Global - Common Words

At Invenergy, innovation is driven by a great diversity of ideas and perspectives. Our growing team of 

+ people is dedicated to empowering the world with clean energy.

Careers_4up@2x.png

See what we're all about

Join us in building the clean energy future.	

Solar_Detail_Green.svg

View our Cookie Policy.

This website uses cookies for analytics purposes, to help understand how our visitors interact with the website, and improve the user experience.

BlogPreviewImage_1676x966.jpg

BlogHeader_1440x480.jpg

U.S. offshore wind development welcomes gusts of opportunity

Pollinators_2.jpg

Celebrating Earth Month with the Environmental Compliance and Strategy Team

GIla_Bend_02.jpg

What you should know about energy storage safety

DJI_0561_(1).JPG

Invenergy’s Rusutsu Wind Energy Center Reaches Commercial Operations in Japan

5a3fac56-8510-430c-8f88-c5e6b4bd6e9e.jpg

Invenergy-Led Consortium Completes Purchase of American Electric Power’s Unregulated Renewables Portfolio

Professional-SolarWind-07.jpg

Invenergy Services Drives Operational Excellence With SolarAnywhere

Invenergy Services’ Approach to Safety Benefits Customers

ServicesSafety1.jpg

An Introduction to Invenergy Services’ Owner’s Mindset

News-fallback-1201x1201.png

Global - Components

https://invenergy.com/news/power-lines/the-grid-needs-to-get-together-

The Grid Needs to Get Together     

Careers

Get in Touch

primary.svg

primary-services.svg

Wind

Solar

Storage

Offshore Wind

Transmission

Clean Hydrogen

Clean Water

Natural Gas

Clean Energy

Our Capabilities

Expertise

Our Projects

Case Studies

Ventures

Projects

Overview

Our Services

News

Invenergy Services

Communities

Customers

Policy Leaders

Partners

Our People

Invenergy Impact

Leadership

Our History

Awards

Who We Are

News & Press Releases

Power Lines

Media Center

News & Insights

Global - Navigation

Global Variables

Global - Statistics

Expert perspectives on the critical clean energy issues of today and tomorrow.

Miami-Invenergy_101217_0088.jpg

News and Insights - Power Lines

Offshore wind development in the United States is at an inflection point. While there are already established markets for offshore wind projects in Europe and Asia, development of U.S. projects is still in its early stages.

Like any emerging industry, it has taken time for the business, policy and regulatory conditions to align for offshore wind. Now, 

, Invenergy’s senior vice president of offshore wind development, sees opportunity for the U.S. offshore wind market to flourish.

Runyan first honed his clean energy experience developing onshore wind projects in North America, where he was involved in many project development activities including siting and permitting, project design and engineering, environmental studies, regulatory processes, transmission and interconnection, public affairs and more. 

After more than 15 years in the power industry, including eight years in the North American wind industry, Runyan moved overseas for five years to focus on offshore wind development in Japan, where he helped develop one of the country’s largest offshore wind facilities. Following his time in Japan, he also led development of offshore wind projects from The Netherlands.

Now back Stateside, Runyan is responsible for leading the responsible development, engineering and construction of Invenergy’s 

Runyan discusses the state of offshore wind development in the United States, Invenergy’s approach to responsible offshore wind development, and the important role offshore wind can play in the broader clean energy transition.

How would you characterize the state of offshore wind development in the U.S. today? 

 The past couple of years have not been without challenges for offshore wind in the U.S. It’s a relatively new industry in America, so developers, states, and utilities have gone through learning curves to better manage supply chains and inflation headwinds. This includes structuring power purchase agreements (PPA) to accommodate the longer development timelines offshore wind projects require. I would say those headwinds are starting to soften. Invenergy struck its PPA for Leading Light Wind at a good time. We were able to factor in some lessons learned from earlier development efforts, and we are confident in our ability to responsibly deliver this project for the state of New Jersey, and I expect the same for Even Keel Wind and our work in California.

Does the U.S. face unique challenges compared to other offshore wind markets? 

 Europe is definitely further along in its offshore wind journey. They entered this market about 10 years ago, and they have built up a supply chain that can support the industry. Right now, U.S. companies are building out the infrastructure, like offshore installation vessels, to support the industry here. And knowledge in the industry is growing globally, so we can learn from that. I’ve built projects in Japan that also had to go through this supply chain and development learning curve.

