Sumana Seshadri, Solar, California
Sumana Seshadri, who has been in the industry for 7 years, is the Senior Engineering Manager at SOLV Energy and lives in California.
Why is clean energy important to you? It is vital to keeping the environment and current wildlife safe. I am an environmentalist first and foremost and the clean energy transition is a key part of preventing the harms from climate change.
What’s your proudest accomplishment in clean energy? The sites that we have built have withstood multiple extreme weather events (including the cold freeze in Texas) while still providing power and keeping the grid stable.
What did you do before entering clean energy? I was in college, my company hired me right out of school.
When were you first introduced to clean energy? As a child I worked with my dad to make a fountain in the backyard run off of solar panels. I kept that interest and studied a couple different clean energy systems like methane digesters in college before landing back at solar for work.
What should more people know about your role? Utility scale solar and rooftop solar are very different! I can't tell you how to put solar on your house but in general I assume it's a good idea.
How does clean energy impact your community? It's building more resiliency and allowing my community to have pollutant free power.
What does clean energy mean to you and your family? To my family it's probably an endless source of stories on all the weird and varied things that occur when you're trying to build huge power plants all over the country. To me it's a way to contribute to a cause I believe in with a group of people who are dedicated to helping each other.
Why should Congress invest in clean energy jobs, not fossil fuel jobs? Fossil fuel jobs are going to go away. They will not be long term investments for our communities, or our workers and it would be irresponsible to invest in jobs that will not be able to provide for workers long term. Clean energy jobs on the other hand will be a source of ongoing growth and allow for a great variety of experience and training. By investing in clean energy Congress will be providing opportunities that will help people all around the country for the rest of their careers.
