Alex Yachanin’s career path has been anything but conventional. Before stepping into the clean energy industry, he served as a nuclear surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. His time in the military gave him a deep appreciation for energy systems, discipline, and strategic planning. But when it came time to transition into civilian life, he set his sights on a different mission: accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy future.

Now a Senior Project Developer at EDF Renewables, Yachanin is  part of a vast network of veterans who have found a new purpose in clean energy. In fact, veterans make up approximately 10% of the clean energy workforce—around 750,000 workers, according to the Department of Energy in 2024. This growing presence underscores the strong alignment between military experience and the skills needed to drive the renewable energy sector forward.

Yachanin’s journey into clean energy started with hands-on experience. One of his most memorable projects was working as an associate project manager on EDF Renewables’ “Maverick” solar projects in Riverside County, California. Jumping into the role while the projects were under construction, he played a crucial part in guiding them through commissioning to commercial operations. This experience provided him with invaluable insight into how large-scale solar and battery storage projects are built and integrated into the grid.

Now working across Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, Yachanin focuses on developing utility-scale renewable energy projects, spanning wind, solar, and energy storage. He sees clean energy as essential not just for environmental sustainability but for economic growth, transportation electrification, and the future of energy-intensive technologies like artificial intelligence.

When asked why Congress should invest in clean energy jobs, Yachanin emphasizes the industry’s role in keeping the U.S. economy competitive. “Sustained growth in clean energy is needed to help the U.S. economy grow and stay competitive,” he says. “The clean energy industry supports millions of jobs across every region and state in the country.”

For Yachanin, the transition from the Navy to clean energy was a natural evolution—both careers demand leadership, resilience, and a commitment to a greater mission. Today, he is helping to build a future powered by reliable, affordable, and abundant clean energy—one project at a time.