Raptor Maps’ in-house podcast profiles leaders in the solar industry
This January, Raptor Maps launched Raptor Report, a podcast covering the latest developments in the solar industry, featuring industry insiders ranging from engineers to executives. The podcast, which is released every second Monday, is hosted by Raptor Maps Data Manager Stephen Glaus and Head of Knowledge Don Nista.
In the six episodes that have so far been released, the podcast has highlighted a wide range of perspectives in the industry, including interviews with an environmental services consulting pro, an energy entrepreneur, and a commercial solar installer. The podcast is rapidly becoming a must-listen for the solar industry.
Check out highlights from the first six episodes below.
Episode 1, “No Planet B,” Featuring Raptor Maps Cofounders Nikhil Vadhavkar and Eddie Obropta
On the first episode of Raptor Report, Stephen and Don chatted with Raptor Maps cofounders Nikhil Vadhavkar and Eddie Obropta. The four discussed Raptor Maps’ founding as well as the past and future of the solar industry.
Choice quote: “I’m not big on graphic t-shirts, but I do like the ones that say, ‘there is no Planet B.’ If you want to really summarize a concept in a succinct way that makes it stick for people, we do believe that through and through.’” — Nikhil Vadhavkar
Episode 2, “It Didn’t Matter Til It Mattered,” Featuring President and Founder of Trifecta Construction Solutions Dr. Jennifer Langeul
On this episode, Dr. Jennifer Languell, the President and Founder of Trifecta Construction Solutions, discussed how solar power has been used in the 70,000-square-acre mixed-use Florida development Babcock Ranch, as well as its resilience when facing extreme weather.
Choice quote: “It didn’t matter til it mattered — no one really cared what we were doing until we were hit with a Category 4 hurricane.” — Dr. Jennifer Languell
Episode 3, “Come Save the Planet,” Featuring Director of Construction for Northeast Solar PV and Energy Storage for Ameresco Mike Williamson
Mike Williamson, Director of Construction for Northeast Solar PV and Energy Storage for Ameresco, talked about how solar farms are constructed, the complexity in how you report and work with different stakeholders, and the importance of battery energy storage systems on the third episode of Raptor Report.
Choice quote: “There’s a huge gap between what the bank wants to see and understand and what the guys in the field want to see and understand. So my role is being monkey in the middle and understanding what everyone else’s needs are and how they communicate those items, because the nomenclature changes from financing to construction.” — Mike Williamson
Episode 4, “Grandfather Solar,” Featuring Founder and President of Jupiter Power Andy Bowman
On the fourth episode of the podcast, Andy Bowman, Founder and President of Jupiter Power, discusses a career as a clean energy entrepreneur that has spanned decades and involved overseeing 3.5GW+ of wind and solar projects across the U.S.
Choice quote: “In my career, I’ve seen a lot of cases made for people to buy renewables because it was virtuous. What I’ve actually seen is the way that markets work is what they really love is, ‘what’s the best economic deal out there?’ And what I’ve seen over, you know, the last couple decades is a lot of growth and renewables because they worked in the market, because they delivered the cheapest price.” — Andy Bowman
Episode 5, “Sunshine and Skinny Jeans,” Featuring Clean Solar Hybrid Installer Dustin Hayes
Clean Solar Hybrid Installer Dustin Hayes talked about his experience installing solar for residential properties and his efforts involving energy storage systems on this episode of Raptor Report.
Choice quote: “A lot of homeowners, they’ll buy… solar and they don’t know what they’re buying half the time. It’s like you spend this much money on this system and you haven’t done the research on what it actually does.” — Dustin Hayes
Episode 6, “Make Data Matter,” Featuring Head of Downstream Development for PV Evolution Labs Chris Stearns
Chris Stearns, the Head of Downstream Development for PV Evolution Labs, came on the podcast to chat about why data related to the performance and reliability of PV module technology is so valuable to solar stakeholders.
Choice quote: “One way to mitigate risk if you have to pivot to a different vendor than the one you initially specified is to make sure the modules are performing acceptably through third-party testing. And that’s where we come in, to offer that third-party testing and to qualify the reliability of a given module and a given bill of materials.” — Chris Stearns