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Probably True Solar Stories

Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza

57 episodes

7 months ago

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we're going rogue for a midseason bonus episode! Instead of the strange and wonderful fictional solar stories that we usually tell, we're going to share some strange and wonderful REALLY True Solar Stories from actual solar workers and solar industry leaders. There are around 279,000 solar industry workers today. And about 40,000 of those came to the RE+ conference in Anaheim, California in September 2024. And about 100 of those attendees came to my a...

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Performing Arts,

All content for Probably True Solar Stories is the property of Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we're going rogue for a midseason bonus episode! Instead of the strange and wonderful fictional solar stories that we usually tell, we're going to share some strange and wonderful REALLY True Solar Stories from actual solar workers and solar industry leaders. There are around 279,000 solar industry workers today. And about 40,000 of those came to the RE+ conference in Anaheim, California in September 2024. And about 100 of those attendees came to my a...

Show more...

Performing Arts,

Episodes (20/57)

Probably True Solar Stories

Bonus Episode:REALLY True Solar Stories -- Live From RE+ 2024!

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we're going rogue for a midseason bonus episode! Instead of the strange and wonderful fictional solar stories that we usually tell, we're going to share some strange and wonderful REALLY True Solar Stories from actual solar workers and solar industry leaders. There are around 279,000 solar industry workers today. And about 40,000 of those came to the RE+ conference in Anaheim, California in September 2024. And about 100 of those attendees came to my a...

7 months ago

48 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

The Naked Solar Lady (Encore)

On the next encore episode of Probably True Solar Stories, a semi-sweet retired teacher gets inspired by Greta Thunberg to advocate for solar energy. But when her neighbors make excuses for not getting a solar quote, she starts a radical social media campaign that almost gets her arrested by the local Sheriff.True Solar TakeawaysThis story is fiction, but Greta Thunberg is very real and a true climate action activist. You can follow her on Twitter and on Instagram, and you can follow he...

1 year ago

16 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

A Murder of Solar Crows (Part 2)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude "A Murder of Solar Crows." Four thieves have tried to strip two solar farms of their expensive copper wires, solar panels, and other equipment. But a brown tabby cat and her animal friends keep getting in their way. Will the gang finally beat her on their third and final job?True Solar TakeawaysListen to Part 1 here: https://www.probablytruesolar.com/murder-crows/A line of crows on a tree limb or electrical wire is called "A murder of...

1 year ago

19 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

A Murder of Solar Crows (Part 1)

Four thieves break into three solar projects during long holiday weekends, trying to steal the solar panels, copper wire, and other equipment. But each time they try, a brown tabby cat stops them with deadly consequences. True Solar TakeawaysA line of crows on a tree limb or electrical wire is called "A murder of crows."Kelptovoltaics is the term for the act of stealing solar equipment from a solar project.Theft of solar modules, inverters, copper cabling, and other valuable equipment from so...

1 year ago

21 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Bob, the Dog, and the Solar Vineyard (Encore)

Bob is a winemaker who is having a mid-life crisis. Trying to pull it together, he converts the oldest part of his vineyard into a solar farm, adopts a lost dog, and tries to make great wine. But nothing goes as planned, so he decides to take a psychedelic trip that takes him on a solar magical mystery tour that sparks joy in everyone—especially the dog.True Solar TakeawaysVineyards use a tremendous amount of energy for irrigation pumps, refrigeration, bottling operations, and resort energy c...

1 year ago

30 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Rufus the Solar Guard Dog (Encore)

Rufus, a pet and mascot of a solar installer, is dognapped out of the installer's truck while on the job. A chase ensues, but we learn that the dog, the solar installer, and the dog napper aren't quite what they seem.True Solar TakeawaysAs of 2020, there are 20,000 military veterans in the solar industry, making up about 9% of the solar workforce.IREC, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, supports veteran training programs. Get more information on these programs here.The Solar Ready...

1 year ago

15 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

I'm Sorry, Ma'am, But You Can't Go Solar (Encore)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, a feisty senior citizen is determined to haggle with a solar salesman to buy the solar system of her dreams. But her haggling plans fall through when an honest salesperson refuses to sell an installation at any price. Can they find the solar win-win?True Solar TakeawaysNot every home is a good fit for solar. The home may have too many trees or other obstacles that block the sun--and solar production. The home may need a new roof. The home's wiring...

1 year ago

14 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

The Red Knight and the Dawn of the Solar Dragon (Encore)

Once upon a time, there were honest and friendly dragons who heated the boilers for steam-powered electric turbines. But due to the high cost of dragon energy, the King decided that the dragons needed to be replaced, sparking a bloody dragon war that led to the invention of solar power. True Solar TakeawaysFossil fuel-based generators work by burning fossil fuels, which boil water to high temperatures. The boiled, high-pressure water produces steam that spins an electric turbine, generat...

1 year ago

57 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

The Solar Way: A Fable (Encore)

Gather around the fireplace, solar friends. Pull up a seat at the bar. On the next, Probably True Solar Stories, we're going to tell a solar fable. It's a fairytale. A hero's journey sort of thing. With a Texas accent. (Forgive me in advance.)It's about a young, ambitious solar installer who seeks her fortune to be the most successful solar installer in all the land. And like many fables, our ambitious installer meets a wise guide--or in this case, a wise couple--who teaches her about T...

