Sounds of Solar Podcast

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 te...

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, whil...

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 devel...

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 energy flowing and why their role is...

Brenda Byers, VP of Design Management at McCarthy, joi...

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 batter...

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 insigh...

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...

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 growing role i...

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 future of the huma...

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 solar infrastructu...

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 strategic creation of...

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 demand driven b...

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 share personal anecdotes—including...

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. He discusses gro...

Join us as we welcome back Scott Alwin, Survey Manager...

In this episode of Sounds of Solar, host Christoph Bruhn and co-hosts Russell Hamilton and Prahlad Shivshankar sit down with Michael Carlson, EVS' Director of Power Studies, to explore the evolving world of renewable energy. Michael shares insights from his extensive experience in wind, solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), discussing the grid's shift from centralized to distributed generation.

Dive into the growth of solar engineering teams in this latest episode of Sounds of Solar!  Hosts Christoph Bruhn and Prahalad Shivshankaran sit down with Raj Pawar, Director of Solar PV and Battery Stor...

Dive into the nitty-gritty of substations with Co...