Episode 954
954: Can Clean Energy Build Mythic Power? | Tom Matzzie
We know how to build power. Every day, the clean energy industry builds more of it.
But there's another kind of power that's far more difficult to generate—and arguably even more important.
The kind that determines whether an industry continues to grow regardless of who's in office. The kind that shapes public opinion before a project is ever proposed. The kind that makes policymakers think twice before standing in your way.
Tom Matzzie has spent his career building both.
Before founding CleanChoice Energy, he spent fifteen years building political movements. Today, he's helping build something the clean energy industry has historically lacked: the institutions, relationships, and long-term political capacity that make an industry durable.
In this conversation, Tom introduces a phrase I hadn't heard before but haven't stopped thinking about since: mythic power.
It's a simple idea with profound implications.
What if the real measure of our industry's success isn't how many gigawatts we deploy...
...but whether we've built enough influence that our progress no longer depends on the outcome of the next election?
Whether you're a founder, developer, investor, policymaker, or simply someone who wants to see the energy transition succeed, this conversation will challenge how you think about what it really takes to build an industry that lasts.
In this episode:
- What "mythic power" means - and why Tom believes every mature industry eventually develops it.
- Why the crypto industry offers an unexpected lesson for clean energy.
- Why political durability is built long before a crisis arrives.
- Why institutions may matter as much as innovation in the next chapter of the energy transition.
After listening, I'd love to hear your answer to the same question I found myself asking:
Can clean energy build mythic power?
Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?
Hit us up - team@suncast.me with your feedback & recommendations.
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