1 year ago

17 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

We Have a Pigeon Problem (Encore)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we have a pigeon problem. When a new solar owner sees that a pigeon is unrelentingly shit-bombing her brand-new solar array, she calls in a critter pro to do the dirty work. But then she discovers that her pigeon also has a problem, and the solution becomes complicated...Indeed, it's a probably true solar panel pigeon poo-poo problem that's probably more problematic than precisely pronouncing this preposterous sentence 10 times fast.But instead of doin...

1 year ago

26 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

The Caveman, the Devil’s Tools, and the Grid (Encore)

Two teenagers are having a private moment in the hills above a utility substation when suddenly they happen upon a terrorist intent on bringing down their local grid. Will the teens escape and defeat the terrorist? Yes, but only with the help of modern-day cleantech resources...True Solar TakeawaysTerrorists have been attempting to disrupt the grid by firing rifle shots at the transformers of utility substations. Here are some news clips about these incidents:FBI thwarts neo-Nazi plot to atta...

1 year ago

25 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Why Solar Man Joined the Ultra League of Super Defenders (Encore)

There's a new superhero in town. His name is Solar Man, and he's here to help the world, but not in the way you might think. To defeat his arch-nemesis, Solar Man reluctantly decides to join the Ultra League of Super Defenders, a band of superheroes that are beyond the law. But will Solar Man be able to show his Super Solar strengths and pass the audition?True Solar TakeawaysThe U.S. solar industry installs the equivalent of a residential solar installation every 39 seconds. All so...

1 year ago

14 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Murder by Solar Drone (Encore)

A solar installer thinks he hears a gunshot while performing a drone solar site survey. The shot--if it was a shot--came from the ranch house of his ex-fiancé. Can the solar installer’s drone footage solve the gunshot mystery? And even if it does, will anyone believe him?True Solar TakeawaysDrones are an increasingly common tool for inspecting and designing residential solar systems.A "POI" is an acronym for a drone circling program. It stands for "Point of Interest."Solar design software inc...

1 year ago

27 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Probably True Solar Songs: A Ballad for Greta T (Live-ish)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, you’ll hear a new Probably True Solar Song that was inspired by the relentless climate action and advocacy of Greta Thunberg. True Solar TakeawaysWe loved this song so much that we made a music video version. Check it out at: https://youtu.be/T69fNdXsS9gListen to the original solar music pioneers and their real solar music written and sung by humans:Christie McCarthy & Jam Session - "Rise and Shine" - Watch it here.Cell Test Dummies - "Pure Energy ...

1 year ago

6 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Probably True Solar Songs: Bye Bye Utility Bill. Hello, Solar Thrill! (Live!... Kind of)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we return for our second Probably True Solar Song about a woman who decides to break up with her utility and fall in love with solar power. True Solar TakeawaysThis solar breakup song was inspired by my friend, "Solar Rosana" Francescato's blog post. Solar can and does reduce utility bills, but your payback time and ROI will vary on many factors. With some utility rates, your best option is to install solar with batteries.Check out the original so...

1 year ago

7 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Probably True Solar Songs: The Solar Coaster Life (Sort of Live)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we introduce our music division: Probably True Solar Songs. You'll also learn about our new solar-themed dive bar, meet the band, and hear our first future hit solar song, "The Solar Coaster Life." True Solar TakeawaysCheck out the original solar music pioneers and their real solar music written and sung by humans:Christie McCarthy & Jam Session - "Rise and Shine" - Watch it here.Cell Test Dummies - "Pure Energy (The Solar Song)" - Watch it here.Th...

1 year ago

7 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Good Afternoon, Dude. I'm Solar Sam, Your Solar Salesbot (Encore)

(The following is an encore episode from 2022, but all the info is still "probably true.")On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we imagine how the AI and robots of the future could affect solar sales in the year 2040. On the surface, it seems great, but there's a bit of a twist at the end... NOTE: This Probably True Solar Story does reference when two people fall in love, yada, yada, yada. So you should probably listen to this one when young kids aren't listening and it's just you and your...

1 year ago

22 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

The Psychic, the Solar Installer, and the CPUC

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, a psychic predicts a sunny future for a struggling solar installer and the entire California solar industry. But when the installer doesn’t believe her, the psychic makes a bet that could cost him a free solar installation. Can the psychic really change the installer's future or the CPUC?True Solar TakeawaysRecent decisions by the California Public Utilities Commission have resulted in 17,000 solar job losses in California, and there could be more.http...

1 year ago

20 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

Our Solar State of the Union: The Energy Deep State

On the next Probably True Solar Stories., we imagine what a fictional President Biden --a.k.a. "Dark Brandon"-- could have said at his 2024 State of the Union to bring more urgency about our global climate crisis and current solar and clean energy solutions.True Solar TakeawaysClimate Crisis and the Urgency to ActThe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has consistently reported the urgency of acting on climate change to avoid catastrophic impacts. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/...

1 year ago

18 minutes

Probably True Solar Stories

How Winnie-the-Pooh Went Solar (with Tigger Too!)

On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we revisit the story of how Winnie-the-Pooh went solar, but this time, with a certain Pooh character who wasn’t part of the public domain… until now. True Solar TakeawaysAs Christopher Robin mentioned, you should always get at least three solar quotes before selecting a solar installer.The typical solar system consists of the solar panels, the inverter, and the racking.An inverter converts the solar panel's direct current (DC) electricity into th...

1 year ago

19 minutes