Policy Punchline

A seasoned entrepreneur and financier, Tom Leyden is well versed in every aspect of the solar world. In this episode, Tom speaks about his start in the solar space, how it has evolved over the years, and what he sees as the future of the technology. Tom narrates his experiences in Africa and Southeast Asia advising companies and governments on solar projects. He explains how solar is not only as a source of power, but also an aid mechanism that will continue to be important abroad from both financial and strategic perspectives. His article "Solar Power for Peace" describes the lasting goodwill that often accompanies solar projects in developing nations. Tom also believes in a bright future for the American solar market, as some of the experienced foreign developers may continue to see high-potential business opportunities here. He also elaborates on distributed energy, net metering, the theory of "price cannibalization,” and some recent changes in NJ state energy policy.   Tom has done a great deal of wo