Are rural communities really losing out to solar farms? The data tells a completely different story.

Today on the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague sits down with Ethan Loomis, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Strategic Economic Research (SER), to unpack the real economic impact of utility-scale wind, solar, and battery projects on rural America.

What you'll discover in this episode:

The Economic Layer Cake: Ethan breaks down the three levels of economic impact from renewable projects - direct jobs (construction and O&M), indirect benefits (local supply chain), and induced effects (hotels, restaurants, gas stations benefiting from workforce influx).

Mind-Blowing Tax Revenue Numbers: Illinois alone has generated over $483 million in property tax revenue from wind and solar projects since 2003, with McLean County receiving $78 million and school districts seeing $1-2 million annually in additional funding.

The Farmland Myth Busted: Learn why the "paving over the breadbasket" argument doesn't hold water - most projects use less than 1% of county farmland, and solar is 10x more energy-efficient than corn ethanol (which uses 45% of U.S. corn production).

Real-World Case Studies: SER has analyzed over 500 projects across 38 states, providing concrete data on how these projects transform rural economies without significantly impacting agricultural production.

Community Engagement Strategies: Practical advice for developers on navigating NIMBY opposition and building genuine community support through transparent economic analysis.

The Rural Reality Check: Why struggling rural communities with declining populations and automated farming are finding renewable energy projects to be economic lifelines.

📅 Don't Miss: Learn about SER's annual Illinois Renewable Energy Conference (September 30-October 1 in Normal, IL) with early bird pricing ending June 30th.

Visit strategiceconomic.com to explore their library of publicly available economic impact reports.

Connect With Ethan Loomis

LinkedIn: Ethan Loomis

Website: Strategic Economic Research

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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

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

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague sits down with Carl Moose, partner at Greenlight Energy Solutions, to explore how businesses and homeowners in the Midwest are transforming their biggest liability, their roof, into a profitable energy asset.

Carl, a former banker turned solar developer, reveals why Illinois has become one of the top 10 distributed generation markets in the US, despite not being known as a traditional "solar state." He breaks down the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) that created a 10-year runway of healthy renewable energy credits, making solar financially compelling for residential, commercial, and community solar projects.

Key insights you'll discover:

• Why 50% of roofs need reconditioning before solar installation and how to overcome this major obstacle
• The "airline fuel futures" strategy for locking in energy costs with solar
• How space-age satellite technology is trickling down to make rooftop solar more efficient than ever
• The three-part business case: turning liabilities into assets, fixing variable expenses, and leveraging federal/state incentives
• Why net metering changes are driving the storage opportunity in Illinois
• Real-world ROI scenarios showing 4-5 year payback periods with 15+ years of additional savings

Carl also shares the evolution of Greenlight Energy Solutions, from a traditional construction company to a full-service solar EPC, and explains their "BMW not Chevrolet" approach to quality components and installation.

Whether you're a facility owner looking to reduce operating costs, a solar professional seeking market insights, or simply curious about the energy transition happening in America's heartland, this episode delivers actionable intelligence on one of the country's hottest solar markets.

Connect with Carl Moose

LinkedIn: Carl Moose

Email: carl@greenlightenergy.solar

Website: Greenlink Energy Solutions

Support the show

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

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: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

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 faces unprecedented challenges as Congress advances budget reconciliation legislation targeting clean energy incentives. In this episode, hosts Tim Montague and John Weaver discuss survival strategies, market adaptations, and breakthrough developments amid policy uncertainty.

🚨 MAJOR POLICY DEVELOPMENTS
Budget Reconciliation Bill Impact

• Residential solar tax credits under threat - House passes bill targeting clean energy incentives
• SEIA projects massive industry impact: 330,000 jobs lost, 331 factories closed, $286 billion in investments erased
• Mosaic's struggle: Major solar lease company reportedly facing financial difficulties [SEIA analysis and industry reports]

🔋 CALIFORNIA BREAKING RECORDS

Solar & Storage Milestones

• Solar output record: California hits 21+ GW peak solar generation
• Growth trajectory: Current pace could reach 30 GW storage in 5 years vs. 2045 target [PV Magazine]

🤖 TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Solar Installation Automation

• Rosendin's robot system: Dual-robot setup with carrier and lifting units for panel installation
• Efficiency gains: Two-person teams per row with continuous pallet feeding capability

[Rosendin automation announcement]

🚗 EV CHARGING EXPANSION

Waffle House Partnership

• BP strategic relationship: British oil giant bringing DC fast charging to Waffle House locations [Electrek]

📊 PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Massachusetts Residential Installation

• Pricing achievement: Under $3/watt for residential systems without premium components
• Visual appeal: Red house installation showcasing professional workmanship [Commercial Solar Guy]

Support the show

Connect with Tim

Clean Power Hour
Clean Power Hour on YouTube
Tim on Twitter
Tim on LinkedIn

Email tim@cleanpowerhour.com

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: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com

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