Description

Dave Riess explains how commercial property owners can turn rooftops into revenue using WonderPower’s solar systems to increase NOI and hedge energy costs.

In this episode of RealDealChat, Jack Hoss sits down with Dave Riess, CEO and co-founder of WonderPower (WunderPower.com), to discuss how commercial real estate owners can generate new income and protect against rising electricity costs using rooftop solar.

Dave shares his journey from electrical engineer to energy entrepreneur and breaks down why commercial solar is one of the most underutilized opportunities in real estate. He explains how WonderPower helps landlords lease unused roof space, install solar systems at no cost, and collect steady lease payments — all while future-proofing their properties.

You’ll also hear about the latest trends in electricity demand, what’s driving record utility costs, and how data centers, manufacturing reshoring, and AI are reshaping the energy landscape.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How WonderPower leases rooftop space to create new revenue streams
• Why solar is now cost-effective in most U.S. markets
• The impact of AI, data centers & manufacturing reshoring on energy prices
• How solar acts as a “physical hedge” against rising utility costs
• The financial benefits of distributed generation for real estate owners
• How federal solar incentives are changing (and when they expire)
• Why landlords in the Northeast & California see the highest returns
• How NOI increases through renewable energy adoption
• What property types qualify: logistics, warehousing, storage & medical office
• The minimal maintenance required and long-term reliability of solar assets

📍 Learn more and see if your property qualifies → WunderPower.com

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Timestamps

00:00 – The shift in U.S. electricity demand and why it matters

01:30 – Dave’s journey from electrical engineer to energy entrepreneur

03:00 – What WonderPower does for commercial property owners

05:00 – Why commercial solar is the biggest untapped opportunity in CRE

07:00 – The data center boom and AI’s impact on electricity usage

09:00 – Rising energy costs and the “physical hedge” of rooftop solar

10:00 – Ideal markets: Northeast, California, and Illinois

12:00 – Partnering with landlords & asset managers nationwide

14:00 – Why rooftop solar creates more value than ground-mount systems

16:00 – From lender to developer: how WonderPower evolved

18:00 – Customer experience & repeat business through transparency

19:00 – How solar costs dropped 70% over the past decade

21:00 – Understanding federal solar incentives & the 2026 deadline

23:00 – Why property owners should act now before subsidies expire

25:00 – ROI thresholds: when solar makes the most sense

27:00 – Maintenance, weather, and long-term system durability

29:00 – Rapid Fire: Lies, advice, books & tools Dave recommends

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