What opportunities do you see for U.S. offshore wind?

 Offshore wind has the potential to be a leading energy generation source in the U.S. Offshore wind resources are abundant, and these projects will deliver energy to populations on the East and West Coasts, where it can be more difficult to build other energy generations sources because of denser population centers and more complicated permitting processes. Being able to build far off the coasts but still deliver gigawatts of power to urban areas with increasing energy demands is a great opportunity. 

How would you describe Invenergy’s approach to offshore wind development? 

 We want to build relationships with the communities where we’re developing projects. We’re going to be in those communities for decades. We make sure to hire locally and that the communities we’re involved in will benefit from these projects. Our projects will create thousands of jobs and generate billions in economic benefits throughout their development, construction and operations. 

Invenergy is unique because we are currently the only American-led company developing a multi-project portfolio across U.S. coasts with our Leading Light Wind and Even Keel Wind projects. Our decades of experience developing onshore wind projects has given us the knowledge to permit projects efficiently, work with labor and contractors, build according to U.S. policies and regulations, and we are translating this expertise to our offshore projects.

Offshore wind turbines can have either fixed or floating foundations. Could you discuss the difference between fixed and floating turbines and when each is used? 

 The main difference between a fixed offshore wind turbine and a floating offshore wind turbine is that a fixed turbine’s foundation is secured to the ocean floor, and a floating turbine’s foundation is suspended beneath the surface of the water on a floating platform and anchored to the ocean floor with mooring lines.  

Fixed offshore wind turbines are used in water depths up to about 50 or 60 meters. If you start getting deeper than that, you start looking at floating turbines because it’s more cost efficient to use them in deep waters. Although floating turbine technology is relatively new to the offshore wind industry globally, there are commercially proven projects located in Europe. As the technology and design of these turbines continue to advance, the energy cost per megawatt hour will continue to drop. These turbines provide an excellent opportunity to build projects further offshore where there are some very strong winds.

How does Invenergy develop offshore wind farms in an environmentally responsible way? 

 No matter the technology, Invenergy always takes an environmentally responsible approach to developing our clean energy projects. We plan for environmental considerations from the beginning of development, fund leading-edge environmental research for the industry, and work with government agencies to conduct environmental studies using industry best practices. This continues throughout the construction and operations of our projects.  

For example, as part of the development of our Leading Light Wind offshore project, we recently launched a glider, which is an underwater vehicle, off the coast of New Jersey to study the waters in and around our lease area. During its monthlong mission, the glider shared real-time data about the marine life living in that area. Using that data, we can plan the development, construction and operations of the project to ensure our projects responsibly coexist in a marine environment.

What role do you see offshore wind playing in the broader clean energy future? 

We’re transitioning to a more renewables-powered world. In the U.S., onshore wind, solar, and now offshore wind energy are going to become an even larger part of the domestic energy mix. Offshore wind will contribute to more reliable energy, lower pollution, improve public health and, over time, lower costs in our electric bills. 

What is your vision for Invenergy’s offshore wind portfolio over the next 10 to 15 years?

 We will get our Leading Light Wind and Even Keel Wind projects to their commercial operations dates and continue to pursue new development opportunities both in the U.S. and internationally. As we grow our portfolio and the industry matures, I am excited to continue to bring the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind to the communities we will serve. 

For some people, there’s nothing better than working with cranes and solving interesting mechanical challenges. And if you’re able to see different parts of the country while you’re at it, even better. Just ask the technicians on Invenergy Services’ Field Services Operations team.

“I like to work, I like to stay busy, and I like trying to figure things out,” says technician Tucker Looney, who is based at the 148.6 MW Goldthwaite Wind Energy Center in Texas. “Taking something huge apart and putting it back together is the greatest job in the world.”

Invenergy Services’ Field Services Operations team is the traveling arm of Invenergy Services, going from site to site to assist site technicians with specialized repairs and operations. Looney, like his fellow techs on the Field Services Operations team, says the goal is to 

service by making sure to provide expert maintenance and repair work, no matter how large the job or how complex the equipment.

“We do major component repair like pitch-bearing replacements and work with cranes to take down and repair rotors,” Looney says. “We not only get to be the first eyes on new technology, but we get to learn a whole new scope of work as well.”

Invenergy Services’ Field Services Operations began in 2015, and currently boasts over 75 technicians today. Technicians are typically sent out in groups of two to six people depending on the nature of the work – some jobs only take a day, while others can take up to a week or more.

