Volts podcast: Sunrun CEO Lynn Jurich on the promise of electrification

It is now widely agreed among energy wonks that the fastest,
cheapest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is to, as I like
to put it, electrify everything. That means cleaning up the
electricity system while shifting other energy uses — especially
transportation and buildings — off of fossil fuels, onto
electricity.


When it comes to electrification, one technology in particular
sits at the nexus, helping to decarbonize the electricity system,
vehicles, and buildings all at once. I'm speaking, of course, of
the humble solar photovoltaic panel, a technology that has defied
predictions for decades, getting cheaper and cheaper, spreading
faster and faster.


But the spread of solar panels is just the leading edge of a much
larger, more important shift to electrified homes and
communities. As I've followed electrification and all its
implications, one of the people I've learned the most from, in
conversation and through her writing, is Lynn Jurich. 


In addition to being an insightful observer of the US energy
system, Jurich also happens to be the co-founder and CEO of
America's largest residential solar company. Sunrun has been
around since 2007 and seen some ups and downs, but lately it has
been all ups. The company adapted relatively quickly to the
pandemic shutdown, invested heavily, and had a banner year in
2020.


Then, to top it off, it bought Vivint, its leading competitor,
for $3.2 billion. It is now sitting at the top of a burgeoning
residential solar market, with a valuation of some $22 billion.


I talked with Jurich about her new deal with Ford, the reason US
residential solar costs twice what it costs in Germany, the ways
distributed energy can help the grid, and the next steps for
electrification.


Thanks to her for coming on and to you for listening. If you
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