Ep 128: Adam Browning, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Vote Solar

Today's guest is Adam Browning, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Vote Solar. 

We cover a lot in this episode from Adam’s beginnings to the future of solar in the U.S. We also dive into how solar works and the potential drawbacks of it. Finally, Adam talks in depth about policy advocacy on the local level and how Prop B came to fruition. 

In today’s episode, we cover:

• What is Vote Solar and its mission?
• How Adam found himself at Vote Solar and in climate.
• The origins of Vote Solar.
• How the passage of Prop B was a watershed moment in the solar movement in California.
• Factors driving down the cost of solar energy.
• The organization’s early mission of making solar cheap.
• The task of disintermediating the decision-makers to saying ‘yes’ to solar.
• The history and progress of clean energy compliance and regulations.
• Vote Solar’s definition of success.
• Adam’s thoughts on the intermittency problem associated with solar energy.
• Adam’s views on sustainability challenges with solar panels.
• How most energy regulation is set at the state-level.
• Wins Vote Solar has had.
• Adam’s belief in the need for a Federal clean energy standard.

Links to topics discussed in this episode:

• Vote Solar: https://votesolar.org/
• Power for All: https://www.powerforall.org/
• Prop B: https://www.sfgate.com/green/article/S-F-could-be-leader-on-solar-energy-Props-B-2864444.php
• Bifacial solar panels: https://solarmagazine.com/solar-panels/bifacial-solar-panels/

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant