Sounds of Solar Podcast

What happens when the solar industry prioritizes cost over long-term reliability? In this episode of Sounds of Solar, hosts Christoph Bruhn and Prahalad Shivshankaran sit down with Create Energy Founder Dean Solon and Chief of Staff Joseph Fahrney to discuss why many of today's energy systems may not be built to last and what can be done differently. Drawing on decades of experience in manufacturi...

Minnesota has quietly become one of the nation's clean energy success stories, but what will it take to stay ahead? This day, the Sounds of Solar team sits down with Gregg Mast, Executive Director of Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM), to explore the trends shaping the state's energy future. Drawing on insights from CEEM's newly released 2026 Minnesota Energy Factsheet, Gregg discusses Minnesot...

As AI-driven load growth reshapes the energy landscape, the pressure to deliver power faster has never been higher. In this episode of Sounds of Solar hosts sit down with Sapan Vyas of RWE to unpack what that means for renewable energy development at scale. Drawing from 15 years across EPC, consulting, and owner-side leadership, Sapan explores the realities behind hyperscale data centers, intercon...

Civil engineering decisions are made early, often quietly, yet they shape the trajectory of every solar project. In this episode, EVS Director of Civil Engineering Jeremy Schultz breaks down how site constraints, permitting realities, and stormwater design influence risk, cost, and constructability long before construction begins. From navigating inconsistent AHJ requirements to real-world lessons...

What happens when solar projects outgrow the workflows built to design them? In this episode of Sounds of Solar, we talk with Clarke DeLisle, Product Development Lead at EVS, about how automation is reshaping utility scale solar engineering. Clarke shares what it looks like when traditional design workflows start to strain under growing project complexity, and how smarter tools can help engineers...

What really happens after you graduate with an engineering degree? In this episode of Sounds of Solar , emerging engineers in electrical power studies, substations, and civil engineering share candid perspectives on their first years in the renewable energy industry. From imposter syndrome and steep learning curves to mentorship, asking questions, and finding purpose in their work, this conversati...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar , we sit down with Ryan Grady, Director of Transmission at EVS, to unpack why the U.S. transmission grid is under unprecedented pressure. As aging infrastructure collides with explosive load growth from data centers, electrification, and renewable energy, transmission has become one of the most critical bottlenecks in the energy transition. Ryan explains how deca...

This Sounds of Solar conversation dives into why solar site design is under more pressure than ever and what the industry must do to keep pace. As projects grow larger and timelines tighten, traditional workflows are struggling to keep up with increasing complexity, land constraints, and grid demands. The discussion explores how smarter tools, earlier decision making, and emerging automation are h...

Agrivoltaics is having a moment and the Sounds of Solar hosts are here for it. In this lively episode, the team dives into the sunny intersection of farming and solar energy where crops, sheep, shade, and science all share the same field. From tomatoes to berries to goats with attitude, the crew explores how dual use land can boost farm productivity, cool panels, conserve water, and spark new oppo...

The hosts of Sounds of Solar dive into the realities of battery energy storage, grounding the conversation in personal stories of growing up with blackouts in Kenya and India. They explore how global grid instability shaped their understanding of energy access, then connect those experiences to today's rapid growth of BESS in the United States. The team breaks down key use cases like frequency reg...

In this episode, the Sounds of Solar team sits down with Sarah Whebbe, Senior Policy and Regulatory Affairs Associate at MnSEIA, for a timely look at Minnesota's evolving clean energy landscape. Sarah breaks down the ripple effects of HR1, from accelerated timelines to the sudden challenges facing residential solar and community-scale developers, while highlighting the bright spots that remain, in...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar , the hosts talk with Erin Duncan, Vice President of Congressional Affairs for SEIA, about how federal policy changes are shaping the future of solar and energy storage. She shares insight from Capitol Hill on the rollback of IRA tax credits, the outlook for domestic manufacturing, and what these shifts mean for developers, utilities, and consumers. EVS Vice Pres...

How does power actually move through the grid - and why can't we just "plug in" solar? In this episode, Sounds of Solar sits down with Jason Berger, SCADA Manager at EVS, to unravel the mysterious world of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). From network neighborhoods and security protocols to grid reliability and the coming wave of automation, Jason explains how SCADA systems keep e...

