Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Emmitt sits down with Kate Collardson, a 20-year PV pro from Denver, to unpack life after OB3: layoffs, the “overqualified” trap, and the massive opportunity in orphaned residential systems. They dig into why U.S. residential solar still carries heavy soft costs (dealer fees, sales stacks), how VPPs beat peaker plants on speed, and where the next wave of jobs lives—project management, design, interconnection, tech support, and O&M. Plus: why parki...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Brittany Boyette Services LLC Brittany Boyette left corporate success to build a business around intentional, aligned marketing, the kind that sounds like you, serves your audience, and converts. We dig into her why (family, inclusion, and community), how to find your authentic voice, and the practical systems that make growth feel human: CRMs, onboarding, event planning, meeting-booking at conferences, and consistent follow-up. You’ll hear: How to sp...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Emmitt visit Vienna Austria and has a laid back socail conersation with Laarak Labbafi a PV engineer who jumped from physics to hands-on and technical support in solar, launching her career in Iran before moving to Austria. They unpack: How gender dynamics can shape early career experiences, and how to push throughIran’s solar story: sunshine abundance vs. sanctions, FiTs, and ROI whiplashWhy Europe is all-in on batteries and self-consumptionWhat O&am...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Emmitt welcomes Jill and Logan from AlertHub, a platform built to help residential solar companies pivot from installs to service. They aggregate inverter alerts across major brands, layer in a homeowner portal and payments, and streamline RMAs—so small teams can manage bigger fleets with fewer truck rolls. We unpack the origin story (from edtech to solar), policy headwinds, pricing and onboarding, and a live case where proactive alerting led to a fas...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! America’s energy story is mid-pivot. Incentives shifted, EVs are scaling, and the grid is creaking like it’s still 1947. In this episode, Emmitt chops it up with Mats Larsson of the Global Energy Transformation Institute about what full electrification really takes: winter EV range hits, smart-grid load control, VPPs (virtual power plants), and why planning this transition like Apollo—not vibes—is the move. Highlights Why the U.S. is already “highly e...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Honey isn’t just something you stir into tea; it’s a reflection of soil, flowers, and the ecosystems that sustain us. In this episode of the What’s Up Solar Podcast, Emmitt Muckles sits down with Thad of Chicago’s Westside Bee Boyz, a true “bee entrepreneur,” to explore how local honey connects us to nature in ways most people never realize. Thad shares why Chicago is full of unexpected beekeepers, how soil health changes the taste of honey, and why ...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Rebekah Carpenter didn’t just “get into” solar—she jumped on a plane to Mali to install an off-grid system after teaching herself the trade. Two decades later, she’s still providing results and calling BS where needed. We cover the early net-metering era, 48V throwbacks, the DIY wave, when batteries are smart (and when they’re just expensive), and the uncomfortable art of telling customers “this site won’t pencil.” What We Cover The Mali leap: learnin...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, I sit down with Ziwen Deng, a startup founder, innovator, and renewable energy trailblazer. We get real about the challenges of immigrant grit, the future of skilled trades, and why the renewable industry desperately needs fresh hands in the field. Ziwen shares how his journey from micro-loan projects in North Carolina farms to cutting-edge AI solutions in solar taught him the power of technology to chang...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, Emmitt Muckles sits down with Cesar Barbosa, founder of New Life Power, for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, grit, and the evolving landscape of solar energy. From pulling panels in the field to leading multi-million-dollar repowering projects, Cesar shares the truth about what it takes to stay relevant in the solar industry, why America needs to reinvest in its trades, and how he’s mentoring...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, Emmitt Muckles sits down with solar veteran and quality engineering manager David Compaan of IGS Solar. David has inspected over 3,000 PV systems and holds NABCEP PVIP and PV System Inspector certifications. Together, they dive deep into the importance of code compliance, equipment standards, and the growing need for hands-on training in the solar industry. They discuss: Why torquing matters in every inst...