PODCAST · technology
The Energy Show
by Barry Cinnamon
Every week Barry hosts The Energy Show, a 30 minute informative talk show that covers a broad variety of energy related topics spanning technology, economics, policy, and politics that are shaping the future of how we generate and consume electricity, along with practical money-saving tips on ways to reduce your home and business energy consumption.
Episodes
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Smart Energy Technology. Dumb Energy Policies.
This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Anoushka Tamhane, an MIT Climate Systems Engineering student who's researching battery storage and exploring an ingenious approach to geothermal heating and cooling. The technology is brilliant. The politics? Not so much. While students at MIT…
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Solar’s Next Act, According to Tom Werner
This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits down with Tom Werner, who led SunPower from 2003 to 2020 and helped build it into one of the world's largest solar companies. Tom has ridden the solar coaster through booms, busts, policy changes and technology revolutions. And his assessment of...
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Your EV Has a Giant Battery. Why Aren’t We Using It?
This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits down with longtime solar industry leader Tom McCalmont, CEO of Paired Power and president of McCalmont Engineering, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing electrification: how do we add massive new electrical loads when there simply...
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Solar Service at Scale: John Berger on Pairing AI With People
Solar Is Installed. Now Who Keeps It Running? There are millions of solar panels, batteries, EV chargers and other energy systems installed on homes and businesses around the world. There's just one little problem: Someone has to keep all that stuff working. This week on The Energy Show, Barry...
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Aurora Solar CEO: Why 2027 Could Be Solar’s Comeback Year
With the 30% residential solar tax credit gone, the industry entered the year expecting installations to fall by as much as 20–30%. But rising electricity rates, cheaper batteries, new financing products and an increasingly unreliable grid are changing the math yet again. This week on The Energy...
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Raghu Raps on Rising Sun Opportunities
2025 was a record year for residential solar and batteries. 2026 is shaping up to be a record bad one. The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone ... is residential solar in serious trouble? Not so fast. This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Raghu Belur, co-founder and Chief Product...
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No Tax Credit, No Problem. The New Math for Home Solar.
With the 30% residential solar tax credit gone, the effective cost of going solar has jumped dramatically and residential installations are already down roughly 20–25%. For installers that historically relied on cash sales, the drop can be even worse. But before we start writing solar’s obituary,...
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VPP: Your Battery's Side Hustle?
Utilities, finance companies, and software aggregators have suddenly discovered something valuable: Your battery. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) promise easy money by letting utilities tap into thousands of home batteries during periods of high demand. Sounds great... until you discover who actually...
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DIY Home Energy Hacks That Slash Electric Bills
Everyone wants lower utility bills. Unfortunately, many homeowners start with expensive projects that deliver disappointing returns. That's because most energy audits focus on generic recommendation not the upgrades that make the biggest difference for your home. This week on The Energy Show…
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The Good, The Bad & The Battery
If you're considering solar, adding battery storage, or simply preparing for the next outage, this episode could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of frustration. Battery ads make everything look simple: backup power, lower bills, AI-powered energy management, and easy savings. Reality? Not...
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Beach Explains High Electric Rates
Think your electric bill is high because of rooftop solar? That's exactly what AI told us... and AI IS WRONG. This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Tom Beach, Principal Consultant at Crossborder Energy and one of California's leading experts on utility rate design, to expose what's...
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AI vs Heat Pump Expert: Who Wins?
Everyone's asking AI for answers these days. • How big should my heat pump be? • Should I get mini-splits? • Will a heat pump save money? • Can AI actually design a comfortable HVAC system? This week Barry decided to find out. He asked AI a series of common homeowner questions about heat pumps…
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AI is Eating the Grid
AI is hungry. Very hungry. And it's coming for your electricity. Every ChatGPT prompt, AI image, Google search, streaming video, and cloud application runs inside massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of power. But where will that power come from? And who's going to pay for it? In…
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Don’t Make These 4 Energy Investment Mistakes
The energy world just changed. Again. For years solar, batteries, EVs and heat pumps were sold as clean alternatives. Now they're simply the least expensive alternatives. In this episode, Barry Cinnamon explains why economics -- not politics — is driving the next phase of the energy transition…
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Is Balcony Solar BS or The Bomb?