“I knew right away I wanted to do it and cornered my manager to learn as much as I could about how to start on the team,” says Kody Hobbs, a Field Services technician based in Vermilion County, IL.

Part of their enthusiasm comes from the opportunity to work with new equipment and technology as the industry continues to grow. In June 2021, the team swapped out a failed High-Speed Intermediate Shaft (HSIS) without the use of an external crane – deploying a new innovative method for the job while bringing savings to the project.

After several long road trips spent brainstorming ideas of how to remove the nacelle lid and allow for proper clearance to swap the HSIS, Field Services team members took a trip to visit a technical college that had a grounded nacelle. After taking detailed measurements, the team put their plans in motion and began designing the necessary equipment and ordering the necessary parts and tools to execute the swap.

The team successfully completed the procedure without using an external crane or taking off the lid of the nacelle and have since utilized the same equipment and processes for several other scopes of work that would have normally utilized heavy equipment. The team has added the procedure to their repertoire, a technique that will provide huge cost savings for our customers.

Although spending 75 percent of your time on the road is not for everyone, the unique challenges of the job make being a Field Services tech ideal for those who love adventure.

“That’s the great thing about us – we all connect, we work well with each other, and we have a great network to share answers and get the information we need to get as much as we can out of our equipment,” Looney says.

Field Services’ enthusiasm for their craft makes the team among the best in the business, and our techs are ready to help your power project be as productive as it can be. For more information and to stay updated on all things Invenergy Services, 

 or reach out to InvenergyServices@invenergy.com.

Meet the Invenergy Field Services Operations Team

Grand_Ridge_25.jpg

Meet the Invenergy field services operations team

This Earth Month, Invenergy is proud to spotlight the work of our Environmental Compliance and Strategy (ECS) Team — industry-leading subject matter experts who work across departments to ensure we are responsibly building our projects. The ECS team’s work is foundational to the land-based wind, solar, transmission and offshore wind development we do at Invenergy, and as our portfolio has expanded, so has the team.

Learn more about how the ECS team’s wide breadth of knowledge and commitment to innovation are integral to developing environmentally responsible projects that and building a sustainable world.

Members of the ECS team who support land-based generation projects ensure wind and solar projects comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations, which requires their involvement in the evaluation, siting, building, and operating phases of wind and solar projects across the United States. They are experts in environmental policies established by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, like the US Fish and Wildlife Services, which inform what approach Invenergy’s land-based wind and solar projects need to follow to responsibly co-exist with local wildlife and natural resources.

A component of the land-based generation teams’ contributions to environmental stewardship is industry-leading research on how wildlife interacts with wind and solar projects across the United States. In recent years the team has conducted and monitored research in California, Wyoming, Illinois, Michigan, and New York related to avian, bat, and pollinator studies. These studies will not only improve our ability to minimize environmental impacts but inform and shape future environmental policies. 

Our land-based team’s core mission is to avoid sensitive environmental areas and minimize project impact, ensuring a necessary balance between the clean energy infrastructure we need to build and the environment we’re trying to protect.

Invenergy is one of the first clean energy developers to build out its own dedicated vegetation management team. This group includes soil scientists who create comprehensive vegetation and soil management plans that are customized for each site. Invenergy’s vegetation management team has conducted soil sampling across all our existing solar sites to inform strategies for regionally appropriate seed mix composition, soil amendment inputs, and topsoil salvage techniques.

Through 2023, the team advised on vegetation management at least 18 solar projects in construction. Establishing suitable vegetation at solar sites may support the local ecosystem by improving soil health, providing wildlife habitats, sequestering carbon, minimizing surface erosion, improving water quality, and the proliferation of noxious and invasive weeds. 

Our transmission projects are key to ensuring we have a reliable grid that can move clean energy to where it’s needed most. From the ECS team’s perspective, these types of projects are different from our work supporting renewable energy generation projects because of their longer development timelines and larger footprints that often span several counties and states. 

The members of the ECS team focused on transmission ensure that projects are thoughtfully sited within the landscape while also building long-term relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including regulatory and resource agencies like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The transmission team prioritizes building relationships with the Tribal Nations who have a strong connection to the land where our projects are built.

