By Duncan Kinney
Illustration by Jeff Kulak
The green economy is generating jobs all over the world. Ontario recently signed a $7-billion deal with Samsung for clean energy manufacturing jobs. A new report shows that California job creation is surging in only one area, the green collar economy. The application of entrepreneurial vigour to the environmental problems facing us presents the single largest area of economic opportunity available. Read how three eco-entrepreneurs made sure that they made it into the market early.
Our interviewees range across the green spectrum from a CEO to a tradesman to an entrepreneur whose company was acquired by a large German solar company. This is not cutting edge technology we’re talking about, these are ordinary folks seeing an opportunity and grasping it.
Super Solar
Kyle Kasawski is a managing director with Conergy, a large German-based solar photovoltaic manufacturer, designer and distributor. Business is booming for them in Canada, specifically in Ontario, where the Green Energy Act has spurred billions of dollars in renewable energy development. Kasawski started his own solar company, ETI Solar, in 2003 out of his garage, which was eventually acquired by Conergy in 2007.
Why did you choose to join the green economy?
Once I made that leap into this field, I knew I could work in it until I wanted to retire because there is no shortage of demand for energy. I also looked at it from the perspective that there are limited carbon-based resources that are precious and need to be preserved and I viewed renewables as this benign, beautiful thing that I was fascinated by.
Why start your own company?
In this field there was no way to get a job. You couldn’t just go out and get hired. There were limited options. Starting my own business was always an option and business was always something I was fascinated by. It was just a good fit. The entrepreneur route is something I always had on my mind.
What kind of potential do you see for eco-entrepreneurs?
It’s enormous. You either have to be patient and give yourself a three-year plan or be ready to move. The industry is just growing, even in Alberta, which is one of the slowest places to adopt but it will still happen here. Otherwise you go to somewhere where the market already is. People are switching over to green collar jobs all the time. One thing I coined was “working in the green patch.” The opportunities to do this are out there, but you have to be ready to struggle.
What is the biggest potential growth area for the green economy?
Energy. In Europe the technology is proven. You can reduce consumption and maintain a healthy lifestyle with improvements in efficiency and design. The rest you can fill in with renewable energy and a mixture of coal, natural gas, nuclear or hydro. I don’t see that slowing down.
What were you doing five years ago and where do you see yourself in five years?
Five years ago I was selling solar panels, mostly for off-grid battery-based applications. For the next five years I see myself doing project development, product development and procurement consulting. Helping people make good decisions about their projects, because with the sizable projects that are coming online, they need our expertise in solar applications.
Category: Articles
Leave a Reply
