You can buy solar panels in many places around the world for around 10 cents-a-watt— so why are Americans still paying an average of about $3.70 for every watt installed?

In this candid and fiery live episode, Nico Johnson sits down with long-time clean energy champions Andrew Birch and Kerim Baran to unpack what’s really slowing down solar deployment in the U.S. The verdict? Bureaucracy, bad trade policy, and a lack of open-market access are dragging us down.

From SolarApp to tariffs to balcony solar, this conversation delivers a clear-eyed exploration of clean energy economics and the tension between innovation and regulation. Birchy argues for smarter global trade to lower prices and create more jobs—not fewer. And Kerim asks the tough questions about sovereignty, security, and system-wide inefficiencies. We’ve got further reading down in the resources section, but first you’ll want to tune into this discussion to learn:

🔹 How smarter permitting could unlock a solar job boom in the U.S.

🔹 Why Australia achieves $1/Watt installs—and what’s holding the U.S. back

🔹 Why tariffs don’t protect jobs—they stall innovation

🔹 What Elon Musk could do to fix residential solar (no, seriously)

This is the solar debate we should be having. Buckle up, SolarWarriors, we’re in for yet another stomach-churning ride on the solarcoaster.

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

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Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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812: The Real Cost of Tariffs: What’s Stalling U.S. Solar Deployment | Andrew Birch & Kerim Baran

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