The Energy Show

Latest Episodes:

AI Is Breaking the Grid — And Your Wallet — Barry’s Simple Solution Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

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 transmission lines.

Here’s how: instead of building giant power plants hundreds of miles away, we can install new power capacity much closer to the data centers themselves — on the rooftops of homes, businesses, warehouses, and public buildings.

Think about it:

Thousands of rooftop and battery power plants can be deployed around every data center in 1-2 years, not the 10+ years it takes to build a utility power plant and long distance transmission lines.
These rooftop power plants connect to the same local distribution grid that the data centers use. No need to keep old coal power plants running, re-incarnate old nuclear plants, or build new natural gas and nuclear power plants
Data center owners are willing to pay big bucks for power, and are more than willing to get clean power quickly from local rooftops
Homes and businesses with these new rooftop power plants will see their electricity bills decline.
It’s a win-win for everyone, except maybe your local utility — who will fight to their last lawyer to defend their archaic monopoly.

This data center power needs to be on the grid fast. PJM, the Mid-Atlantic grid operator recently announced that "No more large data centers can be constructed unless they can be reliably served."

Tune in to this week’s Energy Show for a simple, fast and cost-effective way to meet data center energy needs while at the same time reducing electricity rates.

Gates’ Climate Pivot and Trump’s Climate Denial Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

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 giants are abandoning their sustainability promises.

• Why the UN Climate Conferences have become dominated by fossil-fuel interests.

• Why even Bill Gates’ new climate stance misses the mark.

The EnRoads Climate Model shows the world is still headed for a 3.3°C rise in global temperatures — and the excuses keep piling up.

Barry explains what real leadership looks like: supporting proven, cost-effective clean-energy solutions like solar, wind, and batteries — not vague pledges and science projects.

#ClimateCrisis #COP30 #CleanEnergy #SolarPower #FossilFuels #GlobalWarming #ClimateAction #TheEnergyShow #BarryCinnamon #RenewableEnergy

Gary Lam keeps the Lights On: EV + Generator + Batteries Done Right Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

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

financing shifts.

• Franklin’s edge: The A Power 2 battery, new A Power

S (battery + inverter), the Hub load-shedding

controller, and meter-collar installs

• Installer Advantage: Fewer callbacks, faster installs,

true whole-home solutions

Homeowner Checklist: Reliability, warranty, app

experience, and future-proof features (generator

support, EV-to-home, VPP readiness)

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Climate Action Day: What Really Works to Stop Global Warming Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

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 still on track for 3.3°C by 2100 • Why expensive “solutions” like fusion, trillion trees, and carbon capture barely move the dial • The one proven fix: putting a real price on carbon • How electrifying transport, buildings, and industry can cut global warming by nearly 1°C • Simple personal actions — and the political choices — that matter mostClimate Action Day is tomorrow, November 6th. Join the educational event produced by the Take Action Global Network that brings together world leaders, scientists, and youth activists. Register for tomorrow’s FREE live Online Event https://climateactionday.net/

Mark & Barry Reveal the Dirty Secrets Behind Solar’s Next Big Shake-Up Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

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 affect equipment and pricing.

This week, Barry sits down with Mark (CEO at a top solar + storage performance-assurance company) to unpack what contractors and homeowners should do—this year and in 2026.In this episode:• Installers: how to shift to lease/PPA workflows, manage cash flow, use approved vendor lists, avoid CT/mapping pitfalls, and budget for real O&M• Homeowners: when buying now still makes sense, how to pick bankable gear and a service-capable installer, and what to expect from lease/PPA in 2026 • Maintenance truths: why batteries raise the bar, how cleaning/soiling impact output, and what reliable fleets do differently

#Solar #EnergyStorage #OBBB #CleanEnergy #LeaseVsPPA #HomeBatteries #SolarInstallers #DomesticContent #FEOC #SafeHarbor #TheEnergyShow

REC’s Secret Sauce: Why Alpha Pure-RX Wins After the Tax Credit Ends Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

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 installers/homeowners can navigate 2026 with smarter financing and ops.

Episode Highlights

• REC tech explained: HJT + G12 (210mm) + half-cut architecture; cooler operation & yield

• Degradation: ~0.24%/yr → ~92% output at 25 years (long-tail production matters)

• Installer tactics: distributor partnerships, CAC reduction, credit-union loans, prepaid leases, AI in lead-to-install

• Homeowner checklist: vet tech, warranties, installer health, and supply-chain exposure

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Cut Costs, Close Faster: Chris Hopper’s 2026 Solar Playbook Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

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, speed up project cycles, and choose financing that fits the new reality.

What you’ll learn

Why lease/PPA will surge in 2026—and how to prepare
How project velocity (lead→cash) beats panel price cuts
Aurora’s latest: instant plan sets, financing integrations, and smarter battery modeling
The new homeowner decision tree: buy now vs. lease later
How to sell on accuracy & trust (not just lowest price)

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Top Products from RE+ 2025: Solar Panels, Home Batteries & Balcony Solar Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

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 Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon shares his Top Product Picks from RE+ 2025 — technologies that check all the boxes: affordability, reliability, ease of installation, and real benefits for your home or business.

You’ll learn:

• Why solar panel costs have dropped by 150x over the past 25 years

• The truth about solar panel quality, warranties, and manufacturer stability

• Which home battery systems (Tesla, Enphase, Franklin) are market leaders in reliability

• The rise of balcony & plug-in solar systems — and why they’re booming in Europe and coming soon to U.S. homes

• Practical advice on how to choose solar and battery systems that will last decades

If you couldn’t attend RE+ 2025 in Vegas, this episode brings the show floor straight to your ears.

Don’t miss Barry’s expert take on the products that matter most for today’s homeowners and tomorrow’s clean-energy future.

Turmoil for Home Solar Loans, Leases and PPAs Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

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 constrained by safe harbor headaches, higher interest rates and questions about domestic content.

What does this mean?

Solar loans, credit unions and cash purchases will be 30% more expensive in 2026

Leases and PPAs using the commercial tax credit structure can still get the 30% credit, but added financing and project complexity can eat up half of the incentive or more

Since the supply of financing is limited, installers looking to switch to leases and PPAs may have to work with unproven finance providers

How slow-paying solar financing companies can kill a solar installer’s business

To help make sense of this, Barry sits down with Dan Javan, former CEO of Suntuity and one of the smartest voices in solar finance. Together, they break down the mad scramble that manufacturers, finance companies and installers are going through as they get ready to finance the future demand for residential solar and battery systems.

McCalmont’s EV + Microgrid Musings Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

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 restrictions on commercial projects will reshape solar — and why smart companies must adapt now to survive in 2026 and beyond.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

Why microgrids are key to reliability and resilience
How data centers and load growth will drive solar demand
Why level 2 chargers and solar-powered microgrids are the real solution
Diversifying into HVAC, storage, and service
What to do when revenue drops 30% overnight
Why the future is still bright for solar and storage

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