Invenergy is thrilled to bring our expertise to the offshore wind (OSW) space on both U.S. coasts. The team prioritizes working with Tribal Nations to ensure culturally sensitive project development. It also works closely with stakeholders including fisheries and science partnerships to ensure these transformative projects are developed with conservation and marine life at the forefront of our work. 

The offshore team utilizes industry best practices, innovation, and leverages Invenergy’s onshore expertise to ensure our offshore wind projects are developed with minimal impacts to marine ecosystems. Our team helps employ protected species observers on all vessels used for the project and brings innovative tools to track and monitor wildlife in the area. Other examples of the team’s leading-edge approach include testing for fish species by detecting environmental DNA in water samples as well as the recent launch of an underwater glider to explore the waters within and surrounding an offshore wind lease area. These are just a few recent examples of how the work of our ECS OSW team contributes to our industry-leading track record of setting the standard for responsible development.

This Earth Month, and every month, we are grateful for our colleagues on the Environmental Compliance and Strategy team for the work they do to support the responsible development of our clean energy projects. 

Energy storage systems bring greater reliability, flexibility and resilience to the electric grid. And as more renewable energy sources like wind and solar continue to penetrate the market, energy storage is an excellent complement to these power sources because of its ability to save excess energy and deploy it when and where more power is needed. 

Like any other energy center, energy storage sites require responsible stewardship to operate effectively. 

, renewable project engineer at Invenergy, took some time recently to discuss how Invenergy handles energy storage safety for the 

 in its current portfolio, the company’s dedication to training first responders, and how he and his team continually strive to be leaders in energy storage safety.

What is Invenergy’s approach to energy storage safety?

 There’s definitely a culture of safety at Invenergy. We start off our construction meetings by highlighting recent “safety moments,” or times where our people were able to avoid or minimize potential issues by following proper safety protocols. This reinforces our safety culture and makes sure we are pausing to think about safety topics on a daily basis. 

For our energy storage sites, we commission safety studies for each of our projects. Using the findings from those reports, we work with experts and local first responders to develop emergency response plans, so we’re prepared for a wide range of situations. 

Who makes up a typical team at one of Invenergy’s energy storage sites?

 We have different folks involved throughout the engineering, construction, and operations of an energy storage site. Everyone working on site is required to understand how the emergency response plans we put in place work and the sequence of what needs to happen in case of an emergency. 

Our engineers and project management teams do a lot of work commissioning fire protection studies with qualified consultants to ensure our sites are safe. These reports look at what’s going to be put in the ground, what the safety code requires, and how we’ll meet or exceed those requirements. 

, which is responsible for developing emergency response plans for personnel at our sites. Those cover what risks you might encounter at different sites, how to react in different situations, who to call, and so on. This team and engineering will work with consultants to develop training and an emergency response plan specifically for first responders. 

Lastly, on the operations side, we designate the first points of contact for Invenergy personnel and first responders if an emergency occurs on site. There is always an employee assigned to the project who can help make technical decisions with first responders and interpret project-specific alarms and data.

Are there any projects you’ve worked on that you feel showcase Invenergy’s commitment to energy storage safety? 

We have a portfolio of energy storage projects we call “Arizona Sun.” To achieve commercial operations with those projects, we adhered to Arizona Public Services’ energy storage safety standards, which are some of the most stringent and well-defined standards in the industry. And while we developed Arizona Sun, we also commissioned studies that are still referenced in the industry safety development groups today as we continue to develop better studies and methodologies for researching batteries. So, I think those are some of the biggest examples of how we are a leader in safety in the industry.

How does Invenergy build on the clean energy industry’s storage safety standards to enhance safety at our project sites? 

It’s a twofold approach. First, the industry follows safety codes that require batteries to go through fire testing. So, battery manufacturers see how batteries withstand fire under different scenarios. Manufacturers can also take the information they gather during testing to add additional safety features to their batteries. All of this leads to the most reliable products entering the market and Invenergy making an informed selection during procurement.  

Then it comes down to how we design our energy storage projects to maximize safety. That involves measures like ensuring we put enough space between battery enclosures on our project sites, which can help limit the scope and duration of any potential issues. Because we think about risks early on, it really helps us plan projects sites in the safest way.

What misconceptions do you think people have about energy storage safety? 

 Energy storage as a technology is safer than what might be reported. Each group of batteries has its own sensors and detectors for when something goes wrong, and the enclosures are specialized to promote the safe operation of the batteries. Secondly, there’s nothing specialized or unique about the equipment first responders need to manage battery fires. Our training identifies equipment and techniques that should be familiar to first responders to handle battery events. Although the utility-scale lithium-ion batteries used at energy storage sites are different, this is the same type of technology we trust in our phones, laptops and electric scooters.

How does Invenergy decommission energy storage units at the end of their lifespans? 

 We develop a decommissioning plan for energy storage projects, including guidance on packaging, transportation, and recycling, and measures for handling damaged batteries. 

Once batteries reach the end of their lifespans, Invenergy works with various decommissioning service companies to find the optimal solution for responsibly recycling an energy storage project in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If batteries can’t be reused, they are disassembled, packaged and transported to one of Invenergy’s recycling partners. 

Invenergy recycles its batteries using the most advanced processes to ensure optimal recovery rates and the lowest emissions, and we are committed to pursuing the most environmentally sustainable recycling methods for our energy storage projects.

In 2023 Invenergy celebrated its 10-year anniversary of doing business in Japan. During this time Invenergy’s team – under the leadership of Akira Amano, Vice President and Country Manager – successfully developed and constructed three solar projects and advanced an additional pipeline of wind developments that are still in progress. 

Set against a backdrop of the global effort to achieve a clean energy future that has many countries, including Japan, making investments to modernize their electric grids, Invenergy continues to grow its Japan team to meet the moment.

In 2020, Japan announced its intent to reach carbon-neutral emissions by 2050. To accomplish this, the government will have to deploy renewable energy that will not only help meet the country’s clean energy goals, but will deliver cost-effective, clean energy to consumers in the process.

To build on the momentum of the last decade and ensure Invenergy continues to be the partner of choice to solve clean energy challenges in the market, Invenergy appointed 

 as its Japan Business Unit Head to lead the Invenergy Japan team. Oya works with Invenergy’s Japan team to deepen in-market expertise and scale Invenergy’s ability to provide competitive clean energy solutions to customers and consumers in Japan.

“We are proud of the work Invenergy’s Japan team has accomplished in the past decade and are excited that Masayuki Oya is part of the leadership team at Invenergy,” said Bryan Schueler, Senior EVP and Construction Business Leader, Invenergy. “This appointment signifies Invenergy’s continued commitment to Japan as we look forward to delivering more clean energy in the country.”

Oya is a proven global business leader with over 30 years of experience successfully growing and transforming large and complex businesses. Prior to joining Invenergy, Oya held a variety of key leadership positions in both GE Healthcare and GE Power. Most notably, he led the Power Services business in the Asia Pacific region, where he was responsible for building and executing winning strategies and driving customer successes.

“It is an honor to join the talented Invenergy team following its 10th anniversary of doing business in Japan,” said Masayuki Oya, Senior VP and Japan Business Unit Head. “Invenergy has extensive experience solving clean energy challenges, both around the world and here in Japan. I look forward to working with the team to provide competitive clean energy projects for customers and to meet our country’s growing energy demand.”

Under Oya’s leadership and building on our decade long track record in Japan, Invenergy will continue to advance a pipeline of projects in Japan to help customers, consumers and the government solve energy challenges.  

Blog_-_Masa_031224.png

A Look at Invenergy in Japan: Ten Years of Operations and an Expanding Leadership Team

The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in August 2022 represents a historic step forward for meaningful and sustained progress toward the clean energy future in the United States. For the first time in history, U.S. policy provides long-term certainty and a stable policy environment to accelerate the delivery of clean energy to communities from coast to coast. However, a new rule proposed by the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as part of Basel III reforms could have unintended consequences that threaten that progress. 

The Basel agreement is a set of international banking regulations introduced after the 2008 financial crisis. The goal of these reforms is to strengthen the banking sector’s ability to withstand financial stress, improve risk management and promote transparency in international banking. However, the latest series of reforms introduced this year, known as Basel III, while well intentioned, could have adverse and long-lasting effects on the clean energy industry and the tax equity market in particular. 

Tax equity is one of the most commonly used and crucial tools the clean energy industry uses to finance the development and operation of major infrastructure projects. The Federal Reserve, FDIC and Comptroller have proposed a rule that would change the risk weighting of non-publicly traded tax equity, quadrupling the required capitalization from 100% to 400%. An unintended consequence of this change would be categorizing clean energy projects as risky investments, thereby requiring the banks to hold additional money in reserve in case of default. The reality is that tax equity investments are well-structured transactions that mitigate risks to investors and provide them with a stable and predictable return based on IRA tax credits. In addition, clean energy projects provide investors with a guaranteed stream of income — with interest — for the duration of their investment.  

By quadrupling the capital requirement for banks making tax equity investments, Basel III essentially eliminates a critical financing option for most clean energy developers. This means developers have to look at more expensive financing options, limiting their ability to execute projects that can deliver clean energy to millions of people. These more expensive financing options will also, in turn, increase the cost of the clean energy produced by these projects for all electricity consumers. Tax equity financing provides approximately $20 billion to fund clean energy projects every year. Without the ability to leverage the tax equity market, it’s likely that many land-based and offshore wind, solar, and storage projects may not get built.  

The clean energy industry isn't alone here. Legislators have also expressed concern over this potential rule change. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL) led a letter from more than 100 lawmakers to the rule-making agencies stating, “We strongly support the Agencies’ goals of prioritizing the safety and soundness of our banking system and ensuring large banks are well capitalized. However, we are concerned that substantially increasing the capital requirements for banks making tax equity investments in renewable energy projects isn’t reflective of the investment’s risk profiles, would have unintended consequences, and endanger the renewable energy transition.” 

Comments from Rep. Casten and other leaders reflect broad support for adjusting Basel III’s rules to keep tax equity investments at their current risk weighting of 100%. 

Policymakers should also consider other investments with similarly situated risk profiles before implementing this rule change. For example, the proposal imposes a risk weighting of 100% on some investments that assume the same amount of risk as renewable energy tax equity financing, which would be weighted at 400%. It would be inconsistent to quadruple non-publicly traded tax equity when investors are assuming similar amounts of risk on other investments. 

Passage of the IRA has accelerated clean energy development in the United States. Companies have announced the construction or expansion of 83 clean energy manufacturing facilities since the legislation’s passage, and the law is projected to create hundreds of thousands of family-sustaining jobs each year, while injecting billions in economic investment into local communities over the next decade.

New clean energy projects will provide consumers with affordable, reliable, American-made power. With such a bright future ahead, it would be a mistake to enact onerous tax equity lending rules that would hinder the historical progress we’re making toward a clean energy future.

 “IRA at 1: US heralds clean energy manufacturing 'renaissance,’” Aug. 7, 2023, S&P Global 

Beech_Ridge_19.jpeg

The Unintended Consequences of Basel III's Latest Reforms

As Veterans and Military Families Month comes to a close, Invenergy reiterates our appreciation for all those who have served in the United States military.

At Invenergy, we're proud to hire many of these men and women who have been able to put the skills they acquired during their military service to use in the clean energy industry. About 8% of Invenergy employees are military veterans, and the contributions these individuals have made as people and employees have been invaluable.

Below, we're highlighting a few of these exceptional individuals at Invenergy.

Jeremy Hunter, Performance Analytics Manager, Operations Engineering

Please provide details about your service including your branch, rank/title, job, how long, when, and where you served.

I joined the Navy two weeks after I graduated high school in 1997 and served on active duty until 2002. I was a gas turbine electrician and reached the rank of second-class petty officer. I spent 18 months on security duty at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, and three years on the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mahan.

I was working for another renewable energy company in North Carolina and wanted to find a job closer to my family in central Illinois. There was an opportunity on the Operations SCADA Engineering team, so I decided to apply. Fellow veteran Brad Purtell hired me on the PI Support team.

Frank Santiago, Director, Operations Support Systems

Why do you like working in the clean energy industry?

I like knowing that what I do has a positive impact on the world around us and that I am contributing to a better future for the generations to come. I also like being in an industry that has a positive outlook, poised for continual growth. What we do will continue to be in high demand for years and even decades to come.

How did your military experience prepare you for your job now? What skills, capabilities, and characteristics transfer over?

My role in the Navy centered around energy production, albeit from a different source, so my transition to a role at Invenergy as a Control Room Operator made sense. I was also familiar with working overnight and in rotating shifts, working from Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and complying with various regulatory bodies. Later in my career with Invenergy, I had to call upon my experience leading a small team in a calibration lab on the USS Carl Vinson as I returned to management in a new role. My team has since grown well beyond the calibration lab personnel I supervised, but the principles and experience remained relevant.

Megan Glancey, Manager, Renewable Development

What advice do you have for veterans exploring a job in the clean power industry?  

Be bold and reach out. Veteran representation in clean power is still growing, so you might not find the wealth of network you would in other large industries just yet, but we are working to create and maintain on ramps for new veteran talent. 

Don’t be shy, stick your hand out and ask to connect with someone in the industry, you must have those initial conversations to learn what you do and don’t want with your next career.

Can you tell us about some of Invenergy Veterans Network's (IVN) initiatives?

I’m currently the co-chair for Invenergy’s Veteran Network Recruitment Committee. We’re running full force in an active recruiting campaign for junior enlisted members who have the best mechanical training on ships, tanks, or aircraft and could easily translate those skills to turbine or solar panel maintenance, or officer leadership talent that can step seamlessly into a people management role and excel.

Harrison Park, Staff Engineer, Renewable Engineering

What motivated you to join the military? 

I joined the military shortly after high school because I wanted a relaxing gap year before college. At least that’s the joke I would tell people. 

I told myself I wanted to be the best of the best and that I wanted to be a part of something bigger and I wanted to serve my country and all the other things my recruiters told me. I realized later that the actual reason I joined was because I wanted to see what I was capable of. I found out what I was capable of and what I wasn't capable of. I'm happy I found what I was looking for.

How did your military experience prepare you for your job now? 

One of the first lessons I learned myself was that making sacrifices for the people to your left and right are always worth it and the people who you had around you are what really matter after the years have passed. I've learned that being compassionate, kind, and supportive has a place even in the military. Keeping a positive mental attitude has helped keep me and the people around me keep high spirits even in difficult times. I try to keep that attitude of kindness, compassion, and support wherever I go. Here, those lessons learned have helped me foster strong working relationships which have led to a level of collaboration and camaraderie I could not have imagined without those lessons.

Veterans_BlogThumbnail.jpg

Invenergy Celebrates Veterans and Military Families Month

At Invenergy, we know diverse and inclusive teams power our collective success. In fact, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is one of our core values. By enabling employees to bring their authentic selves to work, they’re able to bring a diversity of ideas and perspectives to the table and grow our business, as well as their careers.

In fact, it’s been shown that companies in the top quartile of gender diversity were found to be 25% more profitable than others, and those in the top quartile of ethnic diversity are 36% more profitable.

U.S. offshore wind development welcomes gusts of opportunity

U.S. offshore wind development welcomes gusts of opportunity

120 results

Meet the Invenergy field services operations team

Celebrating Earth Month with the Environmental Compliance and Strategy Team

What you should know about energy storage safety

A Look at Invenergy in Japan: Ten Years of Operations and an Expanding Leadership Team

The Unintended Consequences of Basel III's Latest Reforms

Invenergy Celebrates Veterans and Military Families Month

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Powers Careers and Business Success

Why Bat Conservation Is Important Around the World

Transmission's Role in the Clean Energy Future

Invenergy Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The Resiliency, Flexibility and Reliability of Energy Storage

Invenergy Services Drives Operational Excellence With SolarAnywhere

Invenergy and the Polsky Foundation Invest $1.75 Million in the Next Generation of Innovators

The Grid Needs to Get Together

A Conversation with Invenergy Services' Operations Engineering Team

Introducing Invenergy’s New Impact Partners: The National 4-H Council and Pheasants Forever

Meet the Invenergy Services Business Development Team

U.S. offshore wind development welcomes gusts of opportunity

Meet the Invenergy field services operations team

Celebrating Earth Month with the Environmental Compliance and Strategy Team

What you should know about energy storage safety

A Look at Invenergy in Japan: Ten Years of Operations and an Expanding Leadership Team

The Unintended Consequences of Basel III's Latest Reforms

Invenergy Celebrates Veterans and Military Families Month

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Powers Careers and Business Success

Why Bat Conservation Is Important Around the World

Transmission's Role in the Clean Energy Future

Invenergy Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

The Resiliency, Flexibility and Reliability of Energy Storage

Invenergy Services Drives Operational Excellence With SolarAnywhere

Invenergy and the Polsky Foundation Invest $1.75 Million in the Next Generation of Innovators

The Grid Needs to Get Together

A Conversation with Invenergy Services' Operations Engineering Team

Introducing Invenergy’s New Impact Partners: The National 4-H Council and Pheasants Forever

Meet the Invenergy Services Business Development Team