918: Is Storage The Catalyst That Finally Unlocks C&I Solar? 4 Expert Opinions

Every year, the industry says the same thing.

“C&I solar is about to take off!”

And yet, it never quite scales the way we expect.

Could this year finally be the year?

In this live panel from Intersolar, Nico Johnson sits down with Joe Ross (CPS America), Rob Smith (ABC Supply), Tim Montague (Clean Power Consulting), and Jim Wood (SEG Solar) to unpack what’s really happening in the commercial and industrial market.

The opportunity is real—but it’s uneven, complex, and highly dependent on where you operate.

Battery storage is starting to shift the conversation. Falling costs, rising electricity prices, and new incentives are making projects pencil in ways they didn’t before. But storage alone isn’t the answer.

This discussion explores the full picture—from workforce challenges and customer education to capital competition and regional market dynamics.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why C&I solar is growing, but still not scaling across all markets

🔹 How storage is improving project economics—and where it actually works

🔹 What’s holding projects back, from education gaps to competing capital priorities

🔹 Why transitioning from residential to commercial is harder than it looks

The ingredients for growth are finally coming together.

The question is whether this is the moment C&I solar truly breaks through.

Press play and decide for yourself.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is also sponsored by Nextpower!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/

You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus