Member Spotlight: Anders Alexander

In late July 2024, Solar Washington interviewed Anders Alexander, a member and a board member of Solar Washington. Anders (pictured here with his father in 2022) described how his educational background paved the way for a job in the solar industry, which evolved into a lifelong career and a fervent passion for renewable energy.  

Solar Washington: How did you become interested in solar?  
Anders Alexander: My first job out of college was for SolarCity, now Tesla. I graduated with an environmental policy and economics degree from Western Washington University and was open to any kind of environmental job, and when it ended up being for a solar company I decided to stick with it and dedicated my career to solar energy. After 15 years in the solar industry my focus has grown to all of electrification and grid decarbonization, with solar still planted in the middle as a central pillar.

SW: Why did you join Solar Washington and what do you expect from Solar Washington? 
AA: I joined Solar Washington after being very impressed with the 2022 Solar Summit. My intention was to help spread the message of solar with the goal of accelerating the solar adoption timeline. The solar industry is rapidly evolving and needs organizations like Solar Washington to help not only assist the general public in adopting the technology but to also aid energy professionals in re-imagining our energy infrastructure to welcome in the ever-growing production capacity of solar energy. We have more fuel than we will ever need in sunshine hitting the earth's surface every day, we very much can start relying on fresh sunshine to power our lives so we can stop digging up and burning old zombie sunshine (i.e., fossil fuels).

SW: What is next for you regarding solar?
AA: I am currently helping build a solar and electrification home financing product to bring more capital into green home lending, to bring credit unions into the solar industry and to cement consumer-protection into the solar industry. As the solar industry matures, more adaption by our grid and overall energy infrastructure will be needed to accommodate so much intermittent capacity from solar. I am helping to vision and shape our future to accelerate the clean energy transformation.  On the home front, I moved a couple years ago and have been planning out solar for my home. I hope to complete a 15kW solar installation for my home either this year or next before net metering policy changes in Washington.

SW: Do you have any advice for anyone considering a career in solar right now in Washington?
AA: If you are looking for a solar job then contact me, I am happy to review your options with you to obtain a solar related job in Washington. Here is a podcast I did on this subject with the Northshore School District: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DorSoGsmalE

SW: What about some advice for anyone considering solar as a source of energy?
AA: If you are looking to purchase solar my suggestion is to first understand the entire energy infrastructure of your home and make a comprehensive electrification plan that strongly considers solar while electrifying your home. Solar is one very important part of the overall goal of decarbonizing your life. Check out Elephant Energy for an interactive Electrification Roadmap.

SW note: Anders recently presented on this topic in Part 5 of our series the Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar.  

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  • Chantal Stevens
    published this page in Member Spotlight 2024-07-30 18:53:45 -0700

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