Our energy sector is experiencing a rapid transformation driven by technological advancements, changes in policy, and societal demands. The growth of job opportunities in clean energy are undeniable and high-paying. Women are seizing the opportunity to lead and contribute to the energy transition.
In this new captivating series, “Women are Energy Superheroes,” we share the career pathways and stories of remarkable women in the energy workforce. These profiles highlight the accomplishments of women who have successfully pursued energy-related careers, including those who have attended community college programs. Each profile provides valuable insights into the excitement and impact of energy careers while offering tips for aspiring professionals.
We are proud to announce that all of the remarkable women featured in this series are also celebrated in the children’s book, “Everyday Superheroes: Women in Energy Careers.” This series is in collaboration with award-winning children’s book author, educator, and STEMinist Erin Twamley.
Together, let us celebrate and join women in the energy workforce as they continue to shape a sustainable and brighter future.
Energy, Sustainability, and Resiliency Assistant Project Manager – Driven by curiosity, Amanda’s journey into the world of energy started when she stumbled upon a sandwich shop located in a LEED-certified building in 2012. The building was in downtown Chicago, called Hannah’s Bretzel, and the whole space had signage about how the space was sustainable. The mix of environmental responsibility and architectural design piqued her curiosity. Now, Amanda spends her days using her engineering and project management skills to help create buildings and infrastructure that are durable to a changing climate.
Amanda began her career as a science teacher. After her encounter in Chicago, she studied and took an exam to become a LEED Green Associate. She joined her local U.S. Green Building Council to learn about local sustainability projects. Many building professionals seek certifications and programs from organizations like the US Green Building Council, Buildings Performance Association, or Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure. She started working on school sustainability projects before launching her second career full-time.
Today, she uses advanced computer software to analyze building data to reduce its carbon footprint. All of this data is collected through energy audits. These audits help monitor and predict energy usage and potential savings. These audits collect data including electricity consumption for lighting, heating, and cooling, as well as emissions associated with the production, transportation, and installation of building materials for projects.
Amanda’s involvement goes beyond data analysis as she frequently visits building sites, collaborating with construction workers, architects, and building owners while wearing a hard hat, steel-toed boots, and safety goggles. Her hands-on approach ensures that the construction process aligns with the carefully planned sustainability and resiliency building strategies.
She believes that by designing and building with sustainability, resiliency and equity in mind, we can create a brighter and greener future for everyone. She still supports efforts to diversify green building professionals by advocating for and mentoring students in K-12. Beyond her professional pursuits, Amanda finds solace in practicing the piano, traveling and maintaining an active lifestyle. Connect and learn more about her work on LinkedIn.
The global energy system uses nearly 75 million acres of land for energy production. Solar and wind farms require large amounts of land even with the energy transition to renewables. As a result, land managers like Karen Roark who works at Orsted play a crucial role in managing the land for energy projects. Roark works with landowners all across the U.S. who lease their land for renewable energy development. Her role involves negotiating agreements that ensure benefits for landowners, communities, and local governments. With a background in accounting, Karen ensures that these projects are both financially and environmentally beneficial.
Many families in the USA who own large farms or ranches have owned the land for at least three generations. Karen herself is a landowner, owning a five-acre hobby farm in Texas. Karen uses her superpower of communication to ensure that energy companies, local governments, landowners, and communities benefit from an energy project’s life.
Karen’s superpower of communication was one she grew. It wasn’t until the fourth grade that she knew how to read. Despite childhood struggles with reading, Karen developed strong communication skills that now help her explain the advantages of renewable energy projects to stakeholders. Today, she spends most of her time reading contracts!
Managing money successfully is more than just a skill – it can be a life-long career. Take investors like Alessia Falsarone. Every company needs someone to manage their finances, ensure budgets are aligned with their needs, and help analyze their profits to support future growth. In the world of energy, billions are being invested every day. Investors like Alessia Falsarone help allocate investment funds for emerging energy technologies and energy infrastructure projects.
Falsarone grew up in central Italy, where she developed a love of wind energy at age nine when the world’s hang-gliding championships were held in her hometown. To keep up with her finance and research skills, Alessia first studied economics, and then went on to study computational mathematics at Stanford University. Today, she’s all about ensuring energy investments contribute to powering our planet and preserving our natural ecosystems.
No day is the same as Alessia works with industry networks, government entities, and innovators to bring more financing to scale breakthrough energy technologies, from wind and solar power to green hydrogen. She works with capital providers to help select the most innovative energy technologies. She also helps to bring capital to grow the energy infrastructure ecosystem needed for faster clean energy adoption. This includes the collection of data from pilot projects to the distribution of energy for everyday use.
Clean energy projects can help bring better trained and higher paid jobs, and increased tax revenue to local communities. Alessia’s work has contributed to hundreds of low carbon investments keeping our lights on and heating our homes from eco-friendly sources. Alessia is proud to know that through her evaluation and assessment, she brings us closer to a world powered by clean energy technologies.
Anna Bautista is the Vice President of Construction and a field trainer at GRID Alternatives. With almost twenty years of experience, beginning as a solar installer herself, Anna knows how to teach individuals how to install, repair, and maintain solar panel systems.
Raised as a child of Filipino immigrants, Anna initially felt pressured to pursue a STEM career in medicine or engineering. She participated in clubs and summer programs focused on STEM in high school. She learned about electrical systems, and rural electrification and found herself loving wiring. She got a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Through service learning projects like her time in Haiti and the Philippines, she learned from community leaders about the importance of a clean energy future for the health of people and the planet.
Anna reached GRID Alternatives through Solar Energy International (SEI). Starting as a solar installer, she gained expertise in various roles like designer, project manager, and trainer through on-the-job learning. She earned her PV Installation Professional certificate while working on solar projects across over 4 countries, 12 states, and 10 Tribal Nations. Anna has since worked her way up in the company now serving as the Vice President of Construction at Grid Alternatives. Anna oversees the construction of solar and battery projects.
Anna is committed to advancing renewable energy access for all and to diversifying the solar energy workforce. She builds community and support spaces for gender diversity in solar construction. Anna coaches teams of all women in solar installation competitions around the country to show that “women are wired to be in solar!” In 2024, Anna led GRID Alternatives’ first commercial women’s build since 2019. One hundred women installed over 50 kW of solar in two days.
Whether you live in sunny Arizona or snowy Minnesota, there are ways to weatherize your home to reduce the energy we use to make our homes more comfortable. Energy auditors like Kenyatta Releford complete energy audits to help evaluate how to make buildings more energy-efficient.
Kenyatta Releford is a former college basketball player who transformed her love for fixing things into a career as a certified energy auditor. Armed with tools like an oversized ruler to measure insulation thickness and a blower door fan to analyze airflow, Releford inspects homes at various stages of construction. Her thorough observations ensure homes are well-weatherized, reducing electricity costs from heating, cooling, and lighting. Releford conducts energy audits to help homeowners lower their energy bills and contribute to a more sustainable future.
She earned her certification through the Buildings Performance Institute at CLEAResult® in Oklahoma. Energy auditors can complete education and industry-related experience prerequisites before taking the online or field certification exams. Organizations like Buildings Performance Institute, the Department of Energy, or industry partners offer opportunities for apprenticeship, educational learning, and more. Energy auditors work in utilities, local or state government agencies, or even in construction companies; some even run their businesses. The need for energy auditing is for both new and previously built buildings.
Releford exemplifies how passion and skills can come together to create a fulfilling career in the growing field of energy efficiency.
Copyright @ 2024 Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2201631. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National ScienceFoundation.