Every year in September, thousands of participants in the clean energy transition come together at RE+ to share their interests, successes, and hopes for the clean energy industry. This year was unlike any other: the U.S. has passed the most powerful legislation to date in support of clean energy, even as we experience ever-more–severe climate events across the globe. The momentum for the industry is palpable and there is a clear focus on what we need to do to continue to scale and lead the clean energy transition.  

Over the past week, here is what I heard most frequently: 

• Now is not the time to slow down. Many across the industry are recognizing the pivotal position we are in. They equally understand that the decisions made today and tomorrow have the power to make generational impacts. The call to arms is strong and one we need to maintain to continue advancing the impact solar and storage will have on clean energy.  
• Prioritizing partnerships. As developers, financiers, and even manufacturers look to build solar and storage in the U.S. they are also looking for the right partner who understands the complexities of developing, building, and operating these assets. The demand for solar and storage projects is on the rise, in the next-five years alone it is projected the annual growth in the solar industry will average 15%. From our perspective at CleanCapital, it will be critical to build partnerships with trusted experts that bridge the many phases of a projects’ life cycle. 
• Celebrate even the smallest of progress. While multinational deals and eye-popping investment announcements are becoming ever-more-common, we feel the same enthusiasm for the smaller signs of progress that indicate a real change is underway. Just last week we announced the completion of an 8.5 MW project in Alaska, the largest ever built in that state and a showcase for the economic feasibility of solar in one of the country’s most challenging environments. And our own Melinda Baglio was recognized by the Department of Energy for their C3E award as one of 11 women excelling in clean energy  and leading the way for gender equity in our industry. Beyond our walls we saw NexTracker announce the grand opening of a dedicated manufacturing facility in Las Vegas and the DOE released its new VVP report; the list could go on and on. 
• Shout it from the (solar) rooftops. As we push forward in our efforts to build solar and storage projects across the U.S. to meet the growing demand, we also need to recognize the importance of sharing our stories and joining advocacy groups. The voice of many will be heard over the voice of a few loud ones. At CleanCapital, we are engaged with groups across the U.S. like SEIA, CCSA, ACORE and more to battle against those with an opposing agenda.  

Overall, the atmosphere was addicting. The excitement, the conversation, and getting to witness the actions taken by many. For our team here at CleanCapital, we are going to build on that momentum as we approach the final quarter of 2023. With the renewed commitment of up to $500 million from Manulife Investment Management we are excited to forge new relationships with partners and put new solar and storage projects on the grid. This industry still has a long road ahead of us, but we are at a point in time where we can make a generational impact on climate change moving forward. If you are a developer or owner of renewable energy assets or a fellow clean energy professional, it’s time we connect. We are actively acquiring DG solar and storage projects and seeking new partners. Additionally, if you are a project owner considering a sale—or a developer with a robust project pipeline—connect with us to today and discover how the CleanCapital team is ready to help. 

One final thought for the RE+ Leadership – will we lead by example and have a sustainable conference next year? If Billie Eilish is powering music festivals with solar energy, can’t the renewable energy industry do the same?