742: Mosaics Journey to $15 Billion in Residential Solar Loans with Co-founder & Executive Chair, Billy Parish
When I started SunCast, it seemed like there were lots of \u201cPioneers\u201d; I even did a series focused on Solar Pioneers. That was 9 yars ago. Nowadays, most people are following playbooks others have written, and true pioneers are few-and-far-between. But I do still get to bring real pioneers on the show. Today\u2019s guest has taken all 9 years to lock down, despite having first met Billy Parish in 2011, fully 4 yrs before I started SunCast! Good things come to those who wait. And you\u2019ve waited a long time for this story, as Never Before Told\u2026The Billy Parish, Mosaic Anthology!
How does a social activist unexpectedly become a pioneer in solar financing, helping shape the industry while funding over $15 billion in residential solar loans?
Billy Parish, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Mosaic, turned his passion for activism into a mission to make solar power accessible and affordable for millions of homeowners. Before founding Mosaic, Parish was a youth activist and impatient budding entrepreneur. His first real breakout success was Energy Action Coalition, a youth-driven climate movement, which laid the foundation for his work in clean energy. His work brought him international acclaim, including being a Rolling Stone Climate Hero and Mother Jones Student Activist of the Year, all while he was \u201ctaking time off\u201d from Yale! When he turned his focus to solving solar energy\u2019s finance & scalability problem, little did he realize it\u2019d turn into a nearly 2-decade journey, much naysaying, and a few \u2018pivots\u2019. Nevertheless, through Mosaic's innovative financing models, they have empowered thousands of contractors and funded billions in residential solar loans - and in many ways, it seems they\u2019re just getting started.
Billy traveled from his residence in Berkeley, CA, to Washington, DC, to sit down with Nico and share his journey, insights, and Mosaic\u2019s standout innovations. One of Mosaic\u2019s major achievements includes launching the first 20-year solar loan product and a fully digital point-of-sale system credit application process that revolutionizes solar financing. Parish explains his "theory of change," focusing on making clean energy accessible to all through engagement and equity\u2014a journey that earned him a feature in Rolling Stone for his climate leadership.
Expect to learn:
- Billy Parish\u2019s blend of activism and entrepreneurship as a driving force for opening solar as an accessible asset class to millions.
- Mosaic\u2019s shift from crowdfunding to institutional investors, scaling to $15 billion in loans.
- Mosaic\u2019s innovations in digital infrastructure that makes solar financing fast and easy for homeowners.
- Why U.S. solar installations take months, and how Mosaic is working to cut delays.
- How tools like SolarAPP can save thousands per project by speeding up solar permitting.
Listen now as Nico finally gets to deeply connect with one of Solar\u2019s widely-accepted iconic pioneers, Billy Parish.
If you want to connect with today's guest, you\u2019ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
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