Jaron Dandridge, Solar, Virginia
Jaron Dandridge, who has been in the industry for 6 months, is the Director of Supplier Diversity at Volt Energy Utility LLC.
Why is clean energy important to you? Clean energy is important to me because it ultimately helps reduce the strain on our planet's natural resources. As a parent, you often reflect on legacy when thinking about your family and your children's future.
What's a memorable clean energy project you’ve worked on? That would be my 1st project, which is still in the works, and that’s the Wheatsborough Solar Project located in Ohio. This is a 125MW solar project that was contracted under the Microsoft-Volt Energy Utility Environmental Justice Framework. When I first met with the Apex Clean Energy, Inc. team, we partnered with the firm on this project. It felt great to sit down with their team and present so many amazing MWBEs as potential vendors for this project. Roles range from construction contracting companies, electric vehicle charger manufacturers, electrical contracting, and vegetation management companies.
What did you do prior to working in clean energy? Why did you transition to the clean energy industry? My first job coming out of Hampton University as a young professional was as an Electrical Engineer for Northrop Grumman, previously Newport News Shipbuilding. Most of my professional career was spent as a manufacturing manager for several large companies, including Altria, Mondelez International, and most recently, Eaton Corporation in Beltsville, Maryland. I was blessed to receive an opportunity where I felt I could make an impact with MWBE across the country. Aligning qualified and skilled MWBE with specific projects our company is currently working on. That is powerful and really provided me with a greater sense of purpose in my career.
What do you wish more people knew about the clean energy industry? We must be good stewards over the planet’s resources. We want to leave a safe, clean, and beautiful legacy for future generations to experience and enjoy.
Why should congress invest in clean energy jobs? I believe Congress should invest in clean energy because it will create economic opportunities, lower energy costs for families nationwide, and create numerous clean energy jobs. It’s the responsible call to action as it pertains to climate change and the impact it will have on creating a clean energy economy.
Is there anything else you’d like to share? It is an exciting time to be engaged in the clean energy field, and there are a lot of people and companies within our communities doing amazing work in the field. I’m just grateful to have this opportunity to learn, contribute, and strive to make a difference.
