Kyle Gracey, Career Development, Pennsylvania

Kyle Gracey is chair of the board of directors at Engineers for a Sustainable World. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Why is clean energy important to you? Clean energy is essential for stopping the ravages and injustices of the climate crisis. Equally, clean energy brings jobs, including to Americans shut out of declining fossil fuel industry employment.

What’s your proudest accomplishment in clean energy? Co-founding and chairing the Board of Directors for Engineers for a Sustainable World. I get to help young engineers get excited about clean energy and build the sustainability workforce of the future.

What did you do before entering clean energy? I was in high school! I've been in clean energy in some form for my whole career.

How did you first get introduced to clean energy? I grew up in Appalachian coal country. My family worked in coal. But then, they started building wind farms nearby. There were literally ridges where I could stand up and see coal mines behind me and wind farms in front of me. The symbolism wasn't lost on me.

How does clean energy impact your community? Clean energy is bringing new jobs across the state, keeping energy prices contained in a time of inflation, and helping us clean up our air. I've seen this firsthand - I'm thankful every month, when I look at my utility bills, that I electrified my home and installed solar.

What is something you wish more people knew about your job? There are many engineering students and young professionals there are who are eager to work in clean energy! In our organization alone, we have over 1,700 members who are looking for technical sustainability careers. Employers, take notice!

Why should Congress invest in clean energy jobs, not fossil fuel jobs? We need more modern, clean jobs. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel industry has shown it can't and won't help, by continuing its long trend of cutting workers.