Renewing the Idea of a Resilient Future

It often takes a crisis to get everyone talking about renewables - for instance, when energy grids cripple into wide-scale blackout (see: New York City in 2003, Jakarta in 2005, and half of India in 2012). Yet, time and again, especially in the United States, conversation falls to the wayside in place of other issues vying for the public's attention. Fortunately, a dynamic group of young scholars is set on talking about and tackling those challenges head on.

The OneEnergy Scholars Award recognizes outstanding student leaders with a passion for renewable energy. This year's class of scholars, recognized at the 2012 Net Impact Conference, receives ongoing mentorship, networking opportunities, and career guidance from the program.

"Ultimately, our aspiration is that through the program, we can help build human capital needed to solve our nation's pressing energy challenges," says Scott Bixby, Senior Marketing Director at OneEnergy Renewables. We do what we can to help accelerate their careers and the impact they will have. To start, OneEnergy sits down with each scholar to identify career priorities - then, whenever possible, OneEnergy staff make introductions to leaders in the renewable field.

These scholars are well aware of the huge opportunities - and uphill battles - they may face in this field. The challenges facing the energy industry over the coming decades are immense, says Michael Puckett, a OneEnergy Scholar from Yale University. These are messy problems...which require a deep understanding of every aspect of the energy value chain, combined with a keen sense of intelligence and creativity.

A winding path forward

Armed with an arsenal of skills and varied backgrounds, OneEnergy Scholars are prepared to take a less than linear path to working in renewables. Five of this year's six scholars have previous work experience that led them back to advanced degrees. All plan to return to the workforce after they graduate. And half of them discovered their passion for renewables in applications outside the United States - including sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Jessica Cameron, OneEnergy Scholar from the University of Washington, joined the Army right after high school as a translator. She reaped the benefits of renewables while stationed in Iraq, using mini solar panels that allowed her platoon to extend the length of its mission without requiring dangerous convoys. In the case of MIT's Daniel Heyman, managing research projects in Sierra Leone revealed a passion for clean technology implementation, specifically related to distribution. When George Washington University's Peter Widmer was leveraging carbon markets in Tanzania to fund renewable energy programs, he decided it was the type of work he loved to do - and wanted to gain more skills to elevate his capabilities.

Building a network of leaders

All of these students share a desire to be on the leading edge of developing and piloting renewable projects. For Harry Bolson, the only undergraduate scholar from Washington University in St. Louis, renewable energy has been a driving force from high school to college. Since the age of sixteen, I've been acquiring knowledge on clean energy sources, technology, and uses, says Harry. He's since founded an online discussion forum on the potential applications of renewables and reached out to energy companies to start conversations about on-campus renewables at Washington University.

Not only is the Scholar Award a testament to these students' skills and experiences, the OneEnergy program also serves as a network of forward-minded thinkers to share ideas, best practices, and mentorship. While OneEnergy offers externship opportunities for any interested Scholars, the main benefit is building a cohort of students who will advise each other going forward. In a field as fast-moving as renewables, the Scholars find that opportunity especially compelling. "Through the other OneEnergy fellows, I've met a fantastic group of people," says Michael from Yale. "The rest of the staff at OneEnergy has been incredibly helpful in educating me on the industry and offering advice."

An added perk? Some scholars have discovered the program is a great talking point for professional development, including Cornell University's Rob Collier, who has found the program a prominent part of his recruitment process. One of the most effective ways to expand renewable energy is by cultivating powerful leaders, says Rob. I see the Scholars program as an important step in that process.

This year's OneEnergy Scholars are Harry Bolson from Washington University in St. Louis, Jessica Cameron from the University of Washington, Robert Collier from Cornell University, Daniel Heyman from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michael Puckett form Yale University, and Peter Widmer from George Washington University.