St. Edward’s University graduate land first job out of college at Res America.
Jeanet Hernandez grew up in Luling, TX where she graduated high school in 2014. After graduating high school she went to pursue a communication degree at St. Edward’s University. While in college Hernandez study abroad twice in Angers, France which ultimately impacted her life forever.
What sparked your interest in moving and working for a renewable energy company?
It really all started when I moved abroad and noticed that other countries had been taking measures to improve the protection of our planet. They had better mass transportation systems and encouraged a reduction in use of single use plastic items. I would see large full scale wind mills while traveling throughout the French countryside and it really became clear that any career I pursued, I wanted it to have value.
What is the company name and how does it line with your values?
I have just joined RES America, it is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company. I know that renewable energy at the moment is in its own way a privilege. The return on investment is high but to start, it is a very pricey, RES has the vision to be a leader in the future here everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy and to me that is of the most importance. We have to make living clean a way of life for everyone.
Have you always been interested in renewable energy?
I was raised to be award of our planet but had rarely considered a career in renewable energy until my cousin became an engineer at RES. Then reading facts of climate change and the effects of the human carbon footprint really made it clear that at this moment any efforts made toward energy change would need to be pursued by motivated people. I began to want to help the planet and the future population including my own family.
How do you think your career will play out having your first job at a renewable energy company?
I really have no idea how it will go but I am extremely grateful for being given the opportunity to join a team and a cause that is going to change how we run as a nation. The Industrial Revolution created the need for fossil fuel use and while in cases these energy sources could be the answer short term, I want to help create a more suitable alternative in wind, solar and storage energy use. I think that as I gain experience in skills with foreign partners, I’ll learn how our neighbors overseas have created a successful market in renewable energy and how we can gain momentum in the United States.
What do you think the future of renewable energy will be?
I think that renewable energy is the future of energy. As my generation grows, we’re seeing a demand from those who want to slow and reverse climate change, those who accept and acknowledge climate change, and we want to accept what the people want and ask for. I think that as renewable energy becomes the standard we will really see a change in the world around us. We will see a rise in diversity of clean energy sources and we will see companies reach for sustainability.