Growing the Illinois Solar Market with Michelle Knox, WindSolarUSA | EP190
02/01/24 • 18 min
The solar industry in Illinois has come a long way over the past decade, but its continued growth relies on overcoming legislative and regulatory challenges. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague talks with Michelle Knox, owner of Wind Solar USA and former Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) board member, about the organization's crucial role in protecting and advancing rooftop solar across the state.
Michelle has been in the solar industry since 2008, starting her company to provide sustainability and energy self-sufficiency to homeowners, businesses, and farms. She shares her perspective on how the Illinois solar market has grown and matured over the past decade thanks to legislation like FEJA and CEJA.
Michelle discusses her experience serving on the board of ISEA and the importance of the organization in advancing rooftop solar through policy and advocacy work. She talks about ISEA's role in protecting net metering when policies have been threatened by utilities hitting net metering caps prematurely. Michelle also touches on the value of ISEA for solar businesses and customers, from educational resources to having a voice in key legislation and rules that shape the state's solar industry.
Michelle reflects on the economic impact of the industry's growth, going from a one-woman company to now employing multiple teams across central and southern Illinois. The conversation explores the opportunities and challenges still facing the solar market in Illinois as the state works towards its renewable energy goals.
The key to achieving Illinois' 100% renewable energy goal is ensuring the policy landscape continues to evolve through the collective voice and expertise of groups like ISEA.
Key Takeaways
- What role has the Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) played in advancing solar policy in the state?
- How does ISEA help protect net metering policies from utility efforts to undermine rooftop solar?
- What educational resources and advocacy does ISEA provide to solar companies and customers in Illinois?
- How can Illinois meet its renewable energy goals?
Social Media Handles
Wind Solar USA
Michelle Knox
ISEA
Connect with Tim
Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn
Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/
The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
The solar industry in Illinois has come a long way over the past decade, but its continued growth relies on overcoming legislative and regulatory challenges. In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague talks with Michelle Knox, owner of Wind Solar USA and former Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) board member, about the organization's crucial role in protecting and advancing rooftop solar across the state.
Michelle has been in the solar industry since 2008, starting her company to provide sustainability and energy self-sufficiency to homeowners, businesses, and farms. She shares her perspective on how the Illinois solar market has grown and matured over the past decade thanks to legislation like FEJA and CEJA.
Michelle discusses her experience serving on the board of ISEA and the importance of the organization in advancing rooftop solar through policy and advocacy work. She talks about ISEA's role in protecting net metering when policies have been threatened by utilities hitting net metering caps prematurely. Michelle also touches on the value of ISEA for solar businesses and customers, from educational resources to having a voice in key legislation and rules that shape the state's solar industry.
Michelle reflects on the economic impact of the industry's growth, going from a one-woman company to now employing multiple teams across central and southern Illinois. The conversation explores the opportunities and challenges still facing the solar market in Illinois as the state works towards its renewable energy goals.
The key to achieving Illinois' 100% renewable energy goal is ensuring the policy landscape continues to evolve through the collective voice and expertise of groups like ISEA.
Key Takeaways
- What role has the Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) played in advancing solar policy in the state?
- How does ISEA help protect net metering policies from utility efforts to undermine rooftop solar?
- What educational resources and advocacy does ISEA provide to solar companies and customers in Illinois?
- How can Illinois meet its renewable energy goals?
Social Media Handles
Wind Solar USA
Michelle Knox
ISEA
Connect with Tim
Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn
Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/
The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
Previous Episode
ITC Tax Credit Marketplace with Erik Underwood and Derek Silverman of Basis Climate | EP189
The Inflation Reduction Act has supercharged clean energy investment in the US through generous tax credits for renewable energy projects. But monetizing those credits can be cumbersome, especially for smaller project developers. My guests today are working to change that.
In this episode of The Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague speaks with Erik Underwood and Derek Silverman, co-founders of Basis Climate, about their new platform designed to help streamline and democratize tax credit transfers for clean energy projects.
