Brad Stutzman: Thriving on the Solar Coaster and Shaping Tomorrow’s Energy
- Author
- Wes Ashworth
- Published
- Fri 05 Sep 2025
- Episode Link
- None
The renewable energy industry has never been a smooth ride. Policy swings, financing hurdles, shifting market sentiment, what many call the “solar coaster.”
Few leaders know this rollercoaster better than Brad Stutzman, CEO of O3 Energy, a Dallas-based company pioneering commercial and industrial solar solutions.
Since founding O3 Energy in 2011, Brad has helped the company evolve from financing projects in a shaky middle market to launching innovations like the Solar Split model and O3 Asset Care, while expanding into international markets like Mexico. Along the way, he’s navigated gut-wrenching pivots, including shutting down O3’s residential division, and emerged with a philosophy that blends endurance, realism, and optimism: the industry will always find a way.
In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, host Wes Ashworth and Brad explore:
- The early days of O3 Energy and why Brad saw opportunity in commercial solar when others overlooked it.
- The Solar Split model — how property owners can now share solar savings directly with tenants.
- Why asset management is renewables’ hidden weak link — and how O3 Asset Care helps prevent millions in lost revenue.
- Lessons from Mexico’s energy crisis and what it signals about U.S. policy risk.
- What today’s transition has in common with past revolutions like electrification, automobiles, and the dawn of credit cards.
- Leadership through volatility — making tough calls, staying steady, and keeping purpose front and center.
Brad’s journey is a masterclass in resilience and innovation for anyone navigating renewable energy’s wild ride. Whether you’re an investor, developer, or industry leader, this conversation offers clarity on where solar is headed and how to thrive through the ups and downs.
Links:
Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/
- Email: [email protected]
- https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/
- https://leegroupsearch.com/
