Meet Tim Montague – Instructor Spotlight

HeatSpring instructors aren’t always academics –  they’re practitioners who also happen to teach. Most of them came to education after years (sometimes decades) in the industry, and that experience is baked into every course they create. The Instructor Spotlight series is our chance to introduce you to the people behind the content.

Today, meet Tim Montague — solar project developer, consultant, and host of the weekly Clean Power Hour podcast. As president of Clean Power Consulting Group, Tim has spent his career developing C&I and community solar and storage projects across the US, with over 50 MW originated and developed. He holds the NABCEP PV Technical Sales certification and brings that same practitioner’s perspective to his “Qualifying Commercial Solar Leads & Projects” and “Selling & Developing Commercial-Industrial Solar” courses on HeatSpring, which have earned over 1,300 enrollments.

Say hello to Tim!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten?

Be curious. I’m going to credit Mr. C, my third grade teacher, with this. He was my French teacher — he also taught a couple other things and was a tailor; you could bring him a pair of pants and some cloth and he’d make you a new pair. But “be curious” has stayed with me. Constantly learning keeps our mind sharp. It helps us maintain relevancy in a fast-moving, constantly changing industry.

What was your first job in the industry?

My first job was doing business development for a large EPC in Chicago called Continental Energy Solutions. I learned much of what I know about commercial solar by developing projects and working with developers there. Continental was a large electrical contractor that got into solar in 2008 — an early adopter that started doing big-box retail, which was an entrée into large C&I. Spending time on construction sites was one of my favorite things, and I highly recommend all solar professionals spend time in the field, no matter what your role. You can learn so much.

How many years have you been in the industry?

I officially got into solar in 2016, so this is my 10th anniversary. But I actually grew up doing solar thermal — hot water panels in my backyard in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when I was 10 years old. There was a renewable energy fair at the University of New Mexico that we’d attend, where we’d bring hot water panels and solar cookers made from cardboard and tin foil. We made parabolic troughs and dishes that concentrate the sun’s energy to a point — you can heat a pan and cook a hamburger or a hot dog. The threads that connect my various careers are sustainability, technology, and people. I love those three things, and solar checks all those boxes.

What are your hobbies?

I have three hobbies. First, I’m a competitive small boat sailor — I sail a Flying Scot, which is a 19-foot sailing dinghy, and I travel with my boat around the Midwest and sometimes down to the Gulf of Florida to compete in races. Second is pickleball. I’m a semi-competitive player, mostly recreational, but I do play in tournaments occasionally. I was a tennis player as a kid and just love paddle and racket sports — ping pong, racquetball, tennis. Pickleball is great fun; it’s very social, easy to learn, and hard to master. Third is billiards. Anyone can play these sports, but they’re all hard to master, so there’s a long learning trajectory. I love that. You have to put in a lot of reps — 10,000 hours to master a skill. That journey of growing, failing, learning, winning, and losing is so valuable. The only way to have a breakthrough is to first have breakdowns.

What’s a fun fact about you that your students don’t know?

Most students don’t know I grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is the home of two storied solar companies: Array Technologies, one of the world’s largest single-axis tracker manufacturers, and Unirac, known for rooftop and ground-mount racking solutions. My parents actually worked with Unirac’s founder, John Liebendorfer — I knew John as a kid. That’s my claim to fame in the solar industry.

What’s a tradition or habit you’re proud of?

I’m proud of the tradition of working in the energy industry in its various forms. My grandfather, Grandpa Murphy in Chicago, ran a coal industry magazine called The Black Diamond — he and his father ran that company. I live in Illinois, a big coal state with 100 years of coal reserves in the southern part of the state, so I stand on those shoulders. My father was also energy-adjacent as an environmental justice activist working on coal plant, nuclear, and uranium mining issues. In the Four Corners area of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, there were massive coal plants causing serious pollution — most people don’t know that mercury comes out of coal smokestacks and settles in lakes and rivers, creating hazards for fish and humans. I stand on the shoulders of the coal industry proudly, and we simply have better, cleaner technology now called solar PV.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Thai green curry with shrimp, carrots, and white rice. I love Thai curry, and shrimp is one of my favorite foods — it’s delicious, healthy, and pure protein.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I love being outdoors — I used to be a runner. Having a clean environment is so important, and I feel very good about working in the solar industry because it’s a real way to clean our air. Millions of people die from air pollution, and if I can save just one life by helping speed the energy transition, that’s something to feel good about. I’m proud to be affiliated with so many passionate solar professionals. I look forward to meeting students and listeners at trade shows this year — RE+ Southeast in Atlanta, NABCEP in Milwaukee, ACP in Houston, and the Microgrid Knowledge trade show in Orlando. Reach out to me on LinkedIn and let’s connect!