Renewable Rides

Gareth Evans & Dan Roberts
  • 5.0 (14)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Renewable Rides is the guide to the corporate energy transition. Featuring interviews with industry experts and business leaders, Renewable Rides aims to help companies tackle challenges and maximize opportunities in the pursuit of a resilient, profitable, and thriving energy future. Hosts Gareth Evans and Dan Roberts, founders of VECKTA, shed light on the energy transition and the benefits it presents for company brand, operations and resilience.

  1. 7H AGO

    Top Moment from Onsite Energy as a Profit Center for Commercial Real Estate Owners - Our Talk with Brendan Wallace, Fifth Wall CEO and CIO

    What will it really take to decarbonize real estate and who is going to pay for it? In this highlight episode, Brendan Wallace breaks down the staggering $18 trillion challenge of decarbonizing U.S. buildings and why the real estate industry must fundamentally rethink its role. You’ll learn why buildings are being forced to evolve from passive structures into active energy producers — generating, storing, and monetizing power. We also explore why less than 3% of buildings have onsite solar, what’s really holding adoption back, and how capital markets, regulation, and tenant demand are reshaping owner behavior. You’ll hear why sustainability is shifting from a “nice to have” to a cost-of-capital advantage, how energy efficiency impacts asset value, and why the landlords who embrace this shift early could unlock massive long-term profitability. What You'll Learn In Today's Episode: The true cost of decarbonizing U.S. real estate.How climate capital in real estate has scaled.Why buildings must act as distributed energy assets.What’s blocking widespread rooftop solar adoption.The role of EV charging, storage, and microgrids.How regulation is forcing owner action.Why energy efficiency improves cost of capital.How tenant demand drives sustainability decisions.Where future competitive advantage will emerge.Resources In Today's Episode: Brendan Wallace: LinkedInGareth Evans: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: News You can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/48yckdct

    16 min

  2. FEB 17

    Ep 106: Selling Solar Tax Credits: Pricing, Timing, and Deal Structuring with Basis Climate and Conductor Solar

    What if your renewable energy tax credits could turn into immediate cash instead of sitting on your balance sheet for years? In this episode, Erik Underwood, Co-Founder and CEO of Basis Climate, and James Coombes, VP of Business Development at Conductor Solar, break down how tax credit transfers are reshaping renewable energy finance and why more developers, businesses, and REITs are choosing to sell their credits instead of carrying them forward. You’ll learn how the Inflation Reduction Act opened the door to simplified credit transfers, how pricing typically works (including discounts and transaction costs), and why timing can dramatically impact the value of your deal. We also explore what buyers look for in underwriting, the risks around recapture and IRS compliance, how small and mid-sized credits differ from large utility-scale transactions, and when it makes sense to sell versus retain credits. What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: What a tax credit transfer actually is.How the IRA changed clean energy finance.Why businesses sell credits instead of keeping them.How transaction costs impact net proceeds.IRS registration requirements and timing rules.What underwriting buyers require.Recapture risk and indemnification basics.Minimum credit sizes that make sense to transact.How REITs structure tax credit sales.Resources in Today's Episode: Erik Underwood: LinkedInJames Coombes: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/3brvzx2h

    52 min

  3. FEB 10

    Top Moment from Power Market Dynamics with Author and Analyst Meredith Angwin

    What if the grid reliability forecasts we trust are built on assumptions that don’t hold up in the real world? In this highlight episode, we explore one of the most overlooked vulnerabilities in modern energy systems: the gap between installed natural gas capacity and actual fuel availability. Listen in to hear about the deeper market forces at play, including why stressed grids create windfall profits for generators, how clearing prices reward volatility, and the ways renewable subsidies lead to negative bidding that distorts the entire system. You'll learn how market design, oversight gaps, and fuel constraints collide. What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: Why natural gas plants may not have fuel during peak demand.How ISO New England used onsite diesel to prevent outages.How clearing prices incentivize volatility in stressed grids.Why renewable subsidies create negative biddingWhy strong oversight is essential for grid reliability.Resources in Today's Episode: Meredith Angwin: LinkedIn | SubstackGareth Evans: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/ykjtkb43

    14 min

  4. FEB 3

    Ep 105: How Leading Commercial Real Estate Owners Are Building Million-Dollar Revenue Streams from Solar and Energy Storage

    What does it actually look like when a multifamily owner “becomes a utility”? In this episode, you’ll learn how developers and asset managers are using on-site solar and virtual net metering to create real value, not just sustainability headlines. We break down how a relatively modest investment can generate outsized returns, why lenders and investors are becoming more comfortable with these projects, and how rising utility rates are changing the economics. The conversation covers tenant perception, leasing team education, EV charging integration, and the operational realities of deploying solar at scale. If you’re a developer, owner, or investor trying to understand whether solar belongs in your portfolio — and how to do it right — this episode walks through the practical lessons learned from doing it repeatedly. What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: What it means for owners to “become a utility.”How VNM works at the resident level.Why utility rate spreads drive solar returns.How residents receive monthly energy savings.What lenders and investors care about most.How leasing teams use solar as a selling point.The importance of partner and contractor selection.Why education is key for tenants, lenders, and teams.Resources in Today's Episode: Mark Peternell: LinkedIn | Regency CentersStephan Gaspar: LinkedIn | KIRE BuildersLogan Carter: LinkedIn | Ivy EnergyDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/yvue3n9w

    58 min

  5. JAN 27

    Top Moment from The Immense Savings Potential of Energy Efficiency with Josh Bachman of Cascade Energy

    In this highlight episode, Josh Bachman of Cascade Energy breaks down why energy efficiency isn’t just a sustainability or decarbonization conversation—it’s a serious financial opportunity that most organizations are overlooking. You’ll learn how energy waste shows up inside industrial and commercial operations, why leadership often underestimates its impact, and how small operational changes can deliver meaningful, measurable results. Listen in as we explore low- and no-cost operational improvements, the power of variable frequency drives (VFDs), and why energy efficiency must be treated as an ongoing program, not a one-off project. This conversation reframes energy from a background expense into a strategic lever for cost savings, resilience, and long-term performance. What You'll Learn In Today's Episode: Why energy efficiency is a financial issue, not just a sustainability one.How much energy waste typically exists in industrial facilities.What low- and no-cost efficiency measures really look like.How variable frequency drives dramatically reduce energy use.Why leadership buy-in determines program success.How demand response creates flexibility and savings.How organizations can turn waste reduction into a competitive advantage.Resources In Today's Episode: Josh Bachman: LinkedInCascade EnergyGareth Evans: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/47xby9dv

    19 min

  6. JAN 20

    Ep 104: Understanding the ITC Phase-Out: Deadlines, Requirements, and Strategy

    What if waiting just a few more months could cost your company millions in lost tax credits? As 2026 begins, we break down why the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has become one of the most urgent financial opportunities facing commercial energy projects today. With energy firmly in the mainstream, looming deadlines, and increasing complexity around compliance, this episode explains why “wait and see” is now the riskiest strategy of all. Listen in to learn exactly how the ITC works, how companies can offset up to 50% of project costs, and why safe harboring or beginning physical work before key deadlines can buy you years of flexibility. Whether you’re planning solar now or sometime in the next five years, this conversation will help you understand what action to take, when to take it, and how to protect the economics of your project before the window closes. What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: Why the ITC matters more in 2026 than ever before.How the ITC can offset 30–50% of project costs.The difference between safe harboring and physical work.Key ITC deadlines you can’t afford to miss.How safe harboring can unlock four extra years to build.Why waiting until “placed in service” is the riskiest path.What qualifies and doesn’t qualify as physical work.How ITC economics apply to PPAs, leases, and capex projects.The biggest mistakes companies are making right now.How disciplined execution protects millions in project value.Resources in Today's Episode: Gareth Evans: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/mr38uyu7

    24 min

  7. JAN 13

    Top Moment from Winning Strategies for Clean Energy Leaders with Chris Moyer

    How can clean energy companies influence policy and gain political power in the U.S.? Chris Moyer explains why renewable energy leaders often lag behind oil and gas, and how they can strategically build influence without matching budgets. From grassroots advocacy to media training, he shares practical ways to engage elected officials, align employees as advocates, and communicate the value of your business. Chris also explores the energy landscape, from midterm elections to data center energy demand and rising costs. He offers actionable advice for leaders navigating energy transition roadmaps across multiple jurisdictions. Whether you run a commercial, industrial, or multi-location business, this episode shows how thoughtful communication and advocacy can shape policy and deliver real results. What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: Why renewable energy companies often lag behind oil and gas in policy influence.How to build political power without matching big budgets.Practical ways to engage elected officials and align employees as advocates.Strategies for communicating your business value across multiple jurisdictions.How energy trends and grassroots support impact business and policy outcomes.Resources in Today's Episode: Chris Moyer: LinkedInEcho Communications Advisors: Website | LinkedInGareth Evans: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/2dzdfc3r

    11 min

  8. JAN 6

    Ep 103: 2026 Energy Predictions and 2025 Reflections with Bill Nussey

    What did we get right about energy in 2025 and where were we completely wrong? In this episode, Bill Nussey returns for the third time to reflect on last year’s predictions and unpack what actually played out across energy, infrastructure, and technology. Together, we look at geothermal’s breakout moment, the real progress with behind-the-meter batteries, and why some widely hyped trends didn’t materialize the way many expected. Listen in to learn how energy economics are reshaping decision-making, why batteries are becoming a foundational asset for resilience and cost control, and how AI, data centers, and electricity demand are colliding faster than the grid can handle. Bill also shares his predictions for 2026, including where investment is heading, why efficiency may matter more than generation, and what leaders should pay attention to as policy, capital, and technology continue to shift. What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode: Why geothermal quietly became a breakout energy source.How behind-the-meter batteries changed resilience economics.What energy-as-a-service really unlocked for businesses.Why nuclear excitement didn’t match financial reality.How AI data centers are driving energy demand and risk.Why efficiency may matter more than new generation.What’s happening with state and utility incentives.How distributed energy assets reduce grid pressure.Why institutional capital is shifting toward smaller projects.What energy leaders should watch heading into 2026.Resources in Today's Episode: Bill Nussey: LinkedIn | X | Facebook | PodcastGareth Evans: LinkedInDan Roberts: LinkedInVECKTA: NewsYou can view a video of the conversation on VECKTA's website here: https://tinyurl.com/ydzmwtcd

    56 min
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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Renewable Rides is the guide to the corporate energy transition. Featuring interviews with industry experts and business leaders, Renewable Rides aims to help companies tackle challenges and maximize opportunities in the pursuit of a resilient, profitable, and thriving energy future. Hosts Gareth Evans and Dan Roberts, founders of VECKTA, shed light on the energy transition and the benefits it presents for company brand, operations and resilience.

Information

  • Creator
    Gareth Evans & Dan Roberts
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Renewable Rides
  • Show Website
    Renewable Rides