Leslie Maldonado, Geothermal, Texas
Leslie Maldonado, who has been in the industry for 2 months, is a Completions Engineer at Fervo and lives in Texas.
Why is clean energy important to you? Clean energy is the opportunity to improve our energy status-quo. Moving to clean energy provides us with the opportunity to provide a continuous, reliable source of energy. Reliable energy paves the way for energy independence while simultaneously reducing the impact on the environment. The ability to take part in environmental responsibility, not only from an individual standpoint, but with an organization with similar values is an investment I want to continue making for the wellbeing of future generations. Establishing clean energy resources that could be utilized for generations to come is what inspires innovation today.
What’s your proudest accomplishment in clean energy? The ability to implement oil and gas industry practices to the geothermal industry is an innovation that will increase the accessibility and resources available to both the renewable and non-renewable sectors. This is a stepping stone to help accelerate the transition from non-renewable to renewable resources that I believe is the main accomplishment of our goal as a company.
What did you do before entering clean energy? Drilling Engineer in the oil and gas industry.
When were you first introduced to clean energy? Reduce, reuse, recycle: this was the first form of an environmental protection initiative that I recall being a part of since I could remember. Being taught this at an early age makes us environmentally conscious and aware of the potential consequences our actions have on our surroundings. Once I joined the workforce, I joined the oil and gas sector. I knew about Geothermal and other forms of clean energy through school literature, but had an introduction when working in the oil and gas industry and seeing wind turbines being installed on the same field. I understand the importance of utilizing non-renewable energy (fossil fuels) due to the capacity energy is needed, but I believe there are opportunities to make an impact with clean energy which is what Fervo Energy is accomplishing and striving to increase.
What should more people know about your role? There are a lot of sectors focusing on making clean energy more accessible and reliable. The opportunity Fervo has taken a hold of is applying oil and gas practices and utilizing them for the benefit of the clean energy sector. This job has the potential to help the geothermal sector grow exponentially, paving the way for other companies to further develop this green energy source.
How is clean energy helping your community/state? Utilizing natural resources and converting to clean energy is increasing jobs and energy reliability. Providing opportunities in increased geothermal resources is assisting in the reduction of carbon emissions and providing reliable, clean energy to communities.
What does your job mean to you and your family? Ability to make an impact in the preservation of the environment for future generations.
Why should Congress invest in clean energy jobs, not fossil fuel jobs? I believe both jobs are essential for us to understand the potential that a diverse energy sector can develop towards. However, the fossil fuel sector has been established and developed through various forms of trial and error and through large scale investments over time which provided many jobs over the years. Increased investment in clean energy provides the green sector with the opportunity to further develop to its potential as well, especially in a time where there is a large drive to increase the use of clean energy. Investing in clean energy jobs would provide the opportunity for growth through the increased resource of personnel in the industry.