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Description
Probably True Solar Stories delves into the world of solar energy through a unique blend of fiction, urban legends, and real-world solar facts. Hosted and written by Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza, a solar pro since 2009 and a former Hollywood screen and television writer, this series aims to entertain and educate listeners about solar technology, its impact on our lives, and the people behind the solar industry.
The podcast episodes are inspired by various genres, including "Solar Noir," action, comedy, fairy tales, and thrillers, showcasing the diverse ways solar energy is integrated into our pop culture and daily lives. Each episode not only tells fictional stories about solar tech, solar workers, and solar homeowners, but also includes a wealth of factual information about the solar industry.
The podcast also weaves in contemporary solar-related issues, such as solar politics, permitting, policies, and supply chain issues, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the industry's challenges and advancements.
50 Episodes
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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
(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...
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...
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/...
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...
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, you’ll hear a live storytelling about two solar pros who decide to get married at a solar conference in Las Vegas. But when the wedding gets unexpectedly interrupted, the solar industry comes to the rescue.Watch the live video performance here: https://youtu.be/YyhWQi1d2ZE True Solar TakeawaysRE+ is the largest annual U.S. solar and renewable energy conference. It's held in various locations every year.Abby Hopper is the head of SEIA, the leading U.S. ...
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude our limited series, "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." It's about two neighbors who unexpectedly form an odd friendship and work to uncover a solar energy crime syndicate. But arresting the syndicate’s leader turns out to be more complicated than they expected.Previous Solar Heist episodes:Listen to Part 1 here.Listen to Part 2 here.Listen to Part 3 here.Listen to Part 4 here.Listen to Part 5 here.Listen to Part 6...
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 10 of "The Solar Heist" series. Mrs. Prout returns to Mazz and Charlie’s house to give them a warning. But Mazz and Charlie are already in Chico. Despite her efforts, it’s just bad timing for Sylvia, and really, for everyone...If you missed any of the previous Solar Heist episodes:Listen to Parts 1-6 here. Listen to Part 7 here.Listen to Part 8 here.Listen to Part 9 here.True Solar Takeaways (Careful! Spoilers!)Building solar proj...
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, "The Solar Heist" series continues. Charlie goes to Chico, California to hunt for "CATs," --certain awful things--buried at a landfill that’s about to become a new solar farm. Meanwhile, Mazz tries to calmly educate the solar farm’s opponents without doing ... certain awful things.To catch up with the previous episodes:Listen to Parts 1-6 here.Listen to Part 7 here.Listen to Part 8 here.True Solar TakeawaysAs part of the solar project development...
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, Sylvia Prout, the widow of Richard Prout, visits Mazz and Charlie looking for answers about her husband's apparent murder. After some intense questioning and bourbon Irish coffees, Sylvia asks Mazz and Charlie for a favor that they can't refuse.If you missed the earlier episodes with Richard Prout, listen to episodes 3, 4, 5, and 6. True Solar TakeawaysPTO is a common utility solar acronym for Permission to Operate. It's the final go-ahead from t...
On the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 7 of The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business. When an intruder breaks in and holds a gun to the head of Mazz's wife, Mazz, Charlie, and Beth come to the rescue. But doing so risks blowing Charlie's cover and the entire DOE intelligence operation.Listen to the previous episode here: The Solar Heist, Part 6: Trust Listen to all six previous chapters in a single episode here: The Solar Heist, Parts 1-6T...
Welcome, solar fiction fans to the Season 3 preview of Probably True Solar Stories!Last season's theme was "Solar Noir." For Season 3, it's a presidential election year, so our stories are going to explore politics and the #EnergyDeepState. Listen to this episode to hear about the next ten solar stories. Note: The first five episodes will mark the conclusion of "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into The Solar Business." Listen to The Solar Heist, Part 6 to refresh your memory about la...
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