Did you know that you can plug solar panels into a WALL outlet! Utility executives are spewing out their morning coffee. Who would have thought a good little solar panel could destroy our wicked trillion dollar business! ???????????? Balcony Solar — AKA Plug-In Solar — is coming and is…
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Mitsubishi Beats Your Heating Bills
Barry’s Heat Pump Promises: 1. Your AC will die on the hottest day of the year 2. PG&E gas rates will keep going up 3. Resistance — to electrification — is futile So… are heat pumps part of the solution, or just part of the precipitate…or problem? This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon sits...
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Here’s Why Solar in Australia is Cheaper than the U.S.
Barry' been bashing his head against the wall for over two decades to reduce solar and battery system costs in the U.S. So on his recent “vacation” to Australia, he did a deep dive into solar costs Down Under. As Jigar, Saul and Birchy have observed, solar and battery system costs in Australia…
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Replacing Your Air Conditioner MAY Be Illegal!
That’s right, in many California cities you MUST replace a broken air conditioner condenser with a dual-purpose heat pump. These Reach Codes — also known as AC2HP Requirements — are currently in effect in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Menlo Park, Mountain...
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Why the Heck Are My Electric Bills So High?
In this episode of The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon talks with Mark Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN), about the growing energy affordability crisis in California and across the U.S. Despite increasing costs for homeowners and businesses, utility companies continue to...
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I’m Electrifying! How Do I Upgrade My Solar System?
When you electrify your home – with a heat pump HVAC system, EV charger, induction cooktop or heat pump water heater – your demand for electricity will go up. Duh. Or as Tim Allen would say: “I need more power.” Incentives as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) help reduce the "upfront"…
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My AC Broke - Is a Heat Pump Cool?
Yes, definitely. Heat pumps are literally and figuratively cool. And without a doubt, the best time to consider installing a heat pump is when your AC (or furnace) dies. Heat pumps do double duty, providing both heating and cooling. They offer significant savings and improved comfort -- which I...
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Energy Uncertainty Is Unnecessary
Since our worldwide economy depends on a steady supply of fossil fuels — oil, gasoline, natural gas, LNG, jet fuel — even the mere threat of disruption can cause a large and long-term increase in energy costs. Especially energy that is generated from burning hydrocarbon molecules, which have to…
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What's up with residential solar?
In this week’s episode of The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon talks with Sean Gallagher (Senior VP of Policy, SEIA) about the new market reality after recent federal changes. As well as the financing tools, state policies, and grid programs that can help homeowners and installers move forward. In…
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10 Solar Mistakes Homeowners Make
After more than four decades in the solar industry, Barry Cinnamon breaks down the most common mistakes made by solar installers and homeowners and how to avoid them to ensure long-term performance, savings, and peace of mind. In this episode of The Energy Show, you’ll learn: • The installation...
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Will a Trillion Trees Stop Global Warming?
In this episode of The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon breaks down the science, economics, and practicality behind the proposed Trillion Trees Act — and asks the big question: Will it actually make a meaningful difference? Trees absolutely help remove carbon from the atmosphere through natural carbon...
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Dirty Solar Panels Waste Clean Energy
Consider the poor photons! If your panels are dirty you are causing trillions of premature photonic deaths when they collide with dirt molecules. Please give those photons the chance to knock an electron loose from an eager semi-conductor. Instead of being converted to heat and banished to…
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Ten Tips For The Best Home Solar and Battery System
Unfortunately, there are a few "quick buck" solar companies that take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. These ten tips will help you avoid these scam artists -- and get the best solar and battery installation for your home or business. 1. Beware of the word “Free” 2. Beware of TGTBT pricing…
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Humans Needed When Batteries Break
This week on The Energy Show, we’re talking about solar + battery systems not just the equipment, but the customer service and troubleshooting that keeps these systems performing year after year. Traditional “solar-only” systems can be wonderfully simple and reliable. But when you add batteries...
