Getting my sanity back.
Maybe.
It’s been almost a year since I’ve published anything on here, and this post has nothing to do with my original subject matter, ESG.
A lot has changed in the world from when I first started this newsletter, originally out of curiosity to learn about a field that I was hoping to transition into. ESG has now turned into a role behind the curtain; entire teams are being laid off to outsource the work instead, and many companies are only completing ESG frameworks to comply with European standards.
My job also completely changed. I went from strategic energy communications work with the Department of Energy, to an internal shift into a role and client that I worked for at a completely different company 10 years ago. A role that led me to attend grad school in the first place, a desperate attempt to get out of a job I was scared to visualize myself in at 45.
The type of work I am doing right now is relentless. It’s true that I can often keep it in the confines of 9-5, and for that I should be grateful. But it requires such a force of willpower to keep the spreadsheets updated, the PowerPoints refined, the client meeting notes emailed, the client email answered within the hour, or an acknowledgement of receipt within the hour with a note that the proper attention will be given later on, the jumping on a quick call, the check-ins that require an agenda, the showcasing my willingness to pick up a project, the saving a file on SharePoint to send my hire-ups that link to email the client, the Teams message asking for me to check a final file, the confirming that the file went through editing, the triple-checking the style guide to make sure editing didn’t mess anything up, the typo that got through an email that I need to investigate the source of, dig into where the mishap was and hope to God it wasn’t on me, the self-flagellation that it won’t happen again, the 7 hours of meetings, each hour a different topic that I need to remember, make sure the notes are in OneNote, no not that OneNote file, can you share the link with the team, why isn’t that link in the agenda?
Anyway, what I am saying is that this role has left me so mentally exhausted, having the space to think of anything that I am curious about has left me completely.
Until last week.
I work in consulting for a giant utility conglomerate, a phrase that easily drops me into a pit of minutia that swallows all meaning almost immediately. I am judged for the speed at which I respond to requests and the level of focus given to a misplaced Oxford comma on a post that will generate 10 impressions. I am tasked with hoisting up the importance of client work above my sanity, for it keeps our lights on and bills paid, regardless of whether we are doing the same for the energy-hungry world our clients support.
Currently, we are conducting interviews with commercial and industrial partners to learn from them about their current experience surrounding energy, the rising costs to use it, and whether our marketing messaging resonates with them.
Almost every single participant has noted that they looked into solar power, but could not get it because they leased or rented, and that they were stuck with the only option to deal with rising energy costs is to generate more business to cover the bills.
People have been upset that utilities have not championed renewable energy grid connectivity, though this has more to do with energy providers, not utilities purchasing the power provided, and, of course, the Federal Government going so far as to cancel and pay back companies who were building offshore wind farms - a stint that has left New York State scrambling to adjust its renewable energy goals.
I don’t expect everyday business owners to know the nuance of the BPU, but I’ve been impressed by their energy knowledge, thirst for renewable options, and that they recognize renewable energy will save money in the long-term, even if it increases short-term costs, and that they know that generating renewable energy will alleviate an unreliable grid.
Working within the energy space, it’s so easy to think that most people don’t think about it as long as their lights turn on when they flip the switch. But people have surprised me. People who own breweries in rural locations are switching to fully electric equipment due to environmental concerns, people are refusing to drive gas-powered cars, and there are people who recognize water wars could be part of our future due to scarcity, climate change, and an ever-thirsty manufacturing sector.
Maybe the group willing to participate in such a conversation inevitably has a lot of thoughts surrounding energy and the environment, but I’m not so sure.
We insisted on adding a question around the word “efficiency” with the pretense that people would be appalled at the word, drawing a dotted line between “efficient” and DOGE.
Not one person had negative connotations with it.
They know “efficiency” was hijacked as an excuse to strip away what was deemed government waste. Turns out, their goal is to run efficient businesses that make them money, keep their customers happy, and cost them the least amount possible.
In essence, they hope to have the option for alternative energy, and they expect utility providers to begin investing in it.
Unfortunately for me, these interviews have ended. What we are taking from them is ideas on how to tailor messaging to businesses that are desperately seeking a solution to a national issue around the need for energy expansion.
As for me, I am desperately wishing I could use my energy expertise again to help find that solution, but for now, you will find me circling back on emails.