Why is solar so expensive in the U.S.?

Nick Josefowitz has the receipts—and a plan to fix it.

In this episode, we dig into one of the largest hidden reasons rooftop solar costs $35,000+ for the average American homeowner (while in Australia it's closer to $6K). Spoiler: It’s not the panels—it’s the paperwork.

Nick is the founder of Permit Power, a nonprofit laser-focused on making solar faster, cheaper, and easier to install by tackling the bottlenecks that most people overlook: permitting and interconnection. Drawing from his experience as both a C&I developer and public infrastructure policy leader, Nick shares how America’s red tape turned rooftop solar into a bespoke luxury—and why that’s about to change.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by utility interconnection delays, permit backlogs, or unnecessary installation costs, this is the episode that gives you hope—and tools.

🎧 Expect to learn:

🔹 Why U.S. rooftop solar is 5x more expensive than in other countries

🔹 The hidden costs of permitting delays—and how they drive up CAC

🔹 How smart policies in CA, TX & FL are changing the game

🔹 Why Nick chose to build a nonprofit to fix a for-profit industry problem

📣 Whether you're a solar installer or policy nerd, this one’s for you. Listen in and get inspired to fix solar from the inside out.

Get your Solar Fight Night tickets before they're gone: https://tinyurl.com/522wf8v3

Also check out Renewables UnWind Las Vegas: https://tinyurl.com/2ea2c6k3

And don't forget about the pickleball games: https://tinyurl.com/p9h5nv42

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/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

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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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You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

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

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

858: This Nonprofit is Revolutionizing Solar Permitting | Nick Josefowitz

SunCast

858: This Nonprofit is Revolutionizing Solar Permitting | Nick Josefowitz