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Probably True Solar Stories

Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza

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Probably True Solar Stories delves into the world of solar energy through a unique blend of fiction, urban legends, and real-world solar facts. Hosted and written by Tor "Solar Fred" Valenza, a solar pro since 2009 and a former Hollywood screen and television writer, this series aims to entertain and educate listeners about solar technology, its impact on our lives, and the people behind the solar industry. The podcast episodes are inspired by various genres, including "Solar Noir," action, ...
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On the next encore episode of Probably True Solar Stories, a semi-sweet retired teacher gets inspired by Greta Thunberg to advocate for solar energy. But when her neighbors make excuses for not getting a solar quote, she starts a radical social media campaign that almost gets her arrested by the local Sheriff. True Solar Takeaways This story is fic…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude "A Murder of Solar Crows." Four thieves have tried to strip two solar farms of their expensive copper wires, solar panels, and other equipment. But a brown tabby cat and her animal friends keep getting in their way. Will the gang finally beat her on their third and final job? True Solar Takeaways…
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Four thieves break into three solar projects during long holiday weekends, trying to steal the solar panels, copper wire, and other equipment. But each time they try, a brown tabby cat stops them with deadly consequences. True Solar Takeaways A line of crows on a tree limb or electrical wire is called "A murder of crows." Kelptovoltaics is the term…
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Bob is a winemaker who is having a mid-life crisis. Trying to pull it together, he converts the oldest part of his vineyard into a solar farm, adopts a lost dog, and tries to make great wine. But nothing goes as planned, so he decides to take a psychedelic trip that takes him on a solar magical mystery tour that sparks joy in everyone—especially th…
  continue reading
 