Brenda Byers, VP of Design Management at McCarthy, joins the Sounds of Solar podcast to share her journey from aerospace engineering to becoming a leader in renewable energy. She reflects on the industry's growth, the evolving role of women in engineering, and the importance of mentorship and advocacy. Brenda discusses how project sizes have scaled dramatically, how her teams bridge design and con...

Season 5 of Sounds of Solar kicks off with new voices and fresh perspectives! Host Chris Bruhn and returning co-host Prahalad Shivshankaran welcome two new panelists to the mic: Sheridan Henderson, civil engineer, and Walelign Kebede, power studies engineer. Together, the team dives into the latest shifts in renewable energy policy, the rise of battery storage, and why agility matters more than ev...

In this season finale of Sounds of Solar , we sit down with EVS leadership for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolution of renewable energy and where the industry is heading. From EVS's bold pivot into solar in 2014 to today's battery boom, data center demands, and the rise of AI-driven engineering tools, this episode explores what it takes to lead through uncertainty. Hear insights on policy,...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar, host Chris Bruhn sits down with EVS' President Andy Kim and Director of HR Divya Divakaran for a candid conversation on what sets EVS apart in a competitive job market. They explore how culture drives recruitment, retention, and innovation—from Gen Z hires to seasoned engineers. Learn how EVS fosters psychological safety, supports remote teams, and turns core va...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar, Michael Benitez, Senior Director of Engineering at Moss Construction , returns to discuss the evolving world of solar construction. Mike shares insights on Moss's EPC approach, the importance of construction-driven engineering, and the challenge of scaling skilled labor. We explore innovations like perovskite panels, the shift to higher voltage systems, and AI's...

Legendary explorer and environmental advocate Will Steger shares powerful stories from his groundbreaking expeditions, his eyewitness account of climate change, and his lifelong commitment to purpose-driven leadership. We explore the founding of the historic Antarctic Treaty efforts, the vision behind the Steger Center for leadership and innovation, and his outlook on renewable energy and the futu...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar , we shine the spotlight on the next generation of engineers powering the renewable energy transition. Sit down with Franc Pettang, Alyeska Dellinger, and Sam Walker—three emerging professionals at different stages in their EVS journey—to hear what drew them to engineering, how they found their way into renewables, and the surprises and challenges of building sol...

In this special Director's Roundtable episode of Sounds of Solar , host Russell Hamilton sits down with EVS veterans Teresa Lassegard, Rob Kack, and Noah Waterhouse to explore the evolution of EVS—from its roots as a small environmental firm to a 200+ person engineering powerhouse in renewables. With over 75 years of combined experience, the trio shares insight on the company's culture, the strate...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar , we invite you to pull up a chair and enjoy an indepth conversation with Alfredo Espinosa, Senior Vice President of Solar Preconstruction at Moss Construction. Alfredo shares his journey from intern to industry leader, revealing how Moss has grown into one of the top solar contractors in the U.S. We dive into the exponential growth of solar, the evolving energy...

Hosts Russell Hamilton and Chris Bruhn take a deep dive into some of the most bizarre yet fascinating renewable energy sources. They discuss body heat-powered buildings, urine-powered batteries, and piezoelectric sidewalks that turn footsteps into electricity. The duo also explores the potential of sound energy, heat-harnessing roads, and gyms that generate power from workouts. Along the way, they...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar , we welcome Eric Johnson, Geotechnical Manager at EVS, for an insightful conversation on the evolving role of geotech in solar energy. Eric shares his journey from residential and commercial projects to leading geotech for large-scale solar, highlighting the increasing project sizes and the unique challenges of soil testing, frost heave, and pile load testing. H...

Join us as we welcome back Scott Alwin, Survey Manager at EVS as he shares his journey from growing up in a surveying family to leading cutting-edge survey operations in the renewable energy sector. Learn how advancements in LiDAR technology and drone surveying have transformed data collection, improving efficiency and accuracy for large-scale solar projects. Scott dives into the critical role of...