Solar Isn’t Dying—It’s Evolving: Blake Gailey on the Future of Home Energy
The residential solar tax credit sunset wasn’t the death knell many feared—it was a forcing function. After 13 years navigating the industry’s wildest swings, Blake Gailey, founder of Eco Tribe, sees the post-ITC landscape not as a crisis but as an opportunity for solar companies to finally become what they always should have been: complete home energy service providers.
The Solar Veteran’s Journey
Blake’s career reads like a roadmap of the solar industry itself. From early Sunrun pilot programs to building dealer channels at SunEdison and SunPower, he’s experienced the full spectrum—the explosive growth, the devastating disruptions, and the constant reinvention. After the industry shakeups of 2025, he launched Eco Tribe with a clear vision: solar companies can no longer survive selling panels alone.
Beyond Panels: The Home Energy Ecosystem
The companies that will thrive in this new era aren’t just solar installers—they’re comprehensive energy solution providers offering:
- Battery storage systems that optimize automatically
- Smart panels with AI-driven load management
- EV charging infrastructure integrated into home energy systems
- Backup generators for resilience
- Roofing integration that treats the entire home holistically
- System upgrades for existing solar installations
This isn’t just product diversification—it’s a fundamental business model transformation.
The AI-Powered Home Energy Revolution
Blake’s particularly excited about technologies like EcoFlow’s AI-powered systems, which are turning homes into self-optimizing energy hubs. These systems automatically manage loads, respond to time-of-use rates, and handle outages without homeowner intervention. The home essentially runs itself, making energy decisions that maximize savings and reliability.
“Smart panels managing loads without you thinking about it—that’s the future,” Blake explains. It’s automation and AI that will separate winners from losers in the post-ITC market.
Green Mortgages: The Financing Game-Changer
Perhaps the most overlooked innovation Blake discusses is the rise of green mortgages. These financial instruments roll solar, batteries, and even roofing into home loans—eliminating liens and making comprehensive energy upgrades more accessible than ever.
This financing model solves one of solar’s persistent challenges: upfront cost barriers. By integrating energy improvements into mortgage products, homeowners can finance complete energy transformations through familiar, trusted channels.
The Wild Card: Home Hydroelectric Generators
One of the most intriguing technologies Blake mentions is home hydroelectric generators that create power from municipal water flow. While still emerging, these systems represent the kind of innovative thinking that will define the next generation of home energy solutions.
It’s a reminder that the future of residential energy won’t look like anything we’ve seen before—and that’s exactly the point.
The Roadmap Forward
Blake’s perspective offers clear guidance for anyone in the solar space:
For solar professionals: Stop thinking about panels. Start thinking about complete energy ecosystems. The companies that evolve will survive; those that don’t won’t make it.
For homeowners: Your home can become an intelligent, self-managing energy hub that optimizes costs, increases resilience, and integrates seamlessly with EVs, batteries, and smart technology.
For industry observers: Solar isn’t dying. It’s shedding its old skin and emerging as something more sophisticated, more automated, and more essential than ever.
The Bottom Line
The end of residential tax credits isn’t killing solar—it’s forcing the industry to mature. Blake Gailey’s journey from the early days at Sunrun to launching Eco Tribe demonstrates what that maturation looks like: embracing automation, AI, financing innovation, and comprehensive energy solutions.
Solar panels were always just the beginning. The real opportunity lies in building complete home energy ecosystems that make homes smarter, more efficient, and more resilient.
The solar coaster isn’t stopping. It’s just heading in a more interesting direction.
What’s your take? Are solar companies in your area evolving into complete energy service providers, or are they still stuck selling panels? Share your observations in the comments.
Listen to the Full Episode
Ready to hear Blake’s complete vision for the future of home energy? Listen now:
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About The Solar Coaster Podcast
The Solar Coaster is a podcast that takes you on the wild ride through the solar industry, told by the people who live it every day. Hosted by Anna Covert—author, digital marketing expert, and founder of Covert Communication—each episode features candid conversations with solar professionals sharing their journeys, challenges, and victories.
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