Rufus, a pet and mascot of a solar installer, is dognapped out of the installer's truck while on the job. A chase ensues, but we learn that the dog, the solar installer, and the dog napper aren't quite what they seem. True Solar Takeaways As of 2020, there are 20,000 military veterans in the solar industry, making up about 9% of the solar workforce…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, a feisty senior citizen is determined to haggle with a solar salesman to buy the solar system of her dreams. But her haggling plans fall through when an honest salesperson refuses to sell an installation at any price. Can they find the solar win-win? True Solar Takeaways Not every home is a good fit for sola…
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Once upon a time, there were honest and friendly dragons who heated the boilers for steam-powered electric turbines. But due to the high cost of dragon energy, the King decided that the dragons needed to be replaced, sparking a bloody dragon war that led to the invention of solar power. True Solar Takeaways Fossil fuel-based generators work by burn…
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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 instal…
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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 p…
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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 gr…
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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 a…
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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 an…
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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/T69fNdXsS9g Listen to the original solar music pioneers and their…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we return for our second Probably True Solar Song about a woman who decides to break up with her utility and fall in love with solar power. True Solar Takeaways This solar breakup song was inspired by my friend, "Solar Rosana" Francescato's blog post. Solar can and does reduce utility bills, but your payback…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we introduce our music division: Probably True Solar Songs. You'll also learn about our new solar-themed dive bar, meet the band, and hear our first future hit solar song, "The Solar Coaster Life." True Solar Takeaways Check out the original solar music pioneers and their real solar music written and sung by…
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(The following is an encore episode from 2022, but all the info is still "probably true.") On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we imagine how the AI and robots of the future could affect solar sales in the year 2040. On the surface, it seems great, but there's a bit of a twist at the end... NOTE: This Probably True Solar Story does reference w…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, a psychic predicts a sunny future for a struggling solar installer and the entire California solar industry. But when the installer doesn’t believe her, the psychic makes a bet that could cost him a free solar installation. Can the psychic really change the installer's future or the CPUC? True Solar Takeaway…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories., we imagine what a fictional President Biden --a.k.a. "Dark Brandon"-- could have said at his 2024 State of the Union to bring more urgency about our global climate crisis and current solar and clean energy solutions. True Solar Takeaways Climate Crisis and the Urgency to Act The Intergovernmental Panel on C…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we revisit the story of how Winnie-the-Pooh went solar, but this time, with a certain Pooh character who wasn’t part of the public domain… until now. True Solar Takeaways As Christopher Robin mentioned, you should always get at least three solar quotes before selecting a solar installer. The typical solar sy…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, you’ll hear a live storytelling about two solar pros who decide to get married at a solar conference in Las Vegas. But when the wedding gets unexpectedly interrupted, the solar industry comes to the rescue. Watch the live video performance here: https://youtu.be/YyhWQi1d2ZE True Solar Takeaways RE+ is the la…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude our limited series, "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." It's about two neighbors who unexpectedly form an odd friendship and work to uncover a solar energy crime syndicate. But arresting the syndicate’s leader turns out to be more complicated than they expected. Previous Sola…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 10 of "The Solar Heist" series. Mrs. Prout returns to Mazz and Charlie’s house to give them a warning. But Mazz and Charlie are already in Chico. Despite her efforts, it’s just bad timing for Sylvia, and really, for everyone... If you missed any of the previous Solar Heist episodes: Lis…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, "The Solar Heist" series continues. Charlie goes to Chico, California to hunt for "CATs," --certain awful things--buried at a landfill that’s about to become a new solar farm. Meanwhile, Mazz tries to calmly educate the solar farm’s opponents without doing ... certain awful things. To catch up with the previ…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, Sylvia Prout, the widow of Richard Prout, visits Mazz and Charlie looking for answers about her husband's apparent murder. After some intense questioning and bourbon Irish coffees, Sylvia asks Mazz and Charlie for a favor that they can't refuse. If you missed the earlier episodes with Richard Prout, listen t…
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On the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with Part 7 of The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business. When an intruder breaks in and holds a gun to the head of Mazz's wife, Mazz, Charlie, and Beth come to the rescue. But doing so risks blowing Charlie's cover and the entire DOE intelligence operation. Listen to the p…
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Welcome, solar fiction fans to the Season 3 preview of Probably True Solar Stories! Last season's theme was "Solar Noir." For Season 3, it's a presidential election year, so our stories are going to explore politics and the #EnergyDeepState. Listen to this episode to hear about the next ten solar stories. Note: The first five episodes will mark the…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, twenty homes on the same cul de sac decide to go solar on the day after a Halloween night blackout. It’s a simple story, but when a young reporter looks into it, he gets the Halloween scoop of his short lifetime. True Solar Takeaways Going solar is "contagious." That is, several studies have shown that when …
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For those solar fiction fans who prefer the longer formats, we've combined all six episodes of "The Solar Heist" into a single two-hour version, including chapter headings. Two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, California coffee shop specializing in dark, rich coffee. Mazz owns a trucking business by day and is a thief at night. Charlie is…
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Today's Probably True Solar Stories mini-story is about one solar installer's expectations. It's also tangentially about a moose... ("The Story Behind the Solar Panel" is a new Prbably True Solar Stories mini-story series that is supported by sponsors. The stories are still fun and original fictional solar stories, but they're shorter and written i…
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Today's Probably True Solar Stories episode is about a solar superhero that you may already know... ("The Story Behind the Solar Panel" is a new Prbably True Solar Stories mini-story series that is supported by sponsors. The stories are still fun and original fictional solar stories, but they're shorter and written in collaboration with the episode…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we’re bringing together our previously published solar dragon story, "The Red Knight and the Dawn of the Solar Dragon." It’s the same Season 2 story, but instead of three 20-minute episodes, we’re telling this dragon tale in a single hour-long version for those who prefer a longer audio-novella version. -- O…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we end our Solar Noir season where we began. We continue the ongoing story of "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business." In this next chapter, it’s all about Trust. Charlie finally comes clean about who he is and what his goals are. But will Mazz help? Or will he run? Or worse. There's also ano…
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude the Red Knight and the Dawn of the Solar Dragon. The evil King Maxwell and his Red Knight, Goran, have started the Second Dragon War, trying to replace the moody, but docile energy dragons with fossil fuels. The dragons fight back with their fire breath. But can they win the war without the help …
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On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we continue with part 2 of The Red Knight and the Dawn of the Solar Dragon. Gorin, The Red Knight has invented a technology to replace dragon power with short-sighted fossil fuel power. But can Gorin quietly replace hundreds of fire-breathing dragons without getting burned and starting a Second Dragon War? M…
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Once upon a time, there were honest and friendly dragons who heated the boilers for steam-powered electric turbines. The dragons enjoyed the job and were paid good union wages. But due to the high cost of dragon energy, the King decided that the dragons needed to be replaced and sparked a bloody dragon war that led to the invention of solar power..…
  continue reading
 