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Environmental Working Group Fixes Broken U.S. Policies
Rooftop solar, net metering, and clean energy policies are being dismantled across the U.S. From the effective cancellation of the Inflation Reduction Act to broken contracts and financial clawbacks, fossil-fuel interests are pushing hard to regain control of our energy system. This week on The...
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Policy is the Power behind Energy
On this week’s episode of The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon is joined by Carl Guardino, a longtime leader in government affairs and public policy, to explain how smart advocacy, trust, and relationships shape the laws and regulations that impact our energy future. Carl has helped guide policy from...
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That Which Does Not Kill Clean Energy Makes It Stronger
Nietzsche must have been referring to clean energy. Not even Nostradamus could have predicted this much turmoil in the energy sector in 2025. Nevertheless, Barry predicts steady clean energy progress due to lower solar, battery and heat pump costs. 1) Bad news - expect a record number of clean...
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States Fight Back Against Fossilized Energy Policies
AI and data centers are driving unprecedented demand for power. At the same time, federal clean-energy support is being rolled back, leaving households and businesses exposed to higher costs and grid instability. So where does that leave us? In this episode of The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon is...
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Jumping Jack Flash Needs No Gas - Just a Heat Pump
In this week’s Energy Show, Barry talks with Panama Bartholomy, Founder and Executive Director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, about how heat pumps, induction cooktops, better incentive programs, and smart building codes are transforming homes and businesses across the U.S. • Heat…
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AI Is Breaking the Grid — And Your Wallet — Barry’s Simple Solution
On this week's Energy Show we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges in America’s energy future: powering the exploding growth of AI data centers without causing electric rates to skyrocket even more. And without waiting 5-10 years for utilities to build new power plants and long distance...
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Gates’ Climate Pivot and Trump’s Climate Denial
Barry exposes political, corporate, and global climate failures — and explains why solar, wind, and batteries remain our only practical way forward. Episode Highlights: • How Donald Trump’s policies are gutting clean-energy investments and reversing progress on solar and wind. • Why corporate...
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Gary Lam keeps the Lights On: EV + Generator + Batteries Done Right
This week Barry sits down with Gary Lam, CEO of Franklin WH. A New Jersey native who’s now building batteries in Santa Clara, California, Gary has led Franklin from startup to one of the top-selling whole-home batteries in the U.S. In this episode: • OBBB explained: Why 2026 pricing changes and...
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Climate Action Day: What Really Works to Stop Global Warming
Barry dives into what real “action” means. Using the En-Roads global climate simulator, he breaks down which solutions actually move the needle on global warming and which are just feel-good distractions.Episode Highlights: • How the En-Roads climate simulator models global warming and why we’re...
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Mark & Barry Reveal the Dirty Secrets Behind Solar’s Next Big Shake-Up
The OBBB is now law in the U.S. It eliminates the 30% residential solar credit and adds restrictions for commercial systems—including many residential leases/PPAs. That means cash/loan projects effectively get ~30% pricier, while leases/PPAs face domestic content, safe harbor, and FEOC rules that...
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REC’s Secret Sauce: Why Alpha Pure-RX Wins After the Tax Credit Ends
The 30% residential solar credit ends on Jan 1, 2026 but performance still wins. Barry talks with Brian Ghiglia about how REC’s Alpha Pure-RX (HJT, G12, half-cut) squeezes more energy from tight roofs, why hair-thin wiring (no hot-spot solder points) improves longevity, and how...
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Cut Costs, Close Faster: Chris Hopper’s 2026 Solar Playbook
The 30% residential tax credit is ending in 2026—and the rules around commercial credits, domestic content, and safe harbor are tightening. What now? Aurora Solar’s CEO & Co-founder Chris Hopper joins Barry to lay out a practical plan for installers and homeowners: cut soft costs with software,...