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this honest and wide-ranging episode, solar installer Clayton Hanks of CH Electrical joins host Emmitt Muckles to reveal what it’s really like installing solar in Southern Illinois. From fighting misleading PPA contracts and educating coal miners about solar to experimenting with agrivoltaics in his own garden, Clayton doesn’t hold back. Together, Emmitt and Clayton explore real-life challenges, the broken promises of solar sales bros, the burden o...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Aaron Nichols' solar story is unlike anything you’ve heard. From Peace Corps dreams cut short to meeting circus girls on an Ecuadorian beach, Aaron’s path into clean energy is fueled by passion, missteps, and purpose. Join host Emmitt Muckles as he and Aaron unpack the real solar story—from the ground-level door-knocking grind to creating nationally recognized solar content. In this honest and funny episode: Why solar messaging still misses the markHo...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," enacted on July 4, 2025, has dramatically and abruptly eliminated the Residential Clean Energy Credit (RCEC) for homeowner-owned systems after December 31, 2025. This legislative action starkly contrasts with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, which had extended the RCEC (a 30% federal tax credit with no lifetime limit for qualified clean energy generation and storage systems) through 2032, with a gradual phas...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Join Emmitt Muckles on the Watts Up Solar Podcast as he talks with Brick Maier of HeatSpring, a media-savvy L&D expert revolutionizing solar education. They dive deep into how AI and LMS platforms are transforming training for solar professionals and consumers alike. From the future of voice narration to the importance of consumer solar education, this episode is packed with insight and energy. 🔦 Highlights: The rise of AI in course creationWhy LM...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, host Emmitt Muckles sits down with Alex Heller, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wattch, to explore how data and digital twin technology are transforming the way we monitor, manage, and maintain solar and storage systems. Alex shares his personal journey into renewables, what sets Wattch apart from legacy monitoring platforms, and how intelligent analytics are shaping the future of O&M. From ...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this inspiring episode, Emmitt Muckles interviews Adam C. Powers, solar educator, data management expert, and community leader, about how to bring solar equity and sustainability to under-resourced communities. Adam shares his journey from Omnidian to founding KEK Tech Labs, building microgrids from second-life solar panels, and launching the 100% off-grid Solar Punk Festival in Washington state. Discover how he created a solar-powered podcast stud...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! Join us on the What's Up Solar Podcast for an illuminating conversation with Derek "The Solar Boi" Mast! Starting in 2014 with a background in electrical work, Derek quickly found his niche in troubleshooting and maintaining aging solar systems, from small residential setups to massive multi-megawatt utility projects. With master-equivalent electrical licenses in six states and multiple NABCEP certifications (PV Installation Professional, PV Commissio...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this powerful and fun episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, host Emmitt Muckles sits down with Greg Smith—a solar training legend, Navy veteran, and author of The Battery-Powered Home—to unpack the truth about solar batteries, shady “solar bros,” why manuals still matter, and how to make solar education better for both pros and homeowners. Topics We Cover: Why most consumers are misinformed before signing solar contractsWhat really goes into sizin...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, host Emmitt Muckles chats with Jacob Lundy, founder of Marketergy, a marketing firm specializing in clean energy and climate tech. With over a decade of experience and $5 million saved in ad spend for clients, Jacob dives into smart marketing tactics that actually convert. They unpack the differences in strategy for developers, EPCs, OEMs, and consultants, and explore how tools like LinkedIn, Meta, and a...

Send us a Text to Watts Up Solar Podcast! In this electrifying episode of the Watts Up Solar Podcast, host Emmitt Muckles interviews Chad Bodmer, a licensed electrician and NABCEP PV Installation Professional with over 12 years in the solar industry. Chad shares his journey from field installer to Commercial & Industrial Trainer at EnPhase Energy, and reveals how Enphase is transforming the commercial solar market with its IQ8P-3P commercial microinverters. You’ll learn: Why Enphase ...