Benoy Thanjan has been in solar for 17 years. He thought the roller coaster would end by now. It has not. It keeps getting more complicated. In this episode, Tim Montague sits down with Benoy Thanjan, founder and CEO of Reneu Energy and host of the Solar Maverick podcast, at InterSolar San Diego 2026. Reneu Energy is a solar developer and consulting firm with 80 megawatts of projects in development across New York and New Jersey. Benoy and Tim walk through the forces reshaping the solar industry right now: FEOC compliance uncertainty, the rapid expansion of battery storage, the residential to C&I pivot, creative financing trends, and what it takes to develop solar in the most complicated market in the country, Manhattan.
Here's what you'll learn in this conversation about where the solar industry is headed in 2026 and beyond:
. Understand why the solar coaster keeps accelerating.
. Learn why battery storage is no longer about economics alone.
. Find out why FEOC compliance is the biggest unknown in the industry.
. You'll hear why the residential to C&I pivot is the next mega trend.
. Learn how Reneu Energy is building the first community solar project in Manhattan on 22 buildings with the New York City Housing Authority in Harlem.
The solar roller coaster shows no signs of slowing down. FEOC compliance is murky. Storage is expanding faster than most professionals expected. The residential market is pushing installers toward C&I. And developing solar in places like Manhattan requires a level of complexity most markets will never see. Benoy Thanjan brings 17 years of experience and a ground-level perspective on all of it. This episode gives you a clear look at what is changing and where the opportunities are right now.
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Find Benoy at:
https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com/,
https://www.reneuenergy.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bthanjan/
Visit CleanPowerHour.com for all episodes and resources. Drop a comment below with your questions about storage, FEOC compliance, or the C&I pivot.
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