Scaling Clean Energy: Michael Rucker on Wind, Solar & the Future of Scout Clean Energy

In this episode of Green Giants: Titans of Renewable Energy, we sit down with Michael Rucker, Founder & CEO of Scout Clean Energy, a company leading the charge in wind, solar, and energy storage development. With 1,200 MW of operational projects and a 19 GW pipeline spanning 24 states, Scout is shaping the future of clean energy through strategic innovation, hybrid projects, and a mission-driven approach to development.

Michael’s career journey—from his time at the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Edison Electric Institute to his founding of Scout Clean Energy—offers a fascinating look at how private capital, policy evolution, and technology shifts are accelerating the clean energy transition. He shares his insights on wind repowering, hybrid renewables, interconnection challenges, and the booming demand for clean energy from corporations and data centers.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🔹 Michael’s journey into renewables – How a passion for climate change and global energy policy led him to entrepreneurship.
🔹 The rise of hybrid energy projects – Why wind, solar, and battery storage together provide the most effective solutions for today’s energy buyers.
🔹 Repowering wind farms – How Scout is replacing 1980s-era wind farms with modern turbines that generate nearly 10x the output.
🔹 Breaking new ground in Arkansas – What it takes to build the first major wind project in a historically solar-heavy market.
🔹 Overcoming grid and interconnection challenges – Why the U.S. grid must evolve to support the next generation of renewable projects.
🔹 The economics of renewables – How wind and solar are now the fastest and most cost-effective energy sources on the grid.
🔹 Scaling a clean energy company – Lessons from growing Scout from a startup to 200+ employees while navigating a rapidly changing industry.
🔹 Corporate demand for renewables – How data centers, tech giants, and utilities are driving the next wave of clean energy investment.

Scout Clean Energy’s Vision: Innovation & Grid Transformation

Scout Clean Energy is pioneering new ways to integrate wind, solar, and storage to meet the growing demand for 24/7 clean power. With the backing of Brookfield Renewable’s $15B Global Transition Fund, the company is scaling rapidly to deliver low-cost, high-efficiency renewable energy across the U.S.

Michael also discusses why grid congestion, permitting delays, and market shifts are among the biggest hurdles facing developers today—and what must change to unlock the full potential of the energy transition.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Hybrid projects combining wind, solar, and storage are the future of clean energy.
✅ Interconnection bottlenecks are one of the biggest challenges slowing down renewables.
✅ Corporate buyers and data centers are rapidly increasing demand for 24/7 clean power.
✅ Wind repowering projects can deliver nearly 10x the energy output using modern turbines.
✅ Scaling a renewable energy company requires balancing capital investment, policy shifts, and talent development.

Links:

• Michael Rucker on LinkedIn
• Scout Clean Energy's website

Wes Ashworth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslgs/

• Email: wes@leegroupsearch.com
• https://leegroupsearch.com/green-giants-podcast/
• https://leegroupsearch.com/