Erik Underwood has spent his career developing, investing in, and operating sustainable infrastructure projects across the world for developers and private equity investors alike. Erik formerly worked at Aela Energia, Marathon Capital, and Mainstream Renewable Power.
Derek Silverman is a software engineer turned product manager, Derek was on the founding team at CrowdTangle, a social media analytics tool acquired by Facebook in 2016. Before forming Basis, he was leading product at Rewiring America.
Together they saw an opportunity to leverage technology to make tax credit transactions more efficient, enabling faster deployment of clean energy capital. They discuss how tax credit transfers work.
Erik and Derek explain how their platform brings buyers and sellers together to facilitate these transactions, reducing friction through standardized diligence checklists, documentation, and processes. They highlight how Basis Climate is focused on democratizing access to tax equity, allowing smaller project developers to tap this market rather than having to sell projects to larger players.
Erik and Derek touch on how they are expanding beyond solar, wind, and storage to support other IRA clean energy tax credits.
Key Takeaways
- How exactly do tax credit transfers work for clean energy projects?
- What are the key steps in the tax credit transfer process?
- How can tax credit transfers allow smaller developers to tap tax equity?
- What other clean energy tax credits will Basis Climate support besides solar, wind, and storage?
Social Media Handles
Basis Climate LinkedIn
Basis Climate
Basis Climate X
Connect with Tim
Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn
Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/
The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
Next Episode
Solar Finance for C&I and Community Solar with Marc Palmer, Conductor Solar | EP191
In this episode, Tim Montague interviews Marc Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of Conductor Solar, a platform that aims to accelerate commercial and community solar deals by connecting solar developers and investors to streamline project financing. Marc is a repeat guest on the show and one of the nicest people in solar. He cut his teeth on the solar industry working for Invenergy in Chicago - one of the US's largest wind and solar developers.
NOTE that there is a Clean Power Hour LIVE event featuring Marc Palmer and Nick Perugini on Feb 21, 2024: C&I Solar PPAs - Best Practices and Success Stories | Register Here
As co-founder and CEO of Conductor Solar, Marc Palmer brings extensive experience in renewable energy project finance and development to the company. With over $1.5 billion raised for clean energy projects, Marc recognized the major roadblocks to funding and building commercial and community solar projects. He founded Conductor to develop software solutions to streamline solar financing and reduce soft costs, enabling more solar projects to move forward. Marc's background in structuring and executing complex energy deals gives him valuable insight into the solar industry's needs. As CEO, he sets the strategy and vision for Conductor Solar to make commercial and community solar more accessible and affordable.
Conductor Solar is a platform to accelerate your commercial and community solar deals:
- Dozens of professional investors with gigawatts of project experience and billions of dollars deployed
- Multiple financing options for every deal
- One source for streamlined project financing
- Tools for analysis and deal acceleration
- Software-enabled efficiency and consistency across project types
Key topics covered in this episode:
The challenges developers face in financing commercial and community solar projects, including finding the right financing products and trusted partners.
- Using Conductor's platform to get estimated PPA rates to aid initial customer conversations and filter potential deals.
- Key considerations for investors in evaluating project attractiveness.
Social Media Handles
Marc Palmer
Conductor Solar
Connect with Tim
Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn
Email [email protected]
Review Clean Power Hour on Apple Podcasts
The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: [email protected]
Corporate sponsors who share our mission to speed the energy transition are invited to check out https://www.cleanpowerhour.com/support/
The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 6GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 275kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. Learn more at www.chintpowersystems.com
Clean Power Hour - Growing the Illinois Solar Market with Michelle Knox, WindSolarUSA | EP190
Transcript
You know, I've got three different teams working clear from everywhere from Bloomington, Peoria all the way down to Cairo. We just finished a big project in mounds, Illinois and one of the poorest counties in the whole state. So I'm very proud of that. And that's all been a part of the process that ISEA was was involved in.
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