Solar Power Hour

In Episode 8 of The Solar Power Hour, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare break down the question everyone’s asking: Do I qualify for solar—and how do I avoid getting burned by the wrong company? They explain what actually makes a homeowner a strong solar candidate (credit, roof age, sun exposure, time in the home, tax liability), why Sun Collectors focuses on ownership over leasing, and how “lock...

In Episode 7 of The Solar Power Hour, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare break down the new mission behind Sun Collectors: repairing the reputation of solar in Central Illinois. After six years in the community, they explain why that mission matters now more than ever. With solar companies pulling out of the market, homeowners being left without support, and misinformation still spreading, this e...

In Episode 6 of the Sun Collectors / Solar Power Hour Podcast, founder William Grant and co-host Austin Bare unpack one of the most confusing topics in solar right now: what’s really happening with the federal Investment Tax Credit, the Inflation Reduction Act, and Illinois Shines/SREC incentives. They walk through how the ITC evolved, why it’s now tied to the IRA, and what the current political “...

In Episode 5 of the Sun Collectors / Solar Power Hour Podcast, founder William Grant and co-host Austin Bare kick off 2025 with a candid look at where the solar industry stands after a massive year-end push before Illinois’ net metering changes. They rewind through a strong Q4, talk about companies that didn’t survive 2024, and explain why the outfits still thriving are the ones focused on best pr...

In Episode 4 of the Sun Collectors Podcast, William Grant sits down with Pam Perrilles, Executive Director of CASA of the Peoria Area, to talk about how everyday people can become a voice for kids in the abuse and neglect court system. Pam shares what CASA volunteers actually do, why there are 1,700 pending cases across five counties, and how a small team is working to give more children someone i...

Episode 3 of the Sun Collector Podcast, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare break down the real money behind going solar in Illinois — from the 30% Federal Tax Credit to the Illinois Shines SREC program and everything in between. They walk through exactly how the federal tax credit works, what the taxable liability requirement means for you, and how to roll it over if you can't use it all at once....

In Episode 2 of the Sun Collectors Podcast, founder William Grant and co-host Austin Bare slow things down to answer the big question: how does solar actually work, and what does the real process look like from first conversation to final inspection? Austin walks through the full journey—reviewing power bills, projecting future usage, designing custom systems, and even explaining when solar is not...

In Episode 1 of the Sun Collector Podcast, founder William Grant and co-host Austin Burke rewind to where it all started—before 3,000+ installs—to share how a small solar company survived and grew in Peoria, Illinois. William explains how he went from electrical engineer to knocking doors in Colorado and Nevada, seeing firsthand how big solar companies ignored the communities that needed help most...