The New Voice of Solar + Storage

SEIA’s new President and CEO Tim Pawlenty joins the Good Energy podcast to discuss his background, his decision to move into clean energy, and his goals for the solar and storage industry.

Pawlenty grew up south St. Paul, Minnesota with a working-class family and initially aspired to be a dentist before ultimately studying political science and law. He recognized his passion for public policy early on and made his way through Minnesota politics before being elected governor in 2002.

In choosing to join SEIA, Pawlenty asserts his view that building more power is one of America’s biggest challenges. As the Governor of Minnesota, he launched a nation-leading model to add more renewables to Minnesota’s energy portfolio. He believes that his policy and leadership experience as Governor will equip him to both set the vision for the industry’s future and also build the coalition needed to achieve it.

Given America’s rising energy needs, Pawlenty argues that solar and storage can together meet all the priorities Americans have for their power supply: they’re fast to build, cost competitive, reliable, and clean. As a lawyer, Pawlenty appreciates the strong facts backing up the industry and is looking to help policymakers catch up. Since becoming SEIA’s CEO, Pawlenty has been struck by the data showing the affordability of solar and the massive share—91% in the first quarter of 2026—of new energy capacity solar comprises.

At SEIA, Pawlenty is hoping to help depolarize the energy issue and make solar a bipartisan solution.

About Good Energy

From in-depth interviews with industry leaders to insightful discussions on the rapid growth of solar and storage in the United States, Good Energy connects you with the heartbeat of the solar industry. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just curious about the future of energy, tune in to stay informed and inspired about the bright future of solar. Listen to full episodes on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.