Watts Up Renewables

⚡ This Father's Day Special is one of our most meaningful episodes yet. We step away from the technical side of renewable energy to celebrate the people who make it all worthwhile—our families. 💙🌎 🎙️ Host Adam Tiefenthaler is joined by his son, along with three other fathers and their sons who have all been shaped by the renewable energy industry. Together, they share stories, laughs, and hones...

💥 At ACP 26, we had the privilege of talking with Milton Floch of Holt Wind Resources for a conversation that celebrates a remarkable career in renewable energy. As Milton prepares for retirement, he reflects on the path that brought him into the industry, the projects and people that shaped his journey, and the lasting impact he's made along the way. 👷‍♂️ From the relationships he's built to th...

⚡ At ACP 26, talked with Forrest Dyer of OEL Worldwide Industries to discuss what makes their family-owned business stand out in the renewable energy industry. Forrest shares how a strong commitment to family values, customer relationships, and quality service has helped shape OEL's success. 🤝 We also talk about the importance of company culture, building trust, and staying true to your mission...

What happens when Formula 1 engineering meets renewable energy? 🚀⚡ At ACP 26, we sat down with Ben Wood of Anakata Wind Power Resources to explore how innovative aerodynamic technology is helping wind turbines perform better than ever. Drawing inspiration from the high-performance world of Formula 1 racing, Ben and his team are developing advanced blade attachments designed to improve efficiency...

🚂 The next railroad tie you see could be made from a retired wind turbine blade. ♻️ In this episode of Watt's Up Renewables, we sit down with Sean Baisden, President of Pitbull Shredding Solutions, to explore an innovative approach to sustainability that's turning heads across multiple industries. Sean shares how his company is taking retired wind turbine blades and transforming them into composi...

At ACP 26, we chat with Dylan Ragsdale of Here to Serve Renewables for a conversation full of energy, perspective, and encouragement. As a second-generation renewable energy professional, Dylan shares what it's like growing up around the industry and how he's carving out his own path while carrying forward the lessons and values passed down to him.

On this episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we sit down with Steven Errickson of Eriksun Energy and Tyrone Amos of Altair Energy Services for a conversation packed with real-world stories, leadership insight, and lessons learned from life in the field. ⚡🌎 Steven and Tyrone have worked closely together across multiple projects over the years, building not just successful working relationships, but a...

Joe Chacon of Padge LLC returns to the podcast for one of our most technical conversations yet. ⚡🔧 In this episode, we dive deep into the engineering side of renewable energy — from why thermodynamics matters more than most people realize, to the growing challenges and demands of system engineering across modern energy infrastructure. Joe breaks down how small design decisions can create massive...

On this episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we sit down with Gareth Brown and Andrew Brunskill from Clir Renewables to dive into the rapidly evolving role of AI and data analytics in the renewable energy industry. ⚡📊 We explore how artificial intelligence is helping reduce technical uncertainty, improve decision-making, and create more resilient and profitable renewable energy assets. Gareth and An...

In this episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we sit down with Kevin Doffing of Project Vanguard for a conversation on The Power of Veterans. ⚡🪖 We dive into a perspective that’s not talked about enough in the industry — energy as a matter of national security. Kevin breaks down how our energy system can be viewed through the lens of combined arms in the military, where coordination, redundancy, and...

In this powerful episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we sit down with Mike Williams — a renewable energy trainer who’s deeply passionate about building a stronger, safer industry from the inside out. ⚡🦺 We dive into a critical question that doesn’t get asked enough: Are we actually training the people we promote into leadership roles? From new leads to managers, the expectation to lead safely is th...

In this episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we welcome back Ian Steele of Here To Serve Renewables for a powerful, real-world conversation on leadership and industry growth. ⚡🎙️ We kick things off by diving into what truly separates great managers from the rest. From autocratic styles to influencer-driven leadership, Ian breaks down the different approaches to management — what works, what doesn’t,...