Rufus, the pet and mascot of a solar installer, is dognapped out of the installer's truck while on the job. A chase ensues, but we learn that the dog, the solar installer, and the dog napper aren't quite what they seem. True Solar Takeaways As of 2020, there are 20,000 military veterans in the solar industry, making up about 9% of the solar workfor…
  continue reading
 
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 an…
  continue reading
 
Bob is a winemaker who is having a mid-life crisis. Trying to pull it together, he converts the oldest part of his vineyard into a solar farm, adopts a lost dog, and tries to make great wine. But nothing goes as planned, so he decides to take a psychedelic trip that takes him on a solar magical mystery tour that sparks joy in everyone—especially th…
  continue reading
 
Happy July 4th. I decided to do a quick, Probably True Solar Story by asking ChatGPT to write a version of the Declaration of Independence for solar power. The result was pretty good, so I wanted to share it. "When in the course of human development, it becomes necessary for individuals and communities to break free from the dependence on unsustain…
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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 some very modern and very real solar and smart electric resources. True Solar Takeaways Terrorists have …
  continue reading
 
On the next Probably True Solar Stories, a semi-sweet retired teacher gets inspired by Greta Thunberg to advocate for solar energy. But when her neighbors make excuses for not getting a solar quote, she starts a radical social media campaign that almost gets her arrested by the local sheriff... who happens to be her grandson. True Solar Takeaways T…
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After almost being shot by a crime syndicate enforcer, Charlie and Mazz go to confront Richard Prout about who really owns the utility solar project. But Richard won’t talk. Worse, he attempts a daring escape that frustrates the hell out of Mazz and Charlie and attempts to split them apart. True Solar Takeaways Brownfields and landfills are ideal l…
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Season 2's theme is "Solar Noir," and we start off with a darkly comedic Part 4 of our Solar Heist series. (Catch up to Parts 1-3 here.) In Part 4, Mazz and Charlie are forced by Richard Prout, a crime syndicate boss, to dig up some CATs (Certain Awful Things) under Charlie's solar project, which used to be a landfill. As Charlie and Mazz dig, an u…
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We're back for Season 2 of Probably True Solar Stories. This season, the theme is "Solar Noir." You know, like film noir, except our twisted thrillers, murder, mysteries, and petty crime stories will all have something to do with solar energy. Why solar noir? Well, when I look at today's hit TV shows and films, many are thrillers and murder mysteri…
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In preparation for launching Season 2 of Probably True Solar Stories, we've combined all three parts of "The Solar Heist, or How I Got Into the Solar Business" into a single 53-minute episode. Two neighbors meet unexpectedly at an Oakland, California coffee shop that specializes in dark, rich coffee. Mazz owns a trucking business by day and is a th…
  continue reading
 
In the next episode of Probably True Solar Stories, we continue the story of two neighbors who are part of the solar industry. Charlie is a large-scale utility solar developer while Mazz is a medium-scale thief who successfully "liberated" Charlie's solar panel shipment from a U.S. customs warehouse in Part 1 and Part 2. Now, in Part 3, it's a year…
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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 the first-ever solar fable. It's a fairytale. A hero's journey sort of thing. With a Texas accent. (Forgive me in advance.) This story may be a familiar one to people inside and outside the solar industry. It's about …
  continue reading
 
In this episode of Probably True Solar Stories, a feisty senior citizen is determined to haggle with a solar salesman to buy the solar system of her dreams. But her haggling plans fall through when an honest salesperson refuses to sell an installation at any price. Can they find the solar win-win? True Solar Takeaways Not every home is a good fit f…
  continue reading
 
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 a…
  continue reading
 
Note: For this episode, we're temporarily changing the name of Probably True Solar Stories to Probably POOH Solar Stories in honor of our main character, Winnie-the-Pooh. Once upon a time, not long ago, after public domain laws freed Winnie-the-Pooh from A.A. Milne's copyright ... there lived a bear who wanted to go solar but didn't understand the …
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