Reflecting on 10 Years at Utah Clean Energy

After ten extraordinary years working at Utah Clean Energy, I am moving on to serve as the Interior West Regulatory Director at Vote Solar.  When I joined Utah Clean Energy in 2012, I didn’t know much about energy, but what I did know was that I wanted to make a difference in addressing the most pressing challenge of our lifetime, the climate emergency. Utah Clean Energy’s vision – to accelerate the clean energy transition through a combination of passion and expertise, respectful collaboration, and impactful solutions – resonated with me. I signed on as an AmeriCorps member to support Utah Clean Energy’s community outreach campaigns, excited to learn and to find my role in the clean energy transition. At the time, I don’t think I fully grasped the challenge or the complexity of transitioning to clean energy, but I also never would have guessed how much we would accomplish. It has been a wild ride, and I am so proud to have played a role in bringing clean, renewable energy to Utah.

Bringing Rooftop Solar to the Masses

It’s hard to believe, but when I worked to launch Utah Clean Energy’s first bulk-purchase rooftop solar program in 2012, solar panels on homes in Utah were basically non-existent. I had never seen a house with solar panels. Wow have things changed! More than 1,100 homes installed solar panels through one of Utah Clean Energy’s community solar programs, and nearly 50,000 homes and businesses have installed rooftop solar throughout Utah thanks to pro-solar policies enabled by this organization. I had a small part to play in this, and helping Utah families power their lives with clean solar energy is without question a highlight of my career.

And All of The Wins In-Between

Along the way, there have been big wins, many small victories, and treasured memories. It was a momentous day when I visited Utah’s first large scale solar farm that was made possible with help from Utah Clean Energy. Before electric vehicles were mainstream, I got to drive a supporter’s Nissan Leaf on an 85 mile trip up the canyon to Coalville and back (keep in mind that the range of a Leaf at the time was eighty FOUR miles), just to prove that it could make the trip and help spread the word! I was front-and-center when local governments committed to 100% clean energy. Through all of these wins and everything in between, I’ve cherished my time at Utah Clean Energy. Perhaps most of all, I’ve had the privilege of working with the smart, passionate, and talented people of this team who are committed to working together to build a better future. I’ll be a lifetime supporter of Utah Clean Energy, and I’ll sleep easier at night knowing my colleagues are still hard at work.

I will be moving on to serve as the Interior West Regulatory Director at Vote Solar, and I am excited for a new opportunity to continue working to advance clean energy. We still have a long way to go and plenty of work to do to fulfill the promise of a future that is not only cleaner, but more equitable and resilient. The challenges of transitioning to clean energy are no less interesting to me today, and no less urgent. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside Utah Clean Energy’s many partners and supporters, and I hope you’ll stay in touch in the chapter ahead.