In this episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we welcome back Stephen San Juan of Rise Renewable Energy — a company dedicated to developing, training, and supporting the technicians who keep this industry moving. This conversation dives deep into the growing demand for medium voltage (MV) and high voltage (HV) expertise as renewable energy systems continue to scale. Stephen shares real-world insights o...

In this special episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we welcome back a familiar voice — Colton Tiefenthaler — for a conversation that blends career insight, industry perspective, and real-life milestones. Colton shares his unique journey from pursuing a degree in political science to discovering the vast opportunities within the renewable energy industry. From breaking into the field to navigating the...

In this episode of Watts Up Renewables, we sit down with Josh Rogers, founder of Truckroll, for a powerful conversation about the evolution of technicians in the renewable energy industry and the often-overlooked topic of mental fitness in the field. Josh shares his journey from military service into the renewable energy sector, beginning in residential solar, transitioning into wind energy, and e...

In this episode, we welcome back Jeremy Norris of Wind Power Solutions for a powerful follow-up conversation on where the wind industry is headed — and what it takes to build a company with integrity at its core. We dive deep into one of the most important conversations in renewables today: blade recycling. Jeremy shares how Wind Power Solutions is tackling end-of-life challenges head on, why sust...

In this episode of Watt’s Up Renewables, we sit down with Dave J Reece, Founder of BHive Live, a platform built to change the way renewable energy technicians connect with opportunity. After spending decades in the wind industry, Dave has seen firsthand the challenges technicians face when trying to showcase their skills, track their experience, and connect with the right companies. He’s also seen...

When it comes to remote operations centers, David Grant is the guy. In this episode, we sit down with David, co-founder of Flagstone ROC, a remote operations center based out of Tehachapi, to break down what it really takes to monitor, secure, and optimize renewable assets at scale. If you’ve ever wondered how modern ROCs actually work behind the scenes, this conversation sets the bar. 🔐⚡ We dig...

Kasper shares his journey from the Danish military into instructing the next generation of wind technicians—and why those two worlds naturally go hand in hand. From discipline and preparation to accountability and mindset, he explains how real-world experience shapes better training outcomes. We dive into why it’s critical for instructors to truly understand what it takes to service a turbine, not...

In this episode, we sit down in the Truckffice while on an active wind energy jobsite in Nebraska with Ross Bohmann of Altair Energy Services. With turbine blades actively being set, the conversation captures a real-time perspective from the field. Ross shares an update on where Altair Energy Services is today and what has fueled the company’s continued growth. We dig into the operational philosop...

In this episode, we sit down with Phil Horwitch, co-founder of AMH Holdings, to break down what it really takes to move utility-scale renewable projects from concept to construction—efficiently and intelligently. Phil’s mission is clear: help renewable energy developers and EPCs accelerate project success by balancing deep technical expertise with cost-efficiency and real-world field experience....

In this episode, we’re joined by Marcus Yarnold—an experienced wind technician, trainer at Optimum Academy, and part owner of TNT Torque and Tensioning. Marcus brings a unique perspective from working in the field, training others, and building a business within the renewable energy industry. In this conversation, we cover: 🌬️ Marcus’s journey from wind tech to trainer and business owner 🛠️ Real-w...

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Selene Horne, a traveling wind technician with Altair Energy Services who’s proving—every day—that skill, grit, and work ethic matter more than stereotypes. 💪🌬️ As a newer technician in the field, Selene is already keeping pace with the best of them. We dive into what it’s really like being a woman in renewable energy, the challenges she’s faced on site,...

As the clock resets and a new chapter begins, we’re celebrating the only way we know how — together. 💛 In this special New Year episode, we pull back the curtain and invite you into a more personal side of the show as our host, media manager, and their significant others come together to reflect on the year that was and toast to what’s next. From popping champagne 🥂 and exchanging Christmas gift...

It all starts with circus performers in Ecuador. 🎪🌎 In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Nichols of Exact Solar, who shares one of the most unforgettable “foot-in-the-door” stories in renewable energy — a journey that proves opportunity can come from the most unexpected places. From there, we dive into why the renewable energy industry needs better PR and marketing, how emotion and storytelli...