One-to-one: Alumni in energy policy

One-to-one is a section of News + Views where alumni interview each other and current students. Everyone has a story to tell, from their personal interests or advocacy to professional pathways and passions. And who better to tell that story than alumni? Each article is as different as the graduates who write them. If you would like to interview a fellow graduate for a future edition, please e-mail barr0396@umn.edu.

 

Sophia Ginis (MPP ’10) sat down with three MS--STEP alumni working in energy policy to ask about possibilities and challenges for Minnesota. Roxanne Johnson (MS-STEP ’08) is a research analyst for the Clean Energy Manufacturing Center, part of the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation. Luke Hollenkamp (MS-STEP ’08) works in energy design at the Weidt Group, a firm specializing in the environmental impacts of building design and construction. Aaron Crowell (MS-STEP ’08) is a regulatory analyst at CenterPoint Energy.

The group discussed the historical development of the energy system in the United States, how our country compares with other nations, Minnesota’s potential as a leader in renewable energy, and their current projects to make the energy system more sustainable. Each works in a unique area of the energy market, bringing multiple perspectives to the conversation.

As Luke explained, the United States has not adopted renewable energy as quickly as other countries because we are “victims of our past success.” Very early on the United States was able to provide electricity to all parts of the country--including remote rural regions--with a centralized coal system. China, on the other hand, currently is tackling the challenge of providing energy for all its citizens. China has both a need to reduce pollution in its major cities and provide remote regions with power. Now, because of solar technology, it can be cheaper (and potentially the only option) to put solar panels on houses in remote locations than to build power lines from a central location.

Aaron and Roxanne added that countries have gotten locked in to their energy paths based on their varying historical needs and climate factors. Since the United States has not faced some of the resources challenges as other nations, there has not been much political or corporate motivation to invest in renewables. As a result, the United States is not globally competitive in renewable energy products, yet.

Aaron and Luke also explained that energy in Minnesota is cheaper than in other parts of the country. Much of the state’s heating comes from natural gas, which makes the switch to more renewables even more complex. Therefore, decoupling utilities for the amount of energy they sell will be important for many reasons. The state does have a renewable energy standard, but tipping the scale to make capital investments in renewable more appealing could help push Minnesota to cleaner energy. Finding ways to reduce energy use also is an important part of the equation. Luke pointed to LEED certification and Energy Star as examples of programs that promote more effective energy use.

Roxanne, Luke, and Aaron all highlighted the economic and job growth potential for Minnesota around a variety of energy needs, from building management to companies designing unique renewable energy components. As Luke explained, there is a shortage of people with the knowledge to efficiently manage energy for buildings. While there are individuals who know how to keep a building running, few are trained to plan and track energy costs. Since each building has a unique design and challenges, properly managing energy can be a real challenge. Roxanne added that, with the Baby Boom generation beginning to retire, there will be a shortage of energy experts, so it is a great field for students to explore.

The three pointed to the strengths Minnesota has in the renewable energy market. One major component of that strength comes from technology transfer from established companies and the state’s success in research and development. Roxanne gave the example of 10K Solar, which makes a film that only reflects useable photons. Aaron pointed to a very important energy challenge--powering medical devices, especially during power outages. A Minnesota company is working on medial pumps that power themselves by using body heat. Minnesota’s medical device industry cluster helps make such innovation possible.

The three MS-STEP alumni will continue to work on projects that make the country greener. Roxanne will focus on clean energy manufacturing, helping to build the domestic supply chain and encouraging companies into this path. Aaron plans to analyze natural gas rates data and file service quality and low-income customer program reports with the Public Utilities Commission. Luke will bring his combined experience as an engineer and a STEP graduate to improve the energy efficiency of our physical infrastructure.