging the Clean Energy Deployment Gap
(02:16) Navigating Post-IRA Federal Policy Shifts
(04:31) Local Siting Moratoria and Storage Regulation
(05:51) Fixing Clean Energy's Main Street Messaging
(08:48) Overcoming Local Resistance to Domestic Manufacturing
(13:55) The Ecosystem Behind Domestic Solar Content
(16:51) Capital Disparities: Clean Energy vs Data Centers
(20:54) Supply Chain Lead Times and Tariff Volatility
(27:32) Interconnection and Permitting as Deal Killers
(29:02) Surging Power Demand vs Decadal Timelines
(30:33) Risk Management and Portfolio Resiliency
(32:50) Building Community Trust to Win Local Permits
(37:44) Reforming Virginia Interconnection and Shared Solar
(38:23) Unifying the Industry Against Collective Headwinds