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Top Products from RE+ 2025: Solar Panels, Home Batteries & Balcony Solar
RE+ (formerly Solar Power International) brought together over 40,000 energy enthusiasts in Las Vegas this year. From cutting-edge home batteries to balcony and plug-in solar systems, the industry is buzzing with products that are practical, reliable, and ready for homeowners now. On this week’s...
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Turmoil for Home Solar Loans, Leases and PPAs
Dan Javan Explains the Mad Scramble for Solar Financing in 2026. The “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) killed the 30% tax credit for residential solar. With no more residential tax credits as of 1/1/2026, the demand for solar financing will be higher than ever. But the supply of easy financing is...
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McCalmont’s EV + Microgrid Musings
In this episode of The Energy Show with Barry Cinnamon, Barry speaks with Tom McCalmont, CEO of McCalmont Engineering and co-founder of Paired Power, an innovative microgrid and EV charging company. Together, they break down how the elimination of the 30% residential solar tax credit and...
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How to Avoid the Solar Cliff with Jeff Wolfe
In this episode of The Energy Show with Barry Cinnamon, Barry reconnects with Jeff Wolfe, clean-tech veteran, founder of GroSolar, longtime SEIA board member, and now managing partner at Wolf Yates & Co. Together, they unpack what contractors and homeowners need to know as the 30% residential…
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OBBB Fallout: Tom Werner on Surviving the Solar Shake-Up
In this week’s episode of The Energy Show with Barry Cinnamon, we break down how the elimination of the 30% residential solar tax credit and new commercial restrictions are shaking up the entire solar industry. Joining Barry is Tom Werner, former CEO & Chairman of SunPower, one of the most...
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EV Batteries + Solar = The New Backup Plan
Enphase co-founder Raghu Belur joins Barry Cinnamon to break down the future of solar + storage in this eye-opening episode of The Energy Show. As tax credits fade and utility rates surge, inverters and batteries are becoming the heart of the home energy system — and Enphase is leading the…
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Solar + Battery Distributors Throw A Lifeline To Contractors
In this episode of The Energy Show, host Barry Cinnamon welcomes Dan Fadden, co-founder of Greentech Renewables (CED). Dan and Barry discuss the jaw-dropping new reality facing every solar installer and homeowner in America. With the 30% residential tax credit ending 12/31/25 and new commercial...
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The OBBB and the End of Solar and Battery Tax Credits — Insights From Corey Geiger, COO of Enstall
Welcome to the next episode in our continuing series examining the devastating impact on the solar industry embedded in the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or OBBB as described in polite terms. We’re interviewing experts in the solar and battery industry throughout the entire value chain. If you’re a...
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The OBBB and the End of Solar and Battery Tax Credits — Insights From Jeff Spies at Planet Plansets
Welcome to the next episode in our continuing series examining the devastating impact on the solar industry embedded in the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or OBBB as described in polite terms. We’re interviewing experts in the solar and battery industry throughout the entire value chain. If you’re a...
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Prepping For Higher Electricity Costs
You Are Getting Ripped Off. That’s right. If you’re a California homeowner, your utility is jacking up your electric bills to maximize their profits — and the government is approving these rate increases. PG&E’s profits have gone up three years in a row. Their profits hit a record of $2.5 billion...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Every week Barry hosts The Energy Show, a 30 minute informative talk show that covers a broad variety of energy related topics spanning technology, economics, policy, and politics that are shaping the future of how we generate and consume electricity, along with practical money-saving tips on ways to reduce your home and business energy consumption.
HOSTED BY
Barry Cinnamon
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Energy Show have?
The Energy Show currently has 122 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Energy Show about?
Every week Barry hosts The Energy Show, a 30 minute informative talk show that covers a broad variety of energy related topics spanning technology, economics, policy, and politics that are shaping the future of how we generate and consume electricity, along with practical money-saving tips on ways...
How often does The Energy Show release new episodes?
The Energy Show publishes regularly with 122 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to The Energy Show?
You can listen to The Energy Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Energy Show?
The Energy Show is created and hosted by Barry Cinnamon.
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