Scaling distributed solar, maximizing positive impact for communities | Tom Hunt and Bret Labadie, Pivot Energy

In this episode of Climate Positive, hosts Gil Jenkins and Daniela Shapiro sit down with Tom Hunt, CEO, and Bret Labadie, CFO, of Pivot Energy—a Colorado-based renewable energy provider and IPP that develops, finances, builds, owns, and manages solar and energy storage projects. As an ECP portfolio company and Certified B Corporation, Pivot Energy seeks to leverage its renewable expertise to deliver innovative solutions that help businesses and communities achieve meaningful decarbonization. Tom and Bret discuss Pivot Energy’s growth, the rapidly evolving community solar market,  innovative financing strategies, and the power of corporate partnerships. They also explore the expanding role of distributed solar in the clean energy transition and what lies ahead for the industry.

Bios:

• Tom Hunt is the CEO of Pivot Energy, a role he assumed in 2019. During his tenure as CEO, the company has grown by strong multiples in revenue, income, project deployment, and number of team members. In 2021, he drove a process to bring in blue-chip firm ECP as new sponsor investors for the company, allowing for renewed pursuit of Pivot's mission of making distributed generation a key part of the fight against anthropogenic climate change. A long-time community solar market leader, Tom also currently serves as the Board Chair for the Coalition for Community Solar Access, the national community solar trade association. Prior to Pivot, he oversaw corporate development, public policy, and project construction/operations for the first national community solar developer. He has also worked as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Colorado Governor's Energy Office and as a research chemist investigating biofuels synthesis methods.
• Bret Labadie is the CFO of Pivot Energy and has spent the last 18 years in escalating roles within energy finance, 8 of which have been concentrated in distributed solar. In his tenure in the renewables industry, Bret has closed debt and tax equity financings for over $600 million of distributed generation solar projects and has led three separate corporate capital processes, including the latest partnership between Pivot and ECP. Bret currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Pivot Energy, where he leads all financial, strategic, project finance, and capital market-related activities for the company.

Links:

• Pivot Energy Website
• Pivot Energy on LinkedIn
• Tom Hunt on LinkedIn
• Bret Labadie on LinkedIn
• The Kacie Peters Community Solar Garden
• Press Release: Pivot Energy Secures Over $450 Million in Major Financing of Distributed Generation Portfolios from First Citizens, ATLAS SP, and HASI (November 21, 2024) 
• Press Release: Pivot Energy Collaborates with Microsoft to Develop Up to 500 MWac of Community-Scale Solar Projects that Will Deliver Significant Benefits to Local Communities (August 8, 2024)
• Press Release: Rivian Partners with Pivot Energy to Build Community Solar in Illinois (May 22, 2024)

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