The Future of Solar Energy: Leadership Lessons from a Special Forces Veteran
Silicon Ranch Radio
In honor of Veteran's Day, host Nick de Vries is joined by former U.S. Army Special Forces officer Keyes Metcalf to explore how his military training prepared him for leadership in the solar industry. We'll find out how drones, digital twins, and AI are transforming project management, boosting efficiency while keeping human expertise at the center. From navigating complex construction schedules to tackling supply chain issues, Keyes offers insight into how technology and teamwork are driving the next era of solar innovation, including advances in battery storage and automation.
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Building Better Solar: Data-Driven Innovation with Scott Canada
Silicon Ranch Radio
Scott Canada, President of Renewable Energy at McCarthy Building Companies, brings over 27 years of experience in the solar industry. In this episode, Scott shares with host Nick de Vries how solar project construction has transformed over the past 15 years, with a sharper focus on data, safety, quality, and productivity. He highlights McCarthy’s innovative use of digital tools, from GIS systems to design scoring and data analytics, that drive a continuous improvement cycle to optimize future projects. As Scott transitions into leading McCarthy’s data center construction...
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Powering Progress: How BrightRidge Uses Solar to Serve Its Community
Silicon Ranch Radio
Jeff Dykes, president and CEO of BrightRidge Electric, shares how the Tennessee-based public power utility partnered with Silicon Ranch to develop solar projects under TVA's Generation Flexibility Program, enabling BrightRidge to deliver renewable energy while lowering costs for customers and funding STEM and tech programs in local schools. Focused on community service over profit, the utility also engages students in energy education and supports local economic growth. These projects have improved grid reliability and exemplify how renewable energy partnerships can generate widespread...
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Adapting a Successful Agribusiness to Scale with Solar
Silicon Ranch Radio
Jim Malooley, Director of Agrivoltaics Operations at Silicon Ranch, joins host Nick de Vries to discuss the innovative intersection of solar energy and regenerative land management. Jim shares how he went from running his own sheep farm to leading a team that oversees sheep grazing across three large solar ranches in Georgia. He dives into the unique challenges of managing flocks on solar sites—including shifting lambing schedules, fine-tuning nutrition, and using the sheep's natural behavior to control vegetation. Jim also highlights Silicon Ranch’s cutting-edge facilities and research...
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Location Matters For Carbon Solutions
Silicon Ranch Radio
On this episode, host Nick de Vries is joined by Winston Vaughan, head of climate policy at Clearloop, Silicon Ranch's Carbon Solutions platform. Winston shares insights into Clearloop's innovative business model, which helps businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint by commissioning new solar projects in American communities where significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. We discuss the evolving landscape of carbon accounting and the concept of carbon blindness, highlighting how our approach to emissions can shape the strategic rollout of renewable energy...
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How Silicon Ranch Successfully Identifies Future Sites
Silicon Ranch Radio
As Director of Market Strategy at Silicon Ranch, Adian Markocic spends a majority of his time analyzing industry trends, regulations, and data to help guide the company's growth strategy. Adrian joins us to provide insight into the strategic planning and considerations that go into siting and developing new solar projects, as well as the evolving landscape of electricity demand and how solar power can and should be prepared to meet it.
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The Solar Tracking Technology Driving Down Costs & Environmental Impact
Silicon Ranch Radio
Silicon Ranch partner Nextracker has pioneered several innovations in solar tracker technology, including independent row, weather aware tracking algorithms, and have been leading the charge on domestic supply chain improvements. CEO Dan Shugar joins us for a discussion on how their innovations have reduced both costs and environmental impacts while also creating local jobs and community support for solar projects. These efforts enable Nextracker to partner with leaders like Silicon Ranch to deploy gigawatts of high-performing, sustainable solar projects.
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Raising a Harmonious Relationship between Ranching and Renewable Energy
Silicon Ranch Radio
Anna Clare Monlezun, rancher and rangeland ecosystem scientist, joins Nick de Vries to discuss grassland ecosystems, sustainable grazing practices, and the co-location of solar energy generation and regenerative agriculture. Anna Clare shares updates on a project close to her heart, Cattle Tracker, which aims to co-locate cattle grazing with solar energy generation. This conversation explores the importance of regenerative grazing practices and the role of herbivores in maintaining healthy grasslands as well as the concept of agrivoltaics, which involves the dual use of land for agriculture...
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Veteran’s Day: Finding Your Next Mission
Silicon Ranch Radio
In this episode, we're celebrating Veterans Day as Nick invites two military veteran team members, Daizjah Morris and Chris Frobuccino, on the show to discuss their journey between ending their time in service and finding their next mission in civilian life. For many, this transition can be one of the more challenging milestones in a military career, as veterans have to cope with a new identity and purpose in life that can feel extremely foreign to what they have been used to. Hear in this episode how the host and guests have used the skills and tools they developed in the armed forces to...
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On Domestic Manufacturing - Part VIII: One Middle Tennessee Company’s Mission to Create Jobs
Silicon Ranch Radio
Our eighth episode in the series exploring domestic manufacturing takes us to Middle Tennessee, where Nick is joined by Ben Macias, Chief Revenue Officer of Shoals Technologies Group, a leading global provider of Electrical Balance of Systems (EBOS) for eMobility, solar and energy storage systems, with three facilities located in Portland, Tennessee. They'll discuss Shoals contribution both to renewable energy and the resurgence in American manufacturing by way of its diversification into the solar sector and its subsequent growth. Join the conversation to learn about the historic...
info_outlineJim Malooley, Director of Agrivoltaics Operations at Silicon Ranch, joins host Nick de Vries to discuss the innovative intersection of solar energy and regenerative land management. Jim shares how he went from running his own sheep farm to leading a team that oversees sheep grazing across three large solar ranches in Georgia. He dives into the unique challenges of managing flocks on solar sites—including shifting lambing schedules, fine-tuning nutrition, and using the sheep's natural behavior to control vegetation. Jim also highlights Silicon Ranch’s cutting-edge facilities and research collaborations aimed at improving genetics and parasite resistance, offering a scalable model for revitalizing the U.S. sheep industry.