Fernando Zurita, Advocacy, New Jersey
Fernando Zurita is a regulatory/government affairs manager for Infiniti Energy LLC, and he lives in Newark, New Jersey. He’s worked in the industry for 2 years.
Why is clean energy important to you? Energy is an important part of everyone's daily life. It impacts everything from our social services to our overall economy. Our reliance on fossil fuels has come at a cost, and that cost has consequences for our health, economy, and environment. It's important we find more sustainable pathways to procure our energy for our benefit and for the benefit of future generations.
What’s your proudest accomplishment in clean energy? My proudest accomplishment continues to be my own self development as a government affairs' manager and how my role helps our team develop projects internally while supporting advocacy efforts externally.
What did you do before entering clean energy? I worked as a field organizer for the Pennsylvania Democrats in Lehigh Valley and Northampton County.
How did you first get introduced to clean energy? Like a lot of recent hires, I was searching for employment amidst the peak of the pandemic back in late 2020. An interaction on LinkedIn with the CEO of this company sparked my interest in working and advocating for the solar industry. It was great to see, how during one of the worst employment periods in the U.S., the solar industry could continue to recruit and seek talent. I'm glad I found myself here.
What does your job mean to your community? I’ve lived in Newark the majority of life. I’ve seen the worst of how environmental injustice has impacted mine and other communities. For a large part of the community in the Ironbound section of Newark, they suffer from asthma and respiratory problems. It’s in part due to the close proximity of sewage, chemical, and natural gas facilities that are in the vicinity. Working with policymakers and industry stakeholders on a daily basis has helped me understand how programs like community solar can advance environmental justice for communities and offer voice, access, and ownership to clean energy. I plan on advocating for solar in the city, and I hope my story sparks a shift in the city's clean energy transition.
What is something you wish more people knew about your job? When I first started, it was hard adapting to the industry. A lot of the rules for solar haven't been written. It feels great to stir the pot on policy issues and future legislation coming for solar. This job is a great opportunity to explore an industry that has just started growing and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. My family is proud of the impacts I'm making at my company and of the opportunities I’ll receive through this industry moving forward.
Why should Congress invest in clean energy jobs, not fossil fuel jobs? Congress needs to invest in clean energy in order to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuel which continues to have negative impacts on our health, the environment, and foreign interests/economy.