Most Solar CEOs Underestimate This Risk Until It’s Too Late

What It Takes to Run 700 Solar Installs Without Breaking the Business

Shift Energy Group is trying to do something hard: grow across Canada without losing the local trust that makes solar work. In this episode, Hervé talks with Rich Lindquist and Chris Palliser about how Shift scaled from a small team to one of British Columbia’s largest solar installers, doing hundreds of installs a year across multiple provinces. They get into operations, local market challenges, community marketing, customer feedback, batteries, brand trust, and Shift’s bet on building-integrated solar through Adra. It’s a great look at what it takes to scale a solar company without becoming just another faceless national installer.

Why Fast-Growing Solar Companies Still Go Broke

John Sheldon has seen solar from just about every angle (from selling $8-per-watt systems in the early days to helping scale some of the industry's biggest customer acquisition engines). In this episode, he shares lessons from Akeena Solar, Red Ventures, and Renu Energy, breaking down why so many installers struggle to turn sales into profitable installs. They dive into customer acquisition costs, operational bottlenecks, referrals, software workflows, and the partnerships that separate thriving solar companies from those constantly fighting fires. If you're trying to grow without sacrificing margins, this conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom.

Most Solar CEOs Underestimate This Risk Until It’s Too Late

Interconnection is one of those things most solar companies don’t think about...until it becomes the thing slowing down the entire business. In this episode, Hervé sits down with Vaughan Woodruff to unpack the messy reality behind utility approvals, permitting bottlenecks, and why “people and process” issues are often bigger than the technical ones. They get into utility relationships, workforce development, community solar growing pains, and how outdated interconnection rules are colliding with modern tech like batteries, VPPs, and smart inverters. If you’ve ever had a project stuck in limbo because of utility red tape, this conversation will feel very familiar.

The $100M Solar Exit Playbook (What Most Companies Get Wrong)

Most solar companies hit a ceiling and never break through.  Geoff Mirkin did, building Solar Energy World into a $100M business and taking it all the way to a successful exit. In this episode, he gets real about what actually drives growth: disciplined operations, strong teams, smart lead gen (without the junk), and a customer experience that compounds over time. They dig into sales management, margins, cash flow, and what buyers really look for when it’s time to sell.  If you want to build a company that runs without you...and is actually worth something at the end...this is the playbook.

She Co-Founded a Solar Company, Then Built Something Bigger

What does it actually look like to build a solar company with purpose, and not lose your edge?  In this episode, Joe Marhamati sits down with Maria Kingery (360Impact, Southern Energy Management) to unpack the real journey: scaling into utility projects, implementing operating systems that don’t break your team, and why B-Corp isn’t just a badge.  They get into conscious leadership, employee ownership, and the “above vs. below the line” mindset that changes how decisions get made. If you’re trying to grow without burning out your people (or your mission), this one’s worth it!