Discussing the Value of a Career in Renewable Energy with Jillian Seymour

Jillian Seymour, a 2GreenEnergy supporter and college student living in Lyon, France called me the other day, as I had agreed to an interview in which I would provide my advice on careers in renewable energy.  In the course of the talk, she asked a number of really good questions, including perhaps the most critical: Do I find this to be personally rewarding?  I assured her that she’d search hard to find a career in which she would be helping so many people, and yes, I personally find this immensely rewarding.

I went on to explain that I routinely help folks in three distinct categories:

• Clients who pay me to perform various services

• “Clients” of various walks of life from whom I’ll never make a penny, including people like her, whom I happily and freely assist with school work, job seeking, technology recommendations, perception of business trends, prognostications on coming political events, etc.

• The rest of the world, i.e., anyone who is directly or indirectly the beneficiary of a cleaner planet

Jillian is a math major, and she was worried that her choice here is too theoretical and abstract, vs. the practical, hands-on understanding that applies more directly to the energy industry.  “Relax,” I told her.  “Most of what you need to understand about renewable energy you got in high school chemistry and physics.  Sure, if you think you’re going to make a breakthrough in a new, non-silicon PV substrate or a new way to synthesize high-grade fuel from point sources of CO2 and offpeak energy, a specialized education may be a big help.  But almost all of what most of us do in this field is really about applying common sense, coupled with a grasp of  basic science.

What a lovely encounter with a charming young person.  If everyone her age were so bright, so enlightened and respectful, I’d have a much lesser sense of impending doom…