Episode 60: Yann Brandt on Why Solar Needs Bigger Ideas, Better Advocacy, and More People Willing to Take Risks

One comment from my latest Scaling Clean guest, Yann Brandt, really stuck with me.

He said that as a CEO, by the time an idea reached his desk, it had been filtered, softened, and stripped of what made it interesting.

That's why he wants more people (especially younger professionals) to speak up, ask questions, and not be afraid to bring new ideas to the table.

After nearly two decades across the solar industry and 14 years publishing SolarWakeup, Yann has offered many thought-provoking ideas to our industry.

Here are three takeaways from our conversation:

🔹 The solar industry can't afford to be passive in politics. Solar may have bipartisan support among voters, but policy still determines how quickly the industry can grow. Yann argues that companies need to view political engagement as a core business function.

🔹 The best leaders want to hear fresh ideas. His advice to younger professionals is to never assume your voice doesn't matter. Thoughtful ideas only make an impact if you share them.

🔹 Consistent writing and reading build better thinking. Fourteen years of publishing SolarWakeup sharpened Yann's perspective on the solar industry by forcing him to read deeply, form opinions, and challenge his own assumptions.

Yann also argued that the ITC isn't just an incentive for the industry, but a tool to keep electricity affordable. Lowering the cost of building solar projects helps deliver lower-cost power at a time when consumers need it most.