“Clean Energy Has Got a Bright Future” Says Army Vet and Solar Tech, in New CE4AEF Video Celebrating Former Service Members on Veterans Day

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Clean Energy for America Education Fund launched a new video celebrating all the veterans now working in clean energy. Eight percent of the rooftop solar industry is made up of veterans, whereas they make up five percent of the overall population. In the video, CE4AEF features Sunrun technician Drew Bolda, a veteran of the U.S. Army, who now works to install solar and batteries in the Las Vegas, Nevada area. 

“We’re proud to employ people like Drew who have served our country, and are now working to fight climate change every single day,” said Jeanna Steele, Chief Legal Officer and Chief People Officer at Sunrun. “Sunrun is grateful to have so many veterans on our team, thanks to our Military partnerships with the Department of Defense such as the Military Spouse Employment Program, Home Builders Institute, Airstreams, and Skillbridge — with whom we were the first national solar company to partner. Today, veterans and employees supporting veterans are in our Veteran Employee Resource Group.”

“We’re proud to lift up the stories of veterans like Drew Bolda, who serve the country in clean energy,” said Andrew Reagan, executive director of Clean Energy for America Education Fund. “Especially around Veterans Day, it’s vital that members of Congress and the public writ large understand what a big deal clean energy is to veterans and what a big deal veterans are to clean energy. The two go hand in hand.”

The video is the first in a series of day-in-the-life videos that CE4AEF is releasing this fall as part of their Faces of Clean Energy campaign. 

The video script is available below:

As a U.S. Army veteran, I love doing electrical service, and working in clean energy is definitely a good feeling. 

There’s not too many other things where you can get in on a base-level, work your way up, and get to see the country, and makes a difference in a lot of people’s lives — other than the military.

So after I left the Army, I ended up getting in the electrical union. I love that it’s ever-changing. You can never know everything. Especially solar technology. It’s hard work. It gives people a chance to stay focused and stay physically ready. It’s a big factor in the military. You need to be physically fit. You’re working in all types of conditions — just as with the service. 

You get to see your work in action. You get to see the benefits. You get to see how people react to your service and feel accomplished. 

I believe that’s a big thing when people are getting out of the military: to help people and know what you’re doing makes a difference.

Clean energy has got a bright future.

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Clean Energy for America Education Fund: CE4AEF is a network of business leaders, workers, and advocates driven by a common goal: decarbonize the economy and protect our planet. Our mission is to unite and represent the millions of professionals who make up the clean energy economy.