Why Gen Z Is Betting Its Career on Clean Energy

Ask a 21-year-old economics major why she’s spending her summer at a solar software company instead of a bank and you’ll get an answer that has nothing to do with trend-chasing. She’ll tell you she wanted proof that doing right by the planet and building a real career weren’t mutually exclusive, and that solar was where she found it.

Nearly 3 in 10 workers across the US energy sector are now under 30—a noticeably younger workforce than the labor market overall—and clean energy is where a growing share of them are landing.

Clean energy isn’t a niche corner of the economy anymore, it’s one of the fastest-growing parts of it, and young workers are showing up to fill the jobs.

Meet Elsa Aslanian

Elsa Aslanian just finished her sophomore year at Dartmouth College, studying Economics and Climate Change Science, and recently wrapped an internship with OpenSolar spanning marketing and business development.

We caught up with her about what drew her in and what surprised her once she got here.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What are you studying and what drew you to renewable energy?

I’m from Seattle and I just finished my sophomore year at Dartmouth where I’m studying Economics and Climate Change Science. I wanted a degree that would give me an understanding of both earth systems and the human systems impacted by climate change.

I’m interested in working towards solutions and mitigation strategies for the climate crisis, which is what drew me to solar.

There’s often a sentiment that it’s not possible to do what’s good for the earth AND the economy. I don’t believe that’s true (solar is a great example!), and I wanted to understand both sides.

Before joining OpenSolar, what did you think working in solar would be like and how has the reality compared?

It’s been a really hopeful experience for me. Like most people concerned about climate change, I’ve found the current administration’s rollbacks on environmental standards and its gutting of government support for clean energy really concerning and disheartening. But working at OpenSolar, surrounded by incredibly brilliant and passionate people in this industry, restored a lot of my faith that solar is persevering, and that as long as there are smart, driven people in it, it’ll keep thriving no matter what setbacks it faces.

You’ve worked across Marketing and Business Development. What’s been the most interesting part?

I was lucky to work with a few different teams at OpenSolar on a wide range of projects, and I really enjoyed getting exposed to different parts of the company.

I found the Market Founders Program really exciting because there’s so much potential for OpenSolar to make a big impact in countries that haven’t developed their solar industry yet and have a lot of room to grow.

As for the marketing side, I loved getting to meet OpenSolar’s partner organizations that span the entire solar industry. It was a great learning experience about how many kinds of companies exist within solar, and way more diverse than I ever could’ve expected.

What advice would you give students or recent grads interested in clean energy but not sure where to start?

It can be an intimidating field to get into right now, especially with the current political climate. I’d say focus on the hope and optimism that exists within the people in this industry. I heard a few people at OpenSolar refer to it as the “solarcoaster” and that seems pretty accurate.

Just like any other industry, it goes through its ups and downs, but that’s part of what makes it such an exciting place to be. Getting to work with people in clean energy, connect with them, and hear their advice and experiences has been hugely valuable to me and helped shape a lot of my future career path ideas, so I’d definitely recommend that.

What are your next steps?

I still have two years left of college, and I’m excited to keep taking classes that will hopefully prepare me for a career in climate and clean energy.

My school has a clinic called the Energy Justice Clinic that does research and projects supporting the clean energy transition, and I’m hoping to get involved and get more hands-on experience working in energy.

OpenSolar has definitely fed my passion for climate solutions and the clean energy industry, and I hope to keep learning from interesting, smart people who work in this field.

Where could you work?

One of the biggest surprises about renewable energy is just how many careers it offers. Whether you’re studying business, marketing, economics, computer science or engineering, there’s likely a place for your skills.

Solar installation – Ideal for people who enjoy practical, hands-on work. Many installers get started through apprenticeships or vocational training, with opportunities to progress into leadership or run their own businesses.
Battery storage & EVs – As batteries and electric vehicles become more common, demand is growing for technicians, engineers and software specialists.
Project management – Every renewable energy project needs people who can coordinate teams, manage timelines and bring ideas to life.
Business & technology – Companies like OpenSolar also hire marketers, designers, software engineers, finance professionals and customer success teams to help accelerate solar adoption around the world. Learn more about OpenSolar careers here.

Whether you’re solving technical problems, telling compelling stories or building the software behind the industry, every role contributes to something bigger: making clean, affordable energy more accessible to more people.