Reflections at the 20-Year Mark

The “Magic Moments” You Get Working in Cleantech

#Cleantechers –?

First, I'll get the self-referential news out of the way: Tigercomm is approaching its 20th year in business. Thanks to Tim Montague of the Clean Power Hour for talking with me, our legendary, long-time EVP, Mark Sokolove (now with Qcells North America ), and our current SVP, Melissa Baldwin , about that milestone.?

In this interview, I talked about a career in cleantech producing a lot of “magic moments.” Having Mark and Melissa showcase the past, present and future was one of those. What a privilege to work with these two amazing professionals.

That said, I'm not sure this “news” is important to anyone other than our firm’s employees and alumni. What might be useful to you, though, are summary observations after two decades in sustainability and the clean economy.

So, in no particular order…

Our current planetary state –?I summarize our current situation as “gathering momentum, dwindling time.” Mentor Ken Locklin told me that at the COP 26 in Glasgow, he reconnected with a climatologist he’d first met at COP 1 in Rio de Janeiro. Ken asked the scientist, “What’s changed since we first met?” The answer: “Back then, our worst-case scenarios are now our best-case scenarios.”

We need to pick up the pace –?massively. Keep in mind that while we’re cooking the planet, we’re also flattening the biota, dewatering and desertifying our landmasses, and toxifying the biosphere. So, our sustainability workload is growing before we’ve met the climate challenge. But what's also growing is our awareness and determination, especially among the young people now entering the workforce and voting pool. That gives me hope.?

Benefits of working in cleantech – I find working in cleantech is one of the best ways to handle anxiety about what humans are doing to our sole living space. You get to turn the wheel every day, and do everything you can think of to productively move the needle. Do any of us really move it? I think so, but most of that progress is hard to notice with the naked eye. A bonus: I’ve found the average person in cleantech is bright, committed, interested and interesting. I don’t know how many other industries have that common denominator. Yes, there are the challenging types in our sectors, but they’re the minority. The more people I meet in cleantech, the more grateful I am there are so many of you doing this work.

Crazy growth is drawing more talent – Our sectors’ growth is crazy. It’s exciting, and it’s attracting so much talent from other sectors. In fact, the CEOs we interview for our Scaling Clean podcast routinely cite the dynamism of cleantech as what drew them and keeps them. I see it myself, as well.

When I started this firm, being a clean economy communicator was something I had to explain to open-minded job candidates. Now, it’s a thing. As Melissa said in this interview, candidates now come to us to start or continue their careers in the space. Only a dynamic, rapidly growing set of sectors produce that dynamic.

Shifting tectonic plates in the economy –?First there was direct corporate buying of clean energy. H/T to those who helped get that off the ground (e.g., Kenneth Davies , Hans Isern , among others). Major companies, including utilities, have been shifting their relationship to the clean energy transition. On the roster of big, investor-owned utilities now buying lots of clean energy, I see many I fought against with 30 years ago while in the environmental movement. I’m glad they now see sustainability makes good business sense, and they’re not alone.?

Yeah, there are the posers (looking at you, ExxonMobil) and the incorrigibles, committed to burning the last molecules of fossil fuels because… well, I don’t know why. Because they need a bigger beach house? ?

Be prepared for them to act out of wounded animal syndrome: “When an animal is injured, it becomes overly defensive, aggressive, and desperate.” They’ll continue funding climate/climate solutions denial and attacks on your work.

But I say to hell with them. We’re on the right side of history. They know it, and we know it.?

Mindset and way of being are the biggest drivers of effectiveness –?I used to loath polluting industry lobbyists. Now, I can see all that negative energy did zero for my effectiveness. It took me a while, but I see the #fossilfuelbros as obstacles to be worked around. Kind of like downed tree limbs on your street. Just get the chain saw (a figure of speech, please), move them out of the way, and get back in the Ford Ranger. We have to keep driving.

Satisfaction lies in seeing others’ growth – The older I get, the more I find reward in helping others grow in their careers. Our staff is at the center of that experience. It’s incredible to see these talented people come in, learn, produce for clients, and grow in their lives.

Thanks to all of you – employees, clients, mentors, friends & allies – who have been part of my and Tigercomm’s journey. What an honor to be shoulder-to-shoulder with you.

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