The Green Light

What does it take to lead one of the earliest U.S. wind companies through four decades of change — and help spark a nationwide movement for women in clean energy? Catherine sat down with Jan Blomstrann, Co-Founder and later CEO of NRG Systems, a company that helped build the modern wind industry through its early resource assessment tools and later expanded into solar.When she took over as CEO in 2004, Jan was one of the only women leading a clean energy manufacturing company. She guided NRG through explosive industry growth, economic turbulence, and an eventual sale — and then turned her focus to philanthropy, supporting women’s issues, social justice, and sustainable communities.Jan was also in the room at the very first WRISE luncheon that she helped organize in 2005 — expecting 10 women, finding 100. That moment helped spark the network that would later grow to 3,000 members and 47 chapters.To mark WRISE’s 20th anniversary, we talked about:• Leading in a male-dominated industry• Why WRISE became a sanctuary for women in renewables• Her message to the next generation: “Please keep going — what you do matters.”• The men who truly championed women behind the scenes• Why clean energy still needs its mission-driven rootsIf you’re a clean energy employer and need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

What happens when three generations of clean energy leaders sit down for one honest conversation? A masterclass in resilience, leadership, and the future of our industry. In this Green Light podcast episode recorded at the WRISE Leadership Forum, Catherine spoke with:Patty Rollin — CCO at Onyx RenewablesYvonne Robinson — Regional Director at EVgoJimin Suh — Development Associate at ArevonTogether they share:The early-career lessons they wish they’d learned soonerHow they stay grounded through uncertainty and major transitionsHow leadership evolves across decadesWhat the next generation really needs from today’s managersHow they confront fear (not “imposter syndrome”) and build confidenceWhat gives them hope about the future of clean energyIf you’re a clean energy employer and need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

What happens when women stop waiting to be invited to the table — and start building their own network? That question led Suzanne Tegen and her peers to found Women of Wind Energy, now Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), twenty years ago.Today, WRISE has over 3,000 members, 47 chapters, a robust slate of annual programming, and continues to expand its impact across the renewable energy industry.Suzanne is now Acting Director at Colorado State University’s Center for the New Energy Economy, where she leads bipartisan clean energy policy research and works with state legislators, governors’ offices, and utilities to advance practical, state-level policy solutions.To mark WRISE’s 20th anniversary, Catherine sat down with Suzanne to talk about: • Building leadership confidence through community and mentorship • Lessons from two decades of WRISE’s growth and impact • What allyship really looks like — and how to practice it when someone’s not in the room • The importance of inclusion in energy transitions, especially for fossil-fuel-reliant communities • Her vision for the next chapter of WRISE and a more inclusive clean energy workforceOne line that stayed with us:  "Inclusion is intentional. You have to dig in, find out who isn’t being heard, and make sure they’re involved so that better decisions can be made."If you’re a clean energy employer and need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

What does it take to build a world-class development team from scratch inside a company that already operates over 4.5 GW of solar and storage projects? Catherine sat down with Shanelle Montana, Chief Development Officer at Arevon, on SunCast’s PowerUp Live stage presented by Wärtsilä at RE+ in Vegas, to talk about:• Her path from Washington D.C. to leading utility-scale solar and storage development — including roles at Lightsource bp, EDF Renewables, and BayWa r.e.• How Arevon’s operator-first DNA shapes its development strategy• Navigating policy shifts and market uncertainty with patience and “patient capital”• Building and retaining strong teams in a competitive market• Why advancing diversity across teams leads to better business outcomesShanelle shared thoughtful, grounded insights on how to lead through change — and why patience, flexibility, and relationships are key to lasting impact in the energy transition.If you’re a clean energy employer and need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

What does it take to lead operations for Greenbacker’s largest utility-scale solar project and maximize performance across a diverse national portfolio? In this episode, Catherine spoke with Emily Modglin, Manager of Solar Operations at Greenbacker Capital, at Solarplaza's AMNA conference about:🔹 Her transition from engineering and O&M into large-scale asset ownership🔹 Managing the 240 MW Appaloosa Solar project in Utah and what makes it uniquely complex🔹 How adaptability, creative problem-solving, and AI tools are driving better performance🔹 Greenbacker’s nearly $1B financing of New York’s largest solar project with Hecate EnergyEmily shares a field-tested perspective on what it really takes to operate solar at scale.If you’re a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next  role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

What actually drives revenue for solar-plus-storage projects? In this episode, Catherine spoke with Sam Kuhlwein from Stem at the Asset Management North America (AMNA) conference in San Diego, where they dug into how energy management systems shape asset performance.They also talked about what gets in the way of performance: commissioning delays, low-quality data, and systems that can’t respond fast enough to dynamic grid signals.Sam shared how Stem approaches EMS design, why these systems need to be considered early in project development, and what it takes to operate across complex use cases—including merchant storage and behind-the-meter applications. “Everyone loves revenue,” he said. “But getting there takes high-frequency data, layered scheduling, and systems that can shift on the fly.” If you’re a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

Karen Conover helped found WRISE — and in doing so, shaped a generation of women leaders and the clean energy industry itself.Today, WRISE has 3,000+ members and 47 chapters advancing diversity across renewables. But Karen’s influence goes further: at 29, she launched Global Energy Concepts, a wind power pioneer later acquired by DNV, helping scale wind in the U.S. and abroad.Two decades later, she’s still mentoring through Repowering Schools — and reflecting on what’s changed and what hasn’t.In this episode, to mark WRISE’s 20th anniversary, we discuss: ⚡ What it takes to build a company from scratch 🌎 Global lessons U.S. renewables still need to learn 📈 Why WRISE’s company-wide memberships were a turning point 💡 Karen’s advice for emerging leadersIf you’re a clean energy employer looking for top talent, connect with Catherine McLean, CEO of Dylan Green, on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr If you’re looking for your next senior-level role in clean energy, explore our clients’ latest openings: https://bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

How do you scale a 1.3 GW C&I solar platform while navigating policy shifts, AI integration, and long-term asset performance? Catherine spoke with Elizabeth Brennan, COO of Luminace, a Brookfield Renewable company, at the Solarplaza AMNA conference in San Diego about: 🔹 Her path from engineering to executive leadership 🔹 How she defines growth vs. advancement 🔹 Recent expansions via deals with ECA Solar and Renewable Properties 🔹 Luminace’s legacy roots in Constellation, Washington Gas & Light, and Terraform 🔹 Using AI (via Raptor Maps) to audit and optimize solar assets 🔹 Lessons in resilience through political and market uncertainty 🔹 Real advice for breaking into solar development & opsElizabeth blends technical fluency with strategic clarity — this one’s packed with insight.If you’re a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier senior staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next senior level role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

For the past two decades, Michelle Montague has helped build WRISE— shaping programs, creating opportunities, and driving conversations about what true leadership and equity in energy should look like.When she first joined the organization, she stepped out of her comfort zone, volunteered for a committee, and quickly found a mission that would guide much of her career in renewables.Today, WRISE has over 3,000 members, 47 chapters, a robust slate of annual programming, and continues to expand its impact across the renewable energy industry. To mark WRISE’s 20th anniversary, Catherine spoke with Michelle about:How she got her start in renewables — and why early campaign work fueled her passionThe power of programs like WRISE’s Fellowship and local chaptersHow work-life balance became a priority issue for the organizationWhy leadership often starts with saying yes to speaking roles and new opportunitiesWhat it takes to have honest conversations about diversity in the energy workforceHer current work advancing an equitable transition to electric school buses — and why it’s personalOne of our favorite takeaways: “If you care about diversity, you have to be willing to step into uncomfortable spaces and have those conversations — even with leadership.”Kudos, Michelle, for all you’ve done to grow this community — and for your continued leadership in making our energy systems more sustainable and equitable.If you’re a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier leaders, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. 

What does it take to bring hundreds of megawatts of utility-scale solar to rural communities—and truly earn their support? Valerie Newcomb, VP of Economic & Community Development at Urban Grid, brings deep communications expertise and a decade of leadership in the renewable energy industry to the table. In this episode, she shares how transparent engagement, agrivoltaics, and long-term investment are helping Urban Grid deliver real community benefits alongside clean energy. We cover:🌱 Blending agriculture with solar📚 Urban Grid’s multistate scholarship program🏗️ Lessons from launching Urban Grid’s first 300+ MW as an IPP💬 How to engage, listen, and build lasting trust in host communitiesThank you to Solarplaza for providing us with the opportunity to record this episode with Valerie at the Asset Management North America (AMNA) conference in San Diego.If you’re a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce with senior leaders, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs.