Episode Summary
In Episode 304 of the Solar Maverick Podcast, Benoy Thanjan sits down with mental performance coach, entrepreneur, and former FDNY firefighter Vin Infante to explore the mindset and systems needed to build a business that can grow beyond its founder.
Drawing on his background in psychotherapy, coaching, and firefighting, Vin shares practical lessons on leadership, resilience, and performing under pressure. He explains why founders become bottlenecks and describes helping a solar business owner reduce his workweek from six days to four while increasing sales through documented processes, delegation, and team training.
The conversation also covers Vin’s five-part framework for AI prompts, the importance of human oversight, and how personal branding builds trust. Benoy and Vin discuss protecting your time, leading with value, and knowing when to adapt while staying committed to a long-term vision.
For solar and energy professionals looking to grow their businesses and reclaim their time, this episode offers practical ideas to put into action.
Celebrate 300 Episodes of Solar Maverick
Join Benoy and the Solar Maverick community for a networking celebration marking 300 episodes of conversations about solar, entrepreneurship, and the energy transition.
November 5 | 6:00–9:00 p.m. | Jersey City, New Jersey
https://luma.com/oj8frtug
Biographies
Benoy Thanjan
Benoy Thanjan is the Founder and CEO of Reneu Energy, a solar development and consulting firm, and the host of the Solar Maverick Podcast. He also serves as a strategic advisor to multiple cleantech startups.
Over his career, Benoy has developed more than 100 MWs of solar projects across the United States, advised on more than 1 GW of energy projects worldwide, helped launch some of the first residential solar tax equity funds at Tesla, and brokered approximately $50 million in renewable energy credit transactions.
Before founding Reneu Energy, Benoy worked in Tesla’s Project Finance Group as an environmental commodities trader, where he managed one of the company’s largest environmental commodities portfolios. He originated renewable energy credit transactions and worked with senior leadership to develop monetization and hedging strategies supporting the company’s expansion into East Coast markets.
Benoy also served as Vice President at Vanguard Energy Partners, a solar and energy storage construction company, where he developed project finance solutions for commercial-scale solar portfolios. At Ridgewood Renewable Power, a private equity fund with approximately 125 MW of U.S. renewable energy assets, he evaluated investment opportunities, supported portfolio strategy, and played a key role in the sale of the firm’s renewable energy portfolio.
Earlier in his career, Benoy worked in Energy Structured Finance at Deloitte & Touche and in Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young. He also completed an internship on the trading floor at D. E. Shaw & Co., a global investment and technology development firm.
Benoy holds an MBA in Finance from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics from the NYU Stern School of Business, where he was an Alumni Scholar.
Connect with Benoy on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoythanjan/
Learn more:
https://reneuenergy.com
https://www.solarmaverickpodcast.com
Guest Bio: Vin Infante
Vin Infante is a mental performance coach, licensed psychotherapist, entrepreneur, and former FDNY firefighter. He combines therapy, mentorship, and coaching to help founders, executives, and high-performing professionals address the personal and operational challenges that hold them back. His experience includes work in hospitals, homeless shelters, and private practice, as well as coaching entrepreneurs and business leaders.
In this episode, Vin shares lessons from working with founders at early-stage startups and leaders at multibillion-dollar organizations. He discusses building repeatable systems, improving delegation, and creating a business that supports the life its owner wants.
Connect with Vin on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vininfante/
Learn more about Vin’s coaching, newsletter, and podcast:
https://www.vincentinfante.life
Sponsor: DCE Solar
This episode of the Solar Maverick Podcast is brought to you by DCE Solar.
Since 2009, DCE has built a unique model in the solar industry by bringing design, racking, and construction together under one roof.
DCE Design provides full-scope electrical design across multiple project types. DCE Solar manufactures fixed-tilt, tracker, carport, and rooftop racking systems for commercial and utility-scale projects. DCE Services handles installation.
DCE Services was named the number-one commercial ground-mount installer by Solar Power World in 2025 and the number-one commercial rooftop installer in 2026. This gives customers one company and one point of accountability, from utility-scale projects with IPPs and developers to turnkey commercial and industrial projects.
Learn more about DCE and its company story in SMP 288: Why Solar Racking Can Make or Break a Project, featuring DCE Founder and CEO Bill Taylor:
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/smp-288-why-solar-racking-can-make-or-break-a-project/id1441876259?i=1000774004477
You can also meet the DCE team at RE+ Las Vegas or visit:
https://dcesolar.com/
Thank you to DCE for supporting the Solar Maverick Podcast.
Reneu Energy
Reneu Energy provides expert consulting across solar and storage project development, financing, energy strategy, and environmental commodities. The team helps clients originate, structure, and execute opportunities across community solar, commercial and industrial, utility-scale, and Renewable Energy Credit markets.
To learn more, visit:
https://www.reneuenergy.com/
You can also email the team at info@reneuenergy.com.
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