Probably True Solar Stories Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza

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 The Solar Way, a solar-inspired guide to living life on The Solar Coaster.

True Solar Takeaways
This episode doesn't have many solar facts about the solar industry. The main takeaway is that the solar biz has many ups and downs and policy twists and turns that people have called it "The Solar Coaster." 

The people riding the solar coaster can get discouraged, including me. To help smooth out the ups and downs, I've read  some Taoism and Stoicism text and turned some of my  learnings into" The Solar Way":
Be warm. Shine like the sun.Let go of broken solar panels. Be interconnected. The sun rises every day. Be as consistent.The sun sets every day. This too shall pass. If you're interested in learning more about Taoism and Stoicism, here are a  few audio and text resources:
The Daily Stoic. Through his website, podcast, and books, Ryan Holiday offers modern insights through ancient Stoic wisdom. Although the Stoic philosophy is very old, Holiday keeps it simple and relevant to the way people live today.  Check out his free daily podcast and daily email. Of course, his books are a great resource, as well. The Tao of Daily Life by Derik Lin is a well-deserved bestseller. It teaches the principles of Taoism through the classic Taoist and Buddhist fables. Although the stories are still set in ancient China, Lin translates these stories in a way that is very accessible for our modern world. Then he cites a passage from the Tao te Ching and explains the wisdom behind each story. This book and other David Lin books are also available in audio and digital forms.Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine by Derren Brown. You may know Derren Brown as an international illusionist, but he's also a professed Stoic. Happy is his easy-to-read guide to happiness using examples from his shows, his illusions, and from his own life. He often cites Stoic texts, but it's not a book about Stoicism. Check out his many YouTube videos to see his stage performances and British TV shows. -----
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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 doing that, just listen all the way through. Then ask yourself, "What would I have done in the same situation?"

Two small warnings about this episode: 1) Characters say some naughty words, so keep your earbuds on in front of the little ones. 2) I sing part of a Rolling Stones tune, so I beg your forgiveness in advance. It's brief, but it still might be painful for both Stones fans and non-Stones fans.

True Solar Takeaways:
Cleaning solar panels can be dangerous, even if it's simple. Hire a pro to clean them once every few months. Bonus: They may find other problems that need attention.Critters may make a home under your solar panels. Once again, hire a solar O&M pro to prevent nests and warrens from being set up. If you clean your own, use a mild soapy water solution with a soft cloth or brush. Never use anything sharp. You may cause damage to the solar panels--or even yourself.-----
Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

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 Takeaways
Terrorists 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 attack Baltimore Gas & Electric substations, ‘completely destroy’ city Mass power outage in North Carolina caused by gunfire, repairs could take daysAttacking the gridYes, indeed. There is a "Smart Summon" mode on your Tesla, but you need to be close by. Behold. The smart homes of the future are here, not in the future. There are many, many companies that offer app connections that can control just about anything in your house through wi-fi and smart plugs, including the coffee maker, the TV,  lights, stereos, and of course garage door openers. Pretty much everything. If you've only installed solar on your roof, you will generally not be able to use the solar generation, even if the blackout occurs when the sun is shining. That's because your solar power will backfeed into the grid and endanger the line-people who are fixing transmission wires, so your inverter will cut off your solar production. There are a few inverters that will "island" and route power to your home and not the grid. Check with your installer.If you want your solar power to back you up, day or night, you'll need to install a battery. However, whole home backup is rare--and expensive. Instead, you can tell your solar+battery installer about the "critical loads" that will be available during a blackout, and he'll configure your battery to keep those things running. Typically, it's the lights, refrigerator, and other small appliances. The size of your battery will partly determine how many hours those things will stay on. Of course, the more things you use during a blackout, the fewer hours of backup battery usage you'll have. Also, if you include high-intensity loads like air conditioning or a pool pump, you'll quickly use up your battery power in very few hours.-----
Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

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 Takeaways
The U.S. solar industry installs the equivalent of a residential solar installation every 39 seconds. All solar projects require some type of local permitting and utility connection ("interconnection") approvals.Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) are the catch-all name for the county, city, and utility approval bodies that oversee solar permitting.A "PE" is a licensed Professional Engineer. Some AHJs require their review of a solar installation design. Some don't. Sadly, there are no national standards or building codes for installing solar on a home, business, or utility-size project. Each county, city, and state has its own special rules, regulations, codes, and official requirements. As a result of different permitting codes and standards, solar's installation and interconnection processes can get slowed down. Local differences also increase the costs and time to install solar.AHJs and utilities can also be slow to approve projects due to the increasing number of solar projects being installed. AHJ staff need to be updated on the latest solar and battery products and new technologies.-----
Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

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 Takeaways
Drones 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 incorporates drone footage and photos. The software then sizes and designs the solar system and a visual sales proposal.When preparing a solar design, the installer will gather information about your electric service panel and sometimes inspect your roof's rafters from your attic.As mentioned, this episode incorporated characters from a 10-minute play that Tor wrote, called "Harrison's Choice." It's part of an anthology of 10-minute plays that Tor published in 2008 called "Just Give Me 10 Minutes."-----
Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!

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 Takeaways
We 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 (The Solar Song)" - Watch it here.The ReVisionistas - "Cover of the Solar Pro" - Watch it here.All Probably True Solar Songs were created through a music AI program with human prompts and editing.The Kilowatt Club, Solar Fredwena, and the Probably True Solar Band are as fictional as our usual silly stories. Therefore tickets, drinks, and membership to the club are free! But as always, please drink your imaginary alcohol responsibly.-----
Visit ProbablyTrueSolar.com to sign up for the newsletter to learn about new episodes and live solar storytelling events. Support the show by visiting the merch store and buying a tee shirt! Learn how sponsors can be a part of Probably True Solar Stories and tell their own creative stories. Follow @SolarFred and/or @ProbTrueSolar on Twitter to discuss episodes Don't forget to: Subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast streaming service Rate